REASONS TO BUY
Nimble
Responsive
Balanced protection and sensitivity
Fantastically-tractioned
REASONS TO AVOID
On the pricier side
Could be lighter
Hoka Mafate Speed 4 - Women's Review
Blending rugged durability with a nimble and predictable ride, this shoe is a versatile choice for runners seeking comfort, grip, and energy return on the trails
Credit: Ally Arcuri
RELATED: Best Trail Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
The Hoka Matafe Speed 4 is the Hoka-made shoe our veteran gear testers have been dreaming of. Lighter weight than average and nimble — at 7.96 ounces for a women's size 6.5 shoe — the 5.3 mm lugs adorning the Vibram Megagrip outsole provide grip as your paces heat up. The Mafate is protective enough for rugged trails but offers a streamlined fit and enough energy return to be primed for race day. With a measured 3 mm of heel-to-toe drop, this shoe is fairly predictable in its ride. Runners seeking a do-it-all trail shoe with great grip, seamless comfort, and reliability will enjoy what this improved Hoka shoe has to offer.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Hoka Mafate Speed 4 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe for Women |  Best for Long Distances on Technical Trails | Best Wide Toe Box Option |  Best Bang for Your Buck | Best for Rough Terrain |
| Price | $185.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $190 List $142.46 at Backcountry | $111.93 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $142.78 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Offering exceptional traction, comfort, and versatility, this shoe combines a nimble build with rugged protection, making it ideal for trail runners of all levels | A unisex shoe that offers superior performance across the board, boasting a protective yet sensitive ride with a grippy outsole and exceptional durability | Though not the most agile, this shoe shines in comfort, traction, and all-day trail durability | With a reliable build, lightened weight, and road-shoe fit, this shoe remains a go-to for trail runners who value consistency over flashy upgrades | If a well-tractioned powerhouse of a shoe is what you're after, this 7mm-drop, stacked-with-tech shoe is the one for you |
| Rating Categories | Hoka Mafate Speed 4... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... | Topo MTN Racer 3 -... | Saucony Peregrine 1... | La Sportiva Bushido... |
| Comfort and Fit (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Foot Protection (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Hoka Mafate Speed 4... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... | Topo MTN Racer 3 -... | Saucony Peregrine 1... | La Sportiva Bushido... |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 36 mm | 27 mm | 32 mm | 30 mm | 28 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 3 mm | 9 mm | 6 mm | 4 mm | 7 mm |
| Rock Plate | No | Not disclosed | No | Yes | 1.5 mm dual-density compressed EVA rock-guard in forefoot |
| Measured Lug Depth | 5.3 mm | 3.5 mm | 4.3 mm | 5.6 mm | 3.8 mm |
| Measured Weight | 7.96 oz | 8.05 oz | 7.80 oz | 7.80 oz | 9.11 oz |
| Upper | Jacquard mesh | Anti-debris mesh with sockliner | Mesh | Mesh | Air mesh / thermal adhesive microfiber / high frequency welded ripstop overlays |
| Midsole | ProFly+ | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection | ZipFoam | PWRRUN foam | 4 mm LaSpEVA / Compression Molded MEMlex |
| Outsole | Vibram Megagrip with Litebase | Salomon Contagrip MA | Vibram | PWRTRAC | Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 V-Groove3 |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 11 US | 4 - 14 US regular |
6 - 12 US | 5 - 12 US regular, wide, GTX | 5.5 - 11 US regular, wide |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | None | Extended heel pull | Finger loop | Finger loop |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 4 mm | 8 mm | 5 mm | 4 mm | 6 mm |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Weighing less than 8 ounces in a women's size 6.5, this lightweight trail shoe features a 3mm drop and a durable Vibram outsole. With its comfortable fit and versatile performance, it's designed to inspire confidence as you explore trails both familiar and uncharted.
Occasionally, all of the elements of a shoe add up to create near-perfection. The Mafate is a fantastic example of structures working harmoniously to create fantastic trail runs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Comfort and Fit
Hoka did away with their signature overblown cushion and height with the creation of the Mafate Speed 4. Offering a more streamlined profile, this shoe runs true to size and offers average width and volume.
Its outsole is slightly wider than the average trail shoe at 4.2 inches across. This adds to the shoe's stability and traction more than its comfort. While many will take issue with the way the heel collar lets in the sand and pebbles, it's ruggedly plush, striking a comfortable balance between cushion and function. The forefoot offers serious protection with its textiles, but its breathability and slight softness shine through. While there is no such thing as a truly universally comfortable shoe, the Mafate is a speed-focused trail shoe that will surprise and delight trail runners seeking a no-nonsense shoe ready to take a beating.
With the Mafate, Hoka moves away from its signature oversized cushioning and height, delivering a streamlined profile that all-terrain ready.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
Vibram outsoles consistently rank as some of the best in the trail running world, and the Mafate Speed takes this reputation seriously. The outsole not only extends slightly beyond the shoe's platform, enhancing stability and responsiveness, but it also contributes to an agile and confidence-inspiring ride.
