Hoka - Speedgoat 4

The 4's were my all time favorite... the 5's shocked me how bad they have been. I tried the 6's on in store, they felt more stable than the 5's out of the box.

I have always worn Speedgoats in wide (2e) the past but moved to a NB Hierro 9 this year. It’s a softer, more comfortable ride. Gonna try the Norda 005 when they arrive in a few days.

I’m still wearing my Speedgoat 4s after several years of running and hiking in them. They still rule. I’m sure the 5s and 6s are great too.

Oh how I miss the days when I could go to a store and buy the Hoka Speedgoat 4's. Those were "My" shoe.

Well, damn. The 2s and 3s were the GOATs of the speedgoats. 4s were ok, not great. I had two pairs of 5s replaced after they blew out in the upper after just several runs. Eventually just got the refund. What happened to Hoka man…

Well, damn. The 2s and 3s were the GOATs of the speedgoats. 4s were ok, not great. I had two pairs of 5s replaced after they blew out in the upper after just several runs. Eventually just got the refund. What happened to Hoka man…

My feet are a 4E width across the ball and pretty square across the toe. Hoka Wide fit is ok but tends to rip out at the bulge on the outside of the ball of my foot eventually. The New Balance X-Wides are my current go to, really comfortable.

Unfortunately, the materials on the SG6 changed quite a lot. From my point of view the shoe deteriorated since SG4. So check out whether you have a good fit: for my wide feet with a high span and the tougher materials it does not work out: too much space in the toe box, too much pressure on the span, a tougher mid sole and still (like the predessors) a limited feel for the underground. It is a pity, as I liked 3 and 4 a lot...

Unfortunately, the materials on the SG6 changed quite a lot. From my point of view the shoe deteriorated since SG4. So check out whether you have a good fit: for my wide feet with a high span and the tougher materials it does not work out: too much space in the toe box, too much pressure on the span, a tougher mid sole and still (like the predessors) a limited feel for the underground. It is a pity, as I liked 3 and 4 a lot...

HOKA for the win! Daily work shoes are gaviota 5, trail runners are speedgoat 4, slow hikes and walks are the Stinson 7, and a spare kick around pair are the Clifton 9. Can't beat Hoka for their durability and comfort, especially if you're going to be in your feet multiple hours a day.

Not sure if this helps but I often buy hokas off Poshmark or a similar used clothing store so that I can get specific model I like. I have had SG 3, 4, 5 and 6. But, I really like a specific older model so I’ll buy the same year’s model again and again. I’ve done this with other brands too. I really really like the older Lululemon Metal Tech shirt from 15 years ago because they last forever and have the perfect feel for me so I bought a couple pairs on Poshmark for $10. An added plus is that they are often half price or less. Almost always are in like new condition. The drawback is that it might take a little more front end research to find. At a cheaper price, you could even buy two pairs of the same shoe and rotate between the two. My two cents!

Not sure if this helps but I often buy hokas off Poshmark or a similar used clothing store so that I can get specific model I like. I have had SG 3, 4, 5 and 6. But, I really like a specific older model so I’ll buy the same year’s model again and again. I’ve done this with other brands too. I really really like the older Lululemon Metal Tech shirt from 15 years ago because they last forever and have the perfect feel for me so I bought a couple pairs on Poshmark for $10. An added plus is that they are often half price or less. Almost always are in like new condition. The drawback is that it might take a little more front end research to find. At a cheaper price, you could even buy two pairs of the same shoe and rotate between the two. My two cents!

Just about to retire some Speedgoat 3’s, and got some Ultrafly trails for 50% off so thought I’d give them a whirl

On another note, I know it’s not running but I’ve been using the speed goat 6 (wide) on the PCT in the Sierra for the last 400 miles or so and they feel and look basically new. I got them after breaking a pair of Olympuses after 300 miles. I really liked running the speed goat 4 when I had them and I’ll definitely get another pair of the 6 when I next look at running shoes

Hey everyone, I've been running for about 8 years now and have gone through lots of shoes in that time but I still don't feel like I've found a perfect shoe for me, so I am here seeking advice. For context, I am 6'1"(186cm) and \~205 lbs(93kg) and I have really wide feet with high arches. I've run in a mix of trail and road shoes between Asics, Saucony, Hoka, and New Balance, and most recently, Atreyu. Out of these, my favorites have been Hoka Speedgoat 2 & 3 and the New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v2 because of their comfort and durability. I like a higher stack height to help soften the heavier strike I have from being a relatively larger frame. Additionally, I tend to break/tear most of my shoes in the exact same way on the medial/interior side of the forefoot where the upper meets the midsole. I suspect this has something to do with my wide feet, but it still happens in wider shoes or when I order shoes in wide sizing. However, in some shoes this happens after 500-600mi (Speedgoat 2) or only after 100mi (Speedgoat 5 be damned). Also, for those of you wondering: Yes, the Speedgoats are quite narrow and they're somehow my favorite shoe, usually this requires a not-so-pleasant 50mi break-in period. I am looking for a trail shoe with decent/high stack height, the best durability possible (500mi+), and catering to wide feet. Ideally, I would also like good wet-surface grip since I live somewhere very rainy. I am mostly familiar with the big running shoe brands (Nike, Saucony, Asics, New Balance, Hoka, Brooks, etc.) but I know almost nothing about more niche/new trail shoe brands (e.g. Salomon, Topo, Altra, North Face, NNormal, Norda, La Sportiva, etc.....). Any input would be appreciated!

I’m flat footed, bigger, and don’t like shoes that overdo it with stability / arch / padding too! I got a pair of Speedgoats and hated how soft and disconnected from the ground they made me feel and also felt like it put my weight too much to the outside of the shoe (and thus more likely to roll, especially with the stack height and lack of ground feel). My go to for about 3 years now is the Saucony Peregrine: I use it for all distances and for OCRs and it’s been absolutely issue free. It has a low heel drop (4mm) so it’s close enough to zero drop and then the stack height and padding are just right: enough to absorb the shock and save your feet, but not too much or designed to disconnect from the ground and lose your ground feel. I can tell when I step on a rock but not in a bad way like I feel every single tiny pebble and it’s tough / painful.

I’ve been trail running in nothing but Saucony Peregrine 12’s for 2 years, but I live in Florida and rarely deal with rocky terrain and what not — it’s not very technical at all here. I absolutely love them, so much so that I have like 2-3 more pairs in reserve for when my current pair wear out. I’ve ran up to 23 miles comfortably in them on Oak Mountain, hiked/trail ran Grandfather Mountain and Mount Mitchell, and have done multiple OCRs from Savage Blitz to Spartan Trail and Beast in them — again no complaints at all. They have great traction and I like that the cushioning is right in the middle between minimalist and maximal. I haven’t experienced any heel splitting or upper ripping or any of that. The only damage I can point out is that the inner liner is starting to wear out where it makes contact with my heel, but I also have ran them into the ground and they’re past the point I should replace mileage wise. My previous pair when wearing out, some of the lugs were starting to fall apart but again I wear my shoes way past when they should be. The only other trail shoe I’ve ran in is the Hoka Speedgoat 4 and while I can see why people like it for long runs, I couldn’t keep using them. It may have been a size issue, but no matter what I tried I kept getting blisters on my toes and on the arches of both of my feet after almost every run an hour or more. Which I rarely ever get with my Peregrines. I also learned I hate having that much cushioning for trail runs, so as usual shoes are a very personal preference and depends on how the shoe actually fits your own feet. Edit: I also road run in older Saucony Kinvaras 12/ 13s for reference. It does seem like the newer Saucony shoes have gone downhill in quality control at least. I snagged a pair of Saucony Kinvara 14 for cheap, wore them at work for a while, and they’re the fastest shoes I’ve ever seen wear out on the treads. I’m likely switching to Altra’s newer shoes with 4mm drops in the future once I run out of my backup pairs unless Saucony fixes things. They’ve majorly changed their shoes in the past year, especially adding a ton of cushion to Kinvara and similar.

I think I've had 6 pairs from 3,4, evo, 5 and the 6 is by far the worst. 5 wore out fast, the 6 is likely the same but it's not in my rotation enough to die. I was the biggest sg fan but the dream is over, they suck now.

Loved the 3 and 4, 5 was OK, the 6 is roof firm and wider than the others. I have a narrow foot so a downside for me. Hoping the 7 comes out soon.

Loved the 3 and 4, 5 was OK, the 6 is roof firm and wider than the others. I have a narrow foot so a downside for me. Hoping the 7 comes out soon.

Yes I agree that they are slightly too high, but shouldn't be a major issue for intermediate runners. Although they feel slightly heavy and stiff, they are like you said easy to run at albeit at slow to moderate paces. I don't see any fit issues apart from them being slightly loose in the heels. I disagree a bit on the technical part as they are at least as good or even better than speedgoats in technical terrain performance. Really i have other trail shoes like the Peregrine 13, zegama 2, speedgoats 4 and 5, and the AP5 feels more technically inclined than the rest. The deeply lugged outsoles also seem more durable than the other shoes that I have including those with Vibram soles. That being said, although they are not super comfortable nor speedy, they get the job done better than most competitors at a better value for money. I love them.

