Hoka Mach 6 in Action: Why This Shoe Earned a Permanent Spot in My Lineup
By: Steve Buelna
The Ongoing Search for the Perfect Road Shoe
Over numerous road races and general neighborhood running, I have continued seeking “the perfect” road shoe. It always seems like an episode of the 3 Little Bears. This one the upper feels great, but the footbed is too hard or too soft. And if that isn’t the case, the upper doesn’t fit the shape of my foot. So on and so on.
For years, I have explored different brands and models of shoes to try to find the perfect fit. Ultimately, I would generally revert to the Hoka Clifton, which is a fantastic shoe. Nearly perfect, really. The only thing I had hoped for that would make it better would be a slightly more responsive foam. I liked the impact absorption, but just a little more rebound would be key.
Enter the Hoka Mach 6
With all this in mind, I went on the Hoka website and came across the Hoka Mach 6. In a side-by-side comparison, the Mach 6 is listed as a responsive sole as compared to a plush sole with the Cliftons. The Mach 6 was also slightly lighter in weight at 8.2oz as compared to 9.8oz. Lastly, the heel drop was also less at 5mm as compared to 8mm with the Cliftons. All these changes seemed promising.
First Impressions, From Box to Trail
Always excited for new shoes I literally went straight from picking up the new Mach 6 from TMS directly to Donner Lake for a cruise around the lake. I had also decided to do intervals that day, so this would be a great test for the responsiveness of the foam in the sole. My first reaction to slipping them on was noting the light weight of the shoe. I also recognized the shoe upper to be a good mix of being very breathable while still providing support of my foot.
A True Test: Intervals & Impact
As I took off, I was pleased to experience that sweet spot I had hoped for. The foam provided enough cushioning that it didn’t feel like I would be running into (pun intended) any impact issues. And once I hit the intervals, I was really happy with the responsiveness. It was clear to me that this was my new favorite road shoe in that the energy was being absorbed to the extent necessary for comfort, without losing energy into a “plush” foam footbed. With a 7-mile out-of-the-box run, I was also happy to not have any blisters or even hot spots on my feet.
Final Thoughts: Worth the Hype
Fast forward a bit, and I’m now on my second pair of Mach 6. The first pair is at 250 miles and still going strong, and the new pair is at about 50 miles (I make a habit of breaking in a new pair before the old ones are toast. Also, a good excuse to go see my friends at TMS). Both pairs are holding up very well, and even the first pair has many miles to go before they get retired (which I hadn’t expected based on how light the shoe is). I assumed that they would break down sooner because of this and that is absolutely not the case. The first pair of Hoka Mach 6 has also made it through runs in the rain, snow conditions with nanospikes, to some non-technical dirt trails for mixed surface runs. Shoes are obviously a personal fit item, but as far as the design and materials go, I would highly recommend giving the Hoka Mach 6 a try. I’m quite certain you won’t be disappointed.
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