Team Meeting & Test Hoka Mafate / Bondi

I discussed in an Article early 2010 , just over a year later thanks to Brice and the store Endurance Shop Grenoble, I could test the HOKA MAFATE (Ainis that the new model HOKA BONDI ONE):

Hoka One One is a company based in Upper Savoy Contamines Montjoie. The brand was founded in 2009 by Jean-Luc Diard and Nicolas Mermoud (3rd UMTB 2007).

The principle of shoes HOKA you all know it is on to propose a sole OVERSIZE "oversized" to improve the cushioning, grip and place the foot (more information on the technology ).

Christophe Aubonnet is the originator of the different models (he also designed the Tarantula Tecnica Diablo and more recently). This gentleman was the Trail there is little the responsible development and marketing at Salomon ... so pretend to know the trade!

It was he who was here tonight to test Friday, April 8, 2011 in the company of traileur Segris Gilles , newly arrived in the Hoka Team. FYI, Gilles is just the vice-champion of France of TTN runs behind a certain Julien Rancon ... so that he can give us the tempo!

After a debriefing to the store we go to the Fringe for a green life test. Christopher explains how the test:

1. Tower 10 'with his usual pair of shoes (I had my Nike LunarGlide randomly)
2. Donning of Hoka Mafate, first impressions without running
3. Tower 10 'with the Hoka Mafate
4. Hoka fitting of Bondi's 10 + '
5. We're back to 10 'with our usual footwear!

The loop should include the flat road and / or nature, a steep climb and technical descent. After each round, we have a questionnaire to complete with the following criteria:

• Convenience store
• Running
• Hang
• Amortized
• Dynamism
• Mounted special.
• Special descent.
• ... (I can not remember the last 2!).

With the notations Poor / Average / Good / Very Good / Perfect

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For my part I put the "Perfect" to comfort cushioning + + Descent special for the two pairs with some variations for the Bondi

I was simply amazed by the concept HOKA which is truly innovative. Their slogan "Time to Fly" is exactly the feeling I had making my first steps with the Mafate! The width and height of cushioning insole allows for an unparalleled shoe Trail. It feels no stone under the arch of the foot.

The liner is very comfortable jacket is well established. I had already made a model with an even softer soles and frankly it's really nice to run.

The weight is only 340gr despite the size of the sole, it feels light

Lamiricoré in Mafate

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On the climbs I do not find many benefits that Gilles told me to push on tiptoe to feel the rebound against ... by descent, MIRACLE:

I dare not revived in the technical descents but with his shoes on Oversize shipments of wood! The failure to feel the roughness of the ground, it crushes everything in our path! I really enjoyed the walk to take place as on the flat ...

Rated worse I would note the dynamism, a bit below competing models but I think it's normal considering the cushioning / accommodation offered.

The HOKA Mafate are cut for the long trail and / or Ultra. I think we will see many pairs of side of Chamonix for the UTMB 2011 ...

I negotiated a test pair for a week and especially for a marathon of Annecy (I'm a little crazy I know ...). Christopher has kindly agreed to the proposal: So here I am with a pair of 45 foot accusing still a few miles but it's better than running with the new!

I would make a small balance on my RC racing next Sunday ... follow @.

For the time after this quick test, I do not know if I'm ready to invest in this model because I already found my shoe with the foot COLUMBIA Ravenous STABILITY and I especially fear of not being able to switch back to models classic. This is true, the MAFATE seems ideal for the long trails, but for short, dynamic output, in snow, mud or revert to a more appropriate model. In addition, there is little return on the long term for life, for example. The price is still about € 150 so.

The shoe is classified under "Mountain Trail" (brittle, mountain, hangs) and scored 21/27 after the endurance test Shoes 2011 mag .

In fact, if you're used to having several pairs of shoes, I think it can be very interesting to add to the annual budget model HOKA MAFATE. This will be your "Sunday suit", we take them out for special occasions such as gala of the UTMB, the Templars or the Grand Raid de la Reunion

There is also a model Waterproof:

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I kept testing HOKA BONDI the end, it's my favorite:

One of the three colors of the Hoka Bondi

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The model BONDI (mythical beach of Sydney that I had the opportunity to experience during our trip to Australia) is a model slightly less than the OVERSIZE Mafate but more dynamic and with a better place.

There is thus the ideal pair?! Almost: This pair is for Trails on marked paths ("Run & Trail" after Endurance Mag No. 86) or outright road. If I had the BONDI for the Eco-Trail de Paris I think I'd eaten alive Fabien Antolinos Gault and Manu ... sorry guys but I was a little inflamed, by appointment in 2012 ... and in another universe !

Ladies and Gentlemen backpackers here as a pair to run your marathons

Indeed, trying is believing! Many "circadian" will invest in a pair of Bondi to run their marathons, 12h, 24h ... For my part I will buy a pair when my finances permit me and of course especially when I go back to the bitumen early 2012 (I Annecy speak to one week's maturity).

The boot is rated 25/27 again according to the 2011 Endurance Test Shoes mag

Here I found my two pairs of shoes to my feet: Ravenous COLUMBIA STABILITY for mountain trail (80% of my races) and HOKA BONDI for the road / path stable.