Last updated at 03/13/2025 05:22:48
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
It was a comfortable shoe for the first 100 or so miles. The cushion wore out QUICK. After 200 miles, they were finished. I had went through 2 pairs of the Speedgoat 5s totaling a little under 500 miles before I gave up on this shoe. Pair one lasted 200 miles with some padding left but completely blew out on the inside of both shoes. Pair two lasted almost 300 with no cushion remaining after 200 miles, and then blew out. Prior to purchasing the 5s, I had been through 2 pairs of Speedgoat 2s, 2 pairs of Speedgoat Mids, 2 pairs of Speedgoat 3's and 2 pairs of Speedgoat 4s. Prior to the 5s, they were consistently a 500+ mile shoe for me with several 600, and 700 mile pairs sprinkled in there as well. They tended to have some cushion remaining at the end of their life ... MoreIt was a comfortable shoe for the first 100 or so miles. The cushion wore out QUICK. After 200 miles, they were finished. I had went through 2 pairs of the Speedgoat 5s totaling a little under 500 miles before I gave up on this shoe. Pair one lasted 200 miles with some padding left but completely blew out on the inside of both shoes. Pair two lasted almost 300 with no cushion remaining after 200 miles, and then blew out. Prior to purchasing the 5s, I had been through 2 pairs of Speedgoat 2s, 2 pairs of Speedgoat Mids, 2 pairs of Speedgoat 3's and 2 pairs of Speedgoat 4s. Prior to the 5s, they were consistently a 500+ mile shoe for me with several 600, and 700 mile pairs sprinkled in there as well. They tended to have some cushion remaining at the end of their life with the common point of failure being the inside blowing out. I haven't heard any other complaints on the Internet concerning the issue with cushion durability but I have had conversation on trail with several other individuals experiencing similar issues. I've also met people that haven't had any issues whatsoever. So maybe I had some bad luck. Just a heads up, I've seen claims that this shoe as a whole is more durable than past models; I believe this to be completely false, as the entire upper part of the shoe is made of a thin mesh instead of synthetic as past versions were. I've lightly brushed rocks on trail in passing and put large incisions through the mesh like I ran a knife across it. To Hoka's benefit, they've got a good warranty on their shoes, and have sent me a new pair that I wear as a casual shoe. They're pretty comfortable, but they won't be going back on trail.
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.
It was a comfortable shoe for the first 100 or so miles. The cushion wore out QUICK. After 200 miles, they were finished. I had went through 2 pairs of the Speedgoat 5s totaling a little under 500 miles before I gave up on this shoe. Pair one lasted 200 miles with some padding left but completely blew out on the inside of both shoes. Pair two lasted almost 300 with no cushion remaining after 200 miles, and then blew out. Prior to purchasing the 5s, I had been through 2 pairs of Speedgoat 2s, 2 pairs of Speedgoat Mids, 2 pairs of Speedgoat 3's and 2 pairs of Speedgoat 4s. Prior to the 5s, they were consistently a 500+ mile shoe for me with several 600, and 700 mile pairs sprinkled in there as well. They tended to have some cushion remaining at the end of their life ... MoreIt was a comfortable shoe for the first 100 or so miles. The cushion wore out QUICK. After 200 miles, they were finished. I had went through 2 pairs of the Speedgoat 5s totaling a little under 500 miles before I gave up on this shoe. Pair one lasted 200 miles with some padding left but completely blew out on the inside of both shoes. Pair two lasted almost 300 with no cushion remaining after 200 miles, and then blew out. Prior to purchasing the 5s, I had been through 2 pairs of Speedgoat 2s, 2 pairs of Speedgoat Mids, 2 pairs of Speedgoat 3's and 2 pairs of Speedgoat 4s. Prior to the 5s, they were consistently a 500+ mile shoe for me with several 600, and 700 mile pairs sprinkled in there as well. They tended to have some cushion remaining at the end of their life with the common point of failure being the inside blowing out. I haven't heard any other complaints on the Internet concerning the issue with cushion durability but I have had conversation on trail with several other individuals experiencing similar issues. I've also met people that haven't had any issues whatsoever. So maybe I had some bad luck. Just a heads up, I've seen claims that this shoe as a whole is more durable than past models; I believe this to be completely false, as the entire upper part of the shoe is made of a thin mesh instead of synthetic as past versions were. I've lightly brushed rocks on trail in passing and put large incisions through the mesh like I ran a knife across it. To Hoka's benefit, they've got a good warranty on their shoes, and have sent me a new pair that I wear as a casual shoe. They're pretty comfortable, but they won't be going back on trail.
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 reach for the speedgoats on my longest trail-runs and steepest climbs, the grip and cushion is just better than my other brands with only a minor loss of sensitivity and agility. I feel I have more control on long rocky descents which have become less punishing. They also ventilate really well here in the southwest.Unfortunately, they lasted 196 miles of trail use before the lugs started separating from the shoe. A disappointment as I believe the rest of the shoe is intact. I can't afford to replace them at that rate. I now use them as my hospital work shoe to get a few more miles out of them.They fit true to size and are the only pair in which I did not require a wide for comfort. I have only slightly wider forefoot.
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...
Am a devoted Hoka runner, have had many pairs of Speedgoats, but this latest model is a big disappointment. I have two pairs of the Speedgoat 5's and both have splits where the upper meets the sole on the lateral edge of both feet. This happened around mile 175/200 for each pair. Not only does this shorten the life of the shoe (at some point my feet just start slipping out of the shoe at the split) but it eliminates the afterlife of the shoe as well. I just have to throw them away. I used to count on old pairs of my Speedgoats as beaters for gnarly watery trails and for just walking around with my dog. Old trail shoes make great walking shoes. In the past, a spent pair of Speedgoats has given me months and months of use beyond their regular life. Please go back to ... MoreAm a devoted Hoka runner, have had many pairs of Speedgoats, but this latest model is a big disappointment. I have two pairs of the Speedgoat 5's and both have splits where the upper meets the sole on the lateral edge of both feet. This happened around mile 175/200 for each pair. Not only does this shorten the life of the shoe (at some point my feet just start slipping out of the shoe at the split) but it eliminates the afterlife of the shoe as well. I just have to throw them away. I used to count on old pairs of my Speedgoats as beaters for gnarly watery trails and for just walking around with my dog. Old trail shoes make great walking shoes. In the past, a spent pair of Speedgoats has given me months and months of use beyond their regular life. Please go back to the reinforced upper. It's a trail shoe after all: that mesh fabric can't hold up.
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.
