REASONS TO BUY
Versatile lacing system
Tons of cushion
Great traction
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor sensitivity
Lacks lateral support
No rock plate
HOKA Speedgoat 5 - Women's Review
While not for all runners, those who like a solid stack and extra sticky soles will love running in these
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our Verdict
Some trail runners swear that the HOKA Speedgoat 5 is the only shoe they will run in. Others find its underfoot feel to be cumbersome and awkward. When pitted against the best trail running shoes on the market, this iteration of the Speedgoat didn't score as highly as we expected. Once we became accustomed to the fit, we fell in love with the underfoot cushion and traction that it offers. While not the most sensitive shoe, we enjoyed ripping up trails far and wide after an obligatory acclimatization period. If you are looking for a pillowy ride without any extra bells and whistles, the Speedgoat 5 is likely to be your perfect match.
Our Analysis and Test Results
A beloved favorite for some trail runners and a last choice for others, the updated Speedgoat 5 offers exceptional traction via the Vibram Megagrip soles with a long and versatile lacing system for a secure fit. We grew to love these runners, even though their numerical scores added up to much less than some of the more well-featured superstars in our review.
Performance Comparison
We grew to love the thick base and sockliner upper of the Speedgoat 5.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Foot Protection
The Speedgoat 5 offers some great protective elements but lacks others that we have grown to love. The tightly woven, double-layer mesh upper does a great job at keeping sand from infiltrating but provides little to repel water. The heel cup is uniquely shaped with some cushion and a propensity to mold to your anatomy and keep spare dirt particles out. The toe bumper is one of our favorites, as the transition from mesh to bumper feels seamless while running. Unlike more rugged shoes whose bumpers feel rigid against our toes, the Speedgoat's bumper is protective but unintrusive.
The mesh upper definitely let water in, but the stack height prevented us from getting too wet when crossing streams.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The Speedgoat 5 lacks a rock plate, which is part of why the upper construction feels fairly minimalist, despite this shoe being of a maximalist design. Because of the outsole, stack height, and shape, we didn't miss a rock plate, but we award more points to shoes that include them. Since these shoes have a full 33mm of underfoot construction, the protection provided for the sole of your foot is next level.
Great protection and minimal heel-to-toe drop in the Speedgoat 5.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Traction
The Speedgoat 5 employs Vibram Megagrip rubber as its base, allowing it to be an incredibly trustworthy shoe no matter the terrain. Much like other shoes that use Vibram soles, the Speedgoat sticks to even slippery granite with ease.
The Vibram Megagrip soles and perfectly contoured lugs provide great on-trail grip.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The updated sole design includes specified traction lugs and a burly 4mm deep lug pattern across the sole. The lugs helped us feel surefooted as we raced across loose scree of varying inclines.
Even on descents, we felt strong and surefooted because of the great traction on the updated Speedgoat.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Sensitivity
The Speedgoat 5 is not a sensitive shoe by any means. At its highest, your heel is lifted 33mm off the trail, and at its lowest, a tall 28mm.
The thick stack and lack of lateral support added an extra challenge on sandy trails.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
However, though the sole of the Speedgoat is maximal, the lack of lateral support allows you to feel out trail features, though in a very muted way. We found that some of the more rigid and protective shoes prevent this, so it was a pleasant surprise to learn that there is at least some relationship with the trail while running in these.
Even with a thick stack height, we could feel out some trail features which allowed us to adjust our steps and have one success run after another.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
We feel that the Speedgoat 5 does a great job of balancing its minimal and maximal elements, but it lacks some stability, in our opinion. It has a 5mm drop, which is moderate enough to feel stable and secure through the base of support. However, the EVA sockliner upper provides very little lateral stability. If you have strong glutes and healthy ankles, you needn't worry about this. But if you are inclined to overpronation, these shoes might not be your best bet. The dual-layered mesh provides as much lateral stability as mesh can, but it lacks the structural integrity of more rigid uppers.
The mesh upper is strong, but lacks the rigidity of more supportive kicks.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
All in all, the Speedgoat is adequately stable. We loved running in these, as do many gritty trail runners, but some people might find that they aren't quite stable enough. The heel stack and mesh outer won't be a match for everyone, but it makes for a delightful ride for those it works for.
We loved putting mileage on the grippy Speedgoats.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort and Fit
Because of its seamless toe bumper, the Speedgoat feels like it runs a bit bigger than most shoes. In some shoes, the bumper seems to eat into toe real estate, and we recommend sizing up in those cases. The Speedgoat rides like the bumper was added in addition to the standard shoe length, which makes it seem long but also adds to its overall comfort.
The curve and length of the toebox make the toe bumper a gentle yet strong protective feature.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
We grew to love the long lacing system because it allows us to cinch the toebox to perfection. Since this style of lacing system is unique, it definitely took a bit of getting used to, which is the name of the game when it comes to running in these shoes. The platform-esque feel was awkward at first, especially on sandy trails, but this sensation dissipated after a bit of a break-in period.
Coastal runs were fun, but challenging in the thick-soled Speedgoat.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The underfoot remained plush as it conformed to our foot shape, making for an even more comfortable ride. Even though we criticized the lack of lateral stability provided by the sockliner upper, it is incredibly comfortable. We never felt any hotspots while running in these shoes, a sensation that we get really nitpicky about when endeavoring to provide you with the most reliable information possible.
We never felt any hotspots or other niggles while executing long runs in the Speedgoat 5.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
A women's size 6.5 US weighs in at 7.94 ounces per shoe which is on the lighter side, especially for such a stacked shoe. But, because of how the weight is distributed, we couldn't help but notice that these shoes felt heavier underfoot than others. Some shoes offer more evenly distributed weight that makes them feel nearly weightless on the trails, despite it weighing in slightly higher on the scale. That said, once we grew used to the profile of the Speedgoat, the cumbersome underfoot feel became less prominent.
The heavy underfoot feeling faded for us as the mileage added up.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the HOKA Speedgoat 5?
The Speedgoat 5 is a reliable, durable, and grippy shoe that will go the distance with you. If you love a plush ride combined with a sockliner upper and versatile lacing system, this might be a great pick. However, we hesitate to widely recommend this shoe to all trail runners because it is too unique to suit everyone's needs. We recommend trying the Speedgoat on before buying if you can to ensure it is comfortable for your foot shape.
The plush underfoot cushion provides a great base for all gait styles, making this stacked runner a bit more versatile than we originally expected.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
As mentioned, the unique features and profile of this shoe might not be a perfect match for you. If you want a maximalist shoe with a bit more protection and a broader appeal, snag the Hoka Torrent 3 instead. If a rugged, well-tractioned shoe is what you're after, the Salomon Speedcross 6 is another great option, though it has a much bigger heel-to-toe drop.
—
Ally Arcuri
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