Featuring an intricate pattern of multidirectional lugs, each sharp edge is strategically positioned to deliver maximum grip across varied terrain, slippery mud included.
While most other options perform perfectly well on the best of terrain, the Mafate also impressed on less than ideal surfaces.
To elevate performance further, many of the Mafate's lugs are layered, with one stacked atop another, providing a dynamic bite that grips even the toughest surfaces. Whether you're navigating rocky paths or muddy slopes, the Mafate Speed's outsole is engineered to excel.
The Mafate Speed's Vibram outsole enhances stability and responsiveness with an extended platform and layered lugs for dynamic traction, making it a top performer on rocky paths and mucky slopes.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
Mirroring the sensitivity rating of the Mafate is its stability score. This is a shoe that is precisely designed to feel unintrusive and balanced.
The Mafate Speed 4 does not offer any structural elements for stability and is marketed as a neutral shoe. The Mafate is devoid of the all-too-familiar tipping sensation that occurs when stepping on a rock the wrong way. It's not impossible to roll your ankle in these shoes, but our testers found the 3mm drop and secure heel cup to provide great stability on technical terrain. Many shoes that offer responsiveness don't provide secure stability, and we are happy to report that the Mafate Speed 4 is a shoe that does.
For a neutral, structureless shoe, the Mafate Speed provides a comfortable amount of stability because of its low-to-the-ground, nimble feel.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Foot Protection
Hoka lovers will understand what I mean when I say that the Mafate Speed 4 feels like a hybrid version of the Hoka Speedgoat 6 and the Hoka Torrent 4. This shoe offers the nimble-feeling protection of the Torrent while boasting the workhorse-inspired prowess of the Speedgoat. While not the most protective shoe on the market, its stacked midsole provides protection from underfoot rocks and roots. The Mafate does not have a rock plate, but its 33 mm forefoot stack is dense enough for serious trail running.
The forefoot of the Mafate Speed offers a rubbery toe cap and a tightly knitted toe box for optimal moisture and sand deflection. The main point of protection contention lies in this shoe's heel collar. It is beefy and comfortable, extending a bit up the Achilles, but it lacks the contour to truly deflect all trail debris. While running in the Mafate, I frequently had to pause to remove pebbles or adjust the sand that accumulated around the ankles of our socks. Even still, I can appreciate the streamlined approach to foot protection and continue to recommend the Mafate to runners who want a versatile trail shoe to add to their closet.
The Mafate Speed offers excellent forefoot protection but falls short of fully preventing debris at the heel, making it a versatile yet ever-so slightly imperfect choice for trail runners.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
At just under 8 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, the Mafate isn't exactly light. Yet again, Hoka designed this shoe to be balanced.
It offers the comfort and rugged capabilities of a much heavier shoe without weighing a comparable amount. Some of our tester's favorite shoes are those in this mid-range since it allows the shoes to be durable and functional without feeling clunky. Though the Mafate's overall score is middling in this metric, the ride and features it provides make its weight perfect for runners who are in the market for a versatile trail shoe.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sensitivity
The Hoka Mafate Speed 4 is rare in that it offers adequate underfoot protection while also providing trail information. While it isn't the most sensitive shoe in our lineup, its balanced underfoot materials and slight flexibility make it a great shoe for long-distance runs on tough terrain.
The Mafate Speed hits a sweet spot in the world of trail kicks in that it gives your body enough information to react while still protecting your body from the sources of that information. Though not an ultra-sensitive shoe, the Mafate is a slam dunk in this metric, thanks to its balance.
The Mafate strikes a rare balance, offering adequate underfoot protection while delivering enough trail feedback for long-distance runs on tough terrain.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Hoka Mafate Speed 4?
Yes, you should buy the Hoka Mafate Speed 4. While no shoe is truly perfect, the improved Hoka Mafate is a shoe that comes close. Replacing its previously reigning cousin, the Hoka Torrent, the Mafate is a mountain-ready all-around that will suit most runners and run types. Runners seeking a new shoe to fall head over heels in love with will find what their heart desires in the updated Mafate.
The Mafate's lightweight, nimble design and Vibram traction make it a go-to choice that we confidently recommend to most runners for a wide range of trail conditions.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The Hoka Torrent was once a top-rated trail shoe, but recent updates have elevated the Mafate to a higher ranking. While the Torrent delivers a comparable ride, it falls short of the Mafate in terms of its Vibram outsole and midsole cushioning. However, its more affordable price makes the Torrent a strong option for budget-conscious runners. The most comparable shoe in the Hoka family is the Speedoat 6. The Speedgoat feels a bit chunkier underfoot and offers less of a universally appealing fit, though both shoes are primed for tackling trails of all kinds. For runners seeking equal performance with a softer fit, the Salomon Ultra Glide 2 is an awesome contender due to its ample 360-degree cushion, powerful traction, and secure midfoot lock.
—Ally Arcuri
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