No issues with the heal… absolute adore them… had them from release day, can go from easy efforts all the way down to mp, half marathon tomorrow see how they go for longer
I've had these since release day and love them. Shoe of the year to me. They're awesome both slow and fast paces. When you're a middling runner like me (easy pace 10:15, half marathon pace 9:00), it's hard to find a shoe that feels good at different paces. Superblast feel clunky at slow pace, others feel too bulky, etc. This is awesome all around. The heel is perfectly fine for me, even with no show socks with heel tab. Don't be afraid to give this one a try!
I’ve run in my pair of Mach X2 several times and haven’t had any heel issues. I’ve been wearing no show socks with a heel tab so that could make a difference.
Same problem here. I really want to love these shoes but my heels are blistered. I did switch to a max cushion socks and put on a chunk of Vaseline on my heels which helped but I don’t want to keep doing that every time I run
Good morning. Interesting reflection. I prefer the Hoka mach 6, Adidas adizero SL 2, Brooks hyperion Max 2, Asics noosa tri 16, Kinvara 15, my weight is 65 kgs. Like to Fordy. A nice weekend for everyone.
Sorry to hear that. I’ve got incredibly narrow and boney feet but absolutely no issue in this shoe. Using these in my current marathon block, will be racing in the Cielo X1 which is such an incredible shoe. Have to agree though, the heel construction in the Mach X2 is just flimsy, Hoka should have done a better job.
Started to type "this is the puma deviate nitro v1 all over again" and then you said it 😂 I actually found a way to lace them which meant I never had an issue - you skip a hole at the top and go through the runners loop hole at the end, might need to test on these too
SAME issue on the Tecton X3 trail running shoe! i need to double tape my heels, and/or wear two pairs of toe-socks to use that shoe because of the lack of a genuine heel bumper at the back. IN addition, the side bumpers started wearing-tearing to a rough surface after about 50 miles; not good. Bummer! Great review, and cautionary note, FORDY!
I sent mine back to Hoka yesterday. The heel appears to sit low causing movement even with a runners loop. The upper didn’t feel good and appeared to add more pressure on the top of both feet.
Hi there. I did not have any blisters, but I can see why it has the tendency to happen. The ankle lock is quiet bad and I do believe that the "heel lock" and precisely adjusting the laces is an absolute necessity on that model ... Once again, hoka fall very short of nailing it . What's going on underneath is fabulous (foam blends, rocker, weight , confort... Général ride) What's above , needs improvement
The heel is unfortunate. Fortunately, I’ve no issues wearing socks with the little heel tab. It seems to be dependent on the individual. These are my favorite shoes. Planning to wear for all training and, if there are no issues on long runs, use them for 70.3 races.
Got the same shoe as you, 10 wide fit. Using a runner's knot with Rockay Flare Quarter Socks, I'm lucky with no heel rub at all. Still would prefer the comfort of the Mach 5/6 heel though, as getting these shoes on with a Runner's knot for heel lock is a pain.
Hi Fordy, no heel rub for me and overall really like running in the Mach X2, the Peba foam is way more fun and lively than the Superblast2 or the Hyperion Max2. However only giving it 8/10 as the heel area is not perfect … no blisters, no pain, just not enough support (and a bit gapy)? Very nearly very good Hoka!
It’s a real shame coz like you said if you don’t have the heel rub it’s a great shoe prob best feeling hoka for a while.. fingers crossed next version fixed that for me
I'd go out on a limb and say Adidas adizero adios pro 3. I wear mine for all speed/interval training sessions as well as races. Only thing I don't use them for is my slow, long run days. My shoe of choice for long runs is currently the Superblast 2's however I'm waiting for Asics to release the Glideride Max so I can get them for my training long runs.
just got mine, having same issue with you, Im having the worst heel blister I've ever experienced, but Hoka store n my country don't have that return policy. unlucky.
