What to say about Hokas Speedgoat series really? If you haven’t been hiding under a rock since mid-2015 I’m sure you have heard about this one. Its one of Hokas utter stalwarts. Deeply rooted in the rich trail culture this company has. The name comes from the fabled Speedgoat 50k in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Utah), organized by Ultra Running Legend and one of the first Hoka sponsored athletes, Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer.
The newest version marks the 5th update of this highly popular series. The first thing that is undoubtedly drawing the attention is the well-made upper, a dynamic sandwich mesh that feels astonishing but still dense for proper off-road satisfaction.
After a couple of strides, it’s pretty deceptive where another major development update comes into play – weight decrease. For the first time a Speedgoat shoe comes in under 300 grams. And that results in a lot of fun while taking this agile workhorse for a spin. Comparing it to the older versions, this is a noteworthy update. Hoka kept the comfort but cut down on overlays to slim the construction.
In case you wonder – Spring Measurement: 35×21 mm
A nice new feature is the protected toe rand in the forefoot zone. Especially during rocky outings this is a pretty nice add-on that keeps the foot secure.
I was raving about the weight drop earlier, but another new feature shouldn’t be underestimated – the new CMEVA midsole. This is a lighter and more responsive material as before (although found in the EVO Speedgoats). This material adds nicely to a shoe that now has become significant more springy in its presentation.
Why do runners choose to run in trail running shoes, of course – it’s the traction! The Speedgoat was never a shoe for super technical and rocky trails but it always was a super dependable partner for your wide-ranging door to trail runs. Whereas the preceding models had some issues, especially on wet rocky trails, this version comes with a new outsole design that certainly has improved.
A close up of the Vibram Megarip outsole.
Another year, another Speedgoat. Hoka managed to keep a great shoe great and managed to integrate some proper thought-out updates. With the 5th version of this shoe, they keep raising the bar and will please the fans of this model even more.

Tune of the day: Hudson Mohawke – Cry Sugar