HOKA Speedgoat 6 Review For Hiking & Running
Pillowy cushion meets aggressive lugs and secure fit
Named for ultra runner Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer, the HOKA Speedgoat 6 are a time-tested trail running shoe in their sixth edition. This is a medium-width, ultra-cushioned trail runner that features a thick midsole and aggressive, 5mm lugged Vibram Megagrip outsole. They offer great protection, exceptional traction, underfoot comfort, and a secure fit. They are equally as good when worn for trail running as they are for hiking and backpacking.
Quick Summary: The HOKA Speedgoat 6 is most notable for its high traction and high cushion. Compare Speedgoats to more options in our guide to the best trail runnning shoes.
Consider Also: The HOKA Challenger, which is very similar to the Speedgoat, but cushier and more breathable, at the expense of less traction and less protection. Read more in our HOKA Challenger review. Read more in about this in our guide to Speedgoat vs Challenger. You might also like the HOKA Mafate, which has similar traction but even more cushion. Read about that shoe in our HOKA Mafate review. For another great high traction option, we also really like the Salomon Thundercross.
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Testing For HOKA Speedgoat 6 Review
I wore the HOKA Speedgoat 6 on a 50 mile backpacking loop in North Cascades National Park in mid-July 2024. The photos in this review reflect ~30 rough miles of wear and tear, hiking in high heat and humidity on dusty trails and granite passes. These shoes were comfortable immediately out of the box, requiring no break-in period.
HOKA Speedgoat 6 Stats
- Price: $155
- M’s Weight: 19.6 oz | W’s Weight: 16.4 oz (per pair)
- Heel-Forefoot-Drop: M’s 40-35-5 | W’s 38-33-5
- Lugs: 5 mm | Rockplate: No
- Width: Average | Overall Fit: True to size
- Wide Sizes Available: yes
- On Trail/Off trail/Pavement? Yes/Yes/No
- Pros: Comfortable out of the box. Exceptional traction. Very cushioned. Breathable. Stable. Secure fit. Very grippy. Durable upper. Protective front bumper. Heel structure for slip in.
- Cons: Aggressive lugs wear down a bit faster than average. Tongue is slightly too short.
Expanded Pros & Cons
- Pro: Extremely grippy lugs give excellent traction on difficult terrain
- Pro: Well-cushioned and comfortable for long mileage days
- Pro: Standard width fit and moderate 5mm drop appeals to most
- Pro: Mesh upper is breathable and durable
- Pro: Toe rand adds durability
- Pro: Mostly flat tongue gives secure fit
- Pro: Extended heel structure with tabs give easy on/off
- Pro: Unique colorways
- Pro: Effective laces rarely ever come undone
- Con: Aggressive lugs are prone to wearing down faster than average
- Con: Tongue is slightly too short, may create pressure point under knot if using rear eyelets
- Con: Average weight when lighter weight is preferred
- Con: Sides of foam midsole are prone to getting scraped up, though it’s purely aesthetic
- Con: Not suitable for use on pavement, which will wear down lugs very quickly
Fit
The HOKA Speedgoat 6 have the type of fit that feels both very secure, and very comfortable. It’s truly something of a Goldilocks shoe. The forefoot is widened, but not excessively. The heel cup and midfoot are standard width. This shoe works very well for those with narrow or standard width feet, and a wide fit version is available to those with wider than average feet.
While the elongated heel tab and giant cushy midsole give the impression that this shoe will lift your foot way off the ground, looks can be a bit deceiving. Yes it’s tall with a 40mm heel stack height. A grip of ridges at the intersection of the mesh upper and immediately below and to the right of the HOKA logo rise above where the foot actually sits on the insole. While you will certainly ride higher than you would in a minimalist shoe or a traditional running shoe, you won’t feel disconnected from the trail or lose touch with the ground.
Lastly, we’ll note that this shoe is immediately comfortable out of the box, requiring no break in whatsoever.
Upper, Tongue, and Laces
The HOKA Speedgoat 6 are now made with a synthetic, lightweight woven textile upper. It’s very durable, decently breathable, allows water to escape, and has little to no stretch (a minor issue with the previous edition, now solved)
We love the laces on the HOKA Speedgoat 6, and all HOKA shoes for that matter. They are flat and never ever seem to come untied.
The tongue is mostly un-cushioned except for a small, light cushioning patch directly underneath the knot. However, and this is our biggest complaint of the entire shoe, the tongue runs a bit short (see above photo). Those using the farther-back-eyelets may find that the knot misses the padded area, creating a potential pressure point above the ankle joint, and sometimes even riding directly against your sock. A potential improvement for the next gen would be a slightly elongated tongue. If you intend to use the rear eyelets, we recommend looking at other shoes. If not, it shouldn’t be a problem for you.