@@FordyRuns oh i forgot to tell you, I have a superblast2, and im looking to buy another shoe, Mach X2, ES4, Magicspeed 4, what do you think is a better fit for a rotation? or do you have any better suggestions that I didn't list
I think it has to do with achilles heel length, your running foot strike, heel lock loop and sock thickness. I ran 3 miles first day of buying these and it tore my heels badly and I never struggled with that. So depending on the variants I mentioned, they will lead to some runners having heel rub or not.
I still have PTSD from the NB Elite v4. This shoe looks great, but i won't buy another shoe with a weird heel area. I saw many reviewers mentioning the bad heel on the Mach x2, so it's definitely a problem.
@@FordyRuns Just tried them at the store. The midsole feels fantastic but the heel is just weird. It's like they didn't position the pads correctly. Switched to Cielo x1 and it's spot on.
The heel design of this is similar to ForeverRun. Above the padding there is extension of some sort of the upper and there are stitching to reinforce it. (In this case the orange stitching is the culprit) This design is a pass to me. I prefer classic heel design like Superblast (no unnecessary stuff to cause irritation) Even the elf flare will cause some problems if not executed properly.
I don't know why shoe brands use this style of heel counter, they seem rubbish for half the population. I'd happily take a few extra grams worth of padding to make a comfortable heel and make a shoe truely useable and enjoyable long term. It's a hard no from me anytime I see this style of heel counter.
Very nice, brilliant colorway. Unfortunately I guess the only available for us mere mortals is the dull one sold at launch, at least in my country. This one makes it much more desirable IMHO, despite previous experiences with the brand in terms of durability; not even by far comparable to Adidas'. Price is another deal breaker...
I'm unsure for 300 Aus where they would fit in a rotation are they a long run tempo or everything type of shoe...I'd certainly pass as I am no fan of hoka.... And the rubbing I think thats just you Fordy 😂😂😂😂😂
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No issues with the heal… absolute adore them… had them from release day, can go from easy efforts all the way down to mp, half marathon tomorrow see how they go for longer
If they work then this is a great shoe I’m gutted
hey keep us updated ! thank you
I've had these since release day and love them. Shoe of the year to me. They're awesome both slow and fast paces. When you're a middling runner like me (easy pace 10:15, half marathon pace 9:00), it's hard to find a shoe that feels good at different paces. Superblast feel clunky at slow pace, others feel too bulky, etc. This is awesome all around. The heel is perfectly fine for me, even with no show socks with heel tab. Don't be afraid to give this one a try!
I’ve run in my pair of Mach X2 several times and haven’t had any heel issues. I’ve been wearing no show socks with a heel tab so that could make a difference.
Fair enough
No issues for me and mine. I love them
A fantastic shoe and no problem with the heel 😃
Hoka are taking over my rotation and Saucony are going to lose my business
This is a fantastic shoe, Hoka are a real favourite of mine and this is one of 5he best. No heel issues for me
Same problem here.
I really want to love these shoes but my heels are blistered.
I did switch to a max cushion socks and put on a chunk of Vaseline on my heels which helped but I don’t want to keep doing that every time I run
Good morning. Interesting reflection. I prefer the Hoka mach 6, Adidas adizero SL 2, Brooks hyperion Max 2, Asics noosa tri 16, Kinvara 15, my weight is 65 kgs. Like to Fordy. A nice weekend for everyone.
No heel issues for me. Have run HM in them. All went well, enjoyed the ride.
Really want to try these but nervous about the heel , many runners have had issues ive read .
I have no issues with the heel, this is my favorite shoe ever. I've run 16 miles in them, felt great after
Good to know!
I had the exact same problem big blister on my heel done one 5k race luckily hoka do 30 day guarantee and I could return them
That’s lucky
Sorry to hear that. I’ve got incredibly narrow and boney feet but absolutely no issue in this shoe. Using these in my current marathon block, will be racing in the Cielo X1 which is such an incredible shoe.
