Be a trailblazer in the HOKA Speedgoat 5. With more traction and less weight, the HOKA Speedgoat 5 has been redesigned to take on the trails with ease. HOKA added Vibramreg Megagrip with Traction Lugs to give you more grip, particularly on loose soil and dirt. The redesigned placement gives you more lugs in the heel and toe area to provide more durability and help you handle slippery or uneven terrain. HOKA also re-engineered the midsole compound and made it lighter so the Speedgoat 5 gives you HOKArsquos signature soft marshmallow ride through the trails. A late-stage meta-rocker helps roll you through your gaitmdashmaking mountain climbs easier and allowing you to barrel downhill for a smooth and propulsive ride. The upper of the Speedgoat 5 features a stretchy double jacquard mesh to give you the confidence to take on the trails. It improves both the comfort and durability of the shoe. Our reviewers loved the more lock-down fit that the new upper gave them in our HOKA Speedgoat 5 review. There is a protective toe rand that gives extra protection against rocks and trail debris. Plus, HOKA re-designed the heel counter, giving it an extended heel tab to make it easier to pull on and prevent any rubbing at the Achilles. The HOKA Speedgoat 5 gives you the cushion and grip to make it one of the best trail shoes for your next adventure.
Be a trailblazer in the HOKA Speedgoat 5. With more traction and less weight, the HOKA Speedgoat 5 has been redesigned to take on the trails with ease. HOKA added Vibramreg Megagrip with Traction Lugs to give you more grip, particularly on loose soil and dirt. The redesigned placement gives you more lugs in the heel and toe area to provide more durability and help you handle slippery or uneven terrain. HOKA also re-engineered the midsole compound and made it lighter so the Speedgoat 5 gives you HOKArsquos signature soft marshmallow ride through the trails. A late-stage meta-rocker helps roll you through your gaitmdashmaking mountain climbs easier and allowing you to barrel downhill for a smooth and propulsive ride. The upper of the Speedgoat 5 features a stretchy double jacquard mesh to give you the confidence to take on the trails. It improves both the comfort and durability of the shoe. Our reviewers loved the more lock-down fit that the new upper gave them in our HOKA Speedgoat 5 review. There is a protective toe rand that gives extra protection against rocks and trail debris. Plus, HOKA re-designed the heel counter, giving it an extended heel tab to make it easier to pull on and prevent any rubbing at the Achilles. The HOKA Speedgoat 5 gives you the cushion and grip to make it one of the best trail shoes for your next adventure.
Be a trailblazer in the HOKA Speedgoat 5. With more traction and less weight, the HOKA Speedgoat 5 has been redesigned to take on the trails with ease. HOKA added Vibramreg Megagrip with Traction Lugs to give you more grip, particularly on loose soil and dirt. The redesigned placement gives you more lugs in the heel and toe area to provide more durability and help you handle slippery or uneven terrain. HOKA also re-engineered the midsole compound and made it lighter so the Speedgoat 5 gives you HOKArsquos signature soft marshmallow ride through the trails. A late-stage meta-rocker helps roll you through your gaitmdashmaking mountain climbs easier and allowing you to barrel downhill for a smooth and propulsive ride. The upper of the Speedgoat 5 features a stretchy double jacquard mesh to give you the confidence to take on the trails. It improves both the comfort and durability of the shoe. Our reviewers loved the more lock-down fit that the new upper gave them in our HOKA Speedgoat 5 review. There is a protective toe rand that gives extra protection against rocks and trail debris. Plus, HOKA re-designed the heel counter, giving it an extended heel tab to make it easier to pull on and prevent any rubbing at the Achilles. The HOKA Speedgoat 5 gives you the cushion and grip to make it one of the best trail shoes for your next adventure.
Be a trailblazer in the HOKA Speedgoat 5. With more traction and less weight, the HOKA Speedgoat 5 has been redesigned to take on the trails with ease. HOKA added Vibramreg Megagrip with Traction Lugs to give you more grip, particularly on loose soil and dirt. The redesigned placement gives you more lugs in the heel and toe area to provide more durability and help you handle slippery or uneven terrain. HOKA also re-engineered the midsole compound and made it lighter so the Speedgoat 5 gives you HOKArsquos signature soft marshmallow ride through the trails. A late-stage meta-rocker helps roll you through your gaitmdashmaking mountain climbs easier and allowing you to barrel downhill for a smooth and propulsive ride. The upper of the Speedgoat 5 features a stretchy double jacquard mesh to give you the confidence to take on the trails. It improves both the comfort and durability of the shoe. Our reviewers loved the more lock-down fit that the new upper gave them in our HOKA Speedgoat 5 review. There is a protective toe rand that gives extra protection against rocks and trail debris. Plus, HOKA re-designed the heel counter, giving it an extended heel tab to make it easier to pull on and prevent any rubbing at the Achilles. The HOKA Speedgoat 5 gives you the cushion and grip to make it one of the best trail shoes for your next adventure.
