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The Hoka Mach 7 is one of the best running shoes we’ve tested so far in 2026, but it’s also a shoe we wouldn’t recommend buying just now, because it’s so similar to the Hoka Mach 6, with Hoka only making minor updates to the upper and outsole of the shoe.
Putting that aside, however, the performance of the Mach 7 is excellent. It’s light, comfortable and fast, and a significant rival to big hitters in its category of lightweight daily trainers like the Adidas Adizero Evo SL and Saucony Endorphin Azura.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: $145
- Weight: 225g/7.9oz (UK 9) (men’s UK 9 / US 9.5)
- Drop: 5mm
- Upper: Lightweight mesh
- Midsole: Supercritical EVA
- Outsole: Rubber covering forefoot and heel
Hoka Mach 7 review
How’s The Fit
Nick tested the Hoka Mach 7 for our review and found that it fit well in his normal running shoe size. It’s not the widest shoe, but didn’t feel exceptionally narrow, and the upper has enough padding to be comfortable without being overly cushioned or heavy.
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The Run Test: Likes
The main strength of the Hoka Mach 7 is it versatility. It’s a very light shoe with a fast ride thanks to the rocker and responsive foam, but also cushioned and comfortable enough to tick along at easy paces.
Nick did all kinds of runs in the shoe during his 120km of testing, including a long workout with stints faster than marathon pace, several easy to steady progression runs, a 15-mile long run and lots of easy recovery runs. The Mach 7 felt great for all of them.
While the supercritical EVA in the midsole is not the flashiest foam on the market and lacks the softness and spring you can get from some PEBA and aliphatic TPU foams, it’s still a good midsole, balancing comfort and speed well.
All of the above is also true of the Hoka Mach 6, but the Mach 7 does have an improved outsole compared with its predecessor, and the extra grip you get was appreciated during our testing during the wet winter months in the UK.
The Run Test: Dislikes
We don’t have any firm dislikes with the Hoka Mach 7 and don’t even mind that Hoka opted only make minor updates to the Mach 6, but in terms of value the older shoe offers more, since it’s now regularly in sales.
Some might also be disappointed by the fact the shoe sticks with an EVA midsole, when Hoka has used PEBA foams on shoes like the Hoka Mach X3 and its racers. However, we’re not too fussed by what the material actually is in a shoe as long as it runs well, and the midsole on the Hoka impressed us throughout testing.
Verdict And Alternatives
The Hoka Mach 7 is a great running shoe and worth considering if you want a lightweight daily trainer to handle a wide range of your runs, or a dedicated speed shoe to use in rotation with a carbon plate running shoe and a cushioned running shoe.
As mentioned, we think it’s similar enough to the Mach 6 to make it better value to pick up the older shoe instead, especially as the Mach 6 is often in sales, but when stock of the 6 runs low the Mach 7 is a worthy successor.
This is a competitive area of the market though, so you might prefer some rivals to the Mach 7. The Adidas Evo SL is another lightweight daily trainer with a springier, more impressive midsole foam, but it’s not as stable as the Mach 7 on easy and long runs,
The Saucony Endorphin Azura is stable for a lightweight all-rounder, and has a good bouncy foam in its rockered midsole. We slightly prefer the lighter Mach 7 and its nimbler feel, but the Azura is a great option.
We’d opt for the Mach 7 over the New Balance Rebel v5 ourselves, because the Hoka has a more energetic feel for faster efforts, though the Rebel v5 is also very light and comfortable for easy runs.
Another strong option in this area is the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, which has a less rockered ride feel than the Hoka and a great aliphatic TPU midsole foam on top of a more impressive outsole than the Mach 7.
If you do want more cushioning under foot for daily training, the Hoka Clifton 10 is the next step up in the Hoka line-up. It’s not as lively as the Mach 7, but some runners will prefer the Clifton for easy runs in particular.