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Reddit Reviews
Hoka Mafate speed 4 homer, but recently moved to the Hoka Stinson 7 and they are amazing. I plan on having the Mafate’s for more mild terrain and the Stinson’s for more technical trails.
The stinsons are downright treacherous. They’re really not meant for trail running IMO, maybe hiking. My first run in them I sprained my ankle badly as well and it’s been an issue ever since. Once you get one sprain, re-spraining is so easy! I’d strongly recommend getting some different shoes. If you’re sticking with hoka, the mafate and speedgoats are great
Stinson 7. Most would write them off but for me they are perfect for long days on groomed backpacking trails, lots of toe splay for a hoka, midfoot lockdown and they simply slip on due to the stiff heel counter. I don’t have a problem with their large footprint in technical terrain and they feels more stable than a speedgoat. The outsole suitability and durability really depends on the trail but i got 800k out of them before the outsole got a little sketchy on damp rock.
Hello, here my feedback based on my experiences with trying on these shoes in store: Altamesa: I found it had good cushion except for where my toes were and it felt like they wouldn't soften no matter how many km's I put into them. Speedgoat 6: toe box felt weirdly roomy for a narrowish shoe and they didn't quite fit right. Hierro: I was able to try on the v7, v8 and v9 models all at one store. The v9 we're the best out of the 3 but I still didn't like the v9. It just felt oddly bulky which was a shame as I love NB shoes. The 1080's are my favourite. Stinson 7: I just bought a pair from MEC yesterday and they felt so good on my feet as soon as I put them on. I'm a little used to heavier shoes so that doesn't bother me. I really want a max cushion trail runners that doesn't need to be super technical trail focused. Salomon Ultra Glide/Ultra Flow: i really wanted to like these but they were a little narrow and just didn't have the comfy impact I was expecting. Altra Timp 5: I think these shoes are awesome except for the way the upper material bends at the toe box. It just feels weird and I can tell it will create problems for me a few km's into a run. I also have the Topo Ultraventure 4 which are great but I don't know how well I would enjoy them past 30km. I have Columbia Ecolite (the ones that look like they infused golf balls into the form) which have been great but just aren't on the same level as other trail shoes. I had the Brooks Caldera 6 which were okay and had great traction but they hurt my feet and caused blood blisters on the outside of my big toes so I was able to return them when I got the Stinson. I've tried on many other runners and I have the believe that you should go with the shoe that fells the best on your foot. E: forgot to add that I also tried on the hoka mafate speed 4 and I almost bought them as they were don't in the toe box compared to the speed goats 5 & 6 but I wanted slightly more cushioning. I think the mafate is a great comparison to the topo Ultraventure 4
Hoka stinson 7 are my go to trail shoes when I want to be comfortable
Hoka Stinson 7 are my trail shoes.
Hoka Stinson 7. I added some arch support. They’re plenty wide in the normal width (I’m usually 4e). This shoe is such a workhorse for me, I highly recommend. Great on all terrain.
Not to add choices but the Gaviota 7 has the comfort of the Bondi but the H frame in the shoe (you can't feel it) but it helps on surfaces where your foot may pronate due to uneven surfaces or physical fatigue after a long day on your feet. It also has a more generous toe box. Gaviota 7 is pricy but I was able to get $20 off from Hoka directly by joining their membership group on the web site. Stinson 7 is another shoe with the H frame. I have a pair of these that I use for Hiking when I'm on an unpaved trail. Hoka gives you a 60 day free return privilege if you are a group member.
I ran SpeedGoats for a few Spartan's and initially loved them, until I did my first Beast. Just not enough cushion there for me for those long miles. I went with the Hoka Stinson 7's and a pair of New Balance More Trail V3's. Both help my knees and feet make it to the end.
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Deep mud and soft ground

Top pick
Salomon - Speedcross Series
Best for Quick draining and drying for wet trails

Top pick
Hoka - Speedgoat Series
Best for Road-to-trail transitions

Top pick
Nike - Pegasus Trail Series
Best for Steep technical descents

Top pick
Salomon - Genesis Series
Best for Technical rocky terrain

Top pick
La Sportiva - Prodigio Series
Best for Ultra-marathon racing

Top pick
La Sportiva - Prodigio Series





