Hoka Speedgoat 6 trail running shoes review: a snappy and stable runner on and off the trail

Meet the reviewer

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book Restorative Yoga for Beginners. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.  

Hoka Speedgoat 6 trail running shoes: first impressions 

Nearly a decade after Hoka released the first Speedgoat, the sixth iteration of these well-loved trail running shoes has landed with a few necessary improvements to the previous model. The Speedgoat is known for stability and grip, hence the name, and the good news is that the 6 had us sticking to the trails like glue in both wet and dry conditions and on steep descents, while the wide geometry meant we felt confident on rocky terrain.

The key changes to this model include a slightly lower drop (5 mm instead of 6 mm), increased cushion in the midsole and a more durable upper, and on paper at least it's hard to argue with that. On the trail, we found the midsole to be really firm, which means it might not be as bouncy as some Hoka shoes but we found it to be pretty responsive on the trail as well as on the tarmac, and keep us comfortable over long runs. 

We've tested these on rocky trails around Chamonix and found them to be super stable. The upper is made from a lighter mesh than its predecessor, but is really quite stiff, though we were able to take to the trails in them without experiencing any rubbing. The lockdown fit is good, though the toe box isn't particularly roomy and even with a wide-sized shoe, we found that with high arches there was a little pain at the top of the foot. Those with high volume feet may want to size up, go wide and still may run out of room.

We haven't experienced any issues with breathability, even while running in hot conditions, or with durability after about 40 miles in these shoes. They perform well in wet and dry conditions, on roads and trails so if the fit works for your feet, we think you'll like their performance as a versatile shoe.

Hoka Speedgoat 6 trail running shoes: in the field

My experience with Hoka shoes over the past few years has largely been with their road running shoes, starting with the Clifton 7s, which I loved for both trail and road and then the Bondi 8s, which were unbelievably bouncy. 

Having had two knee surgeries, I do appreciate the insane amount of cushioning that goes into Hokas when I have to run on tarmac, but I've experienced some issues with fit and I prefer trail running and more trail feel anyway. That said, Hoka shoes were the undeniable champions of ultra marathons this year, so when I was offered a pair of Speedgoats to test while I was in Chamonix covering the UTMB, I jumped.

Luckily, these arrived quickly and I've been able to hike a very steep and wet mountain in them and run on some forested trails in Scotland to break them in before squeezing three runs on steep and rocky trails around Chamonix.

Here’s how they performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort

As usual, I went up a half size and tested a US 6 to give my feet plenty of room to swell, but for the first time ever I also tried a wide size. I do not have wide feet, but I have high arches and have noticed that some other Hoka shoes rub around my inner arch.

I'm really pleased that I went wider. Though the shoes were a tiny bit hard to get on the first couple of runs, that proved to be just because the uppers are quite stiff and I found that even with a wider sizing, the fit was nice and snug around my midfoot. Even though the toe box isn't wide, the extra half-size means there is room for my toes to spread and extend and I get a pretty good lockdown fit with these.

I do still get a little bit of discomfort at the top of my feet due to my high arches in these shoes, so I'd say that those with high volume feet really might not be able to wear them, but I also recommend you try them on in a wide size and size up if you're keen to give them a go.

Breathability and protection

I have heard some other runners complain about the breathability of these shoes, but I personally have not had any issues, and I wore them in some really hot weather in Chamonix.

The toe box doesn't feel especially sturdy, though it is reinforced, but overall the uppers really are quite stiff and protective and I've not had any issues with stubbed toes despite some really rock trails.

Responsiveness, grip and stability 

The midsoles on these are really quite plush at 38 mm for women, but they don't have that big, bouncy feel that I got from the Bondis, which are only 1 mm higher. Instead, the compressed foam is extremely firm which gives me an extra sense of stability and responsiveness, and I was shocked at how well these performed on the road when I had to run a kilometer to reach the trail.

The grip is truly goat-level, and I remained upright coming down steep and loose trails. The only time I've slipped in these was coming down the steep side of a grassy Scottish mountain on a rainy day, and it's a muddy spot where I slip almost every time I hike, so I can't hold that against them.

These shoes are also impressively stable, even on those rocky alpine trails where a rolled ankle is almost a given. The wide geometry, lower drop and firmer midsole all mean I can move quite confidently in these almost no matter what is underfoot.

Hoka Speedgoat 6 trail running shoes: the bottom line

If your Speedgoat 5s have seen the end of their days and you want to replicate that grip and stability with a little more durability, there's no reason why you won't like it. If it's your first go-around with Speedgoats, you can expect great grip, stability and lightweight versatility, but the fit simply won't be for everyone. Try them in a larger and wider size before you write them off, and if they still don't work, check out the Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx which are light and grippy but with a wide toe box.

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