Last updated at 04/08/2026 22:58:43
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Mens | Sole Motive 9 / HARBOR MIST / BLACK
Free delivery between 14–22 Apr
Mens HOKA Speedgoat 5 Harbour Mist / Black / US 9
Free delivery between 14–22 Apr
originally posted on backcountry.com
The Speedgoats get a lot of love. I wanted to love them too, but they're not for me.Underfoot, they're really comfortable. Their soles are awesome too.Now the complain-y part: They have a really narrow spear-shaped toe-box. They're like those really uncomfortable-looking leather dress shoes that are super pointy. Or those elf or witch shoes that have the pointy curled tip. If you have a wider forefoot, or even just a foot-shaped-foot, or like room for your toes to splay, look elsewhere. These instantly squished my two outermost lateral toes. On the upside, it only took about 20 seconds to realize these weren't going to work. However, if you like those pointy leather shoes, or have an exceptionally narrow forefoot, these will probably be perfect for you.Also, ... MoreThe Speedgoats get a lot of love. I wanted to love them too, but they're not for me.Underfoot, they're really comfortable. Their soles are awesome too.Now the complain-y part: They have a really narrow spear-shaped toe-box. They're like those really uncomfortable-looking leather dress shoes that are super pointy. Or those elf or witch shoes that have the pointy curled tip. If you have a wider forefoot, or even just a foot-shaped-foot, or like room for your toes to splay, look elsewhere. These instantly squished my two outermost lateral toes. On the upside, it only took about 20 seconds to realize these weren't going to work. However, if you like those pointy leather shoes, or have an exceptionally narrow forefoot, these will probably be perfect for you.Also, and a smaller complaint, if you run on loose debris or in dusty environments, the funnel or "scoop" at the back of the shoe makes sure to "scoop" as much of the dust and debris from the trail into your shoe as possible.
originally posted on backcountry.com
I really wanted to like the Speedgoats, but they have an incredibly narrow toe-box. (I also left a review of the standard Speedgoats. This review is for the Wide version.) The standard width speedgoats are shaped more like those pointy-toed leather dress shoes. But these, the Wide version, the toe-box is almost wide enough to be comfortable! Almost. I need like 2 mm more, just on the outside lateral toes, but it's close enough that it likely won't be too much of a problem. Likely.Everything else about this shoe is fantastic, perfect even, except the heel hold. I think by going with the Wide version to try to get extra room in the toe-box, the heel seems to have widened as well, and now causes some heel slippage. I'll likely try to size down a half-size to see if ... MoreI really wanted to like the Speedgoats, but they have an incredibly narrow toe-box. (I also left a review of the standard Speedgoats. This review is for the Wide version.) The standard width speedgoats are shaped more like those pointy-toed leather dress shoes. But these, the Wide version, the toe-box is almost wide enough to be comfortable! Almost. I need like 2 mm more, just on the outside lateral toes, but it's close enough that it likely won't be too much of a problem. Likely.Everything else about this shoe is fantastic, perfect even, except the heel hold. I think by going with the Wide version to try to get extra room in the toe-box, the heel seems to have widened as well, and now causes some heel slippage. I'll likely try to size down a half-size to see if that will fix the problem, but BC is currently out of 10's in Wide.Other than those two complaints, this shoe is everything I was looking for! cushion, comfort, traction, durability. Love it.And a huge shout-out to Backcountry for purchase and return service. I bought way too many shoes trying to find the right pair that would work for me, and was able to return most. Fantastic customer service!!! Love BC!
