Hoka Speedgoat 5 vs 6 | Which One Is Better?
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. You may also get a discount by clicking on the link!
In this article, I'm going to share my HONEST Hoka Speedgoat 5 vs Speedgoat 6 comparison in detail after personally owning both Hoka trail running shoes. I have thoroughly tested both of these trail runners 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.
Also, if you're interested in learning more, I have tested each product individually in my Hoka Speedgoat 6 Review and Hoka Speedgoat 5 Review.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 vs Hoka Speedgoat 5 Price Comparison
Overall, the Hoka Speedgoat 5 is $30 cheaper than the Speedgoat 6.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Price: $155
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Price: $125
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Comfort
Both the Hoka Speedgoat 5 and 6 are very comfortable trail runners, yet with some differences. 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 5 also features a compression-molded EVA midsole, which I found more comfortable than the 6. The EVA midsole of the 5 was a lot more plush and forgiving.
Furthermore, the 6 has a dual gusseted tongue which the 5 did not. I felt a lot of compression on the top of my foot due to this, a lot of users have experienced this as well. The toe box is not as roomy as the 5 and is definitely more narrow for an already narrow trail runner.
The Speedgoat 5 has more room in the toe box compared to the 6. I felt there was more than enough room and volume throughout the shoe.
Moving towards the ankle the Speedgoat 6 definitely has less cushion around the heel area. The sock liner is not as forgiving as the 5 either. The 5’s Sockliner is very thin however much more comfortable because it features the molded EVA sockliner.
Overall, I had issues with Comfort regarding the Speedgoat 6. It is not the most comfortable trail runner, Compared to the 5. I felt the dual gusseted tongue really compressed the top of my foot. It did not give enough room throughout the shoe either. Overall, the 5 is more comfortable.
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Comfort: 4.5 out of 5
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Comfort: 4 out of 5
Winner: Hoka Speedgoat 5
Traction
Both the Speedgoat 5 and Speedgoat 6 are similar when comparing traction. Both feature the Vibram Megagrip sole, as well as the same 5 mm lugs. The 6 has an upgraded lug pattern which actually improved the traction from the 5.
The Hoka Speedgoat 6 has amazing traction for a trail runner. The upgraded lug pattern and the stiffness of the trail runner really upgraded the traction and grip for this model.
Due to the upgraded stiffness of the Speedgoat 6, this enabled the 6 to hold onto surfaces with an unwavering grip. Compare this to the 5, which has good traction but not great like the 6 due to the flexibility. I would say I had great medial and lateral traction especially while hillside running with the 6, Unfortunately the same can’t be said about the Speedgoat 5.
I tested both shoes in a variety of conditions, including wet mud, slate, snow, and dirt on every imaginable technician terrain. They both performed great for trail runners, the 6 just has an upper hand.
Both midsoles are very thick, which is a Hoka staple. The midsole of the 6 is definitely thicker, allowing for greater shock absorption. As the midsole gets thicker, the firmness of the shoe becomes greater as well as we described above regarding the 6.
The heel to toe drop comparison is 1 mm between the two models. I didn’t notice any sort of difference in my stride between the two different heel to toe drops.
In terms of the longevity of both midsoles, I've never noticed any wear on either of these shoes. I have used the Speedgoat 6 for approximately 40 miles, since it was just released in June of 2024. The Speedgoat 5 I have used for just over 2 years now. I am very satisfied with the longevity of both midsoles.
The Hoka Speedgoat 6 definitely has the upper hand in terms of traction. We rated the Speedgoat 6 as the best traction and grip for any trail runner you can purchase on the market currently. Don’t get me wrong, the Speedgoat 5 still has very commendable traction, just not as great as the 6.
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Traction: 4 out of 5
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Traction: 5 out of 5
Winner:Hoka Speedgoat 6
Overall Protection
One distinct difference between the Speedgoat 5 and the Speedgoat 6 is overall protection. The 6 definitely has 360 degree overall protection over the 5.
The Speedgoat 6 has such a thick outsole that increases the height of the shoe that it acts as a protective shield for the shoe. The protective toe cap is also much wider and meshes with a thinner patch of rubber that protects the top of the toes.
The 6 is also equipped with a very robust heel protection mechanism made of heavy mesh and rubber. You do not have to worry about any sharp objects piercing your foot while running on the trails with the speedgoat 6. In addition, the dual gusseted tongue does not allow for debris to enter the shoe unlike the 5.
Compared to the Speedgoat 5, which only has synthetic and textile material covering the entire shoe, you are at risk of piercing sharp objects or rocks. I did not personally have this issue, other users complained about the thin mesh and textile material covering the shoe.
The Speedgoat 5 also has a partially gusseted tongue, many users over the years complained about rocks or debris entering the shoe easily while on the trail.
The Speedgoat 6 gets the trophy here, Due to the upgraded materials and dual gusseted tongue, Hoka has made the necessary upgrades for the model.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Overall Protection: 4 out of 5
Winner: Hoka Speedgoat 6
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Vs Hoka Speedgoat 6 : Which Fits Better?
I tested both trail runners, a men's size 10 and a half, both normal width. I had a ton of issues with fit regarding the Speedgoat 6. As I mentioned before, the 6 is not even close to his volume as the 5. Since the new upgraded material is so stiff, I felt a lot of pain at the top of my foot as I had mentioned before. The toe box was not as roomy and expansive.
