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 04/06/2026 17:10:21
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Mens | Sole Motive 9.5 / DEEP LAKE/CERAMIC
Free delivery between 10–20 Apr
Mens HOKA Speedgoat 5 Deep Lake / Ceramic / US 9.5
Free delivery between 10–20 Apr
originally posted on hoka.com
There are so many great things about the Speedgoat 5. It's lightweight, comfortable, relatively responsive, and the grip is amazing. It's been good to me over the 200+ miles I've logged in them as of this writing.What's holding me back from a 5-star review, however, is the lockdown and the heel collar. The flexible upper makes getting the right fit some getting used to. While you're dialing it in, don't be surprised if your foot slides around and your toes dance.However, my biggest gripe is with the heel collar -- particularly on the right foot. For this runner, the heel collar appears to be too high and too sharp/rigid. From the first run to my April100-miler, the outside of my ankle continued to rub against the outside of my ankle bone. Over the course my ... MoreThere are so many great things about the Speedgoat 5. It's lightweight, comfortable, relatively responsive, and the grip is amazing. It's been good to me over the 200+ miles I've logged in them as of this writing.What's holding me back from a 5-star review, however, is the lockdown and the heel collar. The flexible upper makes getting the right fit some getting used to. While you're dialing it in, don't be surprised if your foot slides around and your toes dance.However, my biggest gripe is with the heel collar -- particularly on the right foot. For this runner, the heel collar appears to be too high and too sharp/rigid. From the first run to my April100-miler, the outside of my ankle continued to rub against the outside of my ankle bone. Over the course my 100-mile race, the constant friction cut through my sock and eventually broke the skin. I've never experienced this with any prior SG (I've had the SG3 and SG4), and my left foot was fine. I'm hoping there could be an adjustment in the future (perhaps an examination of the footbed, insole and/or update to heel collar itself).Despite the issues with the heel collar, I'd still recommend the Speedgoat 5. Just make sure it works with your ankle. Because it's so close to being awesome.
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 REI
This is a great shoe. It's well cushioned without losing too much sensitivity to the ground. I've taken it on technical scrambles and it held up far better than I expected and feels comfy even running on roads. Vibram rubber is a nice touch and means that this shoe can handle anything. I can and have run in these shoes all day long and never had any issues; this is one of the few pairs that I don't even need to tie a heel lock on.Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks that just kill these shoes. First and foremost: the toebox. WHY IS THE TOEBOX SO NARROW?? I ordered a 13Wide (normally just 13) but the taper after the forefoot is SO NARROW. SO NARROW. It squishes all my small toes together and causes heinous blisters. Is anyone's foot shaped like that? My 12.5 ... MoreThis is a great shoe. It's well cushioned without losing too much sensitivity to the ground. I've taken it on technical scrambles and it held up far better than I expected and feels comfy even running on roads. Vibram rubber is a nice touch and means that this shoe can handle anything. I can and have run in these shoes all day long and never had any issues; this is one of the few pairs that I don't even need to tie a heel lock on.Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks that just kill these shoes. First and foremost: the toebox. WHY IS THE TOEBOX SO NARROW?? I ordered a 13Wide (normally just 13) but the taper after the forefoot is SO NARROW. SO NARROW. It squishes all my small toes together and causes heinous blisters. Is anyone's foot shaped like that? My 12.5 Saucony Peregrines are wider than the 13 wide Speedgoats. This is a dealbreaker for me.Less of an issue, but still annoying: the tongue. It's way too thin and way too short. This trend of making unusable tongues needs to stop. If you do tie a heel lock, the laces will overextend the tongue and sit directly on the top of your foot. Ouch. If you cinch the laces at all, the laces dig into your feet. Again, ouch. The tongue should be there for padding.Finally, this is preferential, but I find the stack height and squishiness of the midsole to be too destabilizing. It's not as bad as Altra Timps and Olympus where you're rolling your ankle on every descent, but I've found steep descents to be nearly unmanageable with these shoes. I can prance around at speed on steep rocky terrain in the Peregrines, but with the Speedgoats I really have to watch my speed or feel like I'm giraffe with balloons on my feet. YMMV.Overall, could be a fantastic shoe, but they need to widen the toebox to a normal foot width and add some padding to the tongue.