originally posted on hoka.com
The Speedgoat 4 was my favorite trail shoe and the Speedgoat 5 is even better. You can't beat the Vibram soles, after 78 miles, my current pair has almost no signs of wear. What I appreciate most is that the shoe feels lighter. It doesn't have that clunky feel that most trail shoes do. Because the Speedgoat 4s had a harder material above the sole, they would occassionally pinch my foot at the forefoot crease. That problem was eliminated with the updated Speedgoat 5s softer material.Pros:1. Lighter than other trail shoes2. Grip. Feels great in mud and on steep terrain. I haven't had any issues on slick rock either.3. Great cushioning. If you are training for an ultra these shoes will do great. They have made a huge difference in my footpain, allowing me to train ... MoreThe Speedgoat 4 was my favorite trail shoe and the Speedgoat 5 is even better. You can't beat the Vibram soles, after 78 miles, my current pair has almost no signs of wear. What I appreciate most is that the shoe feels lighter. It doesn't have that clunky feel that most trail shoes do. Because the Speedgoat 4s had a harder material above the sole, they would occassionally pinch my foot at the forefoot crease. That problem was eliminated with the updated Speedgoat 5s softer material.Pros:1. Lighter than other trail shoes2. Grip. Feels great in mud and on steep terrain. I haven't had any issues on slick rock either.3. Great cushioning. If you are training for an ultra these shoes will do great. They have made a huge difference in my footpain, allowing me to train for longer runs and push for farther distances.Cons:1. The regular Speedgoat 5 is not waterproof. This is good and bad. after running in a puddle my socks get wet which I can deal with. On the other hand, after crossing a creek, they let the water drain out. I haven't tried the GTX version but my understanding is that it repels water better.Overall I do recommend the Speedgoat to all trail runners. There is no better cushioning out there that I know of and they've performed well for the the Ultramarathons that I've used them in.
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Mens | Sole Motive 9 / HARBOR MIST / BLACK
Free delivery between 14–22 Apr
Mens HOKA Speedgoat 5 Harbour Mist / Black / US 9
Free delivery between 14–22 Apr
The Speedgoats get a lot of love. I wanted to love them too, but they're not for me.Underfoot, they're really comfortable. Their soles are awesome too.Now the complain-y part: They have a really narrow spear-shaped toe-box. They're like those really uncomfortable-looking leather dress shoes that are super pointy. Or those elf or witch shoes that have the pointy curled tip. If you have a wider forefoot, or even just a foot-shaped-foot, or like room for your toes to splay, look elsewhere. These instantly squished my two outermost lateral toes. On the upside, it only took about 20 seconds to realize these weren't going to work. However, if you like those pointy leather shoes, or have an exceptionally narrow forefoot, these will probably be perfect for you.Also, ... MoreThe Speedgoats get a lot of love. I wanted to love them too, but they're not for me.Underfoot, they're really comfortable. Their soles are awesome too.Now the complain-y part: They have a really narrow spear-shaped toe-box. They're like those really uncomfortable-looking leather dress shoes that are super pointy. Or those elf or witch shoes that have the pointy curled tip. If you have a wider forefoot, or even just a foot-shaped-foot, or like room for your toes to splay, look elsewhere. These instantly squished my two outermost lateral toes. On the upside, it only took about 20 seconds to realize these weren't going to work. However, if you like those pointy leather shoes, or have an exceptionally narrow forefoot, these will probably be perfect for you.Also, and a smaller complaint, if you run on loose debris or in dusty environments, the funnel or "scoop" at the back of the shoe makes sure to "scoop" as much of the dust and debris from the trail into your shoe as possible.
I really wanted to like the Speedgoats, but they have an incredibly narrow toe-box. (I also left a review of the standard Speedgoats. This review is for the Wide version.) The standard width speedgoats are shaped more like those pointy-toed leather dress shoes. But these, the Wide version, the toe-box is almost wide enough to be comfortable! Almost. I need like 2 mm more, just on the outside lateral toes, but it's close enough that it likely won't be too much of a problem. Likely.Everything else about this shoe is fantastic, perfect even, except the heel hold. I think by going with the Wide version to try to get extra room in the toe-box, the heel seems to have widened as well, and now causes some heel slippage. I'll likely try to size down a half-size to see if ... MoreI really wanted to like the Speedgoats, but they have an incredibly narrow toe-box. (I also left a review of the standard Speedgoats. This review is for the Wide version.) The standard width speedgoats are shaped more like those pointy-toed leather dress shoes. But these, the Wide version, the toe-box is almost wide enough to be comfortable! Almost. I need like 2 mm more, just on the outside lateral toes, but it's close enough that it likely won't be too much of a problem. Likely.Everything else about this shoe is fantastic, perfect even, except the heel hold. I think by going with the Wide version to try to get extra room in the toe-box, the heel seems to have widened as well, and now causes some heel slippage. I'll likely try to size down a half-size to see if that will fix the problem, but BC is currently out of 10's in Wide.Other than those two complaints, this shoe is everything I was looking for! cushion, comfort, traction, durability. Love it.And a huge shout-out to Backcountry for purchase and return service. I bought way too many shoes trying to find the right pair that would work for me, and was able to return most. Fantastic customer service!!! Love BC!
