In production · trail · Trail · $200
Hoka Mafate Three2: 35 mm heel stack, 4 mm drop, 332 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
Hoka tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 35 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A low 4 mm drop encourages a midfoot landing and keeps the ankle working through a fuller range. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.44 per mile at $200.
For the foams and plates Hoka uses across its line, read the Hoka brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
329 g / 11.6 oz
54 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
35 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
4 mm
2 mm lower than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$200
40 pricier than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Hoka line it is heavier than the brand's median (275 g / 9.7 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (38 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Brooks Cascadia 19(2024)
303 g / 10.7 oz · 35 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $140
The stable, protective all-terrain workhorse of trail running.
Altra Experience Wild 3+
323 g / 11.4 oz · 32 mm · 4 mm drop · Rock · $165
Burlier Experience Wild with Vibram Megagrip for technical terrain.
Altra Experience Wild 3
292 g / 10.3 oz · 32 mm · 4 mm drop · Rock · $150
Low-drop light trail shoe on Altra's EGO P35 foam.
Nike Juniper Trail 2 GTX
323 g / 11.4 oz · 35 mm · 9 mm drop · Rock · $115
Nike Juniper Trail 2 GTX: 35 mm heel stack, 9 mm drop, 293 g — specs from independent lab testing.