Our verdict
- Our top pick in best running shoes for beginners
Pros
- Super fun and energetic ride
- Velvety smooth strides
- zapatillas de running hoka Mood ONE ONE voladoras naranjas
- Comfy for easy days
- zapatillas de running hoka Mood hombre 10k talla 46
- Absorbs impact
- Awesome fit
- Welcomes wide feet
- Reflective
- Worth the money
Cons
- Really lacks outsole durability
- hoka Mood hombre constitución ligera talla 44.5
Audience verdict
- Top 29% in road running shoes
- Top 18% in hoka Mood Arahi 6 Chaussures pour Femme en Plein Air Taille 40 2 3
- hoka Mood One One 4
zapatillas de running hoka Mood hombre 10k talla 46 | Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
Who should buy
The hoka Mood Mach 5 is one of the top-pick options if you're looking for:
- a road running shoe that's lively and enjoyable for fast and easy runs
- Men's hoka Mood Challenger 6 Terrain Running Shoes
- an excellent value for money ($20 cheaper than the average price of speed trainers)
This hoka Mood shoe is an amazing all-rounder: responsive for fast days, cushioned for long runs, and comfortable enough for easy days and walks.
Who should NOT buy
Although it's a well-loved shoe, the Mach 5 also has its share of flaws. The biggest one is the lack of rubber outsole which leads to both a lack of durability and grip on wet pavement.
We highly recommend speed trainers like the ASICS Novablast 3 and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. Both are similar in performance to the Mach 5 but come with a protective rubber layer at the bottom.
And if you want to stick to Hoka, we encourage you to check out the top-tier zapatillas de running hoka Mood ONE ONE placa de carbono talla 39.5.
zapatillas de running hoka Mood hombre 10k talla 46 | Breathability
Taking the hoka Mood Mach 5 through our smoke breathability test, we can claim that it's got a slightly above-average level of ventilation in the upper. It is not the most ventilated one, but great for moderate temperatures.
You can also see that the toebox and tongue parts of the shoe's fabric are on the transparent side.
Mach 5 | 4 |
Average | 3.8 |
Durability
Outsole hardness
There is no rubber outsole on the hoka Mood Mach 5. Technically, the shoe uses a layer of rubberized foam as a substitute for the rubber outsole. So, we ended up measuring the firmness of this bottom compound.
No wonder our durometer showed such a low number!
At 57.0 HC, this hoka Mood shoe's bottom is 40% softer than average! And that's pretty dangerous for the shoe's long-term durability as softer materials wear out much faster on the harsh pavement.
hoka Mood Clifton Edge Chaussures de Route pour Hommes en Almond Milk Beige.
Mach 5 | 57.0 HC |
Average | 80.3 HC |
Weight
The fact that the Mach 5 is well-cushioned doesn't seem to affect its lightness. In fact, it is even a little lighter than the average speed trainer in a men's US size 9.
hoka Mood Mach 5 | Average |
7.9 oz (225g) | 8.3 oz (236g) |
Lighter weight paired with the shoe's snappy ride is a fabulous combination!
Mach 5 | 7.94 oz (225g) |
Average | 9.35 oz (265g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
Running in the Mach 5, our feet felt quite pampered and well-protected from impact. Even though it's not a max-cushioned shoe, it certainly delivered enough cushioning to make us forget about hard heel landings.
Using a caliper, we measured heel thickness at 30.7 mm. It's not enough to make it a max-cushioned shoe but is close to the average of running shoes.
Mach 5 | 30.7 mm |
Average | 33.5 mm |
Forefoot stack
Measuring the forefoot stack, our caliper showed 25.0 mm. This is about the same as the average road shoe.
Mach 5 | 25.0 mm |
Average | 24.9 mm |
Drop
Checking the heel-to-toe drop of the shoe, it appears to be close to the brand's official statement (which is 5 mm). Based on our own stack measurements, we found it to be 5.7 mm.
Mach 5 | 5.7 mm |
Average | 8.7 mm |
Insole thickness
The Mach 5 features a pretty standard, moderately padded insole. Measuring its heel thickness, we got 4.2 mm - the same as the average.
Mach 5 | 4.2 mm |
Average | 4.4 mm |
Midsole softness
We noticed that the Mach 5 is softer than its predecessor, which also made it homier to the foot. But it's not so soft that it compromises stability.
This proves to be true in our durometer measurements. Showing 15.0 HA in the midsole, the shoe got 29% softer compared to the Mach 4, which also puts it among the softest running shoes on the market. The hoka Mood Mach 5 is 60% plusher than the average!
