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Why We Love This Deal
Most running shoes make you pick between cushioned daily miles and a sharp race-ready feel, but Hoka’s Mach X 2 blends both. It takes a page out of the brand’s Cielo X1 2.0—a peppy, carbon-loaded marathon shoe—and waters it down slightly to make it more suitable for everyday use. At $190, and even with the impressive tech, it’s still a lot to pay for everyday runners, but right now, Hoka is offering a rare discount.
You can score a pair of Hoka Mach X 2 Running Shoes for just $152 on the brand’s website, a 20% discount off the normal price. It’s a much easier price to justify for a shoe that can help you smash your PBs in practice or just help you jog for longer, and more comfortably. The brand has officially moved on to the Mach X 3, which means once these sell out, it’s likely gone for good, so get one while you still can.
Hoka Mach X 2 Running Shoes, $152 (was $190) at Hoka
What Shoppers Should Know
- Use: Everyday running
- Sizes: 8 to 13
- Weight: 9.2 ounces
- Fit: Snug
- Drop: 5mm
- Stability: Neutral
- Cushioning: Responsive
Unlike the Cielos listed above, the Mach X 2s offer a more affordable entry point for runners seeking their first tech-loaded shoe or a daily trainer with elite speed. That is thanks to its PEBA-based midsoles, featherlight uppers, and its upgraded winged plate. Translation: more propulsive speed without a $300 tag.
What sets this shoe apart from other daily trainers is its many underfoot layers. Two layers of PEBA and EVA foam sandwich a firm Pebax plate to generate extra spring with each push-off while providing the level of cushion that’s become synonymous with Hoka. These layers, combined with its snappy rocker shape, offer a unique blend of bounce and stability, resulting in more energy than you can imagine on any long and steady run.
Taking notes from its predecessor, the Mach X, this model parts ways with unnecessary weight with its underfoot cutouts and adds a race-inspired, lightweight upper that is way more breathable.
Pro Tip: This heel collar sits a bit aggressively by design, so it’s recommended to break them in with much thicker socks before race-pace work.
Related: One of Nike’s Most Iconic Running Shoes Is on Sale for Under $90 Right Now
What Shoppers Are Saying
Reviews of these running shoes are sort of a mixed bag, with some calling out the fit, among other things, and how snug it can feel, but this sort of design is typical with racing shoes.
Otherwise, there are very positive reviews about performance. One seasoned runner called them excellent and wildly misunderstood. “I think what people misunderstand about these Mach X 2 shoes is that these shoes must be bought true-to-size,” they stated, and that going up half size—a best practice for traditional running shoes—can cause rubbing and blisters. They noted the PEBA is fantastic, and that “it does not stiffen up in the cold, unlike some other PEBA blends.”
“Incredible shoes,” said another, who used them to break the four-hour marathon barrier in less than two weeks of training. “This shoe changed my life.”
At just over $150, Hoka’s Mach X 2s are quite a steal for the performance you get. If you’re ready to take your running to the next level, just get these.
