Last updated at 07/10/2025 22:30:05
originally posted on hoka.com
This was my 3rd pair of the speed goat 5s and I love them. I've been an avid trail runner for the past 2 years and these were a huge upgrade from my Salomon XA pro 3d. I put over 450 miles on each of my first 2 pairs mostly rocky, muddy, mountain terrain. The shoes have held up super well on distances from 5k to 50k. Solid traction, super comfortable on sharp rocks and gravel roads and they look amazing. I will keep replacing my current pair with new speed goats until they stop making them. The only 2 downsides I have and honestly they don't really bother me, but first sometimes the footbed feels a little wide. As I mostly run terrain with large rocks i have caught my foot a few times, but that could also just be I was tired and looking for something else to blame. ... MoreThis was my 3rd pair of the speed goat 5s and I love them. I've been an avid trail runner for the past 2 years and these were a huge upgrade from my Salomon XA pro 3d. I put over 450 miles on each of my first 2 pairs mostly rocky, muddy, mountain terrain. The shoes have held up super well on distances from 5k to 50k. Solid traction, super comfortable on sharp rocks and gravel roads and they look amazing. I will keep replacing my current pair with new speed goats until they stop making them. The only 2 downsides I have and honestly they don't really bother me, but first sometimes the footbed feels a little wide. As I mostly run terrain with large rocks i have caught my foot a few times, but that could also just be I was tired and looking for something else to blame. Second, I've seen other reviews mention having to tighten down the laces to a point where they almost can't go any tighter. I've never gotten to that point and I have pretty narrow feet, but I could see how that if you had smaller feet it might be an issue. Overall awesome shoes, great feel, and i love the colors.
originally posted on REI
I started backpacking last year and have tried no less than 20 pairs of shoes ranging from boots to ankle height hiking shoes. I bought these to trail run and never expected I'd use them backpacking but they win out every time.I had severe foot pain backpacking. My first pair of boots were terrible. I tried and settled on a second pair but still had pain. I thought it was me but when I started my training with these shoes just to get back into it and I was fine. I went back to my boots, and had pain within 2 miles. I thought maybe it was the boot style. I bought and tried on 7 pairs of ankle height hiking shoes. Again I had foot pain. I went back to these trail runners on the same trail with the same weight and I was fine. I don't care what anyone says about ... MoreI started backpacking last year and have tried no less than 20 pairs of shoes ranging from boots to ankle height hiking shoes. I bought these to trail run and never expected I'd use them backpacking but they win out every time.I had severe foot pain backpacking. My first pair of boots were terrible. I tried and settled on a second pair but still had pain. I thought it was me but when I started my training with these shoes just to get back into it and I was fine. I went back to my boots, and had pain within 2 miles. I thought maybe it was the boot style. I bought and tried on 7 pairs of ankle height hiking shoes. Again I had foot pain. I went back to these trail runners on the same trail with the same weight and I was fine. I don't care what anyone says about needing boots for backpacking, I have tested these out and they win every time, even with pack weight. I returned the other shoes and bought a second pair of these to break them in for my Nov backpacking trip.Oh I also wear these to the gym, and walking around. That's why I need another pair. I've worn them out because they are great!I use Superfeet insoles (Running insoles for running and gym and Hiking insoles for backpacking training) and that has made these the perfect shoe for me. Finally!
originally posted on hoka.com
A long time foot shape shoe owner decided to try Hoka after all the positive feedback from others. The geometry of the shoe is very different from what I'm used to, however after a few long days in the mountains spent hiking I found the fit to be great with no hot spots, toe jams or heel slips. However the amount of gravel and dirt that finds its way into the shoe is ridiculous. Anytime. I was hiking in sand or small gravel the shoe picked it up and threw it against my back calves and subsequently funneled in to the shoe. It was so noticeable. I thought I had a branch hanging somewhere off of my backpack hitting my legs. The gaping hole at the back of the shoe creates a perfect funnel for dirt to collect which is a horrible design. There are a lot better ways to put ... MoreA long time foot shape shoe owner decided to try Hoka after all the positive feedback from others. The geometry of the shoe is very different from what I'm used to, however after a few long days in the mountains spent hiking I found the fit to be great with no hot spots, toe jams or heel slips. However the amount of gravel and dirt that finds its way into the shoe is ridiculous. Anytime. I was hiking in sand or small gravel the shoe picked it up and threw it against my back calves and subsequently funneled in to the shoe. It was so noticeable. I thought I had a branch hanging somewhere off of my backpack hitting my legs. The gaping hole at the back of the shoe creates a perfect funnel for dirt to collect which is a horrible design. There are a lot better ways to put pull tab on the back of the shoe. After a couple hours of traversing in sandy soil. Expect to have to take your shoe off and empty it unless you like getting blisters. These shoes should come with a pair of gators. Still deciding if I'm going to keep them or not which is sad because I like most everything else about them.
