The Hoka Mach X2 was one of the best running shoes of 2024, offering comfort and speed thanks to its high stack of springy foam and the plastic plate in its midsole. It had one big flaw, which was its uncomfortable upper, which rubbed at the heel in particular.
All Hoka had to do to make the Mach X3 a successful update was to fix that upper, and that’s exactly what the brand has done. The Hoka Mach X3 sticks to the same midsole and outsole setup as its predecessor, but has a more comfortable upper with padding around the heel.
