The HOKA Mafate X Hike is new for 2025—and probably the most unique hiking boot that I've personally tested and reviewed. From its eye-popping colors to ridiculous stack height (49mm), this ultra-cushy hiking boot is a head turner. But how hike-able is HOKA's newest hiking boot? How does it compare with HOKA's other hikers? My HOKA Mafate X Hike review gives you my first-hand take on the support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, traction, and value of this daring new hiking boot from one of my favorite brands.
Testing the new HOKA Mafate X Hike in New Mexico's Sandia Mountains
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HOKA Mafate X Hike Review
My HOKA Mafate X Hike review stems from my first-hand testing. My test hikes ran the gamut—from an easy warmup hike at Petroglyph National Monument to moderate 5-milers (Embudito, Piedra Lisa, and Pino trails) to a 12-mile hike off the North Sandia Crest Trail overlooking Albuquerque, New Mexico. These test hikes spanned different types of terrain and different difficulty levels, so I could pinpoint how the new Mafate X Hike would perform for different types of hikers.
As always, Hiking Feet's reviews are 100% independent. Nothing on this site is sponsored by or influenced by shoe companies, marketers, or public relations. I'm an outdoor industry professional who tests hiking footwear more than 1000 miles each year to bring you my expert, first-hand takes on promising boots like the Mafate X Hike.
Testing support and traction just off the Piedra Lisa Trail
Support
You won't confuse the HOKA Mafate X Hike with a traditional hiking boot in the support department. Its mid-cut ankle sleeves aren't meant for ankle support. Their sock-like construction works more like a gaiter to keep out sticks, stones, and gravel. Support-wise, this HOKA mid-cut wears more like a low-cut.
But the Mafate X Hike is somewhat supportive in two respects. First, the midsole foam is so thick—nearly two inches—that the boot barely flexes at the balls of your feet. This supports the foot (on top of absorbing shock and boosting comfort). Two, this boot has a forked carbon plate—a high-end running shoe technology that boosts propulsion while adding lateral stability. Combined, those features contribute foot support and torsional rigidity (which makes it harder to roll an ankle).
My Mafate X Hikes weigh 2 oz more than my HOKA Trail Code hiking boots
Weight
The HOKA Mafate X Hike weighs in just above my unofficial cut-off for a lightweight hiking boot. My men's size 12 weighs 2 lb 5 oz per pair. That's several ounces lighter than the average men's hiking boot—and relatively light for how cushy and bulky it is. Still, it's slightly heavier than models on my list of the best lightweight hiking boots, including the HOKA Anacapa Mid and HOKA Trailcode.
The Mafate X's copious cushioning costs it a little bit (not a lot) in the weight department—which was true both on the scale and on the trail. During my test hikes, I didn't feel quite as fleet of foot in the Mafate X Hike as I do in my favorite lightweight hiking boots due to the added bulk of those massive midsoles.
The HOKA Mafate X HIke has a wider fit and high volume
Fit
The HOKA Mafate X Hike runs true-to-size length-wise with a roomier fit than most hiking boots I've tested and reviewed. I have moderately wide feet and got a comfortable fit in the Mafate X by sizing up a 1/2 size from my everyday (casual) shoe size. The Mafate X has a wider fit than the HOKA Anacapa and more volume than the (also roomy) HOKA Trail Code or the wide version of the HOKA Speedgoat.
If you've got narrow feet and/or low-volume feet, you may feel as if you're swimming in the roomy Mafate X. On the flipside, if you've found other HOKA hiking boots too narrow for you, the HOKA Mafate X Hike accommodates wider feet better than HOKA's other hiking boots.
It also features a quick-lace system. I like that feature on some low-cut hiking shoes, but I didn't feel these laces locked my feet in as much as other quicklace systems I've worn.
The Mafate X HIke's max cushion midsoles & ventilated neoprene ankle collars contribute to this boot's one-of-a-kind feel
Comfort
Now for the big question: what does it feel like to hike on top of nearly two inches of lightweight foam? Based on my test hikes, the HOKA Mafate X Hike feels super-soft and extremely shock absorbent—to the extent that it's tough to feel the trail. All that plush cushioning could spare your feet some trauma, especially if you're into half-day or all-day hikes (or stand on your feet all day). Plus, I noticed these soles felt quite stable as I flew down some steep switchbacks with good footing—similar to what fat tire mountain bikes must feel like.
At the same time, I didn't feel fast or agile hiking on top of that extreme stack height. On my test hikes, that X-treme cushioning also made me more susceptible to falls and awkward foot placement. First, I stumbled and tripped frequently (even on easier terrain) as my feet adjusted to striking the ground a half-inch to inch sooner than expected. Second, I couldn't feel the trail very well well—which contributed to a hard fall I took on the Embudito trail. That being said, I wasn't quite as clutzy after 4-5 test hikes in the Mafate X Hike. You can get used to its unique feel.