This was my 3rd pair of the speed goat 5s and I love them. I've been an avid trail runner for the past 2 years and these were a huge upgrade from my Salomon XA pro 3d. I put over 450 miles on each of my first 2 pairs mostly rocky, muddy, mountain terrain. The shoes have held up super well on distances from 5k to 50k. Solid traction, super comfortable on sharp rocks and gravel roads and they look amazing. I will keep replacing my current pair with new speed goats until they stop making them. The only 2 downsides I have and honestly they don't really bother me, but first sometimes the footbed feels a little wide. As I mostly run terrain with large rocks i have caught my foot a few times, but that could also just be I was tired and looking for something else to blame. ... MoreThis was my 3rd pair of the speed goat 5s and I love them. I've been an avid trail runner for the past 2 years and these were a huge upgrade from my Salomon XA pro 3d. I put over 450 miles on each of my first 2 pairs mostly rocky, muddy, mountain terrain. The shoes have held up super well on distances from 5k to 50k. Solid traction, super comfortable on sharp rocks and gravel roads and they look amazing. I will keep replacing my current pair with new speed goats until they stop making them. The only 2 downsides I have and honestly they don't really bother me, but first sometimes the footbed feels a little wide. As I mostly run terrain with large rocks i have caught my foot a few times, but that could also just be I was tired and looking for something else to blame. Second, I've seen other reviews mention having to tighten down the laces to a point where they almost can't go any tighter. I've never gotten to that point and I have pretty narrow feet, but I could see how that if you had smaller feet it might be an issue. Overall awesome shoes, great feel, and i love the colors.
I started backpacking last year and have tried no less than 20 pairs of shoes ranging from boots to ankle height hiking shoes. I bought these to trail run and never expected I'd use them backpacking but they win out every time.I had severe foot pain backpacking. My first pair of boots were terrible. I tried and settled on a second pair but still had pain. I thought it was me but when I started my training with these shoes just to get back into it and I was fine. I went back to my boots, and had pain within 2 miles. I thought maybe it was the boot style. I bought and tried on 7 pairs of ankle height hiking shoes. Again I had foot pain. I went back to these trail runners on the same trail with the same weight and I was fine. I don't care what anyone says about ... MoreI started backpacking last year and have tried no less than 20 pairs of shoes ranging from boots to ankle height hiking shoes. I bought these to trail run and never expected I'd use them backpacking but they win out every time.I had severe foot pain backpacking. My first pair of boots were terrible. I tried and settled on a second pair but still had pain. I thought it was me but when I started my training with these shoes just to get back into it and I was fine. I went back to my boots, and had pain within 2 miles. I thought maybe it was the boot style. I bought and tried on 7 pairs of ankle height hiking shoes. Again I had foot pain. I went back to these trail runners on the same trail with the same weight and I was fine. I don't care what anyone says about needing boots for backpacking, I have tested these out and they win every time, even with pack weight. I returned the other shoes and bought a second pair of these to break them in for my Nov backpacking trip.Oh I also wear these to the gym, and walking around. That's why I need another pair. I've worn them out because they are great!I use Superfeet insoles (Running insoles for running and gym and Hiking insoles for backpacking training) and that has made these the perfect shoe for me. Finally!
A long time foot shape shoe owner decided to try Hoka after all the positive feedback from others. The geometry of the shoe is very different from what I'm used to, however after a few long days in the mountains spent hiking I found the fit to be great with no hot spots, toe jams or heel slips. However the amount of gravel and dirt that finds its way into the shoe is ridiculous. Anytime. I was hiking in sand or small gravel the shoe picked it up and threw it against my back calves and subsequently funneled in to the shoe. It was so noticeable. I thought I had a branch hanging somewhere off of my backpack hitting my legs. The gaping hole at the back of the shoe creates a perfect funnel for dirt to collect which is a horrible design. There are a lot better ways to put ... MoreA long time foot shape shoe owner decided to try Hoka after all the positive feedback from others. The geometry of the shoe is very different from what I'm used to, however after a few long days in the mountains spent hiking I found the fit to be great with no hot spots, toe jams or heel slips. However the amount of gravel and dirt that finds its way into the shoe is ridiculous. Anytime. I was hiking in sand or small gravel the shoe picked it up and threw it against my back calves and subsequently funneled in to the shoe. It was so noticeable. I thought I had a branch hanging somewhere off of my backpack hitting my legs. The gaping hole at the back of the shoe creates a perfect funnel for dirt to collect which is a horrible design. There are a lot better ways to put pull tab on the back of the shoe. After a couple hours of traversing in sandy soil. Expect to have to take your shoe off and empty it unless you like getting blisters. These shoes should come with a pair of gators. Still deciding if I'm going to keep them or not which is sad because I like most everything else about them.
