Within the operating shoe world, it’s uncommon that an replace is so good that it launches an unpopular shoe into the highlight. The Mach 4 turned the Mach collection from an unknown shoe collection right into a family title.
It got here as an enormous shock not solely to the common runner but in addition to retailers who didn’t anticipate shopper demand and didn’t order sufficient inventory of the Mach 4. Many suppliers didn’t have the Mach 4 on the cabinets for months. Now, provide has lastly caught up with demand and there are a wealth of measurement and color choices to select from.
The Mach 4 was one of many greatest hype sneakers of final 12 months and for some excellent causes: it was extraordinarily gentle for the quantity of cushioning that you simply acquired, it had an outstanding higher which was impeccably snug and it was additionally very versatile.
After coaching in it final 12 months, the Mach 4 rapidly catapulted to my listing of high, non-plated trainers of the 12 months. What made the Mach 4 so particular for me was that there was no agency rubber connected to its midsole, so landings felt padded and interesting. The froth additionally felt actually energetic and well-balanced, appropriate for many kinds of runs.
image of Hoka Mach Supersonic
My solely concern when it got here to the Mach 4 was sturdiness. The rubberised EVA outsole shredded like butter on excessive put on areas so I discovered myself having to save lots of the Mach 4 for particular, occasional runs. It wasn’t a tricky workhorse that you would put by way of the wringer.
The Mach competes with different non-carbon-plated trainers which might go quick such because the ASICS EvoRide, New Stability Insurgent, Adidas Boston and Hoka’s personal Rincon.
Saucony’s Endorphin Pace might be the Mach’s greatest competitors regardless that it’s $10 dearer.
Supersonic is a good title for the shoe as a result of it suits with the theme of being sooner than sound however the Mach Supersonic is an odd shoe as a result of technically it’s the successor to the Mach 4 but it surely’s not an annual replace; the Mach 5 can be launched later this 12 months. The Mach Supersonic is a semi-update which showcases a brand new higher and the midsole foam, ProFly+.
On the Hoka web site, they state that the Mach 4 was designed for logging on a regular basis miles: they noticed it as a each day coach. Nevertheless, the Mach Supersonic is constructed to go quick; it’s designed for velocity.
The Mach Supersonic weighs 8.4 oz (238 g), which is 0,4 oz (11 g) heavier than the Mach 4. It additionally prices $20 extra nevertheless it has the identical midsole stack heights and heel to toe offset because the Mach 4.
Hoka Mach Supersonic First Impressions
image of Hoka Mach Supersonic
The primary time I noticed footage of the Mach Supersonic, the brand new ProFly+ foam was the factor that caught my consideration. A supercritical foam like ProFly+ ought to theoretically make the Mach lighter and livelier.
Once I tried it on within the retailer, probably the most noticeable change was that the match felt extra slender than within the earlier variations. Strolling round within the retailer, the cushioning additionally felt denser and firmer than the Mach 4.
My first run was a simple 9 kilometres and my preliminary thought was that the Mach Supersonic didn’t really feel like a simple day shoe anymore. It felt extra responsive, extra suited to hurry exercises and sooner paces.
My second run was a velocity exercise consisting of brief 300 and 400 metre sprints. The Mach Supersonic felt a lot better on that run than the primary run. It felt extraordinarily snappy for a non-carbon plated coach and transitions had been very {smooth}.
I additionally seen somewhat little bit of a unfastened heel which I by no means skilled with the Mach 4. This was in all probability as a result of further cushioning which was current within the higher.
The Mach Supersonic felt barely blocky and stiff initially. It took a pair runs for the froth to melt up and turn out to be extra versatile.
Hoka Mach Supersonic Sole Unit
image of Hoka Mach Supersonic
The Mach Supersonic excels at quick paces beneath 5 minutes per kilometre. Its new ProFly+ midsole has much less give so this firmer toe-off makes it simpler to select up the tempo within the Supersonic.
Regular, tempo and exercise runs are what I exploit the Mach Supersonic for. That is the fastest-feeling plateless coach that I’ve used. It has a forefoot which is comparatively stiff for a non-plated shoe so it nonetheless feels actually snappy. You get the advantages of velocity however with natural-feeling transitions.
