Anybody run in these shoes? I really like the ride, but the heel collar rub is kind of unbearable to the point where I'm probably going to return them. Seems like this is a pretty common issue. Since I otherwise really like the shoe - as a last resort checking to see if anyone has fixed the rubbing heel collar with tape, or an insert of some kind? Any suggestions outside of taping my heels for every run?
Yea - I know Hoka's aren't serious shoes, blah, blah, blah...
I have about 80 miles on mine so far and I also like the ride a lot. The peba bounce is there...
I had heel rub only on my left heel for three runs. After that the upper broke in some, and I never had heel rub again.
DC Doctor1 wrote:
I have about 80 miles on mine so far and I also like the ride a lot. The peba bounce is there...
I had heel rub only on my left heel for three runs. After that the upper broke in some, and I never had heel rub again.
Also, using a piece of KT Pro tape across the achilles is good at protecting your skin.
The heel rub starts to go away after about 100 miles for me. I’ve put a couple hundred miles in mine and love them. But the toe box is starting to feel wider and loose with some holes now. I see myself getting 400 miles out of them, a bit less than the X 1’s.
Hoka nailed it on these except for that heel, I hope they don’t change much going forward
Interesting you say the forefoot widened out. I feel like I have pretty average width feet and the regular model was unbearably narrow. I bought the wide and it fits perfect other than the heel collar. Ran 10 miles the first time I took them out and had bloody heels on both sides. The abrasion is very small, but I think it would get worse if I was running consecutive days in them.
I love the Cielos, and want these to work as a training companion.
Yeah, the first couple days in them my socks were painted red at the heel. Either they’re just calloused now.
I wear 8.5 or 9s medium with and they certainly feel like wide width now. Weird because I didn’t have that problem with the 1s.
equally enjoyed the Cielo’s, hate the skyward lineup
Best fix - throw 'em out.
Love the Mach X 2.
Fortunately no heel issues.
I do use the top/back lace eyelets for a little extra security.
Sold mine after a couple of runs...the irritation was terrible, but just on one heel for me. It looked to be the actual heel pad that was rubbing below left of my achilles. It would even rub under a plaster. I tried covering the pad with moleskin tape, but it didn't really do anything. It definitely seemed to rub worse on hills too.
Super disappointed with the Mach X2. Bought them as a long run / cruiser alternative to the outstanding, trainer-of-the-year Mach 6. First attempted long run in them, I had to stop after 10k because it felt like Gage from Pet Sematary going after my Achilles 😬
I gave them a haircut on the heel, but it wasn't enough, so I went even deeper. I'll give them one more try this weekend, but after that it's going to be extreme surgery or garbage can. Hoka is no help if you live in the EU either. Guess I'm back to hating mode (as soon as I pick up 3-4 pairs of Mach 6 on sale).
When it comes to heel collar irritation the best method for resolving it is to use a hacksaw and make two vertical cuts, about an inch deep and an inch apart along the back of the collar. This will allow the portion of the collar directly behind the Achilles to float freely. This solution also looks aesthetically cleaner than just trimming off a chunk of the collar.
I bought some padding off of amazon that I'm going to try. If it doesn't work I am still within the return window to Hoka, so I'll probably just get my money back before performing surgery on them. Will report back.
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