I was incredibly excited to get these shoes for my birthday in March. I waited to wear them until spring time, so right around April/May. I hike a lot, and I wanted something lightweight that would let my feet dry out on longer Adirondack hikes. I broke these in locally, and routinely do about 7.5 miles. These felt great! There was a spring in my step and I did a little trail running with them on as well. They are super cushioned, very comfortable. This past week I went up to the Adirondacks and we hiked a few high peaks. I could not wait to see how they performed up there. First hike they held up fine. It's always wet and muddy there, and just as I had hoped, these let my feet breathe and dry out and had great traction where I needed. After 16 miles I was very ... MoreI was incredibly excited to get these shoes for my birthday in March. I waited to wear them until spring time, so right around April/May. I hike a lot, and I wanted something lightweight that would let my feet dry out on longer Adirondack hikes. I broke these in locally, and routinely do about 7.5 miles. These felt great! There was a spring in my step and I did a little trail running with them on as well. They are super cushioned, very comfortable. This past week I went up to the Adirondacks and we hiked a few high peaks. I could not wait to see how they performed up there. First hike they held up fine. It's always wet and muddy there, and just as I had hoped, these let my feet breathe and dry out and had great traction where I needed. After 16 miles I was very pleased. We went for our second hike the next day. I was super pumped to wear these, as this hike is notoriously wet and muddy. About 3 miles in my toe caught on a root, and there is now a rip in the fabric right in the middle. It isn't a huge tear, but it is large enough that I'm super frustrated and it doesn't feel as if the left shoe has the integrity that the right one has now. It's disappointing. I guess I shouldn't have worn them on rugged trail. Bottom line, these are great if you are on maintained trails with little to no scrambling/roots/rocks, but if you plan on using them in a more rugged situation, I would not recommend them. I am giving 3 stars for comfort, but I was really hoping these would be more durable than they are. Not sure if I'll be able to return these to REI, I think this would be out of the realm of their warranty policy. I am still going to keep them and use them on our local trails, but I will stick to my Solomon mids when it comes to ADK hikes from now on.
I am a dedicated trail runner with many decades of experience. I typically put in about 30 trail miles a week, year round with our dog Max and a running partner. I have a high volume, wide, high arch foot, and a neutral gait. Have tried many, many trail shoe brands and styles over the years and the Hoka SpeedGoat has emerged as my go to shoe. Yes, the SpedGoat looks clunky, but don't let looks deceive you! It is surprisingly responsive and protective at the same time. The main problem I have had with the Speedgoat (both 4 and 5 models) is upper durability. In particular I get tearing where the sole meets the show sidewall in the forefoot outside region. The EE is plenty wide for my foot so this is not a stress problem induced by my chunky feet. Tearing may be in ... MoreI am a dedicated trail runner with many decades of experience. I typically put in about 30 trail miles a week, year round with our dog Max and a running partner. I have a high volume, wide, high arch foot, and a neutral gait. Have tried many, many trail shoe brands and styles over the years and the Hoka SpeedGoat has emerged as my go to shoe. Yes, the SpedGoat looks clunky, but don't let looks deceive you! It is surprisingly responsive and protective at the same time. The main problem I have had with the Speedgoat (both 4 and 5 models) is upper durability. In particular I get tearing where the sole meets the show sidewall in the forefoot outside region. The EE is plenty wide for my foot so this is not a stress problem induced by my chunky feet. Tearing may be in part due to rock/root indued abrasion. It would be great if Hoka could address this problem without messing up the SpeedGoat feel.
