Hoka’s New City Shoe Is More Technical Than Most Trail Runners

You don’t become one of the biggest sportswear brands on the planet without a few tricks up your sleeve.

Sure enough, Hoka has plenty.

Since debuting the original Mafate in 2009, the brand has gone on to dominate both roads and trails with an ever-evolving catalog of shoes, boots and even recovery sandals.

Following the quiet introduction of the Mafate Speed 4 Lite to its Stealth/Tech series, it’s clear Hoka wants to solidify its position in streetwear circles, too, with the shoe emerging as an answer to the Salomon XT-6 — the granddaddy of crossover Gorpcore sneakers.

Hoka

But like that shoe, the Mafate Speed 4 Lite remains a function-first design, with technical features that would run circles around many trail runners from other brands.

Trail chops, street style

The newest Mafate Speed 4 Lite follows in the footsteps of previous variants in that it’s built on the platform of Mafate Speed 4 from 2022.

That means it has an EVA-based ProFly midsole and extra-grippy Vibram Megagrip outsole.

Hoka

Hoka

However, the jacquard mesh upper of the original is swapped out for a translucent ripstop material carried over from the brand’s high-profile Satisfy collaboration in the second half of 2024.

Hoka

With it comes Hoka’s speed-lace system — a feature the brand unceremoniously dropped from the most recent Mafate Speed 4 Lite — which goes the extra mile with reflective detailing.

Hoka

As such, it represents a viable alternative to the sold-out Satisfy collab, not to mention the Salomon XT-6 (another shoe with speed laces).

Availability and pricing

The Stealth/Tech Mafate Speed 4 Lite is available now from Hoka’s official website.

It costs $180 and comes in two simple, toned-down colorways — black and white.

Hoka

Hoka Stealth/Tech Mafate Speed 4 Lite

• $180 at Hoka

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