| Color | Blue |
| Size | 43 1/3 |
| Material Upper | Textile |
| Material Midsole | CMEVA |
| Material Sole | Vibram |
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Mens | Sole Motive 9.5 / DEEP LAKE/CERAMIC
Free delivery between 10–20 Apr
Mens HOKA Speedgoat 5 Deep Lake / Ceramic / US 9.5
Free delivery between 10–20 Apr
There are so many great things about the Speedgoat 5. It's lightweight, comfortable, relatively responsive, and the grip is amazing. It's been good to me over the 200+ miles I've logged in them as of this writing.What's holding me back from a 5-star review, however, is the lockdown and the heel collar. The flexible upper makes getting the right fit some getting used to. While you're dialing it in, don't be surprised if your foot slides around and your toes dance.However, my biggest gripe is with the heel collar -- particularly on the right foot. For this runner, the heel collar appears to be too high and too sharp/rigid. From the first run to my April100-miler, the outside of my ankle continued to rub against the outside of my ankle bone. Over the course my ... MoreThere are so many great things about the Speedgoat 5. It's lightweight, comfortable, relatively responsive, and the grip is amazing. It's been good to me over the 200+ miles I've logged in them as of this writing.What's holding me back from a 5-star review, however, is the lockdown and the heel collar. The flexible upper makes getting the right fit some getting used to. While you're dialing it in, don't be surprised if your foot slides around and your toes dance.However, my biggest gripe is with the heel collar -- particularly on the right foot. For this runner, the heel collar appears to be too high and too sharp/rigid. From the first run to my April100-miler, the outside of my ankle continued to rub against the outside of my ankle bone. Over the course my 100-mile race, the constant friction cut through my sock and eventually broke the skin. I've never experienced this with any prior SG (I've had the SG3 and SG4), and my left foot was fine. I'm hoping there could be an adjustment in the future (perhaps an examination of the footbed, insole and/or update to heel collar itself).Despite the issues with the heel collar, I'd still recommend the Speedgoat 5. Just make sure it works with your ankle. Because it's so close to being awesome.
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.
This is a great shoe. It's well cushioned without losing too much sensitivity to the ground. I've taken it on technical scrambles and it held up far better than I expected and feels comfy even running on roads. Vibram rubber is a nice touch and means that this shoe can handle anything. I can and have run in these shoes all day long and never had any issues; this is one of the few pairs that I don't even need to tie a heel lock on.Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks that just kill these shoes. First and foremost: the toebox. WHY IS THE TOEBOX SO NARROW?? I ordered a 13Wide (normally just 13) but the taper after the forefoot is SO NARROW. SO NARROW. It squishes all my small toes together and causes heinous blisters. Is anyone's foot shaped like that? My 12.5 ... MoreThis is a great shoe. It's well cushioned without losing too much sensitivity to the ground. I've taken it on technical scrambles and it held up far better than I expected and feels comfy even running on roads. Vibram rubber is a nice touch and means that this shoe can handle anything. I can and have run in these shoes all day long and never had any issues; this is one of the few pairs that I don't even need to tie a heel lock on.Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks that just kill these shoes. First and foremost: the toebox. WHY IS THE TOEBOX SO NARROW?? I ordered a 13Wide (normally just 13) but the taper after the forefoot is SO NARROW. SO NARROW. It squishes all my small toes together and causes heinous blisters. Is anyone's foot shaped like that? My 12.5 Saucony Peregrines are wider than the 13 wide Speedgoats. This is a dealbreaker for me.Less of an issue, but still annoying: the tongue. It's way too thin and way too short. This trend of making unusable tongues needs to stop. If you do tie a heel lock, the laces will overextend the tongue and sit directly on the top of your foot. Ouch. If you cinch the laces at all, the laces dig into your feet. Again, ouch. The tongue should be there for padding.Finally, this is preferential, but I find the stack height and squishiness of the midsole to be too destabilizing. It's not as bad as Altra Timps and Olympus where you're rolling your ankle on every descent, but I've found steep descents to be nearly unmanageable with these shoes. I can prance around at speed on steep rocky terrain in the Peregrines, but with the Speedgoats I really have to watch my speed or feel like I'm giraffe with balloons on my feet. YMMV.Overall, could be a fantastic shoe, but they need to widen the toebox to a normal foot width and add some padding to the tongue.