I've run exclusively in Hoka shoes for the last 6 years and this is the first time I can say I that I do not recommend this product. I've had the Speedgoat 2, 3, 4, and now 5 and have put extensive mileage on all of them. Out of all of them, the Speedgoat 5's have been the least durable. After about 200 miles in my Speedgoat 5's, both shoes have large tears where the upper meets the midsole around the forefoot, rendering them awful for trail running as all of the debris gets in as well as the looseness causing lockdown issues in the forefoot area. Also, after only about 100 miles I noticed that the insoles are significantly thinner than previous models, which along with the increased toe box room, has resulted in one of my insoles frequently slipping in the shoe as ... MoreI've run exclusively in Hoka shoes for the last 6 years and this is the first time I can say I that I do not recommend this product. I've had the Speedgoat 2, 3, 4, and now 5 and have put extensive mileage on all of them. Out of all of them, the Speedgoat 5's have been the least durable. After about 200 miles in my Speedgoat 5's, both shoes have large tears where the upper meets the midsole around the forefoot, rendering them awful for trail running as all of the debris gets in as well as the looseness causing lockdown issues in the forefoot area. Also, after only about 100 miles I noticed that the insoles are significantly thinner than previous models, which along with the increased toe box room, has resulted in one of my insoles frequently slipping in the shoe as I run, to the point that my toes are completely on the midsole and the insole is curling up the back of my heel and causing blisters.For context, I am a larger guy, 6'1" and ~215lbs, and I run anywhere between 10-40 miles a week on both road and trail. I used to run high school cross country, during which, my Speedgoat 2's and 3's each held up for well over 600 miles of running and only needed to be replaced due to the lugs being completely rubbed off and the foam losing some of its cushion. My Speedgoat 4's were slightly disappointing as the thin plastic tongue and the slightly harder midsole made the shoe less comfortable to run in, but at least they still lasted over 500 miles.That being said, the Speedgoat 5 doesn't come CLOSE to any of its predecessors. I run on the same trails, for the same distances, at the same speed, and I am still about the same weight, and yet, they have lasted less than half the distance that my previous pairs have. This all comes down to the new flimsy knit upper, paper-thin insoles, and inadequate overlay reinforcement around the toe box/forefoot. While the midsoles are a dream to run on, the sheer inattention to detail in the rest of the shoe ruins it all.
Unfortunately I have severe first toe arthritis bilaterally. I am a physician and love being active. I have declined surgery to fuse these joints due to temporary and possible long term gait issues. So, I wanted a shoe with a large enough toe box due to the bone abnormality AND with a stiff sole to prevent bending of the joint. These are my first HOKA shoes. The shoes have been fantastic. I ordered them in the E-width and have room, great comfort in general, and the infamous/adored HOKA rocker is minimized in the trail shoe. Plus, the arch ridge is less pronounced in the trail shoe vs the running shoe increasing the comfort of the insole.The actual width of the sole is the only real difference vs previous straight running shoes. Jogging is fine, but for rapid ... MoreUnfortunately I have severe first toe arthritis bilaterally. I am a physician and love being active. I have declined surgery to fuse these joints due to temporary and possible long term gait issues. So, I wanted a shoe with a large enough toe box due to the bone abnormality AND with a stiff sole to prevent bending of the joint. These are my first HOKA shoes. The shoes have been fantastic. I ordered them in the E-width and have room, great comfort in general, and the infamous/adored HOKA rocker is minimized in the trail shoe. Plus, the arch ridge is less pronounced in the trail shoe vs the running shoe increasing the comfort of the insole.The actual width of the sole is the only real difference vs previous straight running shoes. Jogging is fine, but for rapid walking, the wide ball of the foot area-not a function of E-width but shoe design-makes pushing off a little compromised. My dogs are thrilled that I am walking several miles/day with no issues.Note: the fiesta/red shoe runs slightly narrower than the other colors. No idea why. The Road Runner store said red shoes have a tendency towards this for reasons unknown to them.
