HOKA Mach X 2 Reviews

Reliable for tempo and long runs: responsive, padded, stable and light.

Really liked the bounce and sticky outsole, but the heel felt odd.

On a first 5-miler with strides the Mach X 2 did well and felt peppy, though the Evo SL feels more nimble for short speed work.

A heel striker used to race-day shoes who finds the Mach X2 perfect.

After 200 miles of long runs, a runner finds the Mach X 2 decently poppy but never comfortable, with heel slip and occasional numb feet.

Sees the Mach X 2 as a super trainer that handles intervals, tempo, long runs and maybe races, praising how its plate and foams work together.

'Brilliant, but watch out for that heel': bouncy, fast and fun for any training run, maybe even racing. The lightweight upper's heel design will rub some runners and is the shoe's only real downside.

After a month, a runner likes the Mach X 2 for zone 2, long and tempo runs with a firm but springy ride, though it's too heavy for speed work.

60 km in and loves the midsole feel at paces between half-marathon and marathon, though slow paces feel clunky.

About 14 miles so far, from easy and steady paces to 5K-10K effort reps. They liked the soft Peba foam over firmer EVA with the plate adding pop, a forgiving yet responsive and stable ride, and a light, breathable upper with no heel slip for them. The sticky outsole showed no early wear. Their gripes are a slightly short tongue and a retail price they found a bit steep.