Am I Crazy? Hoka One One Speedgoat 4

Check out the latest video from RunReapeat. The Hoka Speedgoat 4!

I was so excited to get this shoe, I got it late, I know it's been out for almost a year, but my eye had been on this shoe a long time so was pumped to finally get a pair.

To my dismay though, I struggled a bit with the fit on this shoe.

Watch the video and see what I have to say!

Thanks everyone, please come back soon, we'll review the Hoka Torrent 2, and if you were considering the Speedgoat 4, you'll want to see that review!

***UPDATE*** - After seeing the difference between the Clifton 7 and the Bondi 7 I was having similar fit issues and discomfort in the Bondi 7. So it's possible that the softer midsoles on these more plush shoes are what's causing me these fit and comfort issues. Maybe the Speedgoat is not too stiff, maybe it's too soft, causing my foot to work harder on technical terrain leading to the issues I felt? It's odd, but I liked the Clifton 7 better than the Bondi 7, and the Torrent 2 better than the Speedgoat 4! There may be something to this theory, if the midsole provides too much cushion my foot has to work hard to balance, causing fatigue, numbness, and some heat underfoot, leading to what I assumed was a fit issue, but it's not. Just wanted to add this note! Bondi 7 review coming soon.

Thanks for watching! Please leave a comment below, we'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosures: This pair of shoes were sent to us for review by Hoka One One. However, no outside party is paying us to make this video or to use this shoe. No outside party will get a chance to preview our footage or edit the video before it goes live on youtube. For regulatory compliance or affiliate program purposes, I must state that affiliate links do not increase the cost to you, but we do get a small commission if you purchase this product from any of our retail partners.

[chemystify]

I agree the Speedgoat 4 (SG4) is on the firm side, and somewhat uncomfortable underfoot as a result. It's certainly much firmer than the Speedgoat 2 (SG2); but that one was so much of a marshmallow that it was essentially unusable for me during descents (my forefoot would simply bottom out -- and I only weigh about 150#). So while the SG4's midsole is better for me than the SG2's, I find they've gone too far in the other direction.  

If you want a maximally-cushioned HOKA that has just the ideal Goldilocks midsole firmness, try the Mafate Speed 3 (MS3) or Evo Mafate 2 (EM2) (same midsoles). They're much firmer than the SG2, but less hard and much more comfortable than the SG4; I find the Mafate midsoles are also more shock absorbing and (surprisingly for a less firm insole) more responsive than the SG4's. 

[As an aside, I'm surprised you like the Challenger ATR6--its midsole is significantly harder than the SG4's.]

If you run on technical terrain, I'd recommend the MS3 over the EM2, since the latter has a stretchy forefoot that, while very comfortable, has too much lateral stretch to keep the foot centered for off-camber landings. OTOH, the MS3 has more toebox height than the EM2, which might be an issue for you. Also, on me, the Mafates run longer than the Speedgoats (and all other HOKAS), so I had to downsize by 1/2 size (I take a 7.5 in the SG4 and all other HOKAs, but needed a 7 in the Mafates; this might be specific to the smaller sizes; not sure whether you'd also need to downsize).  

Two caveats: (1) The traction on the Mafates isn't quite as good as the SG4's--like the SG4, they have Vibram Megagrip lugs; but while the lugs run front-to-back on the SG4, on the Mafates there's a big gap under the arch that has foam midsole lugs only. (2) Because the Mafates have a slightly higher stack than the SG4, and also have a narrower sole under the forefoot (the SG4's midsole flares outward at the forefoot on the lateral sides, effectively providing an "outrigger" to reduce ankle roll), they aren't quite as stable as the SG4.

Also, a suggestion on your review: The shoe was clearly too high-volume for you. I know you said you didn't think the issue was that you'd ordered the wide, because it felt too high-volume rather than too wide per se, but it's possible that, in making the wide, HOKA increased the toe box volume as well. Before reviewing a shoe that you could tell wasn't an ideal fit, my recommendation would have been to instead first go to, say, the local REI (the video says you're in Ft. Collins, and there is one there) and try on the normal width version and see if that worked better for you.

[Nessunego]

Can't speak for the wide version, but I do absolutely love the standard version. They are the perfect shoes for 90% of the trails I run on. For heavily muddy terrains and snow I use Salomon Alpine XA 2. I usually don't run on very rocky and technical trails. I'm a medium to heavy runner (a lot of muscles on the upper body, too), I tend to land on the midfoot and forefoot and I really appreciate the cushioning of the medium and forefoot on these shoes as I would appreciate the cushioning on the heel if I were a heel striker. Also the top mesh is very durable and not beeing a heel striker I tend not to consume and traumatize the sole/midsole on the back, so these shoes do last me for about 800 kilometers in decent conditions. Vibram Megagrìp is awesome (I wish Salomon used this one instead of Contagrip).
For recovery run and more casual training I use Hoka One One Challenger atr 5 and find them equally awesome regarding fit and cushioning. The sole is more suited for compact and smooth terrain as well as asphalt.

[christianjaramillo]

I totally agree with the fit issue. I adjusted my laces multiple times also. I thought it was just me and my weird feet, haha.

[madibrutal]

I have no complaint, best shoe I ever have.

[TOJOx]

13 Wide perfect fit for my heavy weight. No complaints. I maybe 260lbs. Downhills are a breeze, literally.

[kayanoreeves]

This trail shoe is also my best/favorite road shoe. Go figure.

[chrismccoy]

I found the comfort to be an issue as well.Toe box for me was too narrow for long runs.One of the best shoes I’ve ever used for fast downhill on trails though, it just sticks to the ground.

[bruisercat]

Only someone who has gotten used to marshmallows shoes would think this is stiff or firm. To someone coming from standard trail shoes, it is super soft

[johnp]

Does the Speedgoat 4 provide more foot stability than the Clifton 8?

[dougmoore]

I’m in a constant battle between wanting both stability and cushion. Seems like this could be a reasonable balanced version of both? I’ve been torn between this (EVO) and the Topo Ultraventure PRO.

[mitchellsmith]

I have pair in 14 2e wide surprisingly heal actually narrower at base compared to my 14 speedgoat 3s doesnt flare out as much .insoles nicer in 4s .speedgoat 3s had aggressive arch in there insole used to dig into my arch .definitely more room up front in 4s

[Themata]

This or an Altra Olympus 4 0 for my first 50k? 🤔 - so tough to decide

[silviataylor]

Hi, Would these make a good hiking sneaker ?

[AndrewficationGaming]

Planning to buy it for Christmas ... im a newbie trail runner wannabee .. should i buy it or not? thanks

[cordeiropedro]

I actually found the 3 too mushy and unstable (a lot of ankle role issue in tech trails), the 4 is the sweat spot for me.

[TheHammers]

What insoles do you use? I didn't know you could get a custom SuperFeet

[RonBearry]

Absolutely the best shoe I've owned. It's grippy and stable. I use them for all running and hiking. Let's hope they don't change this one too much and mess it up.

[PaulKentSkates]

Fit is subjective and price does not effect price.

[cribsone]

Seems to me that this is kind of an isolated case with the fit for you. I think that you should have tried the normal width and that would've been better, but anyways, you focused on the fit way to much and ended up talking bad about a great shoe, one or if not the best. Also, I don't understand how you can say that they are stiff if they have so much cushioning.