HOKA Mach 6 Road Running Shoe Review
in-depth testing on our favorite daily trainer for everyday running
May 14th, 2025
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The HOKA Mach 6 utilizes a low-profile, supercritical EVA foam designed for energy-efficient turnover. Photo by Sam Schild
Our verdict
The HOKA Mach 6 is a lightweight, responsive road running shoe ideal for runners who incorporate speedwork to their training plan. This shoe operates as a daily trainer, meant for everyday running as well as workouts and races, though offers less cushion than most daily training road running shoes.
We tested these shoes on pavement, tracks, and dirt roads throughout Colorado, Utah, and Arizona over the last year. After casual mileage days, track workouts, tempos, and strides, we assessed the Mach 6’s comfort, turnover, cushion, longevity, durability, and more.
The standout features of the Mach 6 are its light weight and impressively responsive midsole at a much more affordable cost than carbon-plated supershoes. We’re not saying these shoes are at the supershoe level, but they work like a more cushioned and durable racing flat. This is great for workouts when you want to feel fast, but don’t want to wear down an expensive supershoe before a race.
There’s also still enough cushion for the shoe to work as a daily trainer, particularly for those who prefer less cushion. In short, it’s a highly versatile shoe for folks who incorporate speedwork into their training plans. In fact, we dubbed it Best Overall in our Best Men’s Road Running Shoes guide and Best Lightweight Shoe in our Best Women’s Road Running Shoes guide.
Collectively, our testers Sam, Becca, and Caitlin ran in these shoes over the last year, ranging from short to long mileage days, track workouts, and long-distance workouts. Here we’ll explore the specs, features, performance, and best uses for the HOKA Mach 6 road running shoes.
HOKA Mach 6
Men's
Women's
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Specs
MSRP: $140
Weight: 232 g
Heel-to-toe drop: 5 mm
Cushioning: Low-profile, responsive
Stability: Neutral
Best for: Road running, racing
Upper: Creel jacquard with zonal breathability
Midsole: Super critical foam
Outsole: Strategic rubber coverage
Vegan Materials: Yes
Comparison table
| RUNNING SHOE | WEIGHT MEN'S | WEIGHT WOMEN'S | CUSHION | HEEL DROP | STACK HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOKA Mach 6 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 0.4 oz | 13.4 oz | Maximum | 5 mm | 34 - 42 mm (M), 30 - 38 mm (W) |
| HOKA Rincon 4 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 0.1 oz | 13.6 oz | Balanced | 5 mm | 36 - 31 mm |
| HOKA Mach X 2 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 2.4 oz | 15.6 oz | Responsive | 5 mm | 44 - 39 mm |
| Saucony Ride 18 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 3.8 oz | 1 lb, 0.8 oz | Maximum | 8 mm | 35 - 27 mm |
| Altra Torin 8 Men's Women's |
1 lb, 4.7 oz | 1 lb, 1.3 oz | Moderate | 0 mm | 30 mm |
Who is it for?
Treeline Review writer Becca Downs running in the Hoka Mach 6. Becca was one of three Treeline Review testers who used this daily trainer on roads and tracks, ranging from short training runs to speed workouts, tempo runs, and post-run strides. Photo by Becca Downs.
The HOKA Mach 6 is marketed as a daily trainer, and while we think it fits the bill, we found it’s best suited for quicker runs, like tempo and Fartlek workouts, for example. This shoe is a lightweight and responsive daily trainer, meaning it encourages faster running.
One of our testers found this shoe reminded her of a racing flat (you know, what many people raced in before the supershoe era), but with more cushion and stability—like a hybrid daily trainers-racing flat. Our men’s tester named this shoe the Best Overall Men’s Road Running Shoe and our women’s tester named it Best Lightweight Road Running Shoe for its lightweight, minimal feel with still plenty of cushion, and its versatility as a daily trainer and workout shoe. Plus, it’s on the more affordable end of road running shoes, costing $140.
Also, if you like HOKA shoes but don’t want an excessive amount of cushion or stability, the Mach 6 may be a great daily training option for you.
