I have not had a maximal cushioned shoe in my rotation in the past mostly because I have a history of ankle sprains and I worried about the stability of a high stacked height shoe. Also, I tend to prefer more ground feel and rebound versus plush cushion. The Mafate Speed 4 is my current choice for runs longer than a 50K and I was curious to see how the Mafate 5 compared.
The New Mafate 5
First impressions of the Mafate 5 was wow this is a high stack height and it feels really soft. I found quickly that the shoe didn’t feel tippy and the outsole gave me confidence on technical terrain. I was very impressed with the stability. The shoe does feel more cushioned on downhills than my Mafate Speed 4’s although a bit less nimble.
The midsole is quite plush and I feel that it can be a bit of an energy suck so it would not be my choice for faster work outs or shorter runs.
I have a narrow heel and a wider forefoot due to bunions. I felt my heel was held well and the soft mesh forefoot accommodated my feet quite well. My only complaint on fit is that I wish the minimal tongue was bit softer or more padded.
It's Place in My Quiver
But is there a place for the Mafate 5 in my shoe quiver? I think that on my longer efforts , especially if I have a lot of downhill that'll be pounding, the idea of a stable, cushioned ride is appealing.
For example - I can see these shoes being in my drop bag for the last 10 miles of the Lost Sierra 100K next summer. The race finishes with a 10 mile downhill that is not technical but hard on the legs at the end of a tough race - the Mafate 5’s deluxe, comfortable, stable ride would be the perfect shoe in that scenario.
So yes, there is a place for a maximal cushioned shoe in my rotation — and the Mafate 5’s stable plush ride will have a place in my shoe quiver in the future.
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