Can I go straight from the Hoka Mach 5 to the Mach 7 and skip the Mach 6?

Yes, but going Mach 5 to Mach 7 means taking one change in a single step: the Mach 6 is where the ride moved. Drop holds at 5 mm, so the difference is foam and fit rather than geometry: ProFly+ EVA, softer than the 4, still with a rubberized-foam outsole to Supercritical EVA with a sticky rubber forefoot and Durabrasion heel.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

0.3 oz off in total, 8.2 oz to 7.9 oz in a men's US 9. Almost all of it came in the second update; the Mach 6 weighed 8.2 oz.

Is the Mach 6 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 8.2 oz against 8.2 oz for the Mach 5 and 7.9 oz for the Mach 7, on a 37 mm heel and a $140 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Mach 6 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Did the Mach get taller between the Mach 5 and the Mach 7?

Heel stack went 29 mm to 37 mm, by way of 37 mm on the Mach 6. Drop held at 5 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.

Where does the Mach 7 sit in the Mach lineup now?

It is the current model, two versions on from the Mach 5 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.

Hoka Mach 5 vs Mach 7

Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 4 years separate the Hoka Mach 5 from the Mach 7. Net change: 0.3 oz lighter, 8 mm more heel stack, a new midsole, $5 more at list. The Mach 6 is where the character changed, and that is the update Mach 5 owners notice first.

Hoka Mach 5Sizes running outWomen's
Hoka Mach 7Sizes running outMen's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Mach 5 · 2022

Mach 7 · 2026

The two updates in between

Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.

Step 1Mach 5 to Mach 62024Changed character
Mach 5 vs 6 What replaced the Hoka Mach 5?
Step 2Mach 6 to Mach 72026Faithful successor
Mach 6 vs 7 What replaced the Hoka Mach 6?

Mach 5 vs Mach 7: every spec, side by side

The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.

Spec	Mach 5	Mach 7
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	8.2 oz	7.9 oz
Widths	D	D
Upper	Breathable mesh with more reinforcement and a thin gusseted tongue	Redesigned creel jacquard mesh with a lower, wider heel counter
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	29 mm	37 mm
Forefoot stack	24 mm	32 mm
Drop	5 mm	5 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	ProFly+ EVA, softer than the 4, still with a rubberized-foam outsole	Supercritical EVA with a sticky rubber forefoot and Durabrasion heel
VALUE
List price at launch	$140	$145

Or buy the Mach 6 instead?

The Mach 6 is worth a look only if you want the ride it introduced, because that is the update that changed the shoe. Buying it to soften the jump does not work: you would be adapting to the same change either way, just at an older spec.

Buy the Mach 6

Stocked at Amazon

Men's: Check price at Amazon Women's: Check price at Amazon

Availability last checked Aug 1, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Hoka Mach 5 to the Mach 7 and skip the Mach 6?: Yes, but going Mach 5 to Mach 7 means taking one change in a single step: the Mach 6 is where the ride moved. Drop holds at 5 mm, so the difference is foam and fit rather than geometry: ProFly+ EVA, softer than the 4, still with a rubberized-foam outsole to Supercritical EVA with a sticky rubber forefoot and Durabrasion heel.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 0.3 oz off in total, 8.2 oz to 7.9 oz in a men's US 9. Almost all of it came in the second update; the Mach 6 weighed 8.2 oz.
Is the Mach 6 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 8.2 oz against 8.2 oz for the Mach 5 and 7.9 oz for the Mach 7, on a 37 mm heel and a $140 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Mach 6 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Did the Mach get taller between the Mach 5 and the Mach 7?: Heel stack went 29 mm to 37 mm, by way of 37 mm on the Mach 6. Drop held at 5 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
Where does the Mach 7 sit in the Mach lineup now?: It is the current model, two versions on from the Mach 5 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.