HOKA Mach 7 Review

HOKA Mach 7 Review

The HOKA Mach 7 is a valuable update from version 6 with changes to increase the
versatility and comfort of the shoe. The Mach 7 cost $145 and features a thin jacquard mesh upper and a supercritical EVA foam that strikes a great balance between bouncy, lightweight, and cushioned. This show will be a great workhorse mileage shoe, especially for track athletes and anyone looking for a lower cushioned, slightly firmer trainer. Within a shoe rotation this would be a great option for a tempo or workout shoe if a runner is trying to stay away from plastic or carbon plates.

The Good

In my time with this shoe I have done a variety of runs including mileage runs, a moderate, and sprints. For me, the Mach 7 felt great on all types of runs which makes it an exceptional workhorse. The increased stack height from version 6 makes me feel much more comfortable taking this shoe on longer runs as well. The light weight of the shoe coupled with HOKA’s signature metarocker support faster turnover for the moderates and sprints that I did in this shoe as well. I could see many middle school and high school athletes purchasing this shoe and using it every single day, even in workouts or races. I never felt like the energy that I put into the shoe was lost even without a plate or an ultra stiff sole. Instead of bouncing you along, the Mach 7 rolls you along. This creates a more composed feel than a lot of the super soft and bouncy shoes that are taking over the market. Due to this fact, the Mach 7 is a great speed shoe for someone with mild instability issues or anyone looking for a firmer trainer or non-plated racer.

My Critiques

Although the shoe felt great underfoot I did have some complaints relating to the upper of the shoe and the overall fit. Firstly, the toe box is really narrow and the taper seems to start really early in the forefoot area. I typically wear a men's size 9, but went up to a 9.5 because when I tried on the 9 my big toe was rubbing the edge of the shoe and I knew it would irritate me on longer runs. My other complaint with this shoe is the upper material. While it is lightweight and breathable, the jacquard mesh has no stretch to it. In a way, putting it on feels like I am putting my foot into a straight jacket. An upper with some stretch would give the foot more room to expand over long runs where swelling is common. Along with that, on warmup drills or other movements that I typically do for running, the toes and foot have to move and flex and the upper restricts those movements. HOKA has dialed in the underfoot feel of the Mach with the seventh version. In a market that is constantly moving towards softer and bouncier, the Mach 7 serves as a voice of reason. HOKA provides runners with a shoe that can do the same things as the bouncy trainers but in a different way. Although the underfoot feel has been perfected, I hope to see HOKA make a few changes to the fit and upper in future models. A stretchier material (like the one on the Cielo X1 3.0) on the upper would improve fit and long term comfort. Along with that, I would like to see the toebox widened slightly or at the very least taper off later in the forefoot so that people with slightly wider feet do not have to go up a half size. All in all, the HOKA Mach 7 has been an exciting shoe to test. It fits well into my personal rotation to use on moderate or sprint days without putting on a plated shoe. For many though, this will be the perfect lightweight trainer, non-plated workout shoe, or a great option for middle school and high school athletes. Stop by your local Running Well Store today and check out the HOKA Mach 7 ($144.95).

About the Author

Landon has been working at the Lee’s Summit Running Well Store since
Fall 2024. He is currently in his senior year at Lee’s Summit West High
School where he runs cross country and track. Landon is committed to
continue running cross country and track next year at Northwest
Missouri State University