How we tested
We’ve tested dozens of road running shoes, and the HOKA Mach 6 has consistently been a favorite. Treeline Review writer Sam Schild named it Best Overall in our Best Men’s Road Running Shoes guide, and Treeline Review writer Becca Downs named it Best Lightweight in the Best Women’s Road Running Shoes guide. Photo by Sam Schild
Our testers ran in the HOKA Mach 6s on roads and tracks, ranging from short training runs to speed workouts, tempo runs, and post-run strides.
Our men’s tester, Sam, wore the Mach 6 in Utah and Arizona on easy runs and speed workouts while training for an ultramarathon, ranging from pavement to dirt roads and non-technical trails. Our women’s testers, Becca and Caitlin, wore them in Colorado, one using them for daily training runs and short post-run sprints on pavement, while the other mostly used them for track workouts while coming back from injury. We’ve collectively tested them over the last year, through all the seasons, though mostly in dry, warm weather.
We tested the HOKA Mach 6 on roads, tracks, and dirt roads throughout Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Photo by Sam Schild
While testing, Sam looked for how well the shoe balances its lightweight minimalism with enough cushion for daily training runs. He also tested its versatility by wearing them for different purposes—easier runs of varied lengths and long-distance speed workouts.
Becca has hip arthritis and is more limited when it comes to testing turnover, so she tested them as a daily trainer while adding on a few quick parking lot strides (i.e., sprints to encourage quicker turnover and better form). Once she realized these were better suited for workouts, she recruited the help of her friend Caitlin, who regularly runs track workouts in her training, to test their responsiveness on the track, and how well they hold up over longer runs.
We also paid attention to overall comfort and fit—each of our testers has different shaped feet and tested these shoes with their own needs in mind.
What we liked
Lightweight
Responsive
Versatile as a daily trainer and/or workout shoe
Overall comfort
Value for the price
Available in wide sizing
What could be better
Less cushion and support than similar daily trainers
Narrower fit for some
Exposed foam midsole could break down faster and be a durability concern
Features
Fit and comfort
Overall, we found the HOKA Mach 6 to be a comfortable road running shoe that fits true to size. While it’s a lightweight, responsive shoe, there’s enough cushion to keep you comfortable over longer training runs. However, that comes with a caveat—Sam had no issue with comfort over long runs, but Becca hit a limit after a 2-3 miles in these shoes due to her hip arthritis (she needed more cushion).
The Mach 6 has a more “slim silhouette” compared to most HOKA shoes, which tend to be bulky. None of our testers felt they were too snug, but Sam—who has wider feet—noted that wide-footed runners may want to try on a wide size if that’s a concern.
The “anatomical” tongue is thin and minimalist rather than plush, and the dual internal gusset is designed to keep your foot more secure. These features contribute to the slim fit and cater to folks looking to race or run fast workouts in these shoes.
Upper Design and Breathability
The upper is constructed of creel jacquard mesh, which is an engineered polyester-based mesh fabric. It’s been updated from the Mach 5 to now have two layers instead of one: a softer layer against the foot and a more durable mesh outer layer.
The upper is constructed of creel jacquard mesh, which is an engineered polyester-based mesh fabric. Photo by Sam Schild
The dual layering in the upper is an interesting choice, as it could limit breathability. However, the mesh has been designed specifically for zonal breathability and we had no issues, even when running in hot temperatures in Arizona. Plus, the upper, like the rest of the shoe, is sleek and minimal, so with less bulk comes more airflow.
Midsole / Cushion
With a 5mm heel-to-toe drop, the Mach 6 is a mid-drop shoe, which makes it approachable for most runners. Photo by Sam Schild
The Mach 6 utilizes a low-profile, supercritical EVA foam designed for energy-efficient turnover. This shoe is designed for “snappy” push-off and quicker running. In our testing, we’d say HOKA hit the mark, as this is a very responsive daily trainer.
While all our testers agreed on the responsiveness of this shoe, we had some differing opinions on its level of cushion. Sam found this cushion to be plenty for long road runs, especially with the stack height (35mm-30mm for women, 31mm-26mm for men). Becca, however, tends to prefer more cushion on the roads, as the harsh pounding is particularly rough on her bad hip. For this reason, she found she can only comfortably run in the Mach 6s for a few miles.
