Hoka Mach Supersonic Review: A New Foam That Falls Short of the Mach 4

Introduction

Hoka had a genuinely good thing going with the Mach 4. It was one of the most enjoyable trainers of its year: smooth underfoot, comfortable, and light enough to double as a tempo shoe. So when the Mach Supersonic arrived with what looked like a new supercritical foam, expectations were high. Hoka had been criticized for leaning on the same EVA compounds for too long, and this looked like the fresh start fans had been asking for.

Unfortunately, the result is a shoe that feels like a missed opportunity rather than a breakthrough. The Supersonic is not a bad shoe, but after multiple test runs it lands squarely in “just okay” territory, which is the last thing you want from a shoe with this name.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Mach Supersonic is aimed at runners who want a light daily trainer with a responsive foam underfoot. The upper is one of the better ones Hoka has produced recently: it shares a similar last and shape with the Mach 4, wraps the foot nicely, and includes a pull tab at the heel replacing the welded heel structure of the previous model. The collar is plush and the overall fit should feel familiar to anyone who liked recent Hoka trainers.

One practical note: the tongue is thin and does not stand up very far, which can make getting the shoe on slightly fiddly. Some testers ended up swapping in lock laces to simplify the fit. If you value a fast, fuss-free entry, that is worth keeping in mind.

Main Strengths

There are things to like here. The supercritical foam sits closest to the foot and is designed to deliver a light, bouncy, responsive feel, and the shoe stays in a reasonable weight range for a daily trainer. In a men’s size 10.5 it weighs 9.1 ounces, or 258 grams.

The upper is the standout. It is among the more comfortable and well-executed uppers Hoka has offered, with a shape reminiscent of the Clifton Edge: slightly slimmer than some other Hoka models, but accommodating enough for most feet. The midsole spec is sensible too, with a 5 millimeter drop, 29 millimeters of stack at the heel and 24 at the forefoot.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The core problem is the midsole. The supercritical foam sits on top, but a firmer rubberized EVA layer underneath handles ground contact, and there is no traditional outsole. In practice, the firmness of that lower layer seems to echo straight through the softer foam into your foot. The overwhelming sensation is a hollow, slappy, somewhat inflexible block feel, and the shoe is noticeably loud when it strikes the ground.

It is also not lighter than its predecessor. Despite the “supersonic” name, the shoe gained roughly 10 grams compared to the Mach 4, which came in at 247 grams in the same size. That may partly be unit variance, but it undercuts the expectation of a lighter, faster follow-up.

After four or five test runs, the impression did not improve: the ride feels a bit cheap, lacking the plush landing and snappy toe-off that made the Mach 4 special. The Mach 4’s softer EVA on top and firmer layer below delivered a balanced ride that almost felt like a plated shoe without the plate. The Supersonic simply does not recapture that magic.

Buying Advice

There is also the matter of price and availability. The spec sheet listed the shoe at $150, but with Hoka raising prices across its lineup, expect closer to $160. The launch was expected in March but was delayed, and this is a limited release, so unit availability may be tighter than a typical production run.

If you loved the Mach 4, temper your expectations: this is not simply the next Mach. It is a different shoe entirely, and Hoka has indicated it is not the successor in the mainline series. If you want a Hoka with a more convincing supercritical foam implementation, the Tecton X stacks its foams in the opposite order, with regular EVA on top and supercritical foam at the ground-contact layer, and delivers a far more impressive ride.

Our verdict leans negative. If you can find the Supersonic at a meaningful discount and you simply want a light, comfortable daily trainer with an excellent upper, it can work. But at full price, the Mach 4 or other Hoka options make more sense.

Conclusion

The Hoka Mach Supersonic had all the ingredients for a standout trainer: a genuinely great upper, sensible geometry, and a promising new supercritical foam. But the layered midsole lets the firmness bleed through, the shoe gained weight instead of losing it, and the overall ride feels hollow and ordinary. It is not a terrible shoe, just a disappointing one. If you are shopping in this category, the previous Mach remains the better buy.