The new midsole is a big miss. The selling point of the Speedgoat series is the plush ride. Stiff and responsive does not work. As someone whose favorite shoe of all time is the Speedgoat 3, I am sticking with my Salomon Ultra Glides. (I am picking up a set of the Salomon Genesis for my next training block, those look promising)

I loved the SG3. Did not like 4. Really did not like 5, and I feel like 6 is the same shoe (maybe with a worse midsole). If you like 5, then you should like 6.

I loved the SG3. Did not like 4. Really did not like 5, and I feel like 6 is the same shoe (maybe with a worse midsole). If you like 5, then you should like 6.

Nnormal Kjerag for anything truly technical. There is simply nothing like that shoe. For everything else, Speedgoat 3. I will be buying a pair of Norda in April when Montreal on business so I can buy them for $285 Canadian instead of $285 US (yes, they have the same list price in Canada 🙄.

Not sure how technical Zion is - this makes a huge difference on whether you can just roll with something more road shoe-like in terms of stack/drop or whether you need to be more locked in and low to the ground. That said, a lot of people start with Hoka Speedgoats cause they are sort of jack of all trades and have a Vibram outsole. I know I started there until I learned better what worked best for me personally. That said, just know the Hokas have a very narrow toe box, which, once you get into ultra distances, can be an issue depending on foot shape, but 60k is terribly long, so you will probably be just fine. I would also just say that the recent Speedgoat models tend to twist on the foot for me at least, they changed the upper pretty radically with the 5, and I have moved away from them. But a lot of people love them, and I certainly used to as well! My current fav all-around shoe is Nike Zegama 2. That also is comfy and has Vibram (and fits my foot better).

LOVE the 4s. My absolute fave. Still have a few pairs going cuz I stocked up in my size. Not a huge fan of the 5s. Bummed to hear this about the 6s but also not that surprised based on what I’d seen. I may try Topos after all my 4s are depleted

**Absolutely!** I’ve got wide/voluminous feet too and know the struggle. A few trail shoes that have worked really well for me (or others in the same boat): * **Altra Lone Peak** – Foot-shaped toe box, zero drop, super roomy. Great for comfort and natural splay. * **Topo Athletic Ultraventure or Terraventure** – Similar to Altra with a wide fit, but with a slight drop and more structure. * **HOKA Speedgoat (Wide version)** – Surprisingly comfy once broken in. The wide version gives more volume than you’d expect from HOKA. * **New Balance Hierro v7 (2E width)** – Cushioned, roomy, and solid grip for trails. * **Brooks Cascadia (Wide)** – Good all-rounder with trail stability and comes in wide sizes. Make sure to try them on if you can—volume fit can vary a lot even among “wide” shoes. Good luck out there! 👟🌲

Had the speedgoat mid gtx which I loved for many years. Have since had 2 pairs of the 4s which are pretty much all I hike in. So very comfortable. Thinking of getting a new pair of speedgoat 5 mid to replace my current pair. They've covered all terrain at all times of year in the lakes and Snowdonia.

I have them and no issues. Not sure why all the fuss. Have had the 3,4,5 also and while the 3 was probably my favorite all of them allow me to get out on the trails and run comfortably with great grip in pretty much any terrain and weather.

I have them and no issues. Not sure why all the fuss. Have had the 3,4,5 also and while the 3 was probably my favorite all of them allow me to get out on the trails and run comfortably with great grip in pretty much any terrain and weather.

I hike/backpack in Hokas.... but like you, afraid of buying v6 of speedgoat. V4 were awesome. V5 seemed pretty good... Are there any alternatives that have that comfort of Hoka, but also have great traction for rugged terrain and could be wet. Update: I ended up going with Merrel Agility Peak 5. I'm testing them out soon.

Thanks for the review! I was doubting whether I should continue with the Speedgoats (I’ve had 4s and 5s) after all these poor reviews but that sounds like an improvement for me. I run in the mountains around Salt Lake and there is a lot of climbing and loose stuff.

The nnormal Tomir, speedgoat 6, norda 002, s/lab ultra 3 might all fit the bill. I'm just wearing out my last pair of speedgoat 4s, and these have all almost fit the bill for the same purpose.

Used speed goat 4s for trail for a good 2 years, and up mountains. Found them slippy out of the box but after a few outings they were great. They are great for mixed if you are heading out on tarmac as well. They fit high up your ankle, so wear at least ankle length socks or you will cut into your ankles. I have just started breaking in a pair of brooks cascadia, they have a lower heel and so far so good for mixed trail running. For fell/mountains with alot of rock and wet mud i use innov8 xtalons. They have similar lugs to speedcross, they are no good on tarmac but great for fell/mountains.

Hi! Looking for some advise Recently ran a 50k ultra in some Hoka speedgoats but had some issues with the toe box even tho they are wide. I also have some brooks cascadias but they are just to firm I do not enjoy running in th and couldn’t imagine running a 50k in them. I have been looking at altras and wanting some advise on which I should be going for? I prefer to have a nice cushion similar to the speedgoats. My other concern is the 0 drop is this much of a difference to the speedgoats drop as I was always fine with them! Thanks in advance!!

Wondering if anyone has had any other feedback on the SG6? I still love my SG4 EVO and am gearing up for a 100 miler. Since I haven't had a SG wonder how they compare and or any other recs that may be on the lighter side for a 100 mile race. Have also had good recent experience with the Zegama 2 but my only complaint is how heavy they feel after about 15-20 miles.

I was also a Speedgoat gen 4-5 guy and loved them! I switched to the Challenger 7’s for the same reason, bad SG-6 reviews. The Challengers have been very comfortable for my road runs and have lasted over a year. If you’re just non-technical runs I highly recommend them! But don’t expect much durability if you take them to trail, especially if it’s rocky or sandy.

Winter/snow i wear waterproof Danner boots. The rest of the year i rock Speed goats no gortex. they dry fast and I have sweaty feet.

I bought them recently (non gtx) and love them. I already know I will be wearing them as much as possible. For more technical hikes where I need more support or rainy weather / muddy trails I have Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX which are OK but far from my favourite.

I had to return my xa pro 3d after seams ripped on both sides, won’t be buying Salomon for now. Hoka Speedgoat’s arch support is a bit too high for me so they were uncomfortable, I’ll probably stick to Asics for now.

I’ve had a couple Hoka SG versions, Peregrines, Cascadia were nice… my favorite are Speedcross 5 if you like a structured sturdy feel, rock solid, super durable, fantastic traction, lace system rocks, you really get your money’s worth and they feel “new” even as they age

I’ve run my last two pairs of Challengers into the ground. Probably a bit too much with my last pair at almost 1,400k! I have had bad “luck” with my previous Speedgoats where the inside of the back of one felt really odd and rubbed against my Achilles loads. No issues with a newer pair. My latest Challengers feel a bit less tight on my feet but maybe I need to change my lacing.  That happening twice to you doesn’t just feel like bad luck though. 

I have some Speedgoats but they kill my feet. The heel seems to really dig into my Achilles so I struggle with them.  I love my Challengers for easier terrain running though so I might have just got unlucky with that pair or particular fit. 

I’m not a fan of GoreTex running shoes as they’re less breathable if you have hot/sweaty feet like me, and if you get water in the top of them then they stay wetter for longer. Breathable shoes are much more preferable.  And yeah, get to a shop and try some on if you can. I have some Speedgoats as they were the best fit of the four or five I tried. The hybrid Hoka Challengers are great for light trails and the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. 

I used to use New Balance 4E Hierro which fit well, but I was really disappointed in their grip. I was sliding all over the place on anything remotely slick which isn't really good for a trail runner. I switched to the Topo Pursuit shoes and they are wide, comfortable, and very grippy. The Terraventure get great reviews but they were substantially narrower. They were similar in width as the Hoka Speedgoat so wouldn't work for me. Altra had wide shoes at some point, but they progressively narrowed them to the point that I could no longer fit into the Lone Peaks. Supposedly, they are making them wider again and migrating to a Vibram sole which hopefully will be a vast improvement with their shoddy proprietary sole. Their quality control in generally has been poor. Brooks were always too narrow. I could never fit into the Cascadia.

If your terrain isn’t too technical, the Salomon Glide 2 might be more appropriate than the Speed Cross (longer lugs, more protection and heavier). Hoka‘s are good too, Speedgoat have a nice Vibram outsole.

Speedcross is rather for mud. I would take speedgoats or peregrines. Or something from terrex line. Xodus ultra are also brilliant.

Never waterproof, they don’t breathe as well and if they get wet inside they take significantly longer to dry. There’s a very narrow set of conditions where they’re useful. Trail runners > boots, the majority of boots just don’t provide any meaningful ankle support. If you want to see boots that actually have decent support you can look at mountaineering boots, but you wouldn’t want to hike in those. The “meta” has definitely shifted to trail runners. I’m partial to Hoka Speedgoats but visiting an REI or a specialized running store will help you get fitted.

Altra LP's are quick-drying. My problem with them is that while they're super comfy have a pretty shallow footbed, my feet/ankles would ache after a long day on rough terrain, backpacking with about 35lbs. I've since switched to Hoka Speedgoats and all that is a distant memory. Super cushy, excellent grip with the Vibrams, and they're okay at drying out, though not as good as the LPs. No, they won't last forever but the payback in end-of-the-day comfort is huge to me.

