REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Well-cushioned
Stable
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Wide footprint
5mm takes some getting used to
Hoka One One Mach 5 - Women's Review
This well-cushioned and comfortable running shoe provides lightweight comfort and protection for your joints as you pound pavement
Credit: HOKA ONE ONE
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women of 2023
Our Verdict
The Hoka One One Mach 5 is a shoe that took us by surprise with its ample comfort, cushion, and astoundingly light weight. Each women's size 7 shoe weighs under 7 ounces, which is super low for shoes that provide underfoot comfort. With a jacquard-engineered mesh upper and a flat lay tongue, the Mach provides a stripped-down version of comfort that we greatly enjoy. The Profly construction and EVA sockliner further add to this shoe's impressive bounce and underfoot feel. With a beveled heel collar and a 5-millimeter drop, this is the shoe for you if you are looking for a comfortable shoe with impressive energy return. With all of these attributes, it's no wonder why we elected the updated Mach as our Top Pick for Plush Comfort.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Hoka One One Mach 5 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $139.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $119.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $99.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $119.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Lightweight, well-cushioned, stable, comfortable | Comfortable, responsive, many size options available, durable, traditional fit | Well-cushioned, protective, available in multiple width options, stable and supportive | Stable, comfortable, durable, responsive, well-constructed | Lightweight, comfortable, affordable, responsive |
| Cons | Wide footprint, 5mm takes some getting used to | Heavier than some, somewhat pricy | Heavier than some, support structures might feel too rigid for some runners | Slightly heavy, might feel too rigid to some | Less laterally stable, somewhat narrow fit |
| Bottom Line | This well-cushioned and comfortable running shoe provides lightweight comfort and protection for your joints as you pound pavement | This smooth-riding, highly responsive, and traditionally shaped running shoe is your one-hit wonder when it comes to running shoes, from speed days to long efforts | This all-around fantastic shoe will support your musculature and provide comfort no matter the distance of your endeavors | This traditional running shoe provides exceptional support and comfort, great durability, and a predictable running shoe fit | This lightweight and responsive shoe is our go-to for faster-paced runs where we crave the sensation of flying |
| Rating Categories | Hoka One One Mach 5... | Brooks Glycerin 20... | Brooks Adrenaline G... | Brooks Ghost 14 - W... | Saucony Kinvara 13... |
| Responsiveness (25%) | |||||
| Landing Comfort/Cushioning (25%) | |||||
| Stability (20%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Hoka One One Mach 5... | Brooks Glycerin 20... | Brooks Adrenaline G... | Brooks Ghost 14 - W... | Saucony Kinvara 13... |
| Weight (per shoe, size 7) | 6.42 oz | 8.61 oz | 8.11 oz | 7.79 oz | 5.86 oz |
| Heel to Toe Drop | 5 mm | 10 mm | 12 mm | 12 mm | 4 mm |
| Width Options | Regular | Regular, Wide | Regular, Narrow, Wide, Extra Wide | Regular, Narrow, Wide | Regular, Wide |
| Style | Neutral | Traditional | Moderate cushioned | Traditional | Neutral |
| Sizes Available | 5-11 | 5-12 | 5-13 | 5-13 | 5-12 |
| Upper Material | Engineered mesh | Synthetic mesh | Mesh | Engineered mesh | Engineered mesh |
| Midsole Material | PROFLY foam | EVA foam | EVA | DNA loft, BioMoGo DNA | EVA |
| Sole Rubber | Rubberized EVA | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The HOKA Mach 5 is a well-cushioned running shoe that shows up for race day. Its lightweight design, 5-millimeter drop, and beveled heel collar made this runner an exceptional choice for long-distance speed. Each women’s size 7 shoe weighs in at a light 6.42 ounces. This low-weight design, Profly construction, and responsive outsole make for a running shoe that helps you hit your pace goals comfortably.
Performance Comparison
The EVA foam base of the Mach helps take the "pounding" out of "pounding the pavement."
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Responsiveness
Hoka One One is known for making plush, maximalist shoes that can take a long-distance beating. From the moment we unboxed the updated Mach, we knew we were in for a speedy treat. Each women’s size 7 shoe weighs nearly half as much as some of the bulkier Hoka designs, which immediately increases your ability to fly.
Despite being bigger than some of the more responsive shoes on the market, the Mach 5 holds its own in this metric. The incorporation of the early-stage meta-rocker allows your legs to turn over quickly and smoothly. When combined with the bouncy Profly+ midsole, you are left with a surprisingly responsive shoe. Hoka utilizes a firmer platform to cushion the base of the Mach, when compared to their fluffier options. This material gives you a strong launch pad so none of the energy you are pounding into the pavement gets wasted.
