Hoka Skyward X vs Mach X: Hoka super trainers compared (2024)

The Hoka Skyward X and Mach X are two Hoka running shoes with X in their names, and that’s not where the similarities end. They’re both classed as ‘super trainers’, giving you something to wear for a mixture of paces, including some faster stuff.

Both use dual-density midsoles and include some signature Hoka features, but if we had to pick one, which Hoka super trainer would we go for? Testers Mike and Nick share their experiences running in both shoes to help you decide whether you should go Mach X or Skyward X.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro, price and key stats
00:23 – How does it fit?
09:22 – The Run Test
14:11 – Verdict

More ways to enjoy The Run Testers
Subscribe:
Follow Us:
Listen to The Run Testers Podcast:
Watch The Run Testers Shorts:

Some other videos you might find useful:
Hoka Skyward X Review:
Hoka Mach X Review:
Asics Superblast Review:
On Cloudmonster Hyper review:
Best Super Trainers 2023:
Adidas Boston 12 Review:
Asics Superblast vs Saucony Kinvara Pro:
On Cloudeclipse Review:

Hey this is M from the r testers and in This video we're going to be comparing The Haw skyw x to the Haw Mac x two Hawker super trainers built slightly Differently but if you had to pick one To cover the mixture of your runs which One should you go for we'll explain all In this video let's get into [Music] It so I've got my normal size in the Skyex and the Hoka Mac X which is a uk9 That's a US 9. five for hoker fit me Really well on length I've got no Concerns at all about that they are not The most narrow shoes for hoker I'd say The skyex in particular is a little bit Wider than the standard hoker narrow fit But I have a narrow foot so I'm not Necessarily the best judge of that they Both were certainly fine for me in terms Of width good hold around the heel and Midfoot I prefer the heel design on the Macx myself doesn't stick up quite as Far and I did find the scar X was a Little bit irritating for my achilles at Times whereas I had no concerns at all With the macx so that's a small thing to Differentiate them but overall I found The fit good in my normal running shoe Soze So in terms of I've had both of these Shoes in a UK size eight that is my Typical running shoe size that is the Typical shoe size that I would go for in

A hocky shoes now what I would say about The fit of these two shoes is that the Skyex definitely feels the more Accommodating of the two definitely Feels a little bit more spacious or Wider in the kind of toes and also going Back into the midfoot as well too Whereas with the Mac X it definitely is In keeping with the Mac Series so pretty Narrow fit pretty more you know a lot More snug in terms of up front of the Toe box um for me like you know my Narrow feet that's absolutely fine but That may be an argument to say maybe Looking half size up for some people Whereas I think with the skyex I think You know going true to sizeing that shoe Is definitely going to work for most People elsewhere absolutely fine in Terms of that General lockdown you're Getting a little bit more padding I Would say on the Skyward X which I think With the macx you're getting something That feels a little bit more streamline In terms of that approach to the kind of Hill collar the tongue the lacing as Well so yeah as I said I think for me Going true to size has been fine there May be an argue for some people Particularly with the Mac x a look at Maybe playing around getting half size Up but I think if you're looking for the Most accommodating fit I think the skyex Is going to give you that

[Music] Overall so in terms of my running Experience with these two shoes now Fresh of testing the Skyward X I tested The Mac X quite a while ago now it's not A shoe that's worked its way into my Rotation I think mainly because you know It didn't really push on the Mac Series In the way that I thought it would I Thought you know it would still be that Kind of uptempo daily Trainer shoe that Could handle maybe some speed work and Maybe extend that kind of uptempo fi Over longer distances But ultimately I Think the Mac still kind of delivers That delivers it from a a lighter shoe As well a more affordable shoe as well Too now in terms of how these two shoes Are compared to me I think the first Thing I would notice is the weights but I do think while the Skyward X is the Heavy of the two shoes I do think that It handles that way pretty well it Doesn't feel cumbersome or you know Clunky to wear um so I think that's a Real kind of Testament to what HW has Done with that shoe I think with the Mac X you can't help but compare it to the Mac shoe which is significantly lighter And it's kind of picked up that added Weight it's not a heavy shoe to running But I think when you compare it to the Other Max shoes it just you just wonder Where that why that extra weight has

Come into the equation there on that Shoe now in terms of the rides that kind Of midsole and you know you're getting Jeel density mid sols here but they're Slightly different in terms of that Makeup I would say that the Mac X is the Firmer of the two shoes despite having That kind of peber foam and the Eva kind Of combination which you do get on the Skyward X as well too now the skyex is Softer in terms of that kind of you know When you step in you know the Comfort it Is softer but that doesn't mean that Overly plush and it doesn't mean it Doesn't give you a bit of spring back And I think it is the bounci here of the Two shoes for me I think while they both offer nice kind Of rocker Fields I think the it's more Noticeable for me on the Skyward X when You are running a little bit more Tempo In that shoe now neither of these shoes For me are built for Speed workor I do Think you can run easy in these shoes They'll be comfortable to run easy in These shoes but ultimately I think is When you start to pick the tempos up I Feel like the Skyward X Works a little Bit nicer I think what you're getting in The midsole what you're getting in The Rocker it's smooth it's kind of bouncy It's livey more enjoyable to run in at That more Tempo Pace but also when You're easing off as well too I think