A buttery-smooth trip is without doubt one of the most noticeable traits of the Mach Supersonic. Due to the total floor contact outsole and the absence of outsole rubber, landings really feel padded, virtually such as you’re operating on a foam yoga mat.
image of Hoka Mach Supersonic
Hoka calls their new ProFly+ a supercritical foam but it surely doesn’t return as a lot power as different supercritical foams like New Stability’s FuelCell and even Skechers’ Hyper Burst. ProFly+ seems like an bizarre EVA foam, similar to what they’ve been utilizing previously.
The thick, firmer layer of rubberised EVA foam beneath the ProFly+ kinds the midsole in addition to the outsole of the Mach Supersonic. This setup is what provides the Mach its signature trip.
Stability is superb within the Mach Supersonic. The agency backside EVA layer gives a steady base whereas the ProFly+ foam has raised edges which type steerage rails to maintain your ft centred throughout transitions.
As you’d anticipate, a operating shoe with no outsole wears down extraordinarily quick. The Mach Supersonic has about half the outsole life expectancy as a daily operating shoe with a carbon rubber outsole. I’ve executed 170 kilometres in my Mach 4’s and it seems just like the heel space has been melted down on a sizzling pan.
On my pair of Supersonics, there’s additionally vital outsole put on on the heel space. The grip is sweet as a result of the gentle outsole feels very cheesy on all surfaces, moist or dry.
Hoka Mach Supersonic Higher Unit
image of Hoka Mach Supersonic
The Supersonic’s higher is extra snug than the Mach 4’s higher but it surely does include some caveats.
Its padded tongue does a a lot better job at shielding your foot from lacing stress nevertheless the additional padding permits your foot to maneuver additional ahead, away from the heel counter, leading to a loose-feeling heel. You should use a runner’s knot and you should pull the laces actually tight so as to get an honest lockdown.
image of Hoka Mach Supersonic
It was a weird design selection so as to add a padded tongue to the Mach Supersonic. For a shoe which is designed to go quick, you need the lightest potential weight. That is the principle motive the shoe has picked up weight over its predecessor.
They’ve additionally added a large heel pull tab to the Mach Supersonic which is extra handy however wasn’t crucial and it additionally makes the shoe heavier.
The brand new higher materials feels thinner and extra breathable nevertheless the brand new tongue makes it extra puffy and hotter so it isn’t a cooler shoe than the Mach 4. Hopefully the Mach 5 may have a thinner tongue.
It suits true to measurement but it surely does really feel narrower and fewer roomy due to all the additional padding within the tongue. This isn’t a shoe designed with vast ft in thoughts.
Hoka Mach Supersonic Conclusion
image of Hoka Mach Supersonic
The Mach Supersonic is a unique shoe to the Mach 4 however I wouldn’t say that it’s higher. It’s extra suited to quick runs whereas the Mach 4 is best suited to slower runs. It has a firmer trip than the Mach 4 for springier toe-offs but it surely additionally weighs extra due to its further higher padding.
The Mach Supersonic is the form of shoe that I’d advocate for you in order for you a plateless velocity coach and not using a jarring trip and in the event you additionally need a number of cushioning. It has extra cushioning than the EvoRide 2 and the Boston 10 but it surely’s firmer than the Endorphin Pace 2 and Insurgent v2.
You should be cautious of sturdiness before you purchase the Mach Supersonic. It doesn’t have conventional carbon or blown rubber on its outsole so it’s one of many least sturdy outsoles available on the market. In case you are exhausting on outsoles and also you desire a shoe that lasts a very long time, keep away from the Mach.
With the approaching arrival of the Mach 5, the Mach 4 is at present being closely discounted so you may get it for nearly $50 lower than the Mach Supersonic. Until you like firmer rides, I recommend getting the discounted Mach 4 as a substitute and saving money.
The brand new supercritical midsole foam within the Supersonic isn’t an improve over the Mach 4’s common EVA foam. It nonetheless doesn’t have the power return which I crave from a Hoka shoe. It does nevertheless make it simpler to select up the tempo which is what Hoka designed the Supersonic to do.
As editorial coverage, we don't settle for free samples from firms.
We bought this pair of Hoka Mach Supersonic at Operating Warehouse with our personal cash.