A protective toe rand/bumper spanning the front protects the most abrasion prone area. This helps protect against minor bumps, scrapes, and stubs. The rand has been changed from 100% surface area coverage to approximately 80%, which allows for more breathability. The extended heel tab looks a bit silly, but is immensely helpful when sliding your foot in and out of the shoe.
Midsole, Cushion, Drop
HOKA again updated the midsole CMEVA foam for the Speedgoat 6. This foam is very thick and comfortable, while also lighter and “more responsive” than previous iterations. This means you lose less energy with each step. Runners and hikers who have had issues with overuse on joints and experiencing foot pain will appreciate the extra protection and cushioning without feeling disconnected from the trail.
We will note that the exterior of CMEVA foam tends to quickly accrue scrapes, chips, and dings, and is likely going to show the most wear and tear of anywhere on the shoe, excluding the bottom. This is purely an aesthetic issue, so don’t stress over it too much. It’s still doing its job just fine.
One nice advantage to the thick midsole, plus the additional height of its exterior rise on the sides of the shoe, is that it allows the wearer to walk through shallow streams without getting the upper wet.
There had been complaints with the Speedgoat 6 foam going “flat” a bit early, and that seems to have been resolved with the new formula and enhanced thickness.
The 5mm drop is another universally delightful aspect. Those coming from traditional running shoes (10mm drop) will still find comfort with a slight heel lift. On the other hand, those moving away from zero drop shoes like Altra won’t be shocked by a small bump. In short, 5mm is the perfect level of drop, and no matter what shoes you wore before this, transitioning to a 5mm drop will feel intuitive.
Outsole, Lugs, Traction
Ah Vibram Megagrip, one of the very best and most beloved features of the Speedgoat series. The lug shape is perhaps best described as a chevron with a mushroom growing off the top. They are extremely grippy and have never failed to provide adequate traction on any surface we’ve tested them on, at least until they start to wear down over hundreds of miles.
One downside to the aggressive shaping of the lugs is that the sharper corners tend to wear down faster than boxier lugs, such as those found on the Challenger series. Most people will find that the lug wear down is the limiting factor on this shoe, and that they will lose traction before the foam fails. We expect to get at least 300 miles per pair while traveling on rough, rocky terrain.
This a rubber outsole, which covers about 80% of the bottom of the midsole. Valleys, notches, and slits allow water to escape out the sides of the outsole, ensuring your lugs will make maximum contact. However, some types of mud will get caught, reducing traction and increasing the weight.
HOKA Speedgoat 6 vs Speedgoat 5
What changed with the upgrade to Speedgoat 6 vs Speedgoat 5? In short, 7mm of additional midsole thickness, 1mm of additional drop, and a new upper material that reduces stretch. What follows is a comprehensive list of changes:
- Increased heel stack height by 7mm. Up from 33mm to 40mm on men’s, and 31mm to 38mm on women’s
- Increased heel-to-forefoot drop by 1mm, up from 4mm to 5mm
- New upper material, changed from double-layer jacquard mesh to proprietary woven textile that reduces stretch with prolonged wear
- The fit is slightly better now that the upper has less stretch
- New version of compression molded EVA foam midsole is longer lasting and more responsive
- One ounce lighter weight per pair
- Light-duty padding directly under top lace knot area
- Toe bumper/rand switched from 100% rubberized surface area to ~80% surface area coverage. This increases breathability of forefoot.
- Winged tongue is ever-so-slightly shorter, which may be fine, or a major con depending on how the shoe fits your ankle joint. If you use the rear eyelets, it may create a pressure point underneath the knot
What stayed the same?
- Vision and design purpose: cushioned, extremely grippy, and secure fit
- The Vibram MegaGrip rubber outsole and tread
- The overall look
- The overall fit
- The laces and tongue shape
Is HOKA Speedgoat 6 better than HOKA Speedgoat 5? As far as we can tell, yes, but not strictly better. Despite the fact that the tongue is too short, the rest of the shoe all upgrades. The woven textile upper of V6 is an improvement on the double layer jacquard upper from V5, because it doesn’t stretch out. The midsole foam is thicker, lighter, and should last longer. The light padding under the top lace is a nice improvement. If you liked the Speedgoat 5s, we’re quite confident you’ll like the Speedgoat 6s slightly more.
That being said, the Speedgoat 5 is still a great trail shoe. If you can find a pair on discount, it likely represents a superior value proposition to full retail price Speedgoat 6s.
HOKA Speedgoat 6 Review Conclusion
The HOKA Speedgoat 6’s are an excellent all-around trail shoe. They excel wherever traction is needed most, thanks to the Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5mm lugs. What’s more, they’re extremely comfortable due to the thick CM EVA cushioned midsole, breathable and quick-drying upper, and universally appealing fit, width, and forefoot drop. The biggest drawback is that tongue is slightly too short, and you should avoid this shoe if you intend to use its rear eyelets. At time of publication, the HOKA Speedgoat 6 are our go-to trail running and hiking shoes, and we recommend them highly.