The Speedgoat 4 was my favorite trail shoe and the Speedgoat 5 is even better. You can't beat the Vibram soles, after 78 miles, my current pair has almost no signs of wear. What I appreciate most is that the shoe feels lighter. It doesn't have that clunky feel that most trail shoes do. Because the Speedgoat 4s had a harder material above the sole, they would occassionally pinch my foot at the forefoot crease. That problem was eliminated with the updated Speedgoat 5s softer material.Pros:1. Lighter than other trail shoes2. Grip. Feels great in mud and on steep terrain. I haven't had any issues on slick rock either.3. Great cushioning. If you are training for an ultra these shoes will do great. They have made a huge difference in my footpain, allowing me to train ... MoreThe Speedgoat 4 was my favorite trail shoe and the Speedgoat 5 is even better. You can't beat the Vibram soles, after 78 miles, my current pair has almost no signs of wear. What I appreciate most is that the shoe feels lighter. It doesn't have that clunky feel that most trail shoes do. Because the Speedgoat 4s had a harder material above the sole, they would occassionally pinch my foot at the forefoot crease. That problem was eliminated with the updated Speedgoat 5s softer material.Pros:1. Lighter than other trail shoes2. Grip. Feels great in mud and on steep terrain. I haven't had any issues on slick rock either.3. Great cushioning. If you are training for an ultra these shoes will do great. They have made a huge difference in my footpain, allowing me to train for longer runs and push for farther distances.Cons:1. The regular Speedgoat 5 is not waterproof. This is good and bad. after running in a puddle my socks get wet which I can deal with. On the other hand, after crossing a creek, they let the water drain out. I haven't tried the GTX version but my understanding is that it repels water better.Overall I do recommend the Speedgoat to all trail runners. There is no better cushioning out there that I know of and they've performed well for the the Ultramarathons that I've used them in.
I have very narrow and flat feet. I have to wear custom made arch supports with any shoe I wear, which is limited to new balance and red wing and not but one style in each of those those. So , as you can imagine, finding a good, comfortable shoe is an extreme ordeal instead of just grabbing a pair anywhere type of thing. I've seen a few people I trust wearing and swearing about the hokas and figured I'd try em. Its the best shoe decision I've ever made. Even though they aren't made in narrower widths than D ( I wear a AA), the shoe actually still fits like a glove and actually has the arch support in the correct spots to where I don't have to wear the custom ones. I am BLOWN AWAY by these shoes. Not only that but the flip flops are good and the sandals are even ... MoreI have very narrow and flat feet. I have to wear custom made arch supports with any shoe I wear, which is limited to new balance and red wing and not but one style in each of those those. So , as you can imagine, finding a good, comfortable shoe is an extreme ordeal instead of just grabbing a pair anywhere type of thing. I've seen a few people I trust wearing and swearing about the hokas and figured I'd try em. Its the best shoe decision I've ever made. Even though they aren't made in narrower widths than D ( I wear a AA), the shoe actually still fits like a glove and actually has the arch support in the correct spots to where I don't have to wear the custom ones. I am BLOWN AWAY by these shoes. Not only that but the flip flops are good and the sandals are even AWESOME if you like wading a creek, river and hiking wet trails. Hoka shoes are a life changer to me. I have ALWAYS HATED buying shoes because of all of the headaches involved with sizing. If hoka made a narrower than D width, I believe I would find the designers and hug their necks and kiss their foreheads. Thank you Hoka for making such an awesome shoe. It truly is a lost art.
