Trail Running/Hiking Shoes
Hoka One One Speedgoat 6
$155, 1 lb. 3 oz./539g (US men’s 9)
Sizes: US men’s 7-15, women’s 5-12
backcountry.com
Hoka’s popular trail-running shoe, the Speedgoat, has passed through several updates since it first emerged on the scene in 2015, named for the American phenom ultrarunner Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer. The latest, the Speedgoat 6, builds upon that legacy again, with a more durable, breathable woven upper, a more responsive midsole, and even better traction—maintaining the Speedgoat’s standing amid an expanding field of copycats and its stature as a solid performer for trail ultra-runs and ultra-hikes, lightweight dayhiking, and ultralight backpacking.
I’ve worn the Speedgoat 6 on trail runs of up to about 10 miles in my local foothills—and previous generations of the Speedgoat trail running and hiking on many different adventures, including lightweight backpacking trips and one-day outings as long as running and hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim (42 miles and over 21,000 feet). While other trail-running shoes have beat up my feet and left them sore on runs of 15 miles or more, my feet emerge from the Speedgoat after huge days feeling and looking surprisingly good.

As ever, the strongest suit of the Speedgoat 6 remains that it delivers excellent stability on the trail, thanks to solid torsional rigidity,giving runners confidence to push themselves on dirt and even more-rugged footpaths. And for hikers and ultralight backpackers who prefer very light, nimble, and breathable footwear, that stability and support, along with Hoka’s trademark enhanced cushioning underfoot, delivers the kind of performance desired for carrying a pack for many hard miles through mountains or desert canyon country.
The neutral-stability Speedgoat combines an aggressive late-stage rocker profile—moving the outsole’s curve closer to the toes and turbo-charging the shoe’s push-off—with a stack height (the combined thickness of the insole, midsole, and outsole, or the distance between your foot and the ground) of 40 to 35 mm (heel to forefoot) in the men’s shoe and 38 to 33 mm in the women’s. That’s a one-millimeter reduction in the stack height compared to the Speedgoat 5, the most significant impact of which is a somewhat lighter feel.
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With the Speedgoat 6, Hoka made its signature thick, compression-molded EVA foam midsole more durable, potentially extending the life of these shoes (which will vary depending on how and where you use them), as well as more responsive, probably most noticeable for runners and fast hikers. This while keeping the Speedgoat 6 the same weight as the Speedgoat 5, at one pound three ounces/539 grams per pair (US men’s 9, which was about an ounce/28 grams lighter per pair than the Speedgoat 4). That’s very light in the trail-running category of footwear and ultralight in the hiking and backpacking category.
The gusseted tongue and dynamic vamp contribute to a secure, slipper-like fit and good comfort; although, if I have one complaint in that department, it’s that the toe box may feel snug to some users, who may want to look at the wide sizes (particularly hikers who use relatively thicker socks). Still, the shoe provides incrementally more volume than other trail-running and even hiking shoes I’ve worn: As someone who uses custom insoles, which are thicker than stock insoles, in my trail-running and hiking footwear, I like that my Speedgoat 6 shoes fit well with my insoles inside. Hoka also resurrected a heel loop for more easily pulling the shoe on, very useful particularly when they’re sloppy with mud.
The comfortable, matrix-like, woven mesh upper constitutes one of the most visible improvements in the Speedgoat 6, improving its durability (although they are still very light trail-running shoes and not as beefy as heavier hiking shoes) and seeming to have remedied the tendency of the uppers on the Speedgoat 5 to stretch after 100 miles or less, thus compromising the fit—all while still providing the excellent breathability that’s always been characteristic of this shoe. The minimalist toe bumper and overlays around the forefoot help protect your feet and the shoes on the trail.
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Superior traction has long been a Speedgoat hallmark and generation 6 improves upon the Vibram Megagrip outsole with a more aggressive pattern (compared to the Speedgoat 5) in the multi-directional and multi-shaped, 5 mm lugs, designed to grip quite well in a variety of conditions and terrain. On trails I run regularly, which mostly consist of packed dirt, sand, and occasional small, loose stones, exposed bedrock, and very steep descents, I find the Speedgoat 6 gives me the confidence to run almost as if on smooth, packed dirt.
If you use them for hiking or ultralight backpacking, recognize that they lack the durability of beefier—and heavier—hiking shoes. The biggest weak point—as with many shoes in this category—is the exposed soft foam of the midsole outside the little toe; that’s where I’ve always seen the Speedgoat wear first and get chewed up more easily on rocky trails.
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Still, depending on how you use them—how much weight you’re carrying, the condition of trails (how rocky and wet), and other factors—they will last as long as similar shoes in this category. I expect to log 400 or more miles in my Speedgoat 6 before wear and tear in the outsoles and midsoles demand retiring them.
The Speedgoat 6 shoes are not waterproof, making them far more breathable than any shoe with a membrane and enabling them to dry out far more quickly when they get wet. For dayhiking and ultralight backpacking, stick to generally dry trails that are well-constructed and not littered with big rocks.
Hoka also offers these shoes in men’s and women’s waterproof-breathable low and mid-cut models, the Speedgoat 6 GTX ($170) and Speedgoat 6 Mid GTX ($180). Notably, Hoka has kept the Speedgoat 6 pricing the same as the Speedgoat 5.
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The Verdict
With improved traction, performance and durability in the midsole and uppers, and its trademark excellent stability and cushion, comfort, and breathability, the Hoka One One Speedgoat 6 remains a top shoe for trail running any distances, dayhiking, and ultralight and lightweight backpacking, especially for users who prefer very light, airy, and stable footwear.
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NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See my Gear Reviews page at The Big Outside for categorized menus of all of my reviews and my expert buying tips.
—Michael Lanza
Great review, Mike. I can’t remember how many Speedgoats I’ve had. Started with version 1. Just finished a trail run in my second pair of 4’s and, after reading the review, am looking forward to when they wear out so I can move up to 6. Cheers.
Hey Bob, good to hear from you and thanks for your own robust endorsement of the Speedgoats.