Have to agree though, the heel construction in the Mach X2 is just flimsy, Hoka should have done a better job.
Started to type "this is the puma deviate nitro v1 all over again" and then you said it 😂 I actually found a way to lace them which meant I never had an issue - you skip a hole at the top and go through the runners loop hole at the end, might need to test on these too
No blister issues for me so far, they feel great ! I do wear blister free running socks though
SAME issue on the Tecton X3 trail running shoe! i need to double tape my heels, and/or wear two pairs of toe-socks to use that shoe because of the lack of a genuine heel bumper at the back. IN addition, the side bumpers started wearing-tearing to a rough surface after about 50 miles; not good. Bummer! Great review, and cautionary note, FORDY!
Thank you
I sent mine back to Hoka yesterday. The heel appears to sit low causing movement even with a runners loop. The upper didn’t feel good and appeared to add more pressure on the top of both feet.
It seems some have the problem some don’t
Exactly! The problem is same for me. I have bad experience with my heel. I have to stop my long run due to the blister in thr heel
Hi there. I did not have any blisters, but I can see why it has the tendency to happen.
The ankle lock is quiet bad and I do believe that the "heel lock" and precisely adjusting the laces is an absolute necessity on that model ... Once again, hoka fall very short of nailing it .
What's going on underneath is fabulous (foam blends, rocker, weight , confort... Général ride)
What's above , needs improvement
The heel is unfortunate. Fortunately, I’ve no issues wearing socks with the little heel tab. It seems to be dependent on the individual. These are my favorite shoes. Planning to wear for all training and, if there are no issues on long runs, use them for 70.3 races.
Wallop
I had that issue with the first version of the Adidas Prime X Strung, which had a virtually identical heel counter to the Hoka Mach X2.
Got the same shoe as you, 10 wide fit. Using a runner's knot with Rockay Flare Quarter Socks, I'm lucky with no heel rub at all. Still would prefer the comfort of the Mach 5/6 heel though, as getting these shoes on with a Runner's knot for heel lock is a pain.
Hi Fordy, no heel rub for me and overall really like running in the Mach X2, the Peba foam is way more fun and lively than the Superblast2 or the Hyperion Max2. However only giving it 8/10 as the heel area is not perfect … no blisters, no pain, just not enough support (and a bit gapy)? Very nearly very good Hoka!
It’s a real shame coz like you said if you don’t have the heel rub it’s a great shoe prob best feeling hoka for a while.. fingers crossed next version fixed that for me
Same for me too, im gutted because i love this shoe, will give it another go maybe with a different lace setup. Such a shame. Sc trainer v3 it is then
Thanks Fordy, seems a shame they haven’t got it quite right, could you do a heal comparison with the Rocket X2?
No issue for me with rocket x2
@@FordyRuns same, they look similar to the eye, is the heal cupped in the MX2?
I got excruciating heal blisters in the Endorphin speed 4. They absolutely slaughter my heels. Hoka always work for me, but I'm sceptical about these.
be careful with these
A friend has exactly the same issue - skin clean off
No rub but the heel does make it challenging to get a secure feeling lockdown and these are in Hoka fashion very tight even on my not wide foot.
Good to know
Same. I didn’t get a blister but the heel was loose while the upper is tight. How they managed to pull that off…I don’t know.
No issues with the heel
Fordy, if only one shoe for all distances, training, racing, for everyone, Superblast or Endorphin Speed?
Hi. If you are a light runner, E. Speed 4. Have a good saturday.
Superblast for me
I'd go out on a limb and say Adidas adizero adios pro 3. I wear mine for all speed/interval training sessions as well as races. Only thing I don't use them for is my slow, long run days. My shoe of choice for long runs is currently the Superblast 2's however I'm waiting for Asics to release the Glideride Max so I can get them for my training long runs.
@FordyRunsThanks!
What size did you go for mate if they don’t fit true to size?