I loved the Speedgoat 4 but v5 I'm only landing in the like category. The fit is perfect ( I wear an 10 wide) and I I like the updates to the upper with the exception of the tongue. The tongue needs to have a little more padding and or a little longer, when I try and lock my heal in the laces cinch up at the very top of the tongue and occasionally slip over it. Another issue for me is the midsole. I like the fact they have been able to reduce the weight of the shoe but part of how they achieved that is by shaving some cushioning off the forefoot section of the shoe. The v4 of the shoe was perfect in this category but v5 makes for a much harder landing for those who run more on their forefoot. I do have to add that part of my biases on this issue are related to the ... MoreI loved the Speedgoat 4 but v5 I'm only landing in the like category. The fit is perfect ( I wear an 10 wide) and I I like the updates to the upper with the exception of the tongue. The tongue needs to have a little more padding and or a little longer, when I try and lock my heal in the laces cinch up at the very top of the tongue and occasionally slip over it. Another issue for me is the midsole. I like the fact they have been able to reduce the weight of the shoe but part of how they achieved that is by shaving some cushioning off the forefoot section of the shoe. The v4 of the shoe was perfect in this category but v5 makes for a much harder landing for those who run more on their forefoot. I do have to add that part of my biases on this issue are related to the face that I'm a mid 50s aged runner with many self inflicted injuries from decades of running and weight training and I need the cushioning in that area. I know the next version of this shoe is still a year or more out but please consider addressing it when it is updated. And lastly I will say that I like the shoe for easier terrain but for the steeper more gnarly terrain I've switched from o the Mafate Speed 4 which has a much better midsole and traction ( if only it came in wides)
I have seven pairs of trail-running shoes that are in rotation and each one is used for a specific type of trail and/or certain kind of feel. The Speedgoat 5 is a recent addition to the rotation and I use it for mixed terrains and straight-ahead hard-packed trails over gentle hills with mild inclines and declines. With plenty of midsole cushioning and stack height, I find this type of terrain is what the Speedgoat is best suited for.I did run on what would be considered a pretty technical trail with steep rocky hills with lots of abrupt twists and turns with severe inclines and declines and although the Speedgoat 5 handled them fairly well, I have other trail shoes that handle such terrains better. In fact, I just tot the Mafate Speed 5 just for this type of ... MoreI have seven pairs of trail-running shoes that are in rotation and each one is used for a specific type of trail and/or certain kind of feel. The Speedgoat 5 is a recent addition to the rotation and I use it for mixed terrains and straight-ahead hard-packed trails over gentle hills with mild inclines and declines. With plenty of midsole cushioning and stack height, I find this type of terrain is what the Speedgoat is best suited for.I did run on what would be considered a pretty technical trail with steep rocky hills with lots of abrupt twists and turns with severe inclines and declines and although the Speedgoat 5 handled them fairly well, I have other trail shoes that handle such terrains better. In fact, I just tot the Mafate Speed 5 just for this type of terrain.For me, the Speedgoat 5 is best for straight-ahead type of trail running (with some roads in between) due to the stack height and cushioning. It's comfortable, has good traction, and light enough to build up some speed without much effort. I found the upper around the forefoot area a tad narrow even though the length felt true to size. I stretched out the fabric around that area for a while and that made it feel better. I have tried wide-size in the past but they feel too wide so I stick with standard width but then they tend to feel slightly narrow depending on the brand/model shoes.Overall, very happy with the Speedgoat 5. It's the shoes I'd probably take on trips to a national park with the family for going from the road to trails and back as it handles both very well with a smooth transition. For me, it's an "easy-going" trail runner. For technical trails and speedy trail running, I'll go with the Mafate Speed 4 and Tecton X, respectively, but these are very specific types of running. For most casual and leisurely trail outings, the Speedgoat 5 can pretty much handle whatever you throw at it.
I use this product for mountain ultra trail marathons. In general, the SG5 is an overall improvement over the past few SG iterations. Pros/cons...Pros - lighter than the previous version, midsole feels a bit more responsive but with equal cushioning (some have mentioned that the shoe feels softer than the SG3 and SG4, but I would disagree unless I've gotten different foam batches), upper is more breathable.Cons - The upper tends to not "lock" the foot in as well as past versions, which had more layering of materials to provide structure. It's not overly noticeable unless there's extreme side angle going over terrain or rocks. Most may not even notice it. I don't and wouldn't recommend the SG series for very rough terrain, e.g. high-alpine screen, off-trail steep ... MoreI use this product for mountain ultra trail marathons. In general, the SG5 is an overall improvement over the past few SG iterations. Pros/cons...Pros - lighter than the previous version, midsole feels a bit more responsive but with equal cushioning (some have mentioned that the shoe feels softer than the SG3 and SG4, but I would disagree unless I've gotten different foam batches), upper is more breathable.Cons - The upper tends to not "lock" the foot in as well as past versions, which had more layering of materials to provide structure. It's not overly noticeable unless there's extreme side angle going over terrain or rocks. Most may not even notice it. I don't and wouldn't recommend the SG series for very rough terrain, e.g. high-alpine screen, off-trail steep terrain, etc. Other shoes are better for that. The other item that bugs me is the new heel tab "pull", which is more of an elongated extension of the heel collar than a proper pull tab. It acts like a shovel inviting trail debris/rocks into the shoes. Plus, when you put gaiters on, it inhibits the fit of the gaiter.As a side note on sizing, normally I wear a 10.5 in most road shoes and fast trail runners. For all SGs that I've worn (SG2-SG4), I've worn 11. In this model, I need an 11.5. My theory is that although the forefoot area is wider, the taper from there toward the tip is more extreme?More nit-picky stuff than deal-killers and overall, this is my favorite iteration since the SG2.
