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As they say on the Appalachian Trail, the trail always provides. So, too, does Hoka.
Released earlier this year, the Mafate X introduced super-shoe technology to the brand’s flagship trail runner, pairing two layers of foam — one PEBA, the other supercritical EVA — with a carbon-fiber plate.
That combination was a first for the Mafate, which debuted some 15 years ago. However, it wasn’t the last.
The brand-new Mafate X Hike sees the formula extend to a bona fide hiking boot. That said, this is much more than an ankle-high version of the shoe.
The model does sit atop a dual-foam cushioning system paired with a carbon-fiber plate, delivering a snappy ride with minimal added weight. Yet that’s where the similarities between the shoe and the boot stop.
On the upper, the Mafate X Hike features a neoprene tongue that wraps around the ankle, effectively working like a built-in gaiter that gives it both support and protection from trail debris.