This is a tough review to write - because I really struggle to find shoes that I really like, and I thought I really liked these...I purchased the SG5s in wide, after trying over a dozen of other pairs of shoes (coming previously from using Brooks for 3 years that I got along with well - but they changed the fit). The SG5s fit me pretty well, and I liked the overall feel and comfort out of the box. I trail run in the mountains of WY about 8-20mi and 4000-7500ft vert on average per week for training, and go on adventure runs between 10mi and 25mi with 5000-10000 total vert periodically throughout the year. Right away, the stack and drop were more than I was used to, but I was enjoying the comfort on short walks to break them in... I thought I could adapt to them, ... MoreThis is a tough review to write - because I really struggle to find shoes that I really like, and I thought I really liked these...I purchased the SG5s in wide, after trying over a dozen of other pairs of shoes (coming previously from using Brooks for 3 years that I got along with well - but they changed the fit). The SG5s fit me pretty well, and I liked the overall feel and comfort out of the box. I trail run in the mountains of WY about 8-20mi and 4000-7500ft vert on average per week for training, and go on adventure runs between 10mi and 25mi with 5000-10000 total vert periodically throughout the year. Right away, the stack and drop were more than I was used to, but I was enjoying the comfort on short walks to break them in... I thought I could adapt to them, but it is proving to be more challenging than I hoped. Shoes feel clunky and much less precise on trail than other shoes I've tried - I thought these would feel closer to a responsive shoe than plush - but I have to say these feel pretty plush in my opinion. The midsole is very, very soft and pliable. On technical descents, I've never felt more unstable. Scree and loose, dry dirt/pebbles feel like ball bearings and as you try to pressure different parts of your foot, the soft foam just gives way in a manner that is not confidence inspiring. I lost my footing on a 20mi summit day this past weekend more times and in more significant ways, than I had in the past 3 years with Brooks Catamount.The foam is also not durable - I've got 45ish miles on these shoes and the foam both underfoot and on the midsole sides are torn to shreds. Again, I've put hundreds of miles on Salomons and Brooks shoes, on the same type of rock, and they don't look like these SG5s do now. I'm not super pumped about the durability of these.Lastly, the top of the tongue that sits closest to your ankle to provide heel hold is so thin and unpadded - the laces dig into to top of my foot and cause pain...
Whoever designed these shoes deserves an early retirement, a fat pension, and a pat on the back.I took these right out of the box and onto a rugged 10.6 mile loop trail. I usually don't hike that far, so I was really quite nervous about getting blisters and all that from a brand new pair of shoes.But when I finished the loop, my feet didn't hurt, I had no blisters, and I genuinely felt like I could go for another lap. I've bought lots of other trail runners, from Nike, adidas, and even Hoka (Anacapa 1 low), and these are multiple orders of magnitude better than anything else I've hiked in.On their second outing, I accidentally stepped in some water, and less than an hour later they seemed completely dry again. The traction is incredible, even on slick mossy ... MoreWhoever designed these shoes deserves an early retirement, a fat pension, and a pat on the back.I took these right out of the box and onto a rugged 10.6 mile loop trail. I usually don't hike that far, so I was really quite nervous about getting blisters and all that from a brand new pair of shoes.But when I finished the loop, my feet didn't hurt, I had no blisters, and I genuinely felt like I could go for another lap. I've bought lots of other trail runners, from Nike, adidas, and even Hoka (Anacapa 1 low), and these are multiple orders of magnitude better than anything else I've hiked in.On their second outing, I accidentally stepped in some water, and less than an hour later they seemed completely dry again. The traction is incredible, even on slick mossy boulders and muddy slopes.I'm getting another pair of these ASAP for safe keeping, and probably another pair for deep storage in case the apocalypse hits. They're really that good.
Normally wear women's size 9.5 or 10 in running. Shoes. 9.5 and 10 were too long. Got size 9, and 9 wide. I have low volume foot. Mid foot striker, neutral gait. Low arches/flat feet. Run mixed terrain, r I cky, sandy, cinders, boulder outcrops. Narrow gullies that were trails, with varying steepness, distance varies.Size 9 wore around house for about 30 minutes and arches felt like i was getting poke stabbed by something hard in the shoe. Looked at my arch area and bc of flat feet it layed over side of show slightly and was getting poked by the decorative sidewall, or perhaps the raised mid foot area is supposed to be a support rail(?). Anyway im guessing if my arh was higher it wouldn't have been laying on top of the rail thing. So i tried the wide,and Basically ... MoreNormally wear women's size 9.5 or 10 in running. Shoes. 9.5 and 10 were too long. Got size 9, and 9 wide. I have low volume foot. Mid foot striker, neutral gait. Low arches/flat feet. Run mixed terrain, r I cky, sandy, cinders, boulder outcrops. Narrow gullies that were trails, with varying steepness, distance varies.Size 9 wore around house for about 30 minutes and arches felt like i was getting poke stabbed by something hard in the shoe. Looked at my arch area and bc of flat feet it layed over side of show slightly and was getting poked by the decorative sidewall, or perhaps the raised mid foot area is supposed to be a support rail(?). Anyway im guessing if my arh was higher it wouldn't have been laying on top of the rail thing. So i tried the wide,and Basically the same except more fabric over midfoot for folks with more volume. Cushion was excellent, and it i thiught it would be a good running shoes, i had Goat 2's which were great. Unfortunately, i have to return both. I don't think these work for low arches or flat feet. Same issue with other Hokas i tried after these. So bummer i have to keep looking for 4mm/5 mm drop trail shoes.