Physical protection from pokes and rocks aside, my experience, and others have shared similarly, that boots do not really do much to prevent ankle sprains. Boots generally have higher/thicker soles, so if you do turn your ankle, it's a higher fulcrum point and you could turn your ankle even more than if you were on a thinner sole of a trail runner. The only time I turned my ankle significantly was when I was wearing big, heavy, think leather-upper Vasque St. Elias boots. The firmness of the ankle wrap on those meant I couldn't 'get out of it' by turning forward or any other split-second reaction. Once it started over sideways, there was no getting out of it. Contrast that with trail-runners; I currently have Speedgoats, but have hiked with Altras, Salomons, Oboz, and others, and it's the same. If I turn my ankle, I seem to be able to quickly compensate and prevent myself from putting all my weight over on a completely turned ankle. I do that on every hike, sometimes twice. Never injured myself that way.

I had the aching feet with the LP4s and moved to Hoka Speedgoats and never looked back. I can hike all day with the softer Hokas and my feet never ache like they did with the Altras. I occasionally wear my LP4s around the house and yeah, I do miss the airy toe box, but functionally, I don't think I'm missing anything with the Hokas.

I had three versions of speed goats prior. The midsole on the speed goats is softer. Grip is about the same. I like the upper on the brooks a tiny bit better. The big difference is the toe box (for me). My biggest issue with speed goats has always been the toe box being too narrow, but I could never find another trail running shoe that had a soft midsole, good grip, and durable, so I kept coming back to speed goats. The Brooks has most of what speed goat offers, plus a wider toe box.

I've had two pairs of speedgoats and love them. What made you change to Mafates?

OK, thanks. I got a new pair of speedgoats, so I'll have to wait to try some Mafates. Happy trailing!

FYI: I’m a very wide boy, but the Salomon Speedcross and Genesis both fit very comfortably. None of their other shoes do, but those are both great shoes you might want to try. Hoka also has nice wide options across their lineup. If it‘s grip you want, I find the Speedgoat is second only to VJ Shoes - but VJ run narrow.

Buy what's the most comfortable to you.  Trail runners are lighter and breathe more (unless you buy GTX versions). Therefor, they will most likely last less.  Speedgoats are among my many shoes. I do not like them. The foam is a bit too soft for my liking, and they scrape the bottom of my ankle bone.  Chill for short runs. Nightmare when hiking.  Which only reinforces my original point. Buy whatever fits you. If you are not sure, get something cheaper in the category you are interested in and give it a try. 

I really like the Speed goats when I'm training because they definitely have a softer landing and less brutal on my body. I do think I will just margineably roll a bit more in them on loose rocky trails.

Yes! 100% yes! I retired mine after 500 miles years ago not knowing it would be impossible to find the right balance again.

In Hoka Speedgoat I wear an 11, but also feel fine in a 11.5. In the Prodigio Pros I went to a 45.5. I also bought a 46 which is a little bigger in the toes but still feels good (mostly want that for long races if my feet swell). According to La Sportiva a 45.5 corresponds to a US 12. So my experience for me was sizing up from a US size by at least a half, maybe a full. Hope that helps. (Btw, I have three pairs, love them.)

correct, speedgoats are designed to work well on trails, but they're not clunky either. i actually like road running with them when it's rainy because i feel less like i'm going to slip

My son and I both wore Speadgoats at Philmont for a 50-mile backpacking trip. Loved them, and they worked great.

As others have said, it's not likely to be the shoes, Speedgoats are already so cushioned if you go any more cushioned you won't feel the trail! I get IT band issues if I haven't worked them before a trip and there is no magic shoe that will fix that. The way I fixed it when after the first time I had the problem is look up a bunch of IT band exercises to target the right muscle groups and good stretches. After doing those religiously in the lead up to the next trip I had no issues whatsoever despite it being a very similar trail. I'm doing this ahead of starting the AT in late April. Don't get me wrong, it's still worth figuring out what the best shoes are for you, but they will never be the magic bullet.

Topo Athletic Mountain Racers. I cannot do zero drop, Speedgoats were great expect that they felt very narrow, and I don’t even have narrow feet! Topo’s are Altra and Hoka’s love child. I love my Mountain Racers

Yes — so similar to the old Speedgoats

I've used both, Speedgoats for about 4000 miles, Topos (Ultraventure Pro and Mtn Racer) for over 1000. Each of them have their up and down sides. Speedgoats are a lot narrower at the front, so even a wide isn't as wide in the footbox as a Topo, and the heel is wider for the (wide) Speedgoats, so some have issues with slipping. I've given up on Topos though because of toe and arch issues. I guess my feet don't bend like the makers of Topo expect them to, so I end up in pain after 150 miles. Speedgoats roll easier and are softer where the balls of the feet are, which takes a lot of strain off my feet (though that is, unfortunately, not as pronounced anymore as is used to be with older models). Speedgoats are probably going to counteract the lifting of your toe, but you'll have to try if it really works for you, or if the footbox is still too low.

Hoka Speedgoat are pretty squishy. I just switched to topo mtn and they hard af, miss the Hokas.

No to Goretex unless you plan on running/traveling on snow for extended periods. IMO if the outsole isn't vibram then it's a no for me, but I trend towards more rugged trails. Most popular shoe is probably the Hoka speedgoat or Brooks cascadia. I love the Hoka Mafate but its pricey. What type of trails/runs are you looking at doing?

Years of Altra-Topo… just went Zegama 2 and love it… will also keep Speedgoat in the rotation… tried on Caldera and liked it…

Zegama 2 is firm, fresh foam more is firm, speedgoat is firm. I have tried them all and they might be softer than an old style trail shoe, but definitely not soft shoes. The softest I have tried so far is ASICS trabuco max 2&3 But I would love to find a similar or softer and bouncy trail shoe, like Neo vista but for door to trail type shoes.

I live in Arizona, you definitely want trail shoes — loose dirt has terrible traction. I run mostly in Hoka Speedgoats and have also had a pair of OnCloud VenturePeaks. Ran 5 miles once in Hoka Mafates at a demo. Which trail shoes you use is personal preference though. The vibram grip and tread patterns on Hokas tend to be pretty good compared to other brands

Holy smokes. I live in Arizona and have 391 on OnCloud VenturePeaks and 573 on Hoka Speedgoats and the lugs on both are basically gone (which was the case for the speedgoats by 400). After just 250 on both the lugs were already severely degraded. And I’m 155 lbs

Brooks Divide is marketed as an all-terrain shoe. The rubber is harder than things like mega-grip and the lugs are shallower than typical trail shoes. I bought a pair to try out since I generally run exclusively in trail shoes, even when logging city miles. My take is they truly are an “all terrain” concept, so when I’m on roads they are fine and when I’m on gross (wet or muddy) trails I do notice the lost traction, but they get by and are much better than a road shoe. On dry trail I cannot tell a noticeable difference with something more aggressive. Would recommend, but if you are OK with more aggressively wearing down some trail shoes, I’d just get a pair of trail shoes. I still prefer my Hoka Speedgoats over anything.

Really depends on what kinds of trails you'll be running, and what kind of milage. I have and like the AP 5 a lot, but use it mostly for muddier and/or steeper terrain on longer runs. It has aggressive lugs, that you don't need for smoother, flater single track. They'll of course work for that, but won't be as fun. Same with the Speedgoat (which I also own) but they're a little more stable, while not a agile. If you're coming from the road and some fast running, something like the Salomon Genesis might work better. Or even the Sense Ride, if you'll be doing mostly shorter runs. The Sense Ride is what I use for "speed" work on the trails, and it's a fun shoe. But it doesn't have deep lugs or a lot of cushioning/stack height, so I don't use it for longer runs.

But the Speedgoat is even clunkier (I have both). And for the stack height, I think the Agility Peak is pretty nimble.

I love the Challengers for the road but prefer Speedgoats on the trails, though do use both. There is probably bugger all difference for less technical trails, but if it's raining the better grip on the Speedgoats means I'm less liable to end up in a bush

Do not do this with plantar fasciitis. Get a shoe with a high stack like the hola speedgoats or the NB fresh foam. PF is not something to mess around with because it will end your hike in a way that nothing else can by making every step agony.

I love my Thundercross. I like them more than my speedcross. I tried the Hoka Spoedgoat and just couldn't enjoy them.

I've just bought some speedgoats because I'm sick and tired of Altras giving up too quickly. First impressions are good, but I had to add an insole to stop the sides rubbing under the ankle bone. I use boots in the winter.

Yes but it's not just the high stack for me. Outsole grip/traction, upper fabric security (does it stretch a lot or keep my feet directly over the sole at all times?), and how soft/firm the cushioning is matter some too. I'd still wear high stack shoes like Speedgoats, Xodus Ultra 1-2, and others over loose rocky terrain but will slow down to maintain stability. I wouldn't be running them much faster with lower stack shoes because the risk and consequences is still higher and I'd be making trade offs with foot comfort and overall pace e.g., faster and more comfy the rest of the time vs being slightly faster on rocks but overall slower because after a while my feet get punctured.

I’ve found the TOPO to be an amazing shoe. Also not under $100 but the HOKA Speedgoat has an amazing sole for Rocky terrain. I wish there were quality trail shoes under $100 - seems an impossible task these days.

