Hoka Mach 6 - Women's Review

The Hoka Mach 6 is a great daily trainer that we measured with a 33 mm stack height and a 7 mm heel-toe drop. Each shoe in size women's 6.5 weighs 6.27 ounces on our scales.

Side View Cut in Half

Cushioning

Hoka has created a seemingly simple and responsive road running shoe with beautiful landing comfort. The Mach 6 has a total underfoot stack of 33 mm, as measured by our in-house testing team. The lightweight, low-profile footbed feels comfortable and padded without being clunky.

The 7 mm drop helps the Mach feel unimposing on your feet, while its specifically placed cushioning provides a much-needed buffer between you and the road on long runs. One of the wonderful things about the updated Mach is that it feels significantly more cushioned than it is. It feels like a wear-all-day kind of shoe, but it is ready to ratchet up the speed when you are. The Mach 6, however, is not a plush running shoe. Its lightweight textiles and prime cushioning make it comfortable but with very little bulk. If you want a classic Hoka marshmallow as your next running shoe, the Mach won't be up to the task. But if you want a versatile shoe that will be with you on tempo runs, LSD (long slow distance) days, and race day.

Upper Comfort

The comfort updates on the Hoka Mach 6 are noticeable from the moment you strap these shoes onto your feet. The new creel jacquard upper has zonal breathability, which is a fancy way of saying that the outer layer of the textile is a bit stiff, and the inner layer is more breathable, forgiving, and flexible.

This new design helps the Mach form to fit your feet while also reducing the occurrence of blisters, hot spots, and other discomfort. The gusseted tongue offers no cushion but lays flat and stays out of the way during uptempo runs. Even though the tongue is not cushioned, it is entirely functional and doesn't slip or bunch.

This design presumably allowed Hoka to shed weight while maintaining and even improving this shoe's upper comfort. The fit of this version of the Mach is significantly improved, and while it is not a plush running shoe for luxurious comfort-seekers, its low-profile, simplistic fit remains comfortable on long and short runs alike.

Stability

The Mach 6 is not a shoe suitable for correcting over- or underpronation, but if agility is what you're after, this is a shoe that will get you where you need to be. The lightweight materials that make up the Mach have a rigidity to them, which includes a slight amount toward the rear of the shoe. This structure helps stabilize your rearfoot as you run without significantly impacting your gait pattern.

For most runners, the stability of the Mach will be perfect. It certainly does not feel overbuilt, but it stays strong as your feet begin to fatigue. The updated upper holds stronger than that of the previous version, providing an additional bit of inherent stability. If you typically run in stability shoes and are looking to diversify your running shoe collection with a speed-forward training shoe, the Mach is the shoe to fill that gap.

Responsiveness

The outsole of the Mach 6 is superior to that of its predecessor. The previous version was made of lightweight, abrasive materials that provided some bounce but not necessarily the kind of responsiveness runners crave in their road shoes. The midsole of the new Mach is stuffed with more traditional-feeling, supercritical foam, while its outsole is adorned with durable, specifically-placed rubber for bounce and traction. All of this comes together in one lightweight package to create a shoe perfect for tempo runs where you'll be running at varied speeds. The updated shoe body feels svelte while in motion without being too narrow. The tapered heel collar provides a precise fit, adding to the overall responsive feel of the shoe.

The responsiveness of the Mach 6 is great for everyday, but lacks the true energy return of a racing shoe. It has a moderate rocker that allows you to feel speedy but can comfortably support less powerful runs. The Mach does not contain a carbon-fiber plate, which has become par for the course in the world of racing shoes. However, it does have a rocker angle (24.5 degrees) and apex location (65.4% forward from the heel) that are closer to racing specs, helping it to better aid your natural momentum. The Mach's natural rigidity and precise foam make it peppy but without the unforgiving feel of a racing platform. While it may score slightly lower than race-specific shoes, its comfort and forgiving fit and feel make up for this in spades.

Weight

The updated Mach 6 weighs 6.27 ounces, which is on the lighter end of the spectrum. Since it is a shoe that is primed and ready to tackle tempo runs with you, this is an ideal weight. These shoes feel light and spry on the run, but offer just enough meat to be stable, dynamic, and long-lasting. The lightweight upper helps keep the weight down. Overall, the Mach is a lightweight, dynamic shoe that is ready to tackle the breakneck speeds you throw at it.

Traction

I love so many things about the Mach 6, but the traction is not one of them. The outsole is fine on dry roads, but as soon as a bit of mist begins to circulate, it's time to change shoes. The rubber outsole of the Mach doesn't have quite enough nuance or depth to hold firm in wet conditions, effectively making it useless amid the elements. While the rest of the Mach's elements make it versatile, it is not versatile enough for wet-weather running.

Should You Buy the Hoka Mach 6?

If you want a versatile training shoe that is as comfortable as it is speedy, this is one of my top recommendations. It doesn't exactly offer plush underfoot cushion, but it remains comfortable even during long efforts. If you are on the hunt for a single shoe that can fulfill most of your running needs, the updates to the Mach 6 make it a worthy contender. It doesn't offer robust traction, making it a poor crossover as a trail running shoe. Aside from that, the Mach is likely to be the running shoe you've been looking for.

What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?

If versatility in a lightweight shoe is what you are after, the Saucony Kinvara 15 is another great option to consider. The Kinvara is another speed-focused shoe that does not have a carbon fiber plate. The result is a softer-soled shoe that can keep up during uptempo efforts but is happy to throw down comfortably mellow miles, too. The Adidas Adizero Evo SL is another highly versatile shoe that can hang at mellow and massive paces. If a daily runner with a bit more cushion sounds more like your speed, the Asics Novablast 5 is our Editor's Choice award winner on both the men's and women's sides. The Novablast combines underfoot comfort and responsive energy for a balanced and joyful ride.