I’ve been a fan of the Mach sequence from Hoka since model 4 got here on the scene. Whereas it and its successor, the Mach 5, didn’t final very lengthy, the miles have been enjoyable and gratifying whereas they lasted.
Sturdiness was enormously improved for the Mach 6, however the journey was noticeably totally different and turned away some die-hard Mach followers. (Coach Amanda waves her hand right here.)
Gone was the comfortable high layer of EVA over a more durable rubberized EVA layer. Instead was a full slab of supercritical EVA and a skinny rubber outsole, which improved grip and sturdiness.
I used to be in a position to get near 200 miles on my pair of Mach 6 earlier than I moved on to newer pastures, and I felt like 225 to 250 miles was simply attainable.
The Mach 7 picks up the place the 6 left off, with the identical supercritical EVA midsole and a barely much less restrictive Creel Jacquard higher. Not a lot has modified, however because the outdated saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it!” And that’s precisely what Hoka did with this replace.
Who’s the Hoka Mach 7 a superb match for, let’s break it down by some frequent classes:
- Vast Ft: You’ll wish to go for one of many colorways accessible in a large, as a result of the usual D width does run slender.
- Heavier runners: Sure, with its large base and comfortable however responsive foam, it’s a superb choice for heavier runners.
- Lengthy Runs: When you expertise important foot swelling over longer distances I might advocate capping the Mach 7 at concerning the half marathon distance.
- Entrance of the pack: It’s quick and responsive sufficient to be an uptempo day by day coach and tempo/threshold coach for quicker runners.
Purchase Hoka Mach 7
This day by day coach is right for runners who need a decrease stack working shoe that may decide up the tempo and nonetheless really feel good for lengthy runs. It’s loads of cushion with out being over constructed. The Mach will proceed to rank excessive amongst our high light-weight trainers.
Hoka Mach 7 Overview
The largest visible change is traces of the midsole, which have modified solely barely, however they’re extra aesthetic and don’t change the character of the midsole.
I assumed the midsole on the Mach 7 felt barely firmer than the Mach 6, and whereas I donated my outdated pair I used to be fortunate sufficient to have an area retailer with the Mach 6 nonetheless readily available to go and make sure my suspicion.
The firmer journey shouldn’t be an issue, although. There’s a delicate bounce after a soft-ish touchdown that will get you rolling by means of your stride and on to the following.
I’m both in higher form than I used to be a 12 months in the past (unlikely) or the Mach 7’s means to deal with quicker brief intervals has improved over the Mach 6, which I attributed to the extra firmness of the midsole.
The rocker shouldn’t be overly pronounced, it’s simply sufficient to help your stride whether or not you’re working straightforward or tempo/threshold efforts.
Restoration runs aren’t what the Mach 7 is greatest fitted to. The shoe, whereas comfy, lacks the plush really feel within the higher and midsole for these additional straightforward days.
Moreover, I discovered I used to be at all times both just a few seconds quicker than the excessive finish of my straightforward tempo vary, or mindfully holding myself 15 to twenty seconds slower than it.
Except I consciously slowed right down to a shuffle I wasn’t actually in a position to cruise alongside at what felt like a delicate restoration tempo. The responsiveness and rocker made it extra of a chore to essentially calm down and shuffle alongside.
I did make an effort to place the Mach 7 by means of all of my paces throughout a 9 mile future beginning out at straightforward tempo, progressing to some miles every at marathon and threshold paces, then just a few intervals at interval and repetition paces earlier than one final mile at straightforward tempo to chill down.
The Mach 7 dealt with all paces with aplomb. I might usually reserve interval and repetition paces for one thing just like the Topo Cyclone or Adidas Takumi Sen, however the Mach 7 did properly below these circumstances.
I didn’t discover any life-changing grip with the brand new sticky forefoot rubber, however grip was simply pretty much as good because the Mach 6, even within the afternoon after a mid-day rain bathe.
The rubber outsole together with the uncovered sections of the midsole have held up properly over the past couple weeks so I count on sturdiness to be simply pretty much as good as was the Mach 6.
Coach Amanda: I agree the 7 is firmer and that is going to be hit and miss on who enjoys it. Whereas the 6 wasn’t my favourite, I’ve been working it in fairly a bit currently and there’s a noticeable distinction within the two sneakers. Which do I like higher? I don’t know, they nearly really feel like two totally different experiences.