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.
I am at a point in my running career where I don't ache often, but my feet will hurt around 30-40 miles mark. I'd heard about how Hoka is cushy, so I thought I'd give SG5s a go. Initially I thought they were pretty good. They are quite comfortable, but I feel they are narrow, and I started to get hotspots near the ball of my foot at around 15 mile distance. I decided I wouldn't wear them for ultraruns since blisters are not something that I typically deal, which is unfortunate because the stability of the shoe for ankles is amazing. What is very NOT amazing is the tread. Did anyone even try these in the rain on a trail? They rank for the worst tread I've tried next to Altra Superiors. It is almost comical how much they slip on the tiniest flattest rocks and sticks ... MoreI am at a point in my running career where I don't ache often, but my feet will hurt around 30-40 miles mark. I'd heard about how Hoka is cushy, so I thought I'd give SG5s a go. Initially I thought they were pretty good. They are quite comfortable, but I feel they are narrow, and I started to get hotspots near the ball of my foot at around 15 mile distance. I decided I wouldn't wear them for ultraruns since blisters are not something that I typically deal, which is unfortunate because the stability of the shoe for ankles is amazing. What is very NOT amazing is the tread. Did anyone even try these in the rain on a trail? They rank for the worst tread I've tried next to Altra Superiors. It is almost comical how much they slip on the tiniest flattest rocks and sticks when conditions are wet. I used to see people slipping around in Hokas in dry conditions, and I never bought a pair because of that, but all these positive reviews sold me. I will use these shoes for shorter dry runs and on the treadmill, but it'll likely be the last pair of Hokas that I own. I can't enjoy running when every step feels like it might end in distaster, and running uphill with feet slipping out is such an exhausting morale crusher.
Some of my fellow Marines recommended these, even though at first glance I thought they were a long distance highly padded marathon shoe. I'm so glad I tried a pair on and gave them a chance.I am mainly using the SG5 for mixed trail and concrete walking or light jogging. Years ago I used to consistently run 4 or 5 miles every other day, but these days I mainly wear these for comfort. I have a lot of joint issues and tendon issues and plantar fasciitis, but with these shoes I have noticed a great deal of improvement with my day to day symptoms and pain tolerance. I regularly walk 3 or 4 miles now with very little pain afterwards. Additionally, I wouldn't trade these shoes at all if I had to do an event or I was timing myself, they are as comfortable as they are ... MoreSome of my fellow Marines recommended these, even though at first glance I thought they were a long distance highly padded marathon shoe. I'm so glad I tried a pair on and gave them a chance.I am mainly using the SG5 for mixed trail and concrete walking or light jogging. Years ago I used to consistently run 4 or 5 miles every other day, but these days I mainly wear these for comfort. I have a lot of joint issues and tendon issues and plantar fasciitis, but with these shoes I have noticed a great deal of improvement with my day to day symptoms and pain tolerance. I regularly walk 3 or 4 miles now with very little pain afterwards. Additionally, I wouldn't trade these shoes at all if I had to do an event or I was timing myself, they are as comfortable as they are capable- very light weight and springy. The padding is just right for me- neither too plush or too spartan as well.As far as the comfort for jogging, etc, I compare these to a superior version of the first foam type shoes I started wearing back in 2013 - the brook's pureflow. No other shoe I have worn in 10 years has eclipsed that shoe, for my needs. I will be sticking with HOKA from here on. Only thing that I don't know right now is how long they will last, as I know foam tends to compress over time. So I bought two pairs to alternate. Compared to brooks (a size 13) they run a little big, or maybe brooke's is too big and HOKA runs true to size. Regardless I landed on a half size 12.5 that seems to be perfect.