We also noticed the midsole is quite exposed, which means the foam could break down quicker than shoes with less exposed midsole. This is a potential durability concern, though one that’s not unique to this shoe; many road running shoes have exposed midsoles as it’s a method for shaving the shoe’s weight.
Outsole / Traction
The rubber outsole is grippy enough to offer sufficient traction on pavement, tracks, and smooth dirt roads. You could certainly cross over to non-technical trails on occasion, but we wouldn’t recommend it for trail running. If you’re looking for a trail running shoe, check out our Best Men’s Trail Running Shoes and Best Women’s Trail Running Shoe guides.
Weight
Weighing 8.2 oz for the men’s shoe and 6.7 oz for the women’s shoe, this is one of the lightest daily trainers you’ll find. This plus the responsive rocker midsole is what makes it great for workouts and races.
Heel-to-Toe Drop
With a 5mm heel-to-toe drop, this is a mid-drop shoe, which makes it approachable for most runners. If you’re accustomed to a zero-drop shoe like the Altra Torin 8, or a high-drop shoe like the On Cloudsurfer 2, you may need to ease into this shoe. But for most runners, this drop will contribute to a comfortable ride.
We found rubber outsole grippy enough for sufficient traction on pavement, tracks, and smooth dirt roads. Photo by Sam Schild
Sustainability
The HOKA Mach 6s are made of recycled materials and are fully vegan shoes. HOKA is also part of the United National Global Compact (UNGC), a corporate sustainability initiative committed to responsible labor standards and environmental practices. Additionally, HOKA publishes their goals and reports on clean energy, carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, water, and waste for transparency.
Performance in the field
Daily training
As a daily trainer, we appreciated the general comfort of the HOKA Mach 6, with just enough cushion to balance its lightweight responsiveness. While our men’s tester Sam found them comfortable enough for road runs of any length, our women’s tester Becca (who has hip arthritis) hit a comfort limit around 2-3 miles.
We think a lot of runners, especially those regularly doing speed and long distance workouts or those who like a more minimalist feel, would enjoy this as a daily trainer. However, if you’re accustomed to more cushion, you may find the Mach 6 less comfortable as a daily trainer.
While the HOKA Mach 6 is a lightweight, responsive shoe, there’s still enough cushion to keep most runners comfortable over longer training runs. Photo by Sam Schild
Speed work
Speed work is where the HOKA Mach 6 shines. As the lightest road running shoe we’ve tested, and with the supercritical EVA foam rocker midsole, these shoes encourage quick turnover and make you feel light on your feet. They remind Becca of racing flats, which she typically would wear for speed workouts and distance races back in the day (before supershoes). These have just a little more cushion and support.
Another tester, Caitlin, used the HOKA Mach 6 exclusively for track workouts. She noticed a spring and forward-leaning momentum while running in them, making them great confidence-boosting shoes.
Sam also used the Mach 6 for speed workouts and up-tempo runs. He noted that the shoe provided excellent turnover for increasing speed, which would make them great for intervals and fartleks too.
Speed work is where the HOKA Mach 6 shines. As the lightest road running shoe we’ve tested, and with the supercritical EVA foam rocker midsole, these shoes encourage fast running. Photo by Sam Schild
Race day
In the age of the expensive supershoe, the HOKA Mach 6 provides a comfortable and affordable race day option. Becca, who raced everything from the mile to the 50k prior to her hip arthritis diagnosis, thinks their light weight and responsiveness make them a great half marathon or marathon racing shoe for those who aren’t looking to spend supershoe prices.
HOKA Mach 6 vs. similar shoes
The HOKA Mach 6 differs from other neutral, mid-drop road running shoes primarily in its weight. These shoes are noticeably lighter than almost any other daily trainers (other than the HOKA Rincon 4), which contributes to their responsiveness and turnover. Becca tested the HOKA Rincon 3 and preferred the relative cushion and stability of the Mach 6. However, the Rincon 4 has since been released and has some interesting updates to cushioning that we look forward to testing.
