Real Testing. Unbiased Reviews.

Hoka Anacapa vs Speedgoat | Which One Is Better In 2025?

In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST Hoka Anacapa vs Speedgoat comparison in detail after personally owning both Hoka boots and trail runners. I have thoroughly tested both of these on the trails for countless hours, and I aim to offer a professional hiker’s critical opinion.

I’ll be comparing these two head-to-head in categories like price, comfort, traction, overall protection, fit, breathability, weight and durability.

Then, at the end, I’ll share which product offers the best overall value for the money and provide my overall recommendation for which you should buy.

Testing Out The Anacapa 2 On Uphill Terrain

Also, if you’re interested in learning more, I have tested each product individually in my Hoka Speedgoat 6 Review and Hoka Anacapa 2 Review.  


Compare Both

ComparisionProductRatingPrice
Most Comfortable Hiking Boot
Hoka Anacapa 2

Hoka Anacapa 2

9.1
$195Read Review
Hoka Speedgoat 6

Hoka Speedgoat 6

8.5
$155Read Review

Hoka Anacapa 2 vs Hoka Speedgoat 6 Price Comparison

Trying On the Speedgoat 6

Overall, the Hoka Speedgoat are $45 cheaper than the Anacapa

 

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Price: $155

 

Hoka Anacapa 2 Price: $195


Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE 

(Do NOT pay retail): 

Anacapa on left speedgoat 6 on right

At the time of this writing, the Hoka Anacapa are priced at $195 but I have found some deals with them priced as low as $185.

Regarding the Speedgoat 6, they are priced at $155 but I have found them to come down as LOW as $123 for certain colors. 


Comfort

The Hoka Anacapa was easily the most comfortable ride while on trail

Both the Hoka Anacapa and Speedgoat are very comfortable, yet with some differences. First off, the Speedgoat is a trail runner, however it may be used as a hiking shoe as well. The Anacapa is strictly a hiking boot. 

The Durability Of The Anacapa 2 Is Unbeatable

The Hoka Speedgoat 6 is equipped with a compression molded EVA midsole. The midsole of the 6 is comfortable, your feet easily mold into the EVA sole without trouble and decent plushiness. 

The midsole of the Anacapa is the most comfortable you will ever feel. Equipped with extreme plushness, the Anacapa was our #1 rated most comfortable hiking boot

The Hoka Anacapa definitely has more room in the toe box compared to the Speedgoat. Both have more than enough wiggle room, however the Anacapa has more volume overall. 

Moving towards the ankle the Speedgoat 6 definitely has less cushion around the ankle area. The sock liner of the Anacapa is more comfortable as well. The Anacapa also features an extra padded heel.

Overall, I had issues with comfort regarding the Speedgoat 6. Compared to the King of comfort, the Anacapa easily takes the crown here. 

Hoka Anacapa Comfort: 5 out of 5

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Comfort: 4 out of 5

Winner: Hoka Anacapa 2


Traction

outsole view of the Speedgoat 6

Both the Hoka Anacapa and Speedgoat feature the Vibram Megagrip sole. Both midsoles are nice and firm allowing for great traction while on trail. 

For a trail runner, the Speedgoat 6 offers exceptional traction against dry or wet surfaces. The Hoka Anacapa does offer 5mm lugs as well. I felt the midsole of the Anacapa was definitely softer than most hiking boots, but did hold on well when it comes to traction. 

Both do a great job when it comes to shock absorption. Most Hoka footwear have rather large midsoles which help absorb all the shock while you are hiking or trail running. 

The Speedgoat has excellent traction when it comes to trail runners, that’s why I say you can use it as a hiking shoe as well.  

Hoka Anacapa 2 Traction: 4.5 out of 5

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Traction: 4.5 out of 5

Winner:Tie


Overall Protection

Side view of the Hoka Speedgoat 6

One distinct difference between the Anacapa 2 and the Speedgoat 6 is overall protection. The Anacapa for sure has better overall protection compared to the Speedgoat 6.

The Anacapa features a nice protective rubber toe cap. The midsole is so thick that it acts as a protective barrier against any sharp objects. The Ancapa also has a nice thick rubber heel just as robust as the toe cap. 

The 6 is also equipped with a very robust heel protection mechanism made of heavy mesh and rubber. The Speedgoat 6 has a nice rubber toe cap but not as robust as the Anacapa. The mesh of the Speedgoat does not match the integrated Nubuck leather with air mesh pockets of the Anacapa.

The Anacapa 2 gets the trophy here, which is expected when we are comparing a hiking boot to a trail runner. 



Hoka Anacapa 2 Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Overall Protection: 3.5 out of 5

Winner: Hoka Anacapa


Hoka Anacapa 2 Vs Speedgoat 6: Which Fits Better?

The Hoka Anacapa 2 is easily one of the best fitting hiking boots I have tested to date. The boot also has a nice accommodating voluminous feel, these are great for summer hiking allowing your feet to swell. 

I tested both at, a men’s size 10 and a half, both normal width. I had a ton of issues with fit regarding the Speedgoat 6. The Speedgoat did not have a nice accommodating feel to it, which is disappointing because the Speedgoat 5 definitely had more volume. 

Unfortunately due to these issues due to the Speedgoat 6 I size up a half size and some of the issues did go away. I felt the fit was very narrow and constricting. The gusseted tongue also felt compressed on my foot. 