10
@@FordyRunssorry mate. What do you usually wear? I’m a 10 uk in ON, Puma etc;
Same, you said hoka dont fit true to size , you are 10 and these are 10, so they do fit true to size (?)
just got mine, having same issue with you, Im having the worst heel blister I've ever experienced, but Hoka store n my country don't have that return policy. unlucky.
Compared to the Mach 6 is it softer?
No this has more bounce
Mach 6 feels a bit firmer to me. This one is softer but you can feel the energy return once compressed
Yeas in the US its $190 and the heel counter should be awesome not so terrible.
Punchy price
Like the first Metaspeed Sky which caused blisters in the same place.
Runners knot might help on the running?
Tried it 🤦♂️
Which socks you were using?
You should cut a bit of foam out of a swimming float and then put it in the heel counter to pad it out 😂
This or Magicspeed4 or Saucony Speed 4
Speed 4
@@FordyRuns oh i forgot to tell you, I have a superblast2, and im looking to buy another shoe, Mach X2, ES4, Magicspeed 4, what do you think is a better fit for a rotation? or do you have any better suggestions that I didn't list
Waiting for someone to figure out why some people have a serious heel rub problem after as little as 5k and some don't!!
I ran 9 miles in these and it killed my heel
I think it has to do with achilles heel length, your running foot strike, heel lock loop and sock thickness. I ran 3 miles first day of buying these and it tore my heels badly and I never struggled with that. So depending on the variants I mentioned, they will lead to some runners having heel rub or not.
Same problems i had in the Prime X2
Oh dear
I still have PTSD from the NB Elite v4. This shoe looks great, but i won't buy another shoe with a weird heel area. I saw many reviewers mentioning the bad heel on the Mach x2, so it's definitely a problem.
Thanks for the info
@@FordyRuns Just tried them at the store. The midsole feels fantastic but the heel is just weird. It's like they didn't position the pads correctly. Switched to Cielo x1 and it's spot on.
is that stack height legal
Only matters if you elite
running warehouse has a warning about this on their page
The heel design of this is similar to ForeverRun. Above the padding there is extension of some sort of the upper and there are stitching to reinforce it. (In this case the orange stitching is the culprit) This design is a pass to me. I prefer classic heel design like Superblast (no unnecessary stuff to cause irritation) Even the elf flare will cause some problems if not executed properly.
rebellion flash 2
Loved the Skyward X and the Cielo X1, but not this one.
I hacked it with some shoe pad and it works lol feel much better than SB2
Same problem here.
With how much research and amount of hours goes in to developing runnung trainers today, how the fuck did this thing pass R&D quality checks?
That's such a pity. They could have simply copied the Mach 6 upper perhaps?
Yep not sure why they didn’t
My podiatrist wife says she has some special sticky ortholite foam that might cure it 🤷🏼♂️
I don't know why shoe brands use this style of heel counter, they seem rubbish for half the population. I'd happily take a few extra grams worth of padding to make a comfortable heel and make a shoe truely useable and enjoyable long term. It's a hard no from me anytime I see this style of heel counter.
Fordy just say you hate hoka and all be understood 😅
I don't like hoka too - no hoka ever again in my life lol
🤣🤣
runners knot used? heels shouldn't be slipping with any shoes. bad shoe if thats happening
Didn’t work
Very nice, brilliant colorway. Unfortunately I guess the only available for us mere mortals is the dull one sold at launch, at least in my country.
This one makes it much more desirable IMHO, despite previous experiences with the brand in terms of durability; not even by far comparable to Adidas'.
Price is another deal breaker...
It’s not cheap
always wear my saucony endorphin and ive never had a blister ever
Blisters is the major deal? That's common with new shoes. Get the blister, then heal, then you're good. Don't be a pest
After several runs? Look also at the comments seems I’m not alone
I'm unsure for 300 Aus where they would fit in a rotation are they a long run tempo or everything type of shoe...I'd certainly pass as I am no fan of hoka....
And the rubbing I think thats just you Fordy 😂😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