While the HOKA Rincon (left) weighs less, the HOKA Mach (right) is springier and encourages quicker turnover, making it the better option for a workout shoe. Photo by Becca Downs
Lightweight road shoes like these are best suited for those who will be running faster workouts and want to feel light and quick on their feet. For folks looking to run at a more casual pace, or who will want to use these shoes for walks and long days on their feet as well, we recommend a more cushioned shoe, like the HOKA Clifton 10 or the HOKA Bondi 9.
Should I buy the HOKA Mach 6?
Buy if: You want a lightweight, speed-focused daily trainer. If you’re looking for a shoe specifically for speed/distance workouts or races at a more affordable price than a carbon-plated shoe, this is a great choice.
Skip if: You prefer plush cushioning or need extra support. If you want a shoe for more moderate-paced runs, or will want shoes that also work for walking or long days on your feet, you’ll probably want a more cushioned shoe.
The HOKA Mach 6 may be for you if you’re looking for a lightweight, speed-focused daily trainer. Photo by Sam Schild
Where to buy the HOKA Mach 6?
The HOKA Mach 6 road running shoes are popular footwear, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership
Similar products
HOKA Rincon 4
MSRP: $125
Weight (per shoe): 1 lb, 0.4 oz (men’s), 13.4 oz (women’s)
Heel-to-toe drop: 5 mm
Cushion: Responsive
Stability: Neutral
The HOKA Rincon 4 is another super lightweight daily trainer. We tested the Rincon 3 and found it lacked the cushion for daily training, but the updated model now has more cushion. We’re definitely interested in how it might compare to the Mach 6. Based on what we know of the midsole construction, and based on other media reviews, the Mach 6 seems to still offer better turnover and longevity than the Rincon. However, this model is closer to the mark and costs $15 less than the Mach 6, so it’s a solid budget option for those who want a speedy daily trainer.
HOKA Rincon 4
Men's
Women's
HOKA Mach X 2
MSRP: $190
Weight (per shoe): 1 lb, 2.4 oz (men’s), 15.6 oz (women’s)
Heel-to-toe drop: 5 mm
Cushion: Responsive
Stability: Neutral
The HOKA Mach X 2—which won Best for Workouts in our Best Women’s Road Running Shoes guide—is like a souped-up version of the Mach 6, with a Pebax plate (a lightweight plastic polymer, similar to a carbon plate) in the midsole for even faster running. Interestingly, it weighs a little more than the Mach 6, but the midsole technology is far superior for turnover. If you’re serious about speed and distance workouts, and have the budget for a $190 pair of workout shoes, this is a great upgrade option.
HOKA Mach X 2
Men's
Women's
Saucony Ride 18
MSRP: $140
Weight (per shoe): 1 lb, 3.8 oz (men’s), 1 lb, 0.8 oz (women’s)
Heel-to-toe drop: 8 mm
Cushion: Responsive
Stability: Neutral
The Saucony Ride 18 is a neutral road running shoe that weighs a couple ounces more per shoe than the Mach 6 and has 3 mm more of drop. It is less responsive but more cushion than the Mach 6, and is a reliable daily trainer for most runners. This shoe doesn’t offer a lot of fancy tech, but it’s one of our favorite shoes for the dollar and has earned Best Affordable Road Running Shoe in our Best Men’s Road Running Shoes and Best Women’s Road Running Shoes guides.
Saucony Ride 18
Men's
Women's
About the author / Why you should trust us
Becca ran D1 cross country and track for Indiana University—Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) and continued racing everything from elite miles to an ultramarathon in her post-collegiate years. She earned a USATF Level 1 certification for coaching running and coached boys and girls high school cross country and track in Indianapolis for four years. Becca then joined the IUPUI women’s distance coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 2020-2021.
She geeks out on trail running, track and field, and cries every time she watches a marathon (they’re just so beautiful!). After notching a few small FKTs under her belt in 2020, she was diagnosed with hip arthritis and now channels her passion for running into coaching, writing, crewing, creating training plans for her friends, hiking, and running when her hip allows it.
You can read more of Becca's work at her website or on her author page. You can follow her on Instagram at @beccad___.