With the max I think you have to really Work a bit harder to get the nicest Feeling out that shoe but again I do Think that is doesn't have that level of Bounce and liveliness for me based on my Time in these two shoes can that you do Get I think in the Skyward X it's Definitely the firmer of the two shoes I Think as I said I think there is a nice Rocker in there they're both very stable So if that's something you want in a Kind of you know daily Trainer shoe then That's basically what you get on both of These shoes but I do think in terms of That more memorable feeling in terms of Those rides I think you're getting more In the Skyward X definitely boast at my Experience I think you're getting good Protection over longer runs I think You're getting something that can work At kind of easy to moderate Paces but I Think when you're picking the pace up I Feel like there's a bit more going on in The skyex to make it feel like a nicer Feeling to run white tempo as terms of Durability out Soo grip those kind of Things I think it's not a huge amount in It I think with the Mac I think based on My experience I think the outside has Been very good I think the durability is Probably going to be about the same I Have had when I have running kind of Slightly wet conditions in the Mac X you Know whether that outso grip is

Absolutely spotless I'm not 100% Convinced by that I've only run in kind Of dry conditions with the um Skyward X Outsole and I'm seeing maybe a little Bit of you know a little bit more wear In terms of the exposed areas of the Pham But ultimately I feel like these Are two shoes that are going to handle a Regular amount of mileage so based on my Experience I think these are two shoes That can handle a mixture of runs but I Think in terms of that kind of more Memorable feeling what you're getting From the mid sols you know in terms of Running a little bit more Tempo and Running a little bit quicker in these Shoes I feel like the sky just has a Little bit more in its Locker despite Being the bigger and heavier of the two Shoes so I've done a lot of running in Both of these shoes using them for a Real mix of daily training runs I think They are fairly versatile shoes both of Them although I'd say neither of them is Really excellent when it comes to allout Speed running i' say that now but for Long run easy runs like steady Progression runs temper runs I think They both do a pretty good job obviously We had the macx in first last year when It came out and overall a little bit Disappointed by the macx because I had Such high hopes for the shoe I love the Hoka Mac I've been a big fan of the best

Plated training shoes like the Sak and Dophin speed and I thought that the macx Would deliver that for hoker but in the End I just found it a slightly dull ride I didn't really find it very good for Fast running not very bouncy or Particularly fun to run in despite the Peber foam you have here and the P plate In the shoe it just never really Delivered all the promise it had on Paper I never found it actually that Different to the standard hok Mac like You know they did have a slightly Different ride feels but the Mac 5 and Now the Mac 6 I think do a similarly Versatile and good job for the training Runs I would intend to do in the Mac X Which is you know like I say long runs Easy daily training some faster runs but Not all out speed work because I didn't Find it had the range of a shoe like the Endorphin speed it wasn't that great for Fast Paces myself but it was an okay Shoe all around but I don't think it Offered a really big new Option within The hoker range whereas the sky X Certainly does this is is something that I don't think we've really had from H Before they obviously did have one of The first plated shoes that was designed Explicitly for training in the Bondi X But that was a very not very good shoe Around I'd say whereas I do think the Skyex is it's a really fun shoe it's

Very bouncy it's obviously very big and Pretty hefty but it has such a fun ride It's actually surprisingly smooth as Well given the size that it feels a bit Lighter than it is on the run and you Can go up to some pretty fast Paces in The shoe quite comfortably like in General I think I find I'm running a bit Faster than I think I am when I'm in This shoe like it's does give you that Feeling of slightly effortless running At times especially at easy Paces or Over long runs it's very protective it's Springy and it certainly feels different To the macx and indeed the Mac 6 because It is a much bigger shoe a bouncier shoe It's a heavier shoe for sure but you are Getting a whole load more bounce and it Does offer a different option it's a Really nice cushion shoe that I think You can use for a variety of runs it's Not great for fast stuff I've done one Progression run in the shoe I've moved Down to around 3 minutes 30 Paquet which Is my marathon pace and yeah it just Felt a bit big and just at that kind of Pace but overall for easy runs cruising Around it does feel really good and like I said it does feel like something a bit Different with the lineup the macx is Designed for a slightly different Purpose but again there is some overlap Here in what I would use the shoes for I Think they are both plated daily

