HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5

£130 A more than worthy successor

one of the classics in the Hoka range, the Speedgoat is now in its fifth iteration, a sure sign that a brand has found a design that works. We last saw the Speedgoat and its fourth incarnation back in our May 2020 issue where it scored 92%, a hard act to follow let alone beat. So, what’s new?

Well, the overall weight of the shoe has been reduced (Hoka quote by 15g for the men’s and 21g for the women’s versions). This has been achieved, say the popular brand, through fewer overlays and more flexible fabrics, including in the tongue and ankle area. We certainly felt this was an exceptionally soft and comfortable shoe, but the fit was still snug and supportive enough to make us feel secure on the trails.

The other noticeable change is in the choice of Vibram technology in the sole. Vibram Megagrip with Traction Lug aims to deliver the most proficient traction on all sorts of terrain. And we can’t really argue against that mission statement. On our test runs, which included muddy trails, rocky descents and loose ground, we felt secure and stable, while the sole still provided enough cushioning and bounce to give a comfortable experience on short tarmac road sections. The only surface the shoe didn’t feel 100% grippy on was smooth concrete, but that’s usual for trail shoes.

In other good news, the Speedgoat 5 uses more recycled materials than before and for this tester, the choice of two widths was welcome, as we found our previous ‘standard’ Hokas narrow. Five colourways are available for men and four for women.