This speed trainer from hoka Mood also uses a little trick to make its ride feel extra soft. Instead of having a hard rubber outsole, it features a firm rubberized EVA foam as a secondary cushioning layer. It is more durable than the primary ProFly+ but is not as hard as a typical rubber outsole.
In terms of softness, that made us feel as if we were landing directly on exposed foam.
Mach 5 | 15.0 HA |
Average | 21.3 HA |
Difference in midsole softness in cold
But if you're planning to expose this hoka Mood shoe to cold temperatures, be prepared that the ProFly+ foam gets considerably denser.
Running on chilly days, the shoe might take some breaking in. In our freezer test, the Mach 5 got 60% firmer compared to room temperature.
Mach 5 | 60% |
Average | 25.8% |
Ride
The Mach 5 feels amazingly energetic! It even made us run at a faster pace than we initially intended!
There is a welcome bit of bounce but nothing extra.
las hoka Mood Kawana!
The shoe's midsole is slightly rockered. It features what the brand calls "meta-rocker geometry" which makes each step feel buttery smooth.
Stability
Lateral stability test
For a neutral shoe, the Mach 5 offers a wonderfully stable ride. There is a slight flare in its heel which we found especially handy when cornering.
Torsional rigidity
The Mach's high level of torsional flexibility helps us remember that this is a neutral shoe after all.
Twisting it in our manual test, we found that it comes on a very flexible side. On a 1-5 scale, where 1 is the most flexible, we rated it as 2.
So, if you are someone with flat feet or pronation concerns, it's better to skip the Mach 5 in favor of the hoka Mood Arahi 6.
Mach 5 | 2 |
Average | 3.2 |
Heel counter stiffness
At the back, a moderately stiff heel counter helps in keeping the heel in place. Giving it a squeeze, we rated its stiffness as 3 out of 5 in our subjective assessment (5 is the stiffest).
Even though it has a little give to it, the shoe's heel counter never lets our heels lift or slip out of the hoka Mood Mach 5.
The shoe's form-fittin
Mach 5 | 3 |
Average | 2.8 |
Midsole width in the forefoot
zapatillas de running hoka Mood constitución fuerte entre 60 y 100.
Measuring the widest part of the forefoot, we got a fairly average result of 113 mm. However, the shoe's heel width left us truly impressed!
Mach 5 | 113.0 mm |
Average | 113.5 mm |
Midsole width in the heel
The heel landing area of the shoe's sole is significantly wider than the average. According to our caliper, the heel is 96.7 mm wide (6.6 mm wider than the average!).
Mach 5 | 96.7 mm |
Average | 90.3 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
In the era of hyper-cushioned, stiff, and aggressively rockered running shoes, the hoka Mood Mach 5 felt like a nice break. It has a pretty flexible nature which contributes to the shoe's overall comfort. It bent in all the right places helping our foot feel free and maneuverable.
Measuring the forefoot flexibility in the lab, we found that it only takes 20.3N to bend the hoka Mood Mach 5. This makes the shoe 50% more flexible than the average road shoe!
Mach 5 | 20.3N |
Average | 29.4N |
Grip / Traction
From our experience, the Mach 5 has great traction on dry pavement. But come rainy days and its exposed foam gets dangerously slippery.
Size and fit
Toebox width at the widest part
The shoe's midfoot kept us securely locked in and the toebox felt roomy enough for our medium-width feet.
Looking at the numbers, however, the forefoot part of the upper appears to be narrower than the average but still in the medium-width range. At its widest, the toebox is 95.4 mm wide (2.7 mm narrower than average).
At the back, a firm h
Mach 5 | 95.4 mm |
Average | 98.3 mm |
hoka Mood One One Clifton 8 Black Men S Running Shoes Run Sport
The shoe's form-fitting upper is also complemented by the semi-gusseted tongue (attached to the sides). It held our feet securely all throughout the run.
Mach 5 | Both sides (semi) |
Comfort
Tongue padding
Putting the shoe on, we were in awe of its supremely comfortable upper. The shoe has light padding through the heel and collar, which never caused rubbing or hot spots. The padded tongue also acted like a light pillow that prevented lace pressure.
We measured the shoe's tongue at 4.3 mm, which is typical for a hoka Mood Bondi X Chaussures pour Homme en White Evening Primrose Taille 48. The average across all types of running shoes is 5.8 mm.
Comfort aside, another u
Mach 5 | 4.3 mm |
Average | 5.6 mm |
Misc
Reflective elements
Comfort aside, another upper perk of the Mach 5's upper is that it's reflective.