HOKA Mach 5

Name: HOKA Mach 5
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.7 (24 reviews)

Speed shoe · Neutral · Road · 7.5 oz · 30/25mm stack · 5mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Mach 6 replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Mach 5 is one of the strongest running shoes in our data. Comfort and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 67 runner reviews and 6 other rated shoes in the Mach product line.

Excellent

Overall

Excellent 95

Comfort

Excellent 94

Appearance

Excellent 94

Value

Excellent 93

Cushioning

Good 88

Durability

Below average 64

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

99 Very high

Very high 99

External retailer ratings

We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.

The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Our ratings
Product line track record
External ratings

What runners say

“Light but not minimal, cushion balanced, wide toebox, snug midfoot/heel”

5/5 Full review 10 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash

“Roomy toebox, amazing lockdown, super comfortable and breathable upper”

5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Brooks Ghost 14

“Upper fits like a glove, very light, rockered geometry guides effortlessly”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the HOKA Mach 4

“Amazing on gravel roads, and feet didn't feel all the rocks like with other shoes”

5/5 Full review 27 mpw came from the HOKA Speedgoat 5

“Perfect utility shoe for all training runs—slow to fast, all distances”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the HOKA Mach 4

“Incredibly versatile for long runs, tempo, track work—reliable shoe”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 8

“Cushion is soft but still feels very springy and responsive”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the HOKA Mach 4

“Gentle rocker sole bouncy enough for racing 5K to marathon”

5/5 Full review 10 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash

“Roomy toe-box but still secure in midfoot and heel”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the HOKA Mach 4

“Durability concern: soft midsole top layer, no rubber outsole”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3

“Enough cushion for recovery, lightweight and firm for faster work”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 8

“Need more traction when it rains—no rubber outsole”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the On Cloudmonster

“Insole issue: thin, holes misaligned, creases uncomfortably when warm”

4/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Rincon 3

“Durability varies: 200-400 miles before feeling flat”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 8

“Midsole weakened after 400+ miles”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 14

“Lacks some cushioning but light and not overly supportive”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 8

“Fits true to size”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 8

Prefer this shoe over another

62% 21/34

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Reviewers use it for easy days, tempo work and long runs alike.
It weighs 8 oz, and reviewers still call the cushioning soft and springy.
Reviewers praise the rocker and the roomy toebox with a secure midfoot.

Cons

The outsole is foam with no rubber, and six reviewers report it wearing down quickly.
One reviewer finds the thin insole creases and replaces it.

Mach 5 rates 95. This shoe has very high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Mach

Each dot is one version of the Mach, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

74 2018 94 2019 73 2020 86 2021 95 2022 96 2024 87 2026

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Mach 7

2026 · 0 reviews

87 Good

64 Confidence
Mach 6

2024 · 28 reviews

96 Excellent

95 Confidence
Mach 5 This shoe

2022 · 67 reviews

95 Excellent

99 Confidence
Mach 4

2021 · 7 reviews

86 Good

83 Confidence
Mach 3

2020 · 1 review

73 Decent

76 Confidence
Mach 2

2019 · 9 reviews

94 Excellent

87 Confidence
Mach v1

2018 · 6 reviews

74 Decent

84 Confidence

Runner Ratings

67 ratings

5/5 43

4/5 22

3/5 2

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.5 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 8.2 oz · Women's 6.8 oz
Release: 2022 Q2
MSRP: $140
Stack: 30/25mm
Drop: 5mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Versatile and lightweight

4/5

Overall

Fits true to size. Laces were long which was a big plus, and the heel lock was better than a lot of other shoes I’ve worn. They had enough cushion to work for recovery and easy miles, but were lightweight and firm enough for faster work. Paces up to 5:20/mi felt comfortable in it, and paces as slow as 8:30 felt fine as well. I’ve had three pairs, one lasted 400mi before feeling a bit flat, the other two lasted around 200mi. I now rotate them all. Pretty solid overall, maybe not worth $140 though.

Jacob · Dec 4, 2023

40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 8

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 3/5

Best All-Round Shoe on the Market

5/5

Overall

I used this shoe as a daily trainer for a little over 2 months. Loved how it could keep up on tempo, easy, and long runs. Got a little over 400 miles in before I retired them and the midsole weakened. It is a super light shoe that is on the faster side of daily trainers. Definetely one of my favorite shoes to use.

Anonymous runner · Dec 3, 2023

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 14

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

My Everyday Go-To Shoe

4/5

Overall

The Mach 5 is an excellent shoe. It's incredibly light without sacrificing cushion. The cushion is nice and soft (even though the shoe is considered on the firmer side for Hoka), but still manages to feel very springy and responsive. It's like a perfect middle ground between regular cushion and max cushion *chef's kiss*. The fit is solid, roomy toe-box but still secure in the midfoot and heel. I find they run a little big so I half size down from my normal running shoe size. The rocker still does it's job even though the shoe isn't nearly as stiff as some of it's Hoka relatives. I find the transition through my stride to feel smooth and natural. The durability could be better, however. Since there is no blown rubber on the bottom (one of the reasons the shoe is so light), the foam outsole wears down quickly. In my experience, they start to look worn within 50 miles and by about 400-450 miles I retire them because rocks and sticks tend to poke through. I have also noticed consistent wear in the fabric around my ankle bone and where my insoles sit, though it's never bothered me. My only other (petty) complaint is the thin, flat laces that tend to be long and twist.

Laura S. · Nov 27, 2023

30 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the HOKA Mach 4

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Most comfortable but look huge!

4/5

Overall

The Mach 5's are about the most comfortable shoe I have had. They are good for running easy and also good for picking up the pace so perfect for interval sessions with easy jogs for recovery. There was an issue with the insole however. It is thin and removable. There is a flaw with the way the holes are aligned and when warm, they formed a crease, which was quite uncomfortable. I resolved the issue with new insoles.

Anonymous runner · Oct 31, 2023

10 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Rincon 3

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 2/5
Value: 4/5

Best Daily Trainer for Middle Distance Runners and Mid-Forefoot Strikers

5/5

Overall

Such a fun shoe! Good for long runs and 27 second 200s! Perfect shoe!!

BPG800 · Oct 17, 2023

35 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS GT-2000 12

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

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HOKA Mach 5

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