I absolutely love my HOKA Speedgoats this season. The Vibram sole has kept me from going ass over teakettle so many times on the trail. And the wide toe box feels so roomy. It’s $ but for my foot, wonderful. https://preview.redd.it/87p0r5ce4j1f1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfbe521c79c4ee9024de68360e354bc721000386

I used Hoka speed goats and they were great

Approach shoes would be fine I'm sure. I did 5 days across Skye in hoka speedgoats with a full 65l pack. Kept to my routine of changing to dry socks at lunch ,dry em at night then dry socks in the morning. Quite a lot of bog but once your feet are wer you can just stomp through it.

Disagree with brand not mattering - I cannot recommend the Hoka Speedgoats. They didn't even make it 6 months. But my Brooks are still going strong after like 2 years. But yes, trail running is the best

Might have to give these a shot - I've not been impressed with how quickly my Speedgoats are wearing away. Disc golf and trail running, noticeable difference in less than 2 months. Literal chunks of foam falling off.

My experience with Salomon and challengers have been Salomon is more durable and I get more miles but the hoka mega grip has more traction. Used speedgoats for several years and now use Salomon. I have pretty narrow feet and the Salomon fits my foot shape a touch better.

The Hoka Speedgoat is the most popular option. I like mine for hiking. [https://www.hoka.com/en/us/trail/](https://www.hoka.com/en/us/trail/) I own the Bondi also - but don't take that on trails.

I prefer Altra Lonepeak. But Speedgoats are especially great for the longer hikes (4+ hours). They got more cushion.

So I really love Hoka Speedgoats - but even in the men's wide I have to wrap my bunions in leukotape and still get a lot of irritation due to the toe squeeze of the tapered toe box (and I'm already going up 1/2 size). Altras (with a heel lift) and topos fit well width-wise, but I need a rocker due to hallux limitus and at least the topo ultraadventure bothers my feet (maybe because it's a late-stage rocker? from what I understand early stage rockers are better for hallux limitus). The phantom topo feels better (though it's not a trail shoe). Are any other of the topo trail runners rocker shoes? So: ideally the speedgoats would be offered in extra wide, or the toebox would stop tapering. Assuming that isn't going to happen anytime soon -- does this shoe I'm looking for exist? (extra wide toebox on a rocker). Or is there any hacks I can do to my speedgoats to make them work? Thanks.

In the same boat in re loose ankle ligaments and rolled ankles, and never really made the connection. I was running exclusively in SGs, and rolled my ankle badly thrice in three months at the end of last year. Been in PT and just getting back to being able to run again after the last one. Didn't have this issue with my old cascadias, so now I'm curious to try switching up my shoes.

For me La Sportiva's shoes have been unrivalled for durability. My first pair of mutants have roughly 1500km in them, though have now been downgraded from a fell shoe to a trail shoe as the lugs have worn down. If the Bushido's are so clearly working for you, I'm not sure why you would move away, but the Mutants should perhaps be a considerations. My personal view of Speedgoats is that they shit clumpy things with even shittier grip on muddy terrain, plus a horrendously high stack. Mine lasted me 50km before they became gardening shoes. Doesn't matter how durable a shoe is if you don't get on with it, hence why the Bushidos seem the obvious choice for you.

Speedgoats and speedcrosses are quite different shoes. Both are quite cushioned but it’s not a case of one being better than the other, they’re just different. What I will say is that speedgoats are rubbish in anything other than a thin layer of mud, so you may want to keep that in mind.

The Speedgoats do a better job when cornering, or on uneven and/or technical terrain. The Calderas make you fight a little bit with the side walls in those situations. However, I actually find the Calderas better when running faster, because they have some nice flexibility in the forefoot.

I think it depends entirely on the environment. I’d wager the speedgoats’ sole holds up well in the PNW, but they seem to essentially dissolve in hot dry conditions

The AZT killed my speedgoat soles after a week, it’s really not a great compound for hot/dry/sandy

Thanks for the tips! Super cool. Sorry I can't help w/ ITB issues. However, a trailrunning friend with ITB issues of mine runs in Topos and speaks highly of them l. I run in Hoka SpeedGoats (for longer or anything technical) and On Cloud Ultra for shorter trails, no ITB issues.

I trail run some but mostly hike. Love my hoka speedgoats for both activities. Look into the speedgoat mid- It's like a hiking boot on a running shoe chassis. They provide a little more support for hiking on rough terrain , but you can run in them comfortably.

There's no harm in buying online if you have free returns. Actually finding a store that had the shoes your looking for might be more difficult (sad but true). Rei or running warehouse are good for buying online. I've bought 6 shoes and returned 4. Just gotta know return policy. Some can't be used. Some can. To op...as someone running in hokas looking for a trail shoe...may I introduce you to the speed goat

I agree with the other poster. Highly recommend going to a dedicated running store and trying g them on. In my experience, peregrines struggle on truly technical terrain. Anything over 12ish miles and my feet really start to feel it. I moved to speed goats directly after peregrines and my feet are much happier in that regard. I’m guessing this is for winter? Solomon thunder cross have great grip but are less cushioned. They are waterproof. If you like the peregrines you may want to try the xodus ultra line. I have a pair of xodus ultra 2 ice or shield or winter or whatever they branded it as that I bought and really like. Only ran in them once or twice as I’m saving them for winter (I think it’ll roughly coincide with when my speedgoats start to fail).

The Hoka website has a really good size guide. I measure my feet in cm and it’s accurate. They have quite a roomy toe and heel which for me is good, not super super wide but wider than some. I have had a couple of pairs of speedgoats I trail run then retire them for walking. Super comfy and very grippy. I have also had a pair of sky high kaha boots. Very good but the top around the ankle is a giant sponge which defeats the point of them being water proof, gaiters fixed that issue. Overall very happy with both they don’t last as long as traditional leather walking shoes/boots but are good durability in the trail running category. The luggs at the bottom I wear down after a couple of years. I mainly do long distance walking less technical but the odd grade scramble. Found them good for most dry non technical conditions. I walked the whw, Cumbria way, Aviemore to Blair Athol and lots of day walks in speedgoats. For longer good weather hikes the cushioning is brilliant.

I run in mafate 4 and speed goats and have no problem alternating between trails and a bit of road. Lots of races will have that

My hoka speedgoats made it to 600 miles before they got holes. Trails can wear shoes down a lot faster than roads. 450 miles is acceptable IMO 

Absolutely this. I've really enjoyed the lighter weight on my feet but the soles on the Speedgoats get worn down too quickly for my liking. Trying out the Altra Timp 5s for my next long distance hike

Hoka Speedgoat comes in wide and has the Vibram Megagrip compound. A 5mm drop so close to your Topos as well.

even when you encounter water they dry out much faster, I only use full waterproof when snow hiking and it's important to keep your feet warm and dry. I've actually considered retiring my old hoka speedgoats to be watershoes for kayaking type activities. I also have a lot of boots and shoes. My opinion just on the trail runners I've had: Hoka speedgoat the most breathable but the most fragile, shallower lugs, great on compacted dirt fire roads in the heat but get torn up on rockier trails like gorgonio. Salomon speedcross more durable and less breathable, deeper lugs on the bottom for softer dirt, I probably liked these the most for an all around general purpose if you are going up some of the higher mountains Alta lone peak, probably inbetween the speedgoat and speedcross in most ways including breathability and lug depth. These have a very roomy toe box which makes it a darling for PCT through hikers for those extra long miles, however because of that looser fit they don't feel as secure when scrambling on rocks.

Inov8 has begun making their shoes in an different shape. I haven’t tried them yet but would like to. As go for the SpeedGoats I went with a size bigger but wouldn’t recommend the 6 that I done way to firm for longer runs.

Hoka speedgoat is solid. Runs narrow but a widefit fixes that and the sole/durability of them is crazy good.

Everyone is right in here, but I’ll tell ya what I’ve gone through: Brooks Cascadia: Wore this model for years. Eventually found that the cushion wasn’t enough for my knees. The shoe held up okay overall Hoka Speedgoat: definitely a big switch compared to the Cascadias. Almost felt like my feet were on the second story of a double deck bus. The cushion, which is fantastic, felt taller because of this and I would find myself tripping often. This was probably me getting used to the model. It was a bit small in the toe box. Overall love the shoe and comfort level. Out of the box, VERY grippy, but after 100 miles of trails they’re shredded. I had to switch to protect my wallet! Altra Olympus: Big time grip, comfy, and wide toe box. I’ve only put about 30 miles into them, but I dig em. I find the material the heel is made out of pulls on the sock/skin on the back of my heel, it feels like a suede or felt almost. I honestly thought I was going to have an enormous blister, but it ended up being okay. These are my current shoes. I know all of these experiences are very personal, but I thought I’d share with you my experiences with a few models. Hope this helps.

San Diego hiker here. Just left the Brooks brand after 10+ years for Hoka. I’m 41 and hike a ton, I love the Hoka Speedgoat. Very comfortable, I find that I don’t fatigue as easily, VERY grippy out of the box, and breath well.

I have had a similar struggle. Brooks cascadia too stiff, hokas too narrow even in a wide, topos too sloppy, not sure about committing to zero drop with altra, I assumed Nikes wouldn't work....but the zegamas fit beautifully. I am a lady and I wear the men's size for the width and it's the best fitting trail shoe I have found.

