Hoka and Nicole McLaughlin Once Again Reimagine the Outdoor Adventure-Ready Mafate Three2
Hoka and Nicole McLaughlin — a sustainability-focused designer renowned for her unique approach to repurposing materials — have once again reimagined the Mafate Three2 trail running shoe.
“We are excited for the community to see what Nicole McLaughlin has brought to the second iteration of the Mafate Three2,” Hoka director of lifestyle product Travis Wiseman said in a statement. “Nicole’s creative approach to fashion has allowed us to push boundaries further and create a truly unique product that resonates with our community while holding to our commitment of performance and functionality.”
The Mafate Three 2 is a combination of two shoes from the brand’s archives: the Mafate Speed 2 and the Mafate 3. Hoka created the shoe by pairing the Mafate 3 upper with the Mafate Speed 2 sole unit, which includes compression molded EVA midsoles and Vibram Megagrip outsoles.
Like the first collaboration, for their second iteration of the Mafate Three2 — which is executed in white and neon yellow hues — McLaughlin employed a four-in-one gaiter system. The gaiter is made from a woven ETPU base material with durability and all-condition performance in mind, and offers the wearer with dirt- and water-resistant features on the trail. Each shoe includes five utility pockets for storage on the go, and both the cinched opening at the entry and the Velcro heel spike, Hoka explained, enhances the shoe’s versatility and functionality.
“I am so excited to be collaborating with Hoka on our second Mafate THREE2, with a vibrant reversed colorway of our first drop. It includes a multi-functional four-in-one gaiter design and of course, it wouldn’t be an NM project without plenty of pockets,” McLaughlin said in a statement.
The Nicole McLaughlin x Hoka Mafate Three2 arrives on June 14 via Hoka.com. It will retail for $250 and come in a custom crag box.
To promote the collaboration, Hoka and McLaughlin created a campaign inspired by her hobby of birding in New York City, which she discovered during COVID. The effort, which features McLaughlin birding in NYC’s Prospect Park, was photographed by David Brandon Greeting and styled by Gramparents.
What’s more, In support of NYC’s birding community, McLaughlin and Hoka will be making a donation to the NYC Audubon, which announced this month a name change to NYC Bird Alliance.
The first collaboration from Hoka and McLaughlin on the Mafate Three2 — which was executed in red, black and silver with hits of neon yellow — arrived in November 2023. That shoe also retailed for $250. Although the collab is no longer available at retail, it can still be purchased on the secondary market, such as StockX, which has pairs available for as low as $201.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.