The Mafate X is Hoka's carbon-plated ultra shoe. A PEBA core rides over a super-critically foamed EVA carrier with a forked carbon plate between them, and a Vibram Megagrip outsole handles the ground. Hoka builds it for long-haul efforts, where the point is still having legs at the end.
It suits you if you race long on runnable ground and want the most protection Hoka offers. If your trails are steep and technical, or you mostly run an hour at a time, a Speedgoat costs less and suits you better.
It is not a shoe for tight technical singletrack, and it is not an everyday trail trainer. The platform is tall and the 7 mm drop is high for the category, so precise footwork on rocky ground is more work than in a lower shoe, and both the price and the foam are wasted on easy miles.