Both the Speedgoat 6 and Anacapa feature industry standard lacing systems. The Anacapa has 2 metal lacing hooks at the top allowing for a nice tight fit. The Speedgoat features a second lace hole for heel lock tying, or any other special lacing techniques.

Hoka Anacapa 2 Fit : 4.5 out of 5

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Fit : 3.5t out of 5

Winner: Anacapa 2


Breathability

The Anacapa had undeniable breathability, perfect for summer hiking. view from the summit of the mountain

The Anacapa and Speedgoat are both breathable, both can be used in the summer. Both also come equipped with a Gore-tex membrane.

The Anacapa 2 features woven mesh within Nubuck leather that gives the perfect appeal of breathability without sacrificing much protection. The integrated air mesh feels like they are cooling down my foot as I am hiking. The Anacapa Breeze is the non-waterproof version that is even more breathable, fit for dry summer hiking. 

The Speedgoat 6 has less material compared to the Anacapa, but I felt the materials were not as breathable. The sides of the Speedgoat felt heavy without many breathable pockets. I felt the Gore-tex membrane really hindered the breathability of the 6.  

Due to the unique air mesh pockets of the Anacapa, it is the clear winner here. 

Hoka Anacapa 2 Breathability : 4.5 out of 5

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Breathability : 3.5 out of 5

Winner: Hoka Anacapa


Durability

The speedgoat is crafted from quality, durable materials that last. side view of speedgoat

Hoka always puts quality materials into their products. Starting with the Anacapa, I have been over 50 miles with them,I haven’t noticed any sort of issues or scuffs. 

The midsole is still nice and firm and still holds a great edge. I love the Nubuck leather in the Anacapa because it has a nice contrast of being rugged and flexible. Overall, no issues with durability when it comes to the Anacapa. 

Regarding the Speedgoat 6, I haven’t noticed any collapse of the sole or body of the shoe itself. Over time, I expect the Speedgoat will wear quicker than the Anacapa because it is a trail runner made with more synthetic materials. 

Hoka Anacapa 2 Durability : 5 out of 5

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Durability : 5 out of 5

Winner: Tie


Weight

The Speedgoat 6 weighed in at 10 oz, the lightest tested to date

Now, this is where the speedgoat 6 gets enticing. I Weighed the Speedgoat 6 in at 10 oz which is the lightest trail runner I have reviewed to date. 

In addition, Hoka adds in the meta rocker geometry, which allows for a more natural stride. This definitely gives your stride a “lightweight feel” which aids in its lightweight profile. 

On the contrary the Anacapa weighed in at 18 oz which is 55% heavier than the Speedgoat 6. This is expected, since we are comparing a trail runner vs a hiking boot.

Hoka Anacapa 2 Weight : 3.5 out of 5

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Weight : 5 out of 5

Winner: Speedgoat 6


Hoka Anacapa 2 Overall Rating: 9.1/10

  • Comfort: 5 out of 5
  • Traction: 4.5 out of 5
  • Overall Protection: 3.5 out of 5
  • Fit: 3.5 out of 5
  • Breathability: 4.5 out of 5
  • Durability: 5 out of 5
  • Weight: 3.5 out of 5

Total: 31.5/35

9.1Expert Score
Excellent

Our clear winner here, undeniable comfort and breathability. This boot is in our top 5 for highest rated of our collection.


Hoka Speedgoat 6 Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10

  • Comfort: 4 out of 5
  • Traction: 4.5  out of 5
     
  • Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
  • Fit: 3.5 out of 5
  • Breathability: 3.5 out of 5
  • Durability: 5 out of 5
  • Weight: 5 out of 5

Total: 30/35

8.5Expert Score
Very Good

A good trail runner for performance. The traction and stability are top of its class, loses points in comfort rating.


Hoka Anacapa vs Hoka Speedgoat 6 Which One Is Better Overall?

The Anacapa 2 is clearly the winner in this comparison. Boot on a wall behind grass.

I’ll begin by saying the Anacapa and Speedgoat are high on my list when it comes to high performance trail runners and hiking boots. 

This was a tough comparison because these are two distinct types of outdoor footwear. The reason why I did this is the fact that you can use the Speedgoat 6 as a hiking shoe and trail runner, it really is that versatile. 

However, at the end of the day the Anacapa clearly wins this comparison. With generous comfort, fit, amazing traction, and impressive performance there’s no doubt the Anacapa is a top pick. 

Paying up to $190 for the Anacapa 2 is a great return on investment, it is actually a steal in my opinion.

I would consider purchasing the Speedgoat 6 if you are a trail runner that does not want to spend extra on a hiking shoe. As I said before, you can use the Speedgoat 6 for both. 


Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE 

(Do NOT pay retail): 


How We Personally Tested Our Methodology

Testing out hiking boots at the top of a mountain

I personally tested the Anacapa 2 during 2023, 2024, and 2025. I continue to test the Speedgoat 6 since its release in 2024. Both are tested on numerous trails with altering terrain, with the sole intention of providing you with the most unbiased review possible. Mountaineer Journey is a 100% independent publisher with years of testing and reviewing outdoor equipment.

We currently pay for the products we test ourselves; no company or manufacturer pays us to sway our opinions or decisions.

Adventure Awaits,

Tyler

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