I still like peregrines for 50km distance, and speedgoats start feeling not cushioned enough once you hit 100km! I haven’t tried the others though. But it also depends on terrain and personal preference! Both peregrine and speedgoats are pretty grippy, so great for technical terrain. Speed goats are the most comfortable on the downhill, especially if technical or steep. I’ll happily deal with less comfort/cushion but more secure footing. I used to hate speed goats for uphill because they’re so chonky that I felt like I couldn’t get onto my tippy toes on steep climbs. But now I’m used to them and I’m happy with how they fare in longer ultras. On shorter distances around 50km, feet can handle more so I am more likely to go with shoes where I have better ground feel. So peregrine for technical terrain, and hoka zinal for non-technical!

Speedgoats are super grippy for me but if you want even more bite I would suggest looking into NNormal and Norda.

I also switched from hoka SG to topo (green ones I forget) 300 miles into the PCT and it actually removed the knee pain I had had for years that was ironically caused by hokas

I have Hoka Speed goats for trail hiking and running and love them. I tried other hokas for running but find them very soft, so wear them for walking. I have leather ones I wear for walking at work that are fabulous.. Great for that, for road running I have Brooks ghosts. I have wide feet. The best is to go to a running shoes store and get fitted and try on a bunch. They will help you find the right ones For your feet.

I've had a couple pairs of cascadias and I loved them. A couple years ago when I went to get new shoes REI didn't have them so I switched to Hoka speedgoats and haven't gone back but cascadias are definitely amazing.

Maybe you could try more padded Altra, so Timp or Olympus. Lately, I'm a huge fan of Inov8, so maybe you could look into those as well. The new models are foot shaped like Altra or Topo but have a bit more support for me. I wouldn't get hoka speedgoat. It's really narrow shoe which could cause other issues on trail.

They didn’t work for me for this reason, especially after they broke in for 6 months or so. After a few different shoes I feel much better in Sportivas.

Agree on the trail shoes. I have a pair of Hoka Speedgoats that I found too cushiony for trail running, but perfect for rucking (both road and trail).

Yes, Speedgoat is a perfect example of this to me (still a fine shoe). Compared to say a Topo Terraventure MUCH less stable especially at speed.

I switched from Altra to Home Speed Goats and ended with Hoka Challengers. Switching to Hokas was the best decision I made and kept me going.

These destroyed my feet even in a wide they are really narrow

currently sitting at the airport wearing Hoka Speedgoats

I have fairly sweaty feet and I find that non-waterproof shoes work best for me. Shoes like the Altra Lone Peaks, Hoka One One Speedgoats, or anything else with a lightweight, breathable mesh upper. I wouldn't wear those unless I was staying on the Rim Trail at the Grand Canyon. Any of the trails that drop into the canyon are going to be steep. You'll want something you can lace tight to minimize your foot movement within the shoe. You're feet are already going to be moving more than normal. I've spent a fair bit of time in the canyon (Rim to Rim to Rim, multiple Rim to Rivers), and I've seen people wear everything from boots to flip flops in the canyon. The two best pieces of advice I have for people hiking in the canyon are: 1. Be extra cautious. You hike down into the canyon. this takes more of a toll on people's legs than they realize. Then, the climb out is more miserable than needed (it's already miserable) because they thought it was easy to keep going down. 2. Take care of issues with your shoes and feet as quickly as possible. Stopping to put leukotape or moleskin on a hot spot as soon as it starts will save a lot of pain later.

i personally prefer a wider shoe. hoka speedgoat (at least the previous models, not sure about the new ones) were wide and helped me build up my ankle stability (6 years back)

I have the Hoka Speed Goats and they are so grippy. Trail shoes will suffice for 99% of the hiking any person will do on the weekends.

What are they saying? I loved them a couple years ago but I’ve moved on since they weren’t lasting long. Sometimes I think about trying a new pair again

Man I loved my speedgoats but they don’t last very long.

Hoka speedgoats

Same, I was just too slow for speedgoats, but when I went fast no sprains and awesome response, That being said, what shoes are good for long slow runs to not sprain your ankle?

Had lots of issues in my Hoka trail shoes, challengers and Speedgoats…switched to Altra Olympus…amazing

I ran it in 2021 when it was 100k and am going back this year for the 120. It was my first 100k back then so I had no idea what was doing. Ended up hiking the last 30k so am hoping to finish a little stronger this year. It is runnable by UTMB standards, but don’t underestimate a lot of small up and downs in additions to the big climbs. Those ups and downs are basically continuous for the whole thing. The 2 big climbs around the lake are steep but not hugely technical, but the descent to St.Gilgen around 50k is a quad killer. I remember most of the uphills were always walking, but aside from a few small technical sections, the downs were runnable. Terrain is a mix of grass, woods, roots, and rocky tracks. I ran in Speedgoats last time, and will either go with them again this year or maybe the Salomon Ultra Glides. Aid stations are very well stocked, so you don’t need to overdo it with your own supply. I would just have a few gels and drinks and rely on the aid stations for solids.

I’ve had good luck with Hoka Speedgoats or ASICS Gel Cumulus paired with SuperFeet insoles over the years. Two totally different shoes, but each have their merits depending upon what you’ll be doing. Would recommend going to your local running shoppe and trying some different configurations to find the one that feels best. Also, not to freak you out, but it might be worth having your doc make sure you don’t have a stress fracture…

I spent a ton of time in the speedcross line and they were down so fast. I guess that's how they all are. I moved over to the evo speedgoat and really like them.

Hoka speedgoats were recommended via a place that goes Gait testing etc. I love the speedgoats for comfort they are great to hike in. Unfortunately their souls and the desert are very incompatible and they will wear out fast, so if you are expecting 500 miles per shoe, the hokas will not hit that, especially in the first 700 miles. Disappointed that I barely made the 260 mark on no tread, I switched to topos. Comfortable, love the toe box, and I got to say they designed a really intelligent shoe. I really really liked them, and they were very durable. Unfortunately by Wrightwood I was having knee issues I've never had before. I saw blaze Physio and she showed me how I was walking in those shoes. The solution according to her? Where Hoka speedgoats. I continued to wear them to hikertown, and gave someone they very good condition topos for my new rei ordered speedgoats and she was right. So how you walk really matters for the shoes you wear and these two different a lot. I really wish topos made a sole more like the speed goat or that hoka made a more durable shoe. At home I'm getting closer to 400 miles with the speed goats in pnw hiking but that desert Sands them down fast

In my opinion, Speedgoats would be the way to go if that's the only Hoka you're considering, but I'd also highly recommend the hoka challengers. About to start my hike in a couple months in lightly worn Hoka challengers - but I almost went with speed goats! One of my parents is an ultramarathoner/trail runner and went with me to REI to help me choose between a few different shoes there, and while we both liked the speed goats and my gait in them we noticed one small issue: micro spikes. If you're going to be wearing spikes at any point during your hike, check to make sure that dip in the outsole in the back center of the speed goats (and in any shoe you're trying) doesn't render your spikes in that spot useless. I am using kahtoola micro spikes, and on speed goats the back center spikes are right over that outsole gap and as such don't actually dig into any snow/ground when pressure is put on the shoe/you take a step. Not sure about other brands of spikes, so if you have spikes that work with the shoe, awesome!! Hoka challengers have, from my and my parents experience with them, very similar benefits to speed goats but slightly tougher/longer lasting tread than speedgoats, slightly better grip on rock, as well as work great with Kahtoola micro spikes. But if the speedgoats are what you're set on, my regular-marathoner parent absolutely loves them and wears them as a primary hiking/trail running shoe, so really you can't go wrong there haha. Just be aware of the arrangement of your micro spikes if you use them!!! As for the wearing out issue, Speedgoats will wear faster than challengers due to the make of the outsoles, and excessive road walking will kinda kill Speedgoats. Challengers can tolerate it due to the tougher outsole, but they'll also wear out faster on pavement. Overall though, I'd say they're worth it despite that issue, and nothing stops you from almost literally running them into the ground with how much of an outsole they've got on them.

Mafate 4 has bigger lugs, the Speedgoat struggles in anything beyond light mud and I prefer Mafate 4 all around

I switched from hiking boots to Hoka Speedgoats about 4-5 years ago for hiking/backpacking and never looked back. The comfort is out of this world right out of the box. I’ve slowly built my collection over the years. I work on my feet all day and they are excellent for that as well.

+1 for Hoka Speedgoat. Love mine. Bummed to hear yours didn’t last.

HOKA SpeedGoats are the gold standard in trail running right now. Currently they are the most popular shoes at all my local trails.

You will want less stack height probably. I ran a technical 30km trail race in speedgoats as a first trail race ever and that was a terrible decision. Rolled my ankle and thought I broke it. And almost rolled it a bunch more times. The shoes were very "tippy" and easy to roll because of the height. And hard to run fast and technically in. My last few races I've used s/lab pulsar 2s and feel much more nimble and confident in them

how are they for traction on rock? I'm a Hoka Speedgoat guy, and I love them. The rubber is super sticky and soft, so anytime I'm on solid slick rock, they're amazing. But the trade off of soft grippy rubber is faster wear. How are the Cascadias when it comes to rock?

Yes, the Speedgoats are good for hiking, very comfortable and grippy on rocks (I wore them in rocky, wet conditions in the Adirondacks mostly). However I stopped wearing them because the soles wear down too quickly. I switched to La Sportiva Ultra Raptors instead.

