Hoka Speedgoat 5 Review | Why They're STILL WORTH IT in 2024

In this article, I'm going to share my HONEST Hoka Speedgoat 5 review for those who are wondering whether they are still WORTH IT in 2024. These were originally released in March of 2022, they are STILL a best seller and have raving reviews online.

For this review, I have put in over 50 miles of trail running into testing my own personal pair of Hoka Speedgoat 5 throughout the summer and fall of 2023/2024, so I'm very familiar with how they feel and perform on the trails. I'll go over comfort, traction, overall protection, water resistance, fit, shock absorption, and durability.

I'll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a trail guide and experienced hiker.

Should you buy the Hoka Speedgoat 5? 

 Buy if

• You want one of the best overall values for trail runners under $155 today.

• You prioritize a comforting midsole and flexible outsole to weather all types of terrain

• You don’t want to pay over $155 for the new Hoka Speedgoat 6

DON'T Buy if 

• If you prefer the highest rated grip and traction for trail runners

• You prefer the lightest trail runners on the market

Speedgoat 5 Pros and Cons 

 Pros 

• Great traction and stability

• 4mm drop

• Extreme comfort

• Durability that will last years

• Great value for shoes that have been on the market for over 2 years

• Mid version available 

 Cons 

• Traction lugs could be more spaced apart

• Very wide toe box for a trail runner

• Lacks breathability at times

Hoka Speedgoat 5 Price 

At the time of this writing, the Hoka Speedgoat 5  are priced at $155 retail, but available on Hoka.com below for as low as $134 brand new.

Compare to the newer Hoka Speedgoat 6 model at $165 which is more expensive and does not perform as well as the 5 in certain categories. 

Order the Hoka Speedgoat 5 for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail): 

Hoka Speedgoat 5 (Hoka.com)

Disclosure: These links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to run the website 🙂

 Hoka Speedgoat 5 Comfort: 9/10 

The Speedgoat 5 is equipped with a EVA midsole which is extremely comfortable. First Impressions when trying on the shoes they felt decently plush over upon standing I felt my feet and toes sink into the midsole making it extremely foamy and plush.

The toe box is extremely wide open. This is unique for the speedgoat 5 as many trail runners are narrow and do not have adequate room around the toe box. This is the only trail runner that I didn’t experience any blisters or hot spots with. 

The tongue of the shoe does not compress the top of your foot in fact, you have more than enough cushion between the top of your foot and the tongue. I didn't feel any compression around my heel while running with these either.

Coming up extreme inclines and side hills were no match for the Speedgoat 5. I didn't experience any uncomfortable spots especially during these areas of tough terrain where most trail runners give in. Overall for a trail runner, the Hoka Speedgoat is among one of the most comfortable. 

Weighing just  10.1 oz on my scale, the Speedgoat 5 is one of the lightest trail runners I have tested to date.

As a frame of reference, The Altra Lone Peak(The lightest hiking boot) weighed in at 1.81 pds or 42% heavier than the Speedgoat 5!

Traction: 9/10

The Speedgoat uses the Vibram Mega grip outsole which is an industry standard. The multidirectional lugs for excellent grip and traction while traversing any sort of terrain.

 I felt the traction and grip were exceptional, especially when climbing hills and mountain sides on a steep incline. The 5mm lugs easily  grip onto services without much slip. The Speedgoat outsole is definitely stiff enough to compete with some performance based hiking boots like the Salomon Quest 4 or Hoka Kaha 2. 

The traction even held up great in the rain, especially on steeper inclines. I didn’t feel any slipping or sputtering in the rain. You can expect the Speedgoat 5 To show up big against all types of terrain. This is definitely one of the  highest-rated traction scores for our trail runner reviews. 

Overall Protection 4.0/5

The Speedgoat 5 does not have a  rock plate underneath the foot; the EVA foam makes up for overall protection on the midsole. I believe the EVA foam definitely does its job in terms of shock absorption. Moving towards the toe Box of the shoe, There is a small rubber toe cap which protects the foot as well as the sides of the toes. 

The medial and lateral aspects of the foot are protected by a thin layer of synthetic material.There is more than adequate protection among the medial and model aspects of the foot. 

The tongue of the Speedgoat 5 protects well with the top of the shoe not allowing debris to enter the shoe on your long trail runs. Overall, the 5 have decent protection. 