Trainers the skex is just the much more Cushioned one whereas the macx is Obviously Fair bit lighter and lower Stack so it does have that little bit More versatility for fast running Because it is a much lighter shoe and a Nimble shoe all around but like I said I Didn't find it really excelled for very Fast running either the macx have done a Short run wearing both shoes at the same Time which was a bit of a challenge Because they are different stackit and They feel very different stackit on the Run you're almost you know raised up Very high on one side with the Sky X but You can feel the extra bounce in the Shoe you certainly can feel the extra Size the extra heft there the macx is Nimbler turns over a little bit faster And that does make it feel a little bit Sprightlier though I don't think you're Getting a whole load more punch off the Toes or anything like that with the macx Like I said I found it a slightly dull Ride overall despite the materials you Have here whereas you get a lot more of The PE foam in the Skyward X and that Does mean it feels bouncier all [Music] Around so these shoes could easily be Used as complimentary shoes in a Rotation with the sky deex being your Easy run shoe a long run shoe you know Just general relaxed running is very fun

In the scalex whereas the macx would be More of a speedwork shoe you know a Faster daily training kind of shoe I Don't think it does that job Tremendously well though the macx where I do think the scalex does its job as a Long run cruising shoe really well Because it is so bouncy and still moves Quite smoothly and it's easy to tick Over in it like it's a bit big for my Taste and of the two shoes I probably Would oper the macx myself just because It's a lighter nimbler shoe a little bit Cheaper I be using it for similar Purposes and although it's not maybe Quite as fun for very easy running like The sky X is I'd like that is a bit Smaller and I prefer that in my shoes Even for cushion shoes but if you do Like a lot of cushioning Under Foot you Love bouncing through runs then the Sky Deck is certainly the one to go for Although there's some similarities on Paper here on the midso setup you're Getting a lot more bounce out of the Skyex and I think the way that the Mac X2 needs to be set up would be to take Some cues from the Skyward X when they Update the shoe because don't think you Really get enough feel of the peo with The macx in the shoe it's deadened quite A lot by the uh Eva layer beneath Whereas with the Skyward X it doesn't Have that problem at all you're

Certainly getting a lot of Bounce here Partly because it's just a much higher Zite which gives more room for the PE Foam but the way they're using the Eva FR as a frame to support the PE foam as Opposed to you know a very thick layer Of it I think helps make the skyex a More successful shoe macx is a good shoe Like I said it's probably the one I get From these two shoes to fill in my Rotation but I think comparing it to the Market at large like I think there are Certainly better super trainers out There like the sakon and dorphin speed But whereas skex I think is one of the Better like Max cushioned easy day super Trainers out there I guess like it's you Know it's not as verstile something like The super blast but I do think it's a Better shoe that's more fun to run in Things like the new balance see trainer V2 or the on clad Monster hyper so well I don't think either shoes entirely Perfect and I'd probably if picking just Between these two would get the macx Myself think the skyex is probably the More successful shoot all round and one I think that lots of people really like Running in because of the very bouncy Ride it has so my V on whether you Should go for the Hawker Skyward X or The Haw Mac X now the way I kind of look At it is that I have to look at my Experience of testing these two shoes

And also what I felt about these two Shoes after I completed that testing Period And I think with the Skyward X it Has been a shoe that wanted to go out And run in again with the Haw Mac X I Feel like if you've got something like The Mac 5 or Mac 6 that experience isn't Really replicated for me in that shoe Compared to the kind of Mac you know the Previous Mac shoes that we've known I Think crucially for me I feel like Despite the scox being the heavier of The shoes I think what's going on in the Midsole I think works better from what Tempo running it definitely is a shoe You can run easy in just like the Mac X But I think when I try to run a little Bit quicker in these shoes and I don't Think they really either of them are Built For Speed workor I found the more Tempo running more enjoyable in the Skyward X I think you're getting Something that feels bouncier more Lively I think you get a nice rocker in There as well and you've got that kind Of carbon plate there as well to give You that kind of pop in that kind of Ride as well too I think with the Mac X I definitely think it is good for kind Of long easy runs maybe more moderate Paces as well too but I think despite Being the lighter shoe if you want to Run harder or quicker in it I don't Think it's in its kind of remit to do

That ultimately based on my time so if It was my money and obviously the skyex Is more expensive the macx isn't cheap Either I would be going for the skyex Based on my experience based on you know The fact that I've wanted to run more in That shoe after I've kind of tested it I Think the Skyward X is a bit more going For it I think despite being the heavier Of the two shoes so yeah for me if it Was my money I would be going for the Skyward X I think ultimately with the Macx it doesn't really kind of replicate Or enhance what you get from the Mac Series kind of Mac 5 and Mac 6 and I Think you know if you're looking for That kind of experience from the macx And maybe another level of that it's not Really there for me so I would be going For the Skyward X okay so there you have It that is our multitest to take on how The Hawker Skyward X compares to the Hawker Mac X now we do have multitester Individual reviews of both of these Shoes so definitely go and check those Out if you want a more in-depth look on Either now if you've got any questions About the shoes that have been mentioned In this video do let us know in the Comments as always like And subscribe Hit that little bell to find out about Our latest videos and yeah we'll see you For the next round test this video