YES! Same problem with HOKAs. I’ll never buy another pair. They’re comfortable so I initially got 4 pairs/ 2 speedgoat (trail with vibram) and 2 hoka transporter - also vibram. The soles/ treads on all four pairs wore out immediately. None of my other brands of shoe or hiking boots with Vibram grips have EVER done that. So, now I stick with Keens and older model Merrills. I was a big fan of Merrill’s- but all of Merrills’ sizing this year was messed up.

For Hokas, I prefer the Mafate Speeds over the Speedgoats. The fit is better and the tread lasts a lot longer — most of the trails I run are pretty rocky, and the Speedgoats only lasted about 150 miles before the tread was worn, whereas the Mafates can get 400+ miles.

I’ve found the Hokas to be narrow, and I’ve read the same in multiple reviews. Surprised to see them described as comfortable for wide feet. They weren’t at all for me.

I prefer trail runners (hoka speedgoat), especially in the long slogs over boulders above treeline. The more flexible trail runner gives better feedback and makes it easier to balance, in my opinion. However it is a little harder on your feet than boots. I also prefer to have non-waterproof footwear in the summer (especially if they’re shoes) as they’ll dry much faster than the waterproof models and will keep your feet cooler. That said, as long as the footwear is made for hiking/trail running, has good grip, and feels good on your feet, you’ll be good to go on the presi range in the summer.

Eh I’ve pushed two pairs or speedgoats 1000+ miles so it depends on how much you care about comfort. One pair almost made it 1500. That being said I still think the Topo teraventure is the perfect trail shoes for me. I’ve made it 1000 comfortably with those

I like Hoka Speedgoats for warmer weather, unless I have a heavy pack, in which case I go for boots (Salewa). The soles on the Speedgoats are great for any kind of terrain.

I tried both at the store. I found the brooks to be more responsive and also more plush. To me the speedgoats also felt great though. I just decided to go with the brooks because I preferred the midsole feel I guess.

I dislike the Speed Goats as well. I sometimes wear them for training runs because they are so heavy.

Yes, absolutely. For me it’s how likely I am to clip the outside of my heel. Lower height and zero-drop shoes make me run more on the forefoot, much safer on technical terrain. I run in Speedgoats on my easy weekday runs, Tecton X’s for the more technical weekend

I agree that Speedgoats are more ankle-rolly than my Tecton X’s or eg Altras. Chunkier heel = more chances to catch the outside edge of the heel. But your (my!) technique is the more important factor.

I use my Merrell Moab Speed 2 GTX for trailrunning, hikes and citytrips. Also have HOKA Speedgoats, but I prefer to use those ones for trailrunning.

I love mine, I just hiked to Mount Washington in them last week. I very, very rarely slip and love the traction they have. I also hike in Hoka Speedgoats but I prefer Lone Peaks.

I first hiked in speedgoats (wide) and was very happy with them. The only downside is that the grip is gone pretty fast. I need to replace them after ~700 miles but they might take you further. I am just not in the mood for a broken shoe in the middle of nowhere. I swapped to the topo traverse out of curiosity because they are hard to get in my home country. After a few days my left food started to hurt to thw point where I was barely able to walk. Loosening the shoe solved the problem but i did not really feel comfortable with a verly loosely tied shoe. Now I can wear them without problems but I haven't done any multi day hikes with them since I'm back. Never change your shoe model if they work for you! Pro speedgoats: had no problems, good cushening, good fit is nice for rough terrain, my feet felt more protected Pro traverse: bigger toebox, grip lasts way longer

I had no blisters nor other foot problens with my hoka speedgoats. They also lasted longer than the topo traverse I tried.

I hiked the PCT in both topo ultraventures and hoka speedgoats. I hated my topos, I bought them after realizing zero drop shoes were not for me and were one of the only other options available. They fell apart quickly and I still pronated fairly bad in them (causing me to have post tib tendinitis). I wore them for 300ish miles before they had fallen apart. after working with blaze physio I switched into hoka speedgoats and it changed my hike! The pain in my ankles was gone and the hokas lasted 500-700 miles.

Look for deals on late models. Hoka speedgoat, Brooks Cascadia, La Sportiva Ultra Raptor. Non GoreTex. Deals to be had on running shoe websites. Your feet will thank you

I definitely rolled my ankles more in Speedgoats than I do in my topos or lone peaks. But I don’t think it’s as much about stack height as it is about forefoot width. Just having a wider base helps a lot for the stability, for me at least

I do but only use them when it's not raining or when I'm not expecting trails with lots of mud. I don't enjoy hiking in the rain so that works out great for me. Really like how light, comfy and grippy they are. If I do somehow get wet, they dry really fast. For muddy weather I have some low GTX Salomons.

I was rolling my ankles every 6 months wearing Hoka speedgoats for years. I switched to Speedland and almost 3000 miles and 18 months with no rolls at all. I also found that riding a one wheel has strengthened my ankles considerably.

Yes. I’ve never rolled my ankles as much as I do in speedgoats (I have very Gumby like ankles though so it hardly impacts me but I know one day it will…) which is disappointing because they are genuinely comfortable.

I like my speed goats for hiking. I have bondi for walking.

I wouldn’t call Topo a “not-so-common” brand. I’ve been running in the ultraventure for the past couple of years and they’ve been good to me. I usually change shoes in the middle of my 100’s to change pressure points but have taken the ultraventure all the way in my past couple of 100k’s. I would split time between topo and Hoka but my last two speedgoats had durability issues and now I’ve been just rotating all topo’s

I rotate between two Hoka Speedgoats and one pair of Topas. Never waterproof; always wearing Merino socks.

salomon speed cross: unmatched traction and high cushion, not super stable though saucony peregrine: great grip with deep lugs similar to the speecross, not as cushioned but more stable hoka speedgoats: good balance of stability, traction, and cushion, but if you’re running consistently on sharp rocky terrain they are gonna fall apart. their foam is notoriously easy to break down and tear altra experience wild: great cushion and stability, tread isn’t as aggressive but still grips on a wide range of surfaces, doesn’t run quite as wide as some other altras which may be a good thing for you to get a more secure fit la sportiva bushido ii/iii: my personal fav of the shoes mentioned, universally grippy on all surfaces, best lateral stability and rigid support, cushion is a bit lacking but not the worst

I'm on my second pair of Hoka speed goats I love them I wear them for hiking and then I started doing Trail half marathons and they're great for that as well

When I started trail running, I went with the Mafates - I thought they were a good middle ground trail shoe and they were great. Then I got the On CloudUltra and hated them - for all the hype they felt like running with cinder blocks for the soles. Now with Speedgoats.

I too am a Speedgoat guy and the Altra Experience Wilds. I love these two shoes so much.

6’2” 215 here. I’m using Prodigio Pros right now and they are the best shoes I’ve used, hands down. The problem is finding them in larger sizes. I went through four pairs of Speedgoats but heard the fives had some quality issues, so I moved on to Altra Timps after those. They were… fine. Decent grip, nice toe box, but they started coming apart pretty quickly. I like having something with a higher stack height for anything longer than 20k I’ve got a pair of VJ Xtremes that I use for muddier or more technical trails, and the grip on those is insane, but they beat up my knees past 10 miles. I’ll probably grab some of their Ultras if I can’t find the Prodigios in my size again

Would you happen to know how the compare to speedgoats ?

I went through three pairs on two back-to-back Caminos (Portuguese Coastal with my Mom then the Frances). First were a pair to Topo that I wore through the back heel a little after Logrono . Second, a pair of Salomon's that I didn't realize were Gore-Tex until it was too late and I abandoned in Leon. Third were Hoka Speedgoats. Those lasted me till I got to Finistere, but the insoles had been destroyed at that point. I will always have replacement insoles in the future and probably change them out every 150-200 miles. Granted, I'm not a light person...250lbs (115kg or so) with a short stride. The Speedgoats were by far the most comfortable. Also, I opted to go a full size up on the Speedgoats.

I just feel so slow in minimalist/more minimal shoes. I like my Altras a lot, they’re very comfy and my feet are usually healthier when I stick to them, but I’m a lot slower in them, than say, my Speedgoats. I haven’t found a good in between. I’ve heard good things about Topo as sort of an in between but haven’t tried them yet.

Yeah, but the EVA foam Hoka uses in these is pretty short lived.

Sprained my ankle pretty badly last year in speedgoats…but that was probably because I tripped on a root and not anything to do with the shoe itself. No other issues!

I'm similar size and run quite slow. I run road in Hoka Cliftons and trails in Hoka Speedgoats. Had Cascadias as my first trail show and they were fine. More durable than the Speedgoats and cheaper, but the Speedgoats just fit my feet better. My feeling is they are all fine shoes, and you should go with what feels best on your feet.

I’m pro both depending upon location. I use trail runners in the Midwest & Western US and hiking boots for the Adirondacks due to mud, rocks, tree roots…and did I mention mud?😜 I have two different pair of Hoka trail runners; one w/Gortex (Anacapa Low) for winter hiking and the other without (Speedgoat). I like the Speedgoat more than the Anacapa Low just due to how they come up below the ankle but have had zero issues with either.

I can vouch for HOKA Speedgoat. Non Gore-Tex.