We remain impressed by the combined comfort and responsivity of the Mach 5.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Landing Comfort/Cushioning
The landing comfort and cushioning of the Hoka Mach 5 is different from any shoe we have ever tested and we are here for it. The shape and cushioning of the Mach 5 can best be described as “comfortable minimalist” because that is exactly what it is.
Hoka designed this shoe to provide the comforts of a much bulkier shoe, but without any of the weight-adding extras. The result is a protective and lightweight shoe that is full of svelte padding.
The extended heel and 36mm stack height make for well-padded runs.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The Profly+ foam midsole and the EVA foam sole absorb the impact of each footstrike, but the cushion doesn’t feel pillow-like underfoot. The shape of the shoe’s base is contoured in a way to follow the contours of the foot, which adds to the overall comfort of the Mach 5. While not the fluffiest running shoe on the market, it is a great choice if you are looking for a running shoe that offers landing comfort and cushion without slowing you down. You’ll feel like you are running close to the ground, allowing your body to adapt to the ever-changing terrain beneath your feet.
Once we got used to the large outsole of the Mach 5, it became one of our favorite shoes for long, race-pace runs.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
The Hoka Mach 5 is a neutral running shoe and feels that way. We often find that shoes with stronger structures provide extra stability, even when they are made as a neutral shoe. This is not the case for the updated Mach. The semi-rigid yet feather-weight materials hug the shape of your foot but don’t have any additional structure to reinforce gait patterns.
If you like structurally-strong shoes that provide lateral support, you probably won’t love the feeling of riding in the Mach 5. However, if you want a responsive shoe with above-average traction, you’ll probably like the stable, rubberized EVA foam outsole and lug patterning.
The low heel-to-toe differential allows for good stability, even though the stack height of the Mach keeps you lifted higher above the ground than most road shoes.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Upper Comfort
The Mach 5 provides the upper comfort you want in a shoe without feeling bulky.
One of the main reasons that it rides so comfortably is because of how lightweight and unobtrusive the actual textiles are. The upper is made of creel Jacquard engineered mesh, which is a specific type of weave pattern that lends itself well to being lightweight and comfortable.
The upper of the Mach doesn't have a ton of cushion, but the lay-flat tongue and engineered mesh upper allow this comfy shoe to weigh almost half of what some bulkier running shoes weigh.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The lay-flat tongue is sturdy enough to not bunch up but minimalist enough to provide a nontraditional feel through the lace bed. While we enjoyed the feeling of the updated lace bed, it may not provide enough comfort for runners who are looking for a thicker, more standard style of tongue. The beveled heel collar is a nice touch, yet also an element that some runners might be turned off by. It fit our tester’s ankle anatomy, was perfectly comfortable and added to the overall fit of the shoe. However, if you are prone to heel slippage or think the heel shape might bug you while running, we definitely recommend trying the Mach on before buying.
The rubberized EVA outsole of the Mach is lightweight, grippy, and comfortable underfoot.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
The Mach 5 is one of the lightest shoes in our roundup. Each women’s size 7 weighs less than 7 ounces, which is incredibly lightweight for a shoe that offers so much comfort.
If you are on the hunt for a comfortable running shoe that will protect your joints without slowing you down, the Mach 5 is worth a try. Because of its low weight, it stands out among our collection of runners for being the one we want to hit fast paces over long distances in.
We will definitely keep the Mach 5 in our rotation of road running shoes. We love its lightweight cushion and overall responsiveness.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Mach 5?
While we love running in the Mach 5, we acknowledge that a few of its characteristics won’t appeal to all runners. When it comes to its price tag, the Mach is pretty standard. It’s not the most affordable shoe, but it also isn’t the most expensive. We typically see lowered durability in shoes with foam outsoles, but the rubberized outsole of the Mach is far less susceptible to destruction than we expected.
Overall, the Mach 5 impressed us and earned its title as our Top Pick for Plush Comfort.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If you want the most responsive shoe that we tested, you’ll have better luck looking into the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 or even the Nike Pegasus 39. If you want a plush ride or a traditional shape, we recommend checking out the Hoka One One Bondi 8 or the Brooks Glycerin 20, respectively. If you are curious about what the combination of all of these styles feels like, the Mach 5 is our go-to recommendation. This stripped-down version of a maximalist shoe is the perfect inspiration for picking up your pace over double-digit distances.
—
Ally Arcuri
You Might Also Like
Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn More