Thursday, February 19, 2026

HOKA Mach X 3 vs HOKA Mach X 2

The Mach X is the coaching companion of each the Cielo X1 and the Rocket X, HOKA’s two carbon racers. It is a extra comfy, extra sturdy and cheaper possibility that offers you an identical experience to HOKA’s tremendous racers.

The Mach X 3 is a minor replace however there are a couple of necessary adjustments that try to be conscious of earlier than buying. This text will let you know which model is healthier for you.

Verdict

The HOKA Mach X 3 succeeds the place many fashionable trainers fail: it would not pressure you to decide on between consolation and efficiency. This versatile plated coach delivers good worth for runners searching for a shoe that may deal with no matter their coaching plan calls for, from straightforward runs to tempo runs to marathon efforts.

The Hoka Mach X 2 is a superb velocity coach with a flexible experience. It has a softer experience than most velocity trainers but it surely has a excessive stage of power due to its layer of PEBA foam and its Pebax plate. Model 2 has a extra breathable higher, a extra cushioned experience and a extra aggressive plate than the unique model. Its higher doesn’t really feel as comfy or as polished as v1 and it might trigger heel rubbing issues for some runners.

Really helpful for

Speedwork

Racing, speedwork

Cushioning kind

Responsive/balanced

Balanced

Cushioning quantity

Extremely cushioned

Extremely cushioned

Flexibility

medium

medium

Stability

some stability

some stability

Sizing

true to dimension

purchase half dimension larger

Retail value

US$189.95

US$189.95

The Mach X 3 and X 2 have the very same sole models so the experience is similar. They’ve dual-density midsoles with a tender layer of PEBA on the highest and a firmer layer of EVA on the underside. The PEBA supplies glorious power return and luxury whereas the EVA supplies construction and sturdiness.

The Mach X has a flexible experience character and it’s appropriate for straightforward runs as much as actually quick, V02 Max exercises. It has a energetic experience with glorious power return that makes it very straightforward to select up the tempo. It could possibly even be used for races nevertheless, it has a heel stack above 40 mm which makes it unlawful to make use of for official World Athletics races.

The only of the Mach X has a meta-rocker design that helps to hurry up transitions. Each the rearfoot and the forefoot curve upwards- this geometry eases you thru transitions and makes working really feel extra environment friendly.

There’s a versatile Pebax plate in the midst of the only for further propulsion and improved stability. The plate extends out on the lateral aspect of the midsole to supply extra lateral stability. The Pebax plate is rather more versatile than a carbon plate so it feels extra pure at sluggish paces.

On the outsole, there’s compression-moulded sticky rubber for glorious traction, even in moist climate. The rubber isn’t very abrasion resistant so it wears down quicker than your common outsole rubber.

The higher of the Mach X 3 is much more comfy than the two. The mesh is smoother and it makes the shoe really feel extra premium. There’s extra construction within the heel of the three and this supplies higher heel lockdown. There’s additionally extra padding within the tongue and the collar of the three so it supplies extra consolation round your ankles.

Model 2 has a tough stress level on the within of the higher the place the tongue is stitched onto the ceiling of the toe-box nevertheless, this problem has been fastened in model 3. Model 2 has a thinner, extra porous mesh which improves breathability.

Each variations have very slender becoming uppers, notably within the toe-box so it’s beneficial to go up a half dimension out of your regular dimension. Each variations usually are not beneficial for you when you have huge ft.

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