I have the speedgoats and am looking to get the Pegasus 5s for when I’m doing a mix of road and trail. I feel like the lugs on the speedgoats are getting worn way too quickly on the roads I’m running. My SO recently bought the Pegasus 5 and loves them (good grip on wet rocks, mud etc) and not sticky when running on pavement

Every shoe will work for people differently. I did the first half in Topos and got terrible Achilles tendinitis and planter fasciitis. Made the switch to speedgoats at Shasta per the recommendation of the shoe guy and all symptoms started to get better. Though I had planter fasciitis until February the following year haha

Hokas are very different shoes. Much higher stack, much softer foam and much narrower, especially the Speedgoats.

As some have already said the Speedcross is amazing. I've been using them since the OG and use it for races up to 26 2. Just an awesome shoe that gets better with every new release. I wear mine down on the trails and when the lugs are down a bit use them for road/gravel/smooth trails. The 6 is amazing and I try something new I always regret it and they are moved to everyday/work in hospital use. That said I liked the Sense Ride but above 10 miles I could feel it in my feet. I race ultras in SLab Genesis and train in the regular Genesis. For your terrain and preference I would look at the less aggressive lines. Another option outside of Salomon would be Hoka Speedgoats. Super cushy and lower lug height that Speedcross.

The vibram kept separating from the midsole on mine after 50 or 100 miles. I loved the comfort and fit of the shoe, but just couldn’t get past the durability. I went back to the Cascadia (17, previous pair was the 15) that I really like and can take a beating much better than the Hoka. Not as comfortable though, but a great all around hiking shoe.

I'm here in eastern Tennessee, and I use my Hoka speed goat's for 14 mile hikes… Whether walking on the Appalachian, or trail running in the Smokies, this shoe seems the most versatile.

Love my Hoka Speedgoats! They have great soles for traction on rocks and dirt! Just don't wear them on cement for long periods, cause that will wear them down.

yeah, slightly light, I have 5&6, and in my opinion 6 is lighter than 5 while also easier to consume it's sole. BTW, lack of air cushion make me to buy some shoes like altra Olympus or speedgoat for my recovery running.

Hoka Speedgoats and Altra Lone Peaks are some of the standard favorites. Note that if you aren't already running in a zero drop shoes like the Altra then do NOT just jump into those, you're calf muscles will go into early retirement. But as with any shoe go to a store and try on different brands and make sure to get plenty of training miles in them first. I personally run in Lone Peaks but I also have a new pair of Altra Olympus meant for longer training distances (all my shoes are Altra and have been zero drop for years). The lightness, feel, grip, and drainage ability of the Lone Peak are why I use them in all Spartan race distances thus far. I've tried on the Hokas but find them a little to narrow in the toe box (another benefit of the Altra shoes).

Lots of choices for you in my opinion. First and foremost I say every individual will find different shoes that are best for them. I do not marry myself to any one brand or shoe because the models change yearly and our feet and body mechanics can change as well. So something that worked for me once, may not work for me later. If you purchase the shoes from Running Warehouse or REI you have a trial period to try them out. I do not condone abusing running warehouse’s 90 day return policy, but it is nice to know you can try something out and if it doesn’t work for you can try something else. I am currently in Hoka Speedgoats, which is a cushy shoe that I thought I would never wear! Why am I running in them? The combination of the Vibram grip outsole and being able to run for many hours without my feet getting sore is why. I love the Altra Lone Peak that I also refer to as “Trail slippers“ because they are so damn comfortable. BUT I went through the exact same thing as you with my feet banging all over the insides of them as soon as I got on technical trails where I was constantly torquing in different directions. So those shoe felt amazing in the shoe store and on easy rolling dirt trails, but very different on a technical downhill. I still think they are awesome shoes for hiking or even just wearing with my jeans, but not for my trail running needs. I do think finding a good grip shoe for Trail Running is very important and I have yet to find any comparison to the Vibram outsoles when surfaces get wet.

Another vote for speedgoat. I wear them walking and also light hiking - nothing with crazy elevation but they provide a lot of traction and I find them to be super lightweight compared to a true hiking boot or shoe.

I’m in Salt Lake City and the state does a great job maintaining the roads in the winter. As in it’ll snow in the morning and by noon the roads are clear and dry, it’s super nice. When I do need to run on the snowy trails I will wear my trail shoes with spikes and ankle gators to keep snow from getting into my shoes. Right now I’m in Hoka speedgoats and they work really well.

I have loose ankle ligaments. I do PT and they’ve gotten much better but it’s definitely a weak spot for me. I feel like I’m seeing both that high stack like the SGs cause more ankle rolls and that the SGs are stable. Should I be going for lower stack? Lower drop? I tried a pair on and they fit great. Just waiting for the rain to pass to take them out, but curious if I should be considering a lower stack option.

No reason. I tried on a whole bunch and these + the brooks cascadia are the most comfortable. I’m going to give them both a try but would rather not fall in love if it’s going to get me injured haha The cascadia reviews are mixed. But Brooks’ shtick is just creating boring, reliable shoes…which is fine! I run in them on the road.

I personally really like Hokas for the trails. I've put 500+ miles into every pair of Hoka Speedgoats I have owned--really just the lugs start to wear down after a while. The Hoka Tectons are the more responsive racing shoe and I like them for flatter, faster trail races. What are your preferred road shoes? Some brands have a trail "sister shoe" that is basically a re-soled version of the road shoe with a rock plate

Something I’ve noticed is that you lose the wide widths in the GTX option. If you don’t absolutely need the waterproof, I’d skip it. Just use wool socks and Vaseline your toes for warmth in winter. Hoka Challenger or Speedgoat could be a good option from the brand. Brooks Caldera is another one I love for mileage & comfort on a mix of paved & trail.

i've had friends that switched from SGs because of rolls, most went to the ultra glide for the lower stack and increase ground contact feel. I have historically rolled my ankles a lot but have run thousands of miles in speedgoats because they've been the most comfortable and ive learned to adapt to them. So it's possible, but the high stack definitely comes at a cost.

I actually tend to roll less in my Speedgoats than in some other lower stack shoes like my La Sportivas. However, when I do roll in the Speedgoats it’s bad. Only rolled once in the last couple years, but it was bad sprain.

Speedgoat is the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn of any kind. 20 mile hike and feet still perfectly happy. If they fit you, they’re amazing

I’ve used whatever my current rotation trail shoe is on any and all hikes - Scottish munroes in full winter conditions with YakTrax spikes over the outsole, to running down snowdon in summer. Hoka speedgoats are good (latest iteration seems to have divided opinion), Salomon Sense Ride 5 for more technical stuff (find them super grippy), Saucony Xodus Ultra for longer stuff (nice cushion). Haven’t tried the NB’s you linked but I’m sure they’ll be fine! 👍

Definitely not the speedgoat. It has a narrow toebox and a very stiff heel counter

Yeah, but we don't want the entire shoe to be wide, we just don't want a tapered toebox. I tried a pair of wide SG5's, and while I loved the traction, the toebox was still too narrow, and the rest of the shoe fit too loose for my technical trails. That's just my personal experience. Plus, the OP said he had a haglunds bump, and the speedgoat has a really stiff heel counter.

Speedgoats or Mafate are the best hiking options.

I used to wear waterproof hiking boots but switched to trail runners. I have wide-ish feet and strong ankles - I don't need ankle support and have never had issues even with a heavy load. I prefer the quick-drying nature of trail runners, plus the breathability, traction, and flexibility. Since you say you have narrow feet, I would take a look at the Hoka Speedgoat, as u/AliveAndThenSome mentions below. Another narrow foot choice is the Addidas line of trail runners. Some people rave about them. My two-cents on Altra Lone Peak and Hoka Speedgoat: The rock plate in the Altra Lone Peak line is great, but you still get the "feel" of the terrain. The Hoka SG is far better at protecting the bottoms of your feet. Both are incredibly comfortable, have good-great traction and are comfortable for wide feet (narrow feet may slide around). I did a drying test on both pair last year and found both dry quickly IF you remove the insole when it gets wet or keep them dry and remove them before making a water crossing. In the field, I walked through creeks and got my feet totally wet (not on purpose) in November with nighttime lows in the upper 20s. Shoes dried by morning and the insoles were still damp, but dried as I hiked. Good luck!

Really great shoes and they dry fast

I switched to trail runners after years of wearing boots for two main reasons: comfort and quick drying. Hiking Boots and Hiking Shoes made my feet ache and sweat after just a couple of hours of hiking; therefore, I looked for an alternative. I heard about hikers wearing trail shoes, and since I was a runner, I thought I'd give it a try, so I did, and I never went back. I wear Altra Lone Peak (flexible, comfy), Topo Mtn Racer (stiff), and Hoka Speed Goat (comfy, bouncy), depending on my mood in that order. My go-to is the Altra Lone Peak as they have a rock-plate and are zero-drop. I just find them to be like a glove, allowing me to "feel" the ground when I hike. I have hiked extensively in Pennsylvania, a place that I believe is one of the rockiest places on earth. Rocky as in, the trail is rocks where every rock is pointy and the points all face upward ready to pierce your foot. For reference: I've hiked all over the West and consider the Rocky Mountains to be comfortable by comparison. If you want to really protect your feet, then Topo Mtn Racer or Hoka Speed Goats will give you that added bit of protection, and a bit of bounce. As far as grip goes, all three are excellent. It's truly amazing how good they are at gripping scree, sand, and unstable terrain. I do caution when it comes to wet and slick rock though - for that, I have no answer, but good luck. My Altra Lone Peaks saved me from nearly sliding off a cliff on sandy terrain in Arizona, kept my footing bouldering up a mountain in Pennsylvania, and across a ridgeline of scree along Mount Hood in Oregon.

