ShoeGeometry

Brooks Cascadia Elite vs Hoka Mafate 5

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneBrooks Cascadia Elite: heel 40 mm, forefoot 34 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 38 % of length, radius 47 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 19 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Brooks Cascadia Elite: toe rocker 38 % of lengthHoka Mafate 5: heel 44 mm, forefoot 36 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 38 % of length, radius 50 % of length; heel bevel 10 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Hoka Mafate 5: toe rocker 38 % of length
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite40/34 mm · toe rocker 38 % · heel bevel 12 %
  • Hoka Mafate 544/36 mm · toe rocker 38 % · heel bevel 10 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offAbout the same38.1 vs 38.1 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelHoka Mafate 540 vs 44 mm heel stack
More under the forefootHoka Mafate 534 vs 36 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropBrooks Cascadia Elite6 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootAbout the same39 vs 48 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelHoka Mafate 523 vs 70 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same116.9 vs 119.2 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricBrooks Cascadia Elite
Trail · Trail
Hoka Mafate 5
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmDerived8 mmDerived
Heel stack40 mmStated44 mmStated
Forefoot stack34 mmStated36 mmStated
Weight266 gStated314 gStated
Toe rocker38 %est.38 %est.
Rocker radius47 %est.50 %est.
Rocker rise angle28 degest.28 degest.
Rocker angle at toe59 degest.60 degest.
Toe tip over ground46 mm*est.43 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset73.9 %est.75.4 %est.
Toe spring (relative)20.8 %est.19.6 %est.
Heel bevel length12.4 %est.10.2 %est.
Heel bevel height19 mm*est.20 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)116.9 mmMeasured119.2 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)100.9 mmMeasured98.7 mmMeasured
Toe box shape79 %est.—
Interior forefoot width92.6 mmMeasured95.5 mmMeasured
Toebox width71.6 mmMeasured74.2 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness39Derived48Derived
Midsole firmness23Derived70Derived
PlateCarbon compositeTPU plate
Primary foamDNA Gold (PEBA)supercritical EVA + CMEVA
List price$275$185

Key differences

  • Brooks Cascadia Elite's heel-to-toe drop is 6 mm, 2 mm lower than Hoka Mafate 5's 8 mm.
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite's heel stack is 40 mm, 4 mm thinner than Hoka Mafate 5's 44 mm.
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite's forefoot stack is 34 mm, 2 mm thinner than Hoka Mafate 5's 36 mm.
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite's weight is 266 g, 48 g lighter than Hoka Mafate 5's 314 g.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 38 % of length for Brooks Cascadia Elite, 38 % of length for Hoka Mafate 5.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Brooks Cascadia Elite

Hoka Mafate 5

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Brooks Cascadia Elite details · Hoka Mafate 5 details · Add more shoes