Hoka’s Latest Trainer Might Be Its Most Well-Rounded Shoe Yet

A seasoned runner knows the benefits of a running-shoe rotation — that is, a considered lineup of three or four pairs tailored to different kinds of runs.

A cushioned trainer for easy days. A lightweight, responsive silhouette for workouts. An aggressive, plated super shoe for race days. They all stimulate different muscles, and rotating through them is one of the many ways runners can stay injury free (not to mention extend the lifespan of the footwear, itself).

But there’s something to be said of a do-it-all workhorse that that’s easy on the legs but quick when it needs to be — exactly the premise of Hoka’s upcoming trainer, the Mach X 2.

Hoka Mach X 2

The Mach X 2 is the followup to last year’s Mach X, a plated version of Hoka’s Mach series of everyday trainers that are a bit more responsive than some of the brand’s heavily cushioned shoes.

Hoka calls it a “racing shoe,” but that’s selling it a little short, overlooking its range as a trainer that can go long and slow, all-out or any pace in-between.