Those look horrible Speedgoats have a good toe box

I use Speedgoats, and I’ve used them in some pretty muddy races. They’ve been great for me on wet, rocky terrain, but definitely aren’t perfect. I haven’t tried the Speedcross, but I’ve used other Salomon shoes. Hoka and Salomon are very different fits-at least in my case. Salomon’s simply do not fit my foot, so keep in mind that one may just work much better fit wise.

I have tried all the fan favorites... Lone peak, speed goats, topos etc. Can't do it... It's either blisters or foot pain. Found these that work great. On my second pair now. https://www.saucony.com/en/peregrine-15-wide/59977M.html?dwvar_59977M_color=S20991-100#cgid=saucony-peregrine&start=1

I have a life long problem rolling ankles; started from basketball. I would also roll my ankle pretty good on every lengthy section hike. Since wearing Hoka Speedgoats, now for years, I have not rolled my ankles once. The reason is that the sole is super wide and tapers aggressively from the fabric, outward into a wedge shape. It’s what all other brands are all COPYING now, “max” cushioning with a super wide wedge shape profile. It is without a doubt the most comfy long distance shoe you can buy, and I’ve tried a ton. Former boot guy myself, then keens, Moab’s, you name it. Speedgoats are a game changer. They are so plush I don’t even carry camp shoes on thru hikes. No need to get more comfy in camp in anything else.

The EVO Speedgoat was an amazing shoe for its time. I’d take that upper with the Tecton X3 midsole all day everyday (love the X3 but the upper doesn’t work well with my narrow heels).

Agree 100%. My Hoka SG’s are sitting in the closet…and I’m enjoying my third pair of Challenger 7’s.

I have worn every trail shoe that anyone could think of. I have a weird sickness around buying shoes. The stiffness and stack height of the midsole is going to affect the traction strongly. A squishy shoe will remove itself from edges when weighted. I have had the most luck with shoes having the Vibram Megagrip outsole. Speedgoats are great, but they’re too stacky and cushioned to provide top level traction in super technical terrain. My current favorite shoe for technical runs is a Dynafit Alpine. I have the DNA version which has a ridiculous amount of support and lockdown from the upper. Shoes for super technical terrain are highly specialized since most trail runners are on relatively easy trails (I live in Colorado and do miles of off-trail scrambling in my shoes). The Sportiva Bushidos are great when you’re doing a lot of scrambling and a little running, but they’re not the best shoes for actual trail miles. If you’re not on rocks for miles and you have to negotiate snow, mud, and soft dirt, the Solomon Speedcross are great due to the height of the lugs. People like the Mutants for super technical stuff, too. If you want to go all in on traction, get into a pair of La Sportiva TX2’s and cry when your 170 dollar shoes don’t have a midsole anymore after 7 big days out. I used to also really like the Altra King Mountains before the Alpines took over.

Evo Speedgoat. Light, perfect blend of protection and bounce from the foam, excellent lockdown, and most durable shoe I've ever had. I have over 800 miles on them, foam is dead, but still a bit of traction left. Never got even half of that in other speedgoats outsole. It's like everything about the shoe was superior to the normal speedgoat. My hope is for the Evo Speedgoat 2, matrix upper and midsole foam from the Tecton.

I feel more agile in tech than any other shoe in recent memory. It reminds me a lot of the EVO Speedgoat (RIP)

Toe box is still extremely narrow. I had to abandon speedgoats because of the toe box. Wides made it worse for me because now the lockdown was worse and my toes jammed in even more 

I am a fan of Hoka and Altra on the trails and regularly alternate btn speedgoats and Mont blancs on my longer runs, but that won’t work for everyone. Others chimed in on transition but I will also note how the zero vs (typically) 4mm drop is less noticeable on trails vs roads. As with any new shoes, ease into the mileage. Don’t just rip a 20-miler in your new zero drops. Also, topo or altra, I recommend finding a good running store to try out a few options and see what feels best on your feet. I’ve found the biggest difference in feel when running comes down to the stack height and less so the heel drop. If you like the higher stack/cushion, that will narrow your choices in either brand. For Altra, I think Olympus, Timp and Lone Peak are their flagship trail shoes. There are good options out there but what works for me may be a fail for you and vice-versa. Good luck!

What did you do to them. The same pair of speedgoats have been my go-to sneaker for 2 years now (casual wear) and every disc golf round.

If mainly rock, Hoka Speedgoats are highly rated and cushioned.

I’ll second the Speedgoats. For as great as they are on trail and as big as the lugs are, they run really smooth on pavement.

I’ve had both the Pegasus Trails and the Hoka Speedgoats with the Vibram sole and the difference in massive. Have no confidence in the peggys but o bought a second pair of hokas as they’re super grippy. I live in the UK so for almost the whole year you’re running on wet slippy rocks on the trails

I have them, and use them a lot in the summer, or when it’s dry. If it’s colder I tend to prefer waterproof boots, unless I know the paths are pretty dry underfoot.

Rocker compensates for low drop, so the Speedgoat doesn't really feel like a low drop shoe. Altra is very flat - you are going to feel the drop alot more. Why not try the Zegama 2s? They are softer than Speedgoats and not as pointy in the toebox. 4mm drop and rockered so similar in feel.

300 is terrible value.

Also EVA is like running in sand (idk how some ppl like that feeling 🤷🏼‍♂️).

I started an AT thru hike on Lone Peaks. Had to switch to Altra Olympus due to painful plantar fasciitis after 300 miles of terrain that was much less severe than the White Mountains. I eventually landed on HOKA Speedgoats - more padding, decent grip. The wide version was wide enough but not as roomy as the Altras. Every foot is different and lots of people love Lone Peaks. My feet just couldn't handle the minimal cushioning.

Absolutely love my Hoka Speedgoats for the Whites, great grip, super comfy (my knees ache so much less on descents with them), and I’ve dunked them in rivers and they dry quick.

Trail running is harder than road running because of the altitude change and all the elevations gains on the terrain. When you run on the road is mostly 0° but on trail running there are a lot of variations. Also, its more demanding mentally as the terrain is uneven, so you need to be more aware of the road so you don’t hurt your ankle. Road running is mostly automatic. As for the shoes, if the terrain surface is hard (not muddy), your road shoes are just fine. Yes, you could benefit with the lugs provided on trail running shoes (loose gravel, muddy conditions, really uphill trails), but if its just for a race, meh. There’s no need. As for your shoes, maximalist shoes tend to perform poorly on trails, especially if they are meant for the road. 1) the stack height, they are more prone to produce a sprained ankle due to a higher gravity center in addition to the uneven terrain. 2) It’s harder to “push” uphill if you are running with “high heels”. If the outsole has lugs or a good traction, you might be able to keep your pace. But I wouldn’t recommend it if it’s a short distance race. 3) Yes, there are maximalist trail running shoes but they are meant for looooooonnnggg races, 50 miles or plus. Or the last stretch of a long race when you are trying to stay on the track when you face “the wall”. Instead of walking due to tiredness, they change for a comfier shoe to keep their pace. 4) maximalist shoes tend to have smushy/soft midsoles, they won’t help you to be fast as they are most likely not a reactive midsole. And a big stack height, with a big drop (heel to toe), smushy midsole and uneven terrain, highly increases the probabilities for a sprained ankle. How could you avoid it? Make sure you do a proper warmup before your race. No matter how tired you are, focus on the terrain, especially if it’s a technical terrain or if it’s a loose terrain. And use the most stable shoe from the ones you own. A big footprint might help or the one with a harder midsole. I think that the Clifton 8 would be my go-to shoe for this particular event. The CloudOn Monsters might get stuck rocks. And even though, the Clifton’s have a big stack height, I believe it has a hard midsole without being too hard, good for a moderate pace and have a big footprint. Not a great traction but I doubt the CloudOn Monsters could outperform them. If you do want to buy trail shoes, it depends on your price range and if you want to take it seriously. I would personally recommend the North Face Vectiv Enduris 3 for short-mid distance at a low-mid pace. They tend to go for sale. Hoka Speedgoat it’s a staple but, they tend to by pricier and might be overkill for a beginner. My suggestion would be, go to a running store, tell them your needs and let them help you. Look out for the stack height, the drop, and traction. Vibram its always welcome as it increases the durability of the lugs.   As for tips for your trail running. Walk uphill if you’re not experienced. Push when it’s a “flat terrain”. When its downhill you should rest, and by resting, I mean loose the legs, lower your hips a little bit (bent knees to lower your gravity center) extend your arms to the sides for a better balance. You are going to go fast but only due to the inclination, not because you are putting an effort to go fast and YOU NEED TO BE REALLY FOCUSED ON DOWNHILL SECTIONS. And by the love of God, ALWAYS tell someone where are your going to run and at what time should they expect you to return. You might not want to bring hydration, food, cellphone, jacket, etc. But AT LEAST, tell someone where you are heading and at what time should you return. Have fun mate. Stay safe and greetings from GDL, Mexico.

I’m on my 3rd season of switching to trail runners over hiking boots. Everyone may have a different experience but for me, my feet have never been happier (Hooka, Speedgoat 5).