Overall Rating: 10/10
First Impressions
I had been looking for a new pair of shoes and the Hoka Speedgoat 5 Trail Runners seem to get great reviews. They make a good everyday shoe, have good tread (in case I want to go hiking), are breathable and dry out quickly, plus they are extremely comfortable with a very cushiony sole. I don’t run, unless being chased by a wild boar, so I can’t speak to that, however, I have had these shoes for almost a year now, and can give some good points. In fact, a friend who I recommended this brand to, said, “it’s like walking on sunshine.” lol.
I prefer to hike longer hikes in boots, however I like trail runners for everyday wear and short hikes with easy terrain. I have found that boots just work better for me on rough trails, as I like the extra ankle support and waterproofing. I have owned several pairs of trail runners and decided to give these a go.
At first the colors were a little much for me and unfortunately most of the Hoka models are flashy. But after trying them on and doing a quick test on the fake rocks with a walk around at REI, I was sold. These shoes fit my feet well and were very comfortable. No sliding around on my foot which is important for keeping your footing on rocks and downhills.
After a Year
I’ve been wearing these shoes now for a year. As an every day shoe, around camp shoe (and I camp alot), and even on short hikes on trail or longer ones on pavement. I will say my first impressions about comfort, fit, breathability, and fast drying hold true, perfect in fact.
Other things I’ve observed are durability, drying out, and comfort as compared to other shoes I’ve worn. I will talk more about those below.
Durability and Comfort
I have not noticed any wear on the upper of this shoe. No fraying like I’ve seen on some of my boots where they sometimes rub together or on ground features like rocks or roots, but like I said I don’t hike in these on tough terrain as I like more ankle support. I also don’t see any tearing or separation of the sole from the upper at all. Nor do I have any cracking on the bottom at the flex point.
With regard to the insole, it’s still comfortable. I didn’t put in any replacement, as I like to do with my boots, but have kept the factory ones. The heal cup still works well, which is a common wear point. The insoles have also not moved or slid forward or sideways, like I’ve seen on some other brands.
Let’s talk about the sole more. It has an aggressive tread to help with grip on dirt trails, and it’s flexible and softer than a traditional hiking boot. Because it’s soft, it also wears quicker than a boot. Remember, I’ve been wearing this shoe everyday for almost a year, and I would estimate I’ve put at least 300 miles on them. Here’s a picture of the tread after that time. Notice no cracking at the flex points, as well as the wear at the balls and heal, which I don’t think is beyond any other shoe I’ve worn for that long.
The only other place I’ve noticed wear is on the inside of the back where my heal slides in. This is normal, and I don’t see it as a problem, especially after a year of wearing these shoes.
Cold Weather and Water
As far as winter goes, I have worn these in both dry conditions and with snow. I didn’t notice any issues with dry conditions, but then again, I wasn’t outside for extended periods. However, if my feet got wet, as these shoes are prone to do, due to the extreme breathability, my feet got cold, even with wool socks on. With cotton, it was unbearable, and could even be dangerous, as cotton doesn’t hold heat when it gets wet and is slow to dry.
Walking through grass on a damp morning, either out for a walk or at camp, I noticed these shoes are very prone to get wet, especially in front. During the warmer months this isn’t much of a problem as long as you allow your feet to dry. The shoes dry out really quickly compared to a normal shoe, and especially compared to a Gore-Tex shoe or boot, which can take days to dry if they get wet inside. However in cold, like I said above, this is a real problem.
The only creeks I’ve forded in these shoes have been very shallow and I’ve never had water above the sole. So I can’t speak to the ability of these shoes when getting them submerged, obviously they would get soaked, as they are not waterproof at all. However, I’m sure they would dry quickly as they did when I was walking through grass.
Final Thoughts
The Hoka Speedgoat 5 Trail Runners can be a bit pricy compared to average shoes, however these are not average shoes. They are specialized. They retail around $160 as of this writing.
There are also other models of this shoe. There is a Gore-Tex version which is waterproof. There is also a mid-ankle version which is more like a boot. One other version has more aggressive spikes on the tread.
I will definitely buy another pair of these shoes. I enjoy wearing them everyday. I also like how quick they dry out, and the aggressiveness of the tread, as I often take strolls on dirt trails, sometimes without hiking boots. I also get compliments on them often, especially from fellow Hoka owners.
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