Hoka shoes are a pain in the a*#le, slightly.

My experience with Hokas was either they were not very stable due to cushion or they compressed very quickly and did not feel very responsive after about 150-200 miles. Went back to using Nikes.

Your Pumas have a 10mm drop and the Mach 5 has a 4 or 5mm drop. Maybe your feet aren’t ready for the change up? Lower drop is good for many things but harder on the achillles, or so I hear.

Aside from that, I feel like shoes are changing very fast right now and models differ a lot. I’m not sure how applicable 2020 tests on different shoes are to what you are buying in late 2022.

I have a love hate relationship with Hoka myself.

On one hand, the Mach 4 was one of my favorite daily trainers; but the difference between two pairs of the same shoe was huge. Used them for the same things and one lasted 300 miles, the other 150 before I felt discomfort in them.

With their other shoes, they are either extremely tight on the foot and feel heavy or fit like a glove.

I really enjoy their trail shoes though, the Speedgoat 5 is legit for trail running and hiking in general

Hoka Mach 4s kill my lower legs too. I don't understand the hype at all. Kinda flat and dead to me.