I bought the Hoka Mafate Evo 2 at the end of June in 2021 while I was visiting the stands of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail and greeting a few friends.
I must say that I am not a historical Hoka client. I think I’ve only used a couple of them in my entire sporting history.
But I was planning some sporting projects for the end of summer and autumn (which were then paused for extra-sporting reasons) and I wanted a shoe that was mainly comfortable, to be used on trails that were not too technical and rocky.
I have tried them for less time than I wanted, but I have an idea of some (positive) qualities they have.
Hoka Mafate Evo 2 – Introduction
When it comes to shoes, however, it is very important to give more information about the person wearing them. Therefore, for the analysis and the impressions in the following paragraphs take into account that in these months:
- My weight fluctuated between 67 and 70 Kg;
- My shoe size is EU43, UK9, US10;
- My motion control is neutral;
- Usually I wore Thyo socks;
- Usually I wore anklets, because of past/recent injuries;
Moreover, please consider that I have been practicing Trail-Running for about 10 years: My Trail Running Experience – Emigrantrailer | EmigranTrailer.
Hoka Mafate Evo 2 – My use
Although I bought them in late June, I only started using them a couple of months later.
I used them mainly in September, in German territory, and on trails that are not technically difficult.
The reason is simple: I was preparing a running project on that type of terrain. So I wanted to make sure the choice was the right one.
Once I put the project on hold, I then took them back at the end of December and used them for long alpine walks, often also using them on snowy ground and with mini crampons.
So, in summary, I mainly used them on these types of terrain:
- Forest roads, dry and wet trails without any technical difficulties
- Snowy ground
As consequence, these are my personal impressions and technical information. Other features can be easily find on internet or at the dealer: https://www.hoka.com/
Hoka Mafate Evo 2 – Main Features
The shoes are definitely very stable, whether the terrain was dry or wet.
I really appreciated the grip in all conditions. It is not a surprise for me that I have appreciated the Vibram outsole for years.
I cannot comment accurately on the reactivity, because I have not done specific tests or training in this regard. The impression is that they are a good compromise between stability and reactivity.
The drop is 5 mm, which is slightly less than I am used to, with which I really had no problem.
The weight is about 300 grams, similar to other Trail-Running shoes I use. It seems to be a good balance with respect to its stability and durability. The shoes are still in a good shape.
The lace system is a standard one. Typically I prefer to have the presence of the rubber band to lock the tied laces. It is a little detail, but very important for me. In any case, the absence of this detail has not given me problems so far.
The top layer is quite light (probably to compensate for the weight provided by the bottom part), but this does not prevent to mantain a good protection for the foot. In addition, it is very breathable and allows the foot to remain dry in case of long workouts with high temperatures.
Until now the shoe, used on these terrains, has shown excellent durability.
The heel is very protected and it could help a lot in running over rocky paths (not yet tested by myself).
Summary table and additional information
The following table summarizes the main impressions about these Hoka Mafate Evo 2 Trail Running shoes. Please use the link below in case you want to have a better reading of the table.
General Recommendation
In my opinion, these shoes are perfect for medium and long distance “easy” trails. I have not yet been able to actually test them over distances over 50 km, but the sense of comfort they have given me so far is very positive. In addition, I believe that the terrains I tested with little technical difficulty and the absence of super-rocky trails are ideal for this shoe.
Conclusion
If you want more information or technical details related to this review, please do not hesitate to ask or comment below.
Last but not least, I hereby confirm that I have no personal or professional connections with Hoka. Everything I wrote, it is based on a transparent feedback of my experience, without any prejudices for or against.
Enjoy Trail-Running! 🙂
Andrea De Filippo
Original post in english language. For other languages, please open with a web browser (i.e. Chrome) and apply the automatic translation.
Related projects and articles
You might find of interest other articles with hints (always for free :-)) here: Trail Running Tips | EmigranTrailer