The 7 is a agency journey, the 6 is a softer journey, each can help you decide up the tempo, each have the decrease stack that I’m presently preferring…robust alternative. It’s the identical midsole foam, so now I’m questioning if the shoe is simply going to really feel totally different after I hit 250 plus miles? As a lighter runner than Tim, I’m able to get an extended life span from the shoe.
In comparison with latest runs within the Asics Superblast 3 I didn’t know the identical tendency to overrun that Tim did. The max cushioned Superblast coach has that true racing foam which simply type of propelled me, the place the Mach I might include my paces higher.
- Weight: 7.5 ounces Girls’s/ 8.37 ounces Males’s
- Stack Peak: 36mm of supercritical EVA for Girls’s/ 37mm for Males’s
- Heel to Toe Drop: 5mm
- Obtainable in 7 colorways
- Obtainable in large in 6 colorways
- Obtainable at hoka.com for $145
Purchase Hoka Mach 7
Execs
- Responsive cushioning
- Versatile
- Improved grip and sturdiness
Cons
- Narrower match
- Shorter tongue
- Delicate however not plush
Hoka Mach 7 Match & Really feel
Staying true to its performance-oriented roots, the Mach 7 does supply a comfortable match. I discovered the higher on model 7 to be simply as comfortable however extra forgiving than model 6.
Foot safety is high notch with the narrower match and gusseted tongue. There may be ample padding across the ankle with out getting overly crowded and heavy.
The heel counter within the Mach 7 is a bit more versatile than its predecessor, and it felt extra comfy with out sacrificing maintain. The tapered toe field doesn’t supply a lot wiggle room, however the top on the toe field retains it from feeling too cramped up entrance.
The format of the padding within the gussetted tongue modified from the Mach 6 to the 7, with much less padding all through, however a bit extra on the high the place you tie the laces.
Hoka determined to chop the tongue on the Mach 7 just a few millimeters shorter, and I observed the laces crept up nearly over the tongue on an extended, hilly run.
The Hoka Mach 7 is a performance-oriented light-weight coach with a quicker journey.
Its barely comfortable however nonetheless responsive foam works properly with the rocker to roll you alongside, it doesn’t matter what pace you’re working at.
Briefly, it’s a shoe that you would be able to pair with an enormous max cushion cruiser and a plated speedier shoe for a really succesful three shoe rotation.
And with its improved means to hit quick intervals you possibly can even save on the plated race shoe or tremendous coach and run a two shoe rotation when you’re extra wallet-conscious.
Coach Amanda: I hate lengthy tongues, in order that was an enchancment for me. I didn’t discover the laces transferring, however principally as a result of I type of stopped fascinated with the shoe as soon as I put it on. Probably the most splendid working state of affairs.
Related Footwear to the Hoka Mach 7
We’ve examined just a few mild weight day by day coach sneakers that really feel related, however totally different based mostly on the model match.
- New Steadiness Insurgent v5 – Light-weight and versatile with a wider base just like the Mach 7, however not fairly as responsive
- Puma Velocity Nitro 4 – With the same slim match and price ticket, the Velocity ticks loads of the identical packing containers however lacks the help of a rocker profile, however has a plate
- Saucony Kinvara 16 – Related quantity of cushion and heel toe drop, one other shoe for day by day miles than can decide up the tempo
Hoka Mach 6 vs 7
As famous when you liked the 5 we haven’t fairly made it again there. Whereas they didn’t make any important modifications to the tremendous essential EVA foam the shoe does really feel noticeably totally different when placed on subsequent to the Mach 6.
We will’t resolve if this is because of a break in wanted or if it’s simply the extra rubber? Doesn’t solely make sense to make use of as a result of the main target of their modifications was actually across the higher. 
When you discover the Hoka Mach 6 on sale we are saying go for it, until you get pleasure from a firmer really feel.
The 7 is barely heavier with slightly extra outsole protection for each sturdiness and traction.
The 7 has a extra breathable higher.
However for $30-$50, we’d save on the shoe for now and open up these funds for one more pair later.
Coach Amanda plans to maintain working in each fashions as a constant a part of her rotation. There’s one thing to be stated for not having a max cushioned shoe on on a regular basis and as a substitute getting again to one thing slightly extra responsive even in day by day miles.
92%
We love this light-weight working shoe, however can’t determine what’s inflicting it to really feel firmer this time round with no specific modifications to the froth. It’s a implausible single shoe choice to hold you thru day by day miles, pace work and as much as the half marathon for many runners comfortably.
Purchase Hoka Mach 7