More on Feel
The boot's wide and high volume fit, neoprene collar, and quicklaces also give the Mafate X Hike a "relaxed fit"—not a performance fit. Like relaxed fit blue jeans, the boot's fit may feel comfortable, but you also could find it loose and clunky (in spite of the boot's light weight). Those collars are made to keep out sticks and stones, but they also reduced how much heat and moisture vapor escaped from the top of the boots, too.
Non-waterproof hiking footwear works well in high desert mountains
Weather Protection
HOKA's other hiking boots use GORE-TEX waterproofing for weather protection, but the Mafate X Hike is not waterproof. The benefit is that this boot won't wear as warm as most waterproof hiking boots—though the neoprene sleeve reduces ventilation and heat escaping through the anle collars. The tradeoff is that you'll definitely take on water in the Mafate hiking boot if you're splashing down the trail or crunching through snow.
Since I live in arid New Mexico, the non-waterproof Mafate X Hike makes sense for my desert hikes. But it wouldn't match the weather protection of most hiking boots on the market.
The HOKA Mafate X has pizza- and taco-shaped lugs
Traction
I may have stumbled more than normal in the HOKA Mafate X Hike, but that was due to the extra cushion—not the traction. Its soft Vibram outsoles had some stick-um on solid rock, which came in handy as I scrambled up and down huge slabs of waterworn granite in Embudito Canyon. The lugs aren't deep or super-aggressive, but there are some decent edges and grooves for decent purchase on sand, gravel, and scree. I slipped a little on the steepest switchbacks on the Pino, Embudito, and Piedra Lisa trails, but the traction wasn't too bad.
Overall, I like the tread best on moderate, multisurface trails—nothing too technical. As a bonus, those lug shapes seriously mimic tacos and slices of pizza!
At the very least, the HOKA Mafate X Hike is a conversation starter: I had hikers stop me on the trail to ask me what hiking boots I was testing.
Value
At its release, the HOKA Mafate X Hike has a premium price of $250. That's steep—especially for a lighter hiking boot—but not far off the On Cloudrock ($240). That's not a bad comp. Both boots have similar weights and push the style envelope. However, the Mafate's cushion and traction certainly give it a performance edge over the Cloudrock. It's $10 more than HOKA's other plush hiking boot, the Kaha 3—which stands out as an ultra-cushioned backpacking boot.
If you like this boot's over-the-top looks and mega-max cushion, you should send it at this price (or click the links below to see if it's currently on sale).
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HOKA Mafate X Hike
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HOKA Mafate X Hike: Pros & Cons
The Mafate X Hike is more of a niche hiking boot than an all-arounder with broad appeal. That's why you should weigh its specific pros and cons to decide if it makes sense for your feet and your hiking style:
Should you buy the HOKA Mafate X Hike?
The HOKA Mafate X Hike has premium features, but it's a niche hiking boot with a unique fit and narrower recommended uses than most boots I've tested and reveiwed. If you prioritize cushioning over everything else, this is by far the cushiest hiking boot I've ever owned. If other HOKAs have squeezed your wide feet, you may be able to wear the Mafate X Hike, thanks to its roomy fit.
HOKA calls it a "long-haul hiker"— due to the extra cushioning taking the edge off—but I didn't find the boot all that light or agile with all that bulk underfoot. This boot also has a learning curve: I stumbled and tripped frequently with all that extra cushion and the limited trail feel (until I got used to its unique feel). The neoprene ankle sleeve and quicklace system aren't for everybody, either. For me, this boot is best for comfort-oriented hikers, folks who work on their feet all day, and urban hikers looking for sick-looking hiking boots that make a statement. The Mafate X Hike would also work for day hikers who mostly hike moderate terrain—nothing too technical (where footing may be an issue) or too soft (where such soft soles may feel sluggish).
Conclusion
If there's no such thing as too much cushion in your world, it's hard to imagine a more comfortable hiking boot than the HOKA Mafate X Hike. However, if there IS such a thing as too much cushioning, the Mafate X Hike may have crossed that line. With a whopping 49mm stack height under the heel and 41 milimeters of ultralight foam under your toes, it's soles are roughly 10 millimeters thicker than the HOKA Speedgoat. Plus, the Mafate X's cushioning is plusher than the Speedgoat, too. It's cushyAF.
If this boot is too much for you, please see my picks for the best HOKAS for hikers, my favorite lightweight hiking boots, or my other hiking boot reviews. If you ARE feeling the Mafate X Hike, please consider purchasing them from the affiliate links in this post. That's FREE for you, but REI may share a small percentage of the sale with Hiking Feet.
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HOKA Mafate X Hike
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