Shock Absorption 5/5 

Shock absorption is key when discussing trail runners. you may not think it is as important as the other categories, however as you begin to age you want less and less shock on your knee and ankle joints. The EVA midsole combined with the Vibram outsole  provide excellent shock absorption on the trails

Especially during my hillside running trails I didn’t feel any heaviness or fatigue in my feet nor any extra shock passing through my joints. While coming downhill, I felt the Speedgoat 5 was excellent at absorbing all of the shock. The meta rocker geometry  also aids in a smoother stride therefore reducing strain on your joints. The heel to toe drop is 4mm perfect for any trail runner. 

In terms of longevity, you cannot go wrong with these trail runners. 

Does The Speedgoat 5 Fit Well?

The Speedgoat 5 Fit exceptionally well. I wore a men's size 10 and a half and didn't have to size up or down. At a baseline, my foot tends to run wide and most trail runners fit very snug for me. I even used a mid-weight sock during my trail running The Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion , combined with the 5 are a deadly combination. 

This was not the case for the Speedgoat 5. Compared to the Speedgoat 6,  I had to move up a size and a half because the upper is so stiff and presses on to the top of my foot causing an uncomfortable ride. 

Overall, no need to size up or down. 

Hoka Speedgoat 5 Fit  5/5 

Hoka Speedgoat 5 Water Resistance 5/5

One aspect of the Speedgoat 5 That is commendable is the variability of models. These trail runners do come in a Gore-Tex version to help with water resistance.

 I did use the gore-tex version while trail running in the rain and these held up exceptionally well. Although it does reduce breathability, I do not recommend using Gore-Tex in the summer. It is still effective for running in the rain or snow. 

I do not recommend directly running in snow or heavy rainfall with the non-gore-tex version of these shoes as they can get water logged quite quickly. 

Durability 9/10

What I love about the Hoka brand in  general is you know you were getting quality materials for a long time. I haven't noticed any breakdown of the midsole or outer sole of my Hoka speed go 5 over the past year of testing.

 That being said, most of the Speedgoat is made with textiles and synthetic materials that will wear over time. Most trail runners tend to wear out after 200 to 400 miles. After testing these for over a year they have held up extremely well and I am very pleased with the durability. If you want a trail runner that will LAST check out the Speedgoat. 

Is the Hoka Speedgoat 5 worth it?

The Speedgoat 5 is a top of the line trail runner. Being able to get these boots for under $160 is a steal in my opinion.

Being able to purchase a trail runner with such great traction and comfort as a sneaker possess has such great value and the long-term. 

Want a trail runner that’ll last you years and perform the same as it did on day one of your first run? Look no further than the Hoka Speedgoat 5.

Compared to the Speedgoat 6, The 5 It's still a strong Contender and definitely has better comfort and overall protection when you compare it to the 6. 

The strengths would be great traction/grip, excellent out of the box comfort, no break in period, and excellent shock absorption.

The drawbacks to consider would be that there are lighter models out there like the Salomon Speedcross or models with deeper lugs for enhanced traction. 

Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with picking up a pair of the Hoka Speedgoat 5 today.

Value: 4.5 / 5

Scoring Breakdown

Comfort: 9.0/10 

Traction: 9.0/10

Overall Protection: 4.5/5

Shock Absorption: 5/5

Water Resistance: 5/5

Fit: 5/5

Durability: 9/10

Value: 4.5/5

Total: 51 / 55 

 Our Rating: 9.2 / 10 

At the time of this writing, the Hoka Speedgoat 5  are priced at $155 retail, but available on Hoka.com below for as low as $134 brand new.

Compare to the newer Hoka Speedgoat 6 model at $165 which is more expensive and does not perform as well as the 5 in certain areas. 

Order the Hoka Speedgoat 5 for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail): 

Hoka Speedgoat 5 (Hoka.com)

Disclosure: These links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to run the website 🙂

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are The Speedgoat 5 Good Trail Runners?

Yes, the Hoka Speedgoat 5 are excellent trail runners. Out of the box comfort, no break in period, and perfect traction are just some of the highlights. 

Can You Use The Speedgoat 5 For Walking Outside On Pavement?

Yes, I absolutely use the Speedgoat 5 for walking. When I take my dog out in the morning I slip on my Speedgoat 5’s!

How Long Would The Hoka Speedgoat 5 Be Expected To Last?

I would expect the Hoka Speedgoat to last over 300 miles, I have been testing them for over a year now. 

How We Tested and Our Methodology 

I personally tested the Hoka Speedgoat 5 for over a year now with the sole intent of giving you 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.

See Our Youtube Review