HOKA Speedgoat 5

After a long time expecting to wear Hoka shoes, I have finally had the pleasure of being able to do it. I had very high expectations about a brand that I really like the way it works, and the sensations and results of my workouts, for the first time, with a Hoka on my feet, were also very good. And they were not just any shoes, since the model I'm going to talk about is from the highly acclaimed Speedgoat range, which has been renewed with a fifth version of scandal.

I do not discover the fire if I assure that Hoka is one of the brands that are doing the best things in the world of running shoes and trail shoes, as we will now see with the analysis of the new Speedgoat 5 Their desire to improve day by day leads them, for example, to reinvent themselves and improve even products with a long history and a great acceptance as this Speedgoat line. And without serving as a spoiler, I must say that with the changes seem to have hit the right key... So let's see them!

What type of runner are the Hoka Speedgoat 5 recommended for?

If we talk about Speedgoat we are talking about a shoe oriented to middle and long distance for a wide range of runners. While it is probably best suited for runners with medium weight and neutral stride, this fifth version can also be used by lightweight runners looking for good cushioning for long runs, as well as heavier runners for medium distance runs.

One of the keys to this is its light weight. Weighing just 291 grams, these are super lightweight shoes beyond what the figure may inspire. In fact, lowering that 300 gram barrier, something that did not happen in the Hoka Speedgoat 4, in a model oriented to long distance without neglecting stability, cushioning and comfort is something to highlight.

In general I would talk about a very versatile trail running shoes with which each runner can feel dynamic and fast when needed without losing any security and fit. For me, from now on, a basic in my long runs.

What did we like most about the Hoka Speedgoat 5?

As I mentioned before, this is the first time I've tried a Hoka and, although it might seem like a bad thermometer to measure the quality of this new model compared to previous Hoka shoes, I think my opinion will help you a lot. Why? Because there are exactly 2 aspects that have amazed me about this model and, without knowing it beforehand, they coincide with 2 of the most substantial changes of this new Speedgoat 5.

What are those parts? Its upper and outsole. Two fundamental aspects of any self-respecting trail running shoe because, in a market where all brands are developing technologies and midsole combinations to the maximum, many times the outsole and, above all, the upper, go unnoticed.

This is not the case with Speedgoat 5. The mesh, completely remodeled, is a perfect fit . The first sensation when inserting the foot was of "oppression", I felt that this was a somewhat narrow model in its last (which to some extent it is), but it was when I stretched the tongue when the entire upper adjusted perfectly to my foot wrapping the instep . From that moment on I felt the sensation of having a sock as a shoe and it was a sensation that has lasted throughout my workouts.

It is a double technical mesh made with the Jacquard compound, which is also of recycled origin and that, to date, is one of the uppers for trail running that I have liked the most.

We also talked about the outsole. After several shoes tests in which I couldn't find the perfect feeling between my footprint, the shoe and the terrain, the sole of these Hoka Speedgoat 5 surprised me. Apparently they have improved a fundamental aspect of the heel, which was divided from the rest of the sole and had given problems of adherence and durability. Well, nothing to see. Safety, redundancy, assured.

Lugs of about 5mm, with a good layout along the entire sole, multidirectional and made with Vibram Megagrip technology... If that is not a life insurance I don't know what can be. As a lover of skyraces and up-and-downs, it seems to me a perfect outsole for technical terrain that also has a lot of potential on more compact floors and even on greasy surfaces, even if mud is not its forte.

Improvement opportunities for the Hoka Speedgoat 5

Difficult section to break down since, in this first contact with the brand, practically the entire model has made me fall in love with it. However, I could ask Hoka for some changes or certain needs, more as an individual than as a criticism of the shoe itself.

One of them would be, without a doubt, to increase the profile of the shoe. We are looking at a model with a drop of just 4 millimeters, with a midsole composed of CMEVA foam with great cushioning and flexibility. Yes, I know that the line of these Speedgoat has always been of medium-low profile and that in many occasions it is the optimal one to be able to print speed in more compact and stable sections, but as a runner who suffers from knees, a slightly higher profile would not be bad for me.

As I said, a simple observation of a popular runner who is used to higher profiles. I can't complain about the cushioning, which is fantastic from the very first minute. It remains to be seen its durability, as well as that of the sole, which at first glance and after the first contacts and some "stress test" in long runs, it looks like I will have shoes for a while...

What are the main competitors of the Hoka Speedgoat 5?

Considering its light weight and both its fit and traction, some of the models with which we could compare these Hoka Speedgoat 5 would be the following:

Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 8

Saucony Peregrine 12

La Sportiva Karacal

ASICS Trabuco Max

Final Conclusions about the Hoka Speedgoat 5

Summarizing a bit the sensations of my workouts with these Hoka Speedgoat 5, I would talk about a multipurpose trail running shoes, lightweight and mega comfortable, with all that this implies. Comfort in both tread and fit, one of the most comfortable I've tried to date.

On the other hand, I would like to highlight, before finishing, the structure of the heel, which despite being a characteristic touch of the brand , it is not bad to remember that it is perfect to help keep that so hated achilles tendon well protected.

So you see, Hoka reinvents a model, the Speedgoat, to give it better fit, lightness and traction, a must-have for medium-long runs . If I, who am usually pretty strict when choosing new models, have fallen in love with them, I'm sure you will too.

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