Unfortunately due to these issues due to the Speedgoat 6 I had to size up a half size and some of the issues did go away. I didn't completely understand why Hoka made the Speedgoat 6 much more narrow and tight fitting as compared to the 5. Many users were already complaining about the tightness and narrowness of the 5.
Regarding the Speedgoat 5, I had quite the opposite experience compared to the other users who complained about the narrowness of the shoe. I felt I had more than adequate enough room due to the expansive textile and synthetic materials the Speedgoat 5 is composed of. The 5 also allows more expansion for swelling of your feet around the edges of the shoe.
Both the Speedgoat 5 and 6 feature industry standard lacing systems. During my testing, I did not need to use any specialized lacing techniques with either of these Hoka trail runners. I didn’t experience heel slippage with either one.
Overall, the Speedgoat 6 is too snug compared to the 5, and does not have the voluminous expansion ability as its counterpart.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Fit : 3.5 out of 5
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Fit : 5 out of 5
Winner: Speedgoat 5
Breathability
The Hoka Speedgoat 5 boasts significantly much more breathability than the Speedgoat 6. The integrated synthetic and textile materials allows for an excellent venting system making this shoe extremely breathable and ideal for summer trail running.
When running in the Speedgoat 5, I felt like the air was cooling down my foot via the breathable materials of the shoe. As an important point, the 5 does not come in a Gore-tex waterproof liner, while the 6 does. The Gore-tex liner absolutely reduces breathability of the shoe.
Even though the Speedgoat 6 has a Gore-Tex liner, I still felt the new advanced materials of the shoe as less breathable when compared to the five. While trail running in the summer I felt the Speedgoat 6 did not even come close to the breathability of the 5.
Due to their upgraded materials, and Gore-tex liner the Speedgoat 6 does not even compare to the 5 in terms of breathability.
The Speedgoat 5 is the clear winner here.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Breathability : 3.5 out of 5
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Breathability : 5 out of 5
Winner: Hoka Speedgoat 5
Durability
Both the Speedgoat 5 and 6 are quite durable trail running shoes. Most trail runners are not durable as they are made with easily friable synthetic and textile materials, and the midsoles tend to wear quickly. Hoka has always made an approach to put the best quality materials into their products.
The Vibram Megagrip lugs hold strong to this day, for both trail runners. There has been minimal wear on the lugs for both shoes. Both midsoles have not flattened out over the course of testing either.
One major difference between the Speedgoat 5 and 6, the 5 has much thinner textile and synthetic material. Over the long term, the Speedgoat 5 will wear down quicker than the 6 due to the breathable materials. Unfortunately there's always a switch off between lightweight breathable materials and durability.
Hoka products always have amazing durability; they definitely do not use cheap materials. I would say for trail runners, both the Speedgoat 6 and 5 have excellent durability, however the 6 takes the crown here as it has more robust materials that will last longer.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Durability : 5 out of 5
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Durability : 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Speedgoat 6
Weight
We weighed both trail runners on our scale, with the Speedgoat 5 weighing 11 oz and the Speedgoat 6 at 10oz. What's very unique about the speed goat 6 is the fact that the materials are much more robust, however the shoe is still lighter than the 5.
Somehow Hoka was able to craft a more durable trail runner yet make it even more lightweight than its predecessor the 5. While two ounces in the grand scheme of things do not make a huge difference, the MetaRocker design does.
Both trail runners are equipped with the MetaRocker design, Which gives more support near the forefoot allowing for a more efficient stride. I would say my stride was more efficient and lightweight with the Speedgoat 6.
Overall, decreasing the weight by 1 oz is still commendable by Hoka for the Speedgoat 6.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Weight : 5 out of 5
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Weight : 4.5 out of 5
Winner: Speedgoat 6
Hoka Speedgoat 5 Overall Rating: 9.1/10
Comfort: 4.5 out of 5
Traction: 4 out of 5
Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Fit: 5 out of 5
Breathability: 5 out of 5
Durability: 4.5 out of 5
Weight: 4.5 out of 5
Total: 32/35
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Overall Rating: 8.8/ 10
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Traction: 5 out of 5
Overall Protection: 4.5 out of 5
Fit: 3.5 out of 5
Breathability: 4 out of 5
Durability: 5 out of 5
Weight: 5 out of 5
Total: 31/35
Hoka Speedgoat 6 vs Hoka Speedgoat 5 Which One Is Better Overall?
I'll begin by saying that both of these trail runners are extremely high on my list of the best trail running shoes we have tested to date. We tested these boots in many different categories. I must say even with the upgrades the Speedgoat 6 provides, the 5 is still the winner.
You may be wondering after all the wonderful upgrades why isn't the Speedgoat 6 rated higher? Although Hoka did make upgrades, I felt the 6 really lacked comfort and fit ; really important categories for this head to head comparison.
Paying 40 less dollars for the Speedgoat 5 is well worth your money and value. I would still recommend the Speedgoat 6 for serious trail runners for that added traction and less weight. In the end, I don’t think you would be disappointed with either shoe but the Speedgoat 5 is definitely the best bang for your buck.
Order HERE for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE
(Do NOT pay retail):
How We Personally Tested Our Methodology
I personally tested the Speedgoat 5 and 6 during 2023 and 2024 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
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. You may also get a discount by clicking on the link!