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 should start by saying that these are hands down the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, period. They just fit my feet perfect and have the perfect amount of cushion and support, and the uppers are barely noticeable. Took me a few tries to find the right fit (10.5 wide, I usually wear a 10.5 standard) but once I did these felt like slippers.Now, these are trail runners, keyword being trail. There intended use is for running on trails, and with that in mind, I have certainly misused them. I have about 50 miles and 16,000 ft elevation gain on these so far and have used them exclusively for high alpine hiking and class 3 climbing. Miles of off-trail bushwhacking, climbing and scrambling on all sorts of surfaces, just taking it to them. Having put them through ... MoreI should start by saying that these are hands down the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, period. They just fit my feet perfect and have the perfect amount of cushion and support, and the uppers are barely noticeable. Took me a few tries to find the right fit (10.5 wide, I usually wear a 10.5 standard) but once I did these felt like slippers.Now, these are trail runners, keyword being trail. There intended use is for running on trails, and with that in mind, I have certainly misused them. I have about 50 miles and 16,000 ft elevation gain on these so far and have used them exclusively for high alpine hiking and class 3 climbing. Miles of off-trail bushwhacking, climbing and scrambling on all sorts of surfaces, just taking it to them. Having put them through that level of abuse, they certainly look like poo. The foam midsoles are tearing at the sides and even have a few spots that tore out, the mesh upper has a good tear on the left shoe due to sliding a bit and scraping a rock(didn’t feel the rock pierce my foot through the shoe), other parts of the mesh upper are showing signs of fraying from brushing against rocks, willows, roots, ect.They look like heck, but still feel like heaven and perform just as good as day one. Unfortunately, I don’t expect these to last too long; certainly, the Vibram sole will outlast the mesh upper. But, their comfort level and light weight feel give me such a performance advantage that I will most likely buy another pair. The Vibram megagrip and tread pattern is superb and performs well in all sorts of conditions on all sorts of rock, scree, mud, etc. It gives me so much confidence.The comfort of these just does not give up and even after a day of 13+ miles and 5000 ft of elevation gain my feet are still happy. They breathe well and dry quickly.Due to my misuse of these shoes, I have decided to reinforce them along the toecap and along the bottom of the mesh upper with aquaseal to help with the off-trail abuse and climbing and will do so immediately when I purchase another pair. If you stay on trail these shoes should be plenty durable.Overall, I’m happy. They are just amazingly comfortable, and I suppose that level of extreme comfort sacrifices a bit of durability. Like most things, they should be cheaper.My 10.5EE wide weigh 21.33oz for the pair.
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.
I've only run about 15 miles of technical trail with my new pair, but they were good right of the box. I love the new softer mesh vamp because the SG4s created corns on the tops of a couple of toes and blisters on very long runs, so I'm glad that has been fixed. I need a wide shoe and I can't tell a difference between the SG4 and SG5 EE sizing yet - so far so good. The lugs and grip are what I expected - great. I am interested to see how the foam holds up. There is less 'squish' when putting on the SG5 right out of the box compared with the SG4 (I've owned four pairs of the SG4) and the new version felt a bit more responsive, but it is early yet. I'm interested to see how these feel at 250 miles or so which is about the time the SG4 foam started feeling a bit mushy ... MoreI've only run about 15 miles of technical trail with my new pair, but they were good right of the box. I love the new softer mesh vamp because the SG4s created corns on the tops of a couple of toes and blisters on very long runs, so I'm glad that has been fixed. I need a wide shoe and I can't tell a difference between the SG4 and SG5 EE sizing yet - so far so good. The lugs and grip are what I expected - great. I am interested to see how the foam holds up. There is less 'squish' when putting on the SG5 right out of the box compared with the SG4 (I've owned four pairs of the SG4) and the new version felt a bit more responsive, but it is early yet. I'm interested to see how these feel at 250 miles or so which is about the time the SG4 foam started feeling a bit mushy for me. I'm also interested to see how the upper holds up. Will it stretch too much and make the eyelets touch as others have written about? Will the upper rip or tear easily? The SG4 upper was amazing and after 1,000 miles (combined total across four pairs) I never had a tear despite some serious rock scrambles, bush wacking runs, and overall general wear. That very same amazing upper was brutal on the tops of my toes (as mentioned earlier) so I acknowledge the older upper came at a price for my foot shape - pain after many miles (not a first). I'm not sure the price increase is justified and honestly wish I would have stocked up on the SG Evo when those were available. I'd love to see them up the foam game which is an area that other brands seem to be evolving the most. Overall, I like the changes at least early on in the life of the shoe.
I would like to start by saying that these are some of the most comfortable trail runners I have ever worn. I purchased them for my thruhike of the long trail after injuring my foot shortly before. They are incredibly comfortable to hike in all day and feel like you’re walking/running on clouds but still have great ground feel. That being said, after only 50 miles I found myself having to use crazy glue just to hold them together. I caught the toe box on a branch and ripped it open to the point where they were unwearable without glue (not just in the seam but also the fabric). The vibram soles, while incredibly grippy, began to peel off the bottom of the shoe after around 75 miles. There are various other spots where I have had to use a little glue to keep it from ... MoreI would like to start by saying that these are some of the most comfortable trail runners I have ever worn. I purchased them for my thruhike of the long trail after injuring my foot shortly before. They are incredibly comfortable to hike in all day and feel like you’re walking/running on clouds but still have great ground feel. That being said, after only 50 miles I found myself having to use crazy glue just to hold them together. I caught the toe box on a branch and ripped it open to the point where they were unwearable without glue (not just in the seam but also the fabric). The vibram soles, while incredibly grippy, began to peel off the bottom of the shoe after around 75 miles. There are various other spots where I have had to use a little glue to keep it from fraying too much. I highly recommend these shoes for light use and maybe for trails out west but they really are not durable enough for the rocky, rooty east coast terrain. As a long time lone peak wearer, hoka should take some notes on materials from them. These would be a perfect shoe if they were just a little more durable.
| Color | Blue |
| Size | 43 1/3 |
| Material Upper | Textile |
| Material Midsole | CMEVA |
| Material Sole | Vibram |
