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HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5: +250KM & 100KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO.
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5: +250KM & 100KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO. Our TRAIL SHOES section bring us today a deeper technical analysis of the new HOKA Speedgoat 5.
Remember that these HOKA Speedgoat 5 arrived with a price of € 150, a weight of 294 gr and a drop of 4mm, with a height to the ground of 33mm in front, 29mm behind and with the great changes compared to version 4: the midsole and cover completely redesigned. Let’s go with the in-depth test of our #patroncarrerasdemontana Héctor Rubio, but first we can see the video of the technical analysis.
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5: THE EVOLUTION OF A CALSSIC.
The Speedgoat saga continues to grow and for 2022 it already brings us its version number 5 of the classics, which years ago were baptized with the nickname of the iconic and first runner sponsored by HOKA: Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer.
Karl “Speedgoat”, the first HOKA ONE ONE sponsored racer who also holds the record for winning the most 100-mile races was one of the first to get involved in the development of the long-ago first version of these Speedgoats.
Closer in time, we have the “cowboy” Jim Wamsley who has also been wearing Speedgoats in recent times as his flagship shoe, in his case the Speedgoat EVO.
Well, this Speedgoat 5 is renewed, reducing the weight by 21 grams compared to the Speedgoat 4 and gaining 1 mm in height with the ground.
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5:
+250KM & 100KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO.
As you can see in the title, the in-depth test has been divided into two: one of 267 kilometers with the first pair of the Speedgoat 5 (green) that I obtained privately (official distributor) and with which the technical analysis was carried out and 100 kilometers with the “red” pair that Hoka Spain offered us.
I have to say, that the Speedgoat have been my favorite shoes for many years, from the previous models through the Speedgoat EVO, the Speedgoat 4 and now these Speedgoat 5, despite some things that clearly have to improve immediately, as you can see already in the image below.
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5: DATA SHEET
- Price: 150€
- Weight: 291 g. for men, 21 grams less than the Speedgoat 4 and 242g. for women
- Drop: 4 mm
- Stack hight: 33mm /29mm
- Lugs: 5 mm
- Midsole: CMEVA compound
- Sole: Vibram Megagrip
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5: HIGHLIGHTS
These Speedgoat 5 came to the market with several advances / novelties with respect to the previous versions:
- LIGHTER: almost 21 grams less than the Speedgoat 4 and below the mark of 300 grams with 295gr. This lightness was achieved by transforming the materials of the cover, being that of these Speedgoat 5 a lighter recycled thread mesh. So coo reducing the compound in the sole.
- MORE SPACIOUS-FLEXIBLE COVER: the vegan and recilcado thread of the cover offers a larger box for the foot, offering greater flexibility and significantly improving the feeling offered by the previous narrower models.
- VIBRAM MEGAGRIP SOLE: according to the original information, they promise to improve traction by 20%. And I think that in terms of traction it is completely true.
Apart from this, these Speedgoat 5 come as training and competition shoes for long distances, and starting from this base, one of its main characteristics apart from those already mentioned, was the midsole made with the CMEVA compound, equal to the EVA foam that the current Speedgoat 4 mount. Why change a winning team, when you have already reduced weight.
In this fifth version, the brand maintains its “maximalist soul” that gives us comfort, especially in these long days in the mountains. With a last as we said a little wider, thanks to the flexibility of the cover that offers enough space in the part of the fingers, but that perhaps for some can remain narrow.
As for the size, the number 42 2/3 that I usually wear continues to fit perfectly. But before we continue to go into details, let’s anlizar one by one the parts of the shoe.
UPPER
The recycled yarn mesh, vegan, provides a secure lock to the foot preventing that in the curves and technical descents the foot “dance” inside the shoe, according to the brand, although, that extra flexibility that is gained is lost by having to readjust the laces on multiple occasions. I think that the mesh, yields a little “in excess” so on long days I have had to tie the laces on multiple occasions, especially before facing technical descents.
Another novelty of these Speedgoat 5 was the part of the heel, which from very early on offered both pros and cons:
- PROS: greater release of preassure in the area of the Achilles, avoiding pressures along the kilometers
- CON: that curvilinear shape makes possible the entry of debris, especially in the descents.
Otherwise, as you can see in the photos below, they are still completely intact and without visible damage.
MIDSOLE
It is the CMEVA compound, equal to the EVA foam mounted by the current Speedgoat 4. Why change a winning team, when you have already reduced weight.
It provides an unmatched combination of high-performance cushioning, lower heel drop displacement, with an inherently stable tread.
The meta-rocker chassis is a combination of a low heel tip drop and a rounded sole shape that according to the house, complements the natural stride and helps propel it forward.
The cushioning of this shoe is exceptional, in every way, although the finishes of the midsole have suffered too much in so few kilometers, having lost reactivity and being quite punished for only 267 km and 102 respectively.
SOLE
The technical information told us about a Vibram MegaGrip sole with Traction Lugs technology and 5 mm studs that promised to improve traction by 20%. I have to say that it is true. In the green pair, which I have been testing, the traction is second to none and both in the dry and in the wet or even in the technical terrains for which I train in the Alps, they have always behaved excellently, although, as you have seen the “red pair” has destroyed the sole with only 100km.
I have been able to verify and enjoy that the information of the brand was true: maximum grip on any type of terrain both dry and wet, yes, until the sole was detached at km 10 (summit of Gaishorn -Austria-, 2247) and I had another 20km of rather technical terrain.
SOLE: TOTAL DISASTER
For the first time I have “suffered” in my feet that of what many of you have always talked about HOKA and you have mentioned: the soles peel off.
The truth is that it had never happened to me, as you can see in the image below I show 3 different Speedgoat with three different mileages: Speedgoat 4 (white) 400 km, Speedgoat 5 (green) 267 km and Speedgoat 5 (red) 102 km and the differences are very noticeable.
As can be seen in the photographs, the “white” pair of Speedgoat 4 (left photo) has the almost complete lugs despite the 400 kms; the next pair of Speedgoat 5 “green” show normal wear that not excessive after 267 kms and the “red pair” of Speedgoat 5 has to be directly retired, because the sole has come off completely.
The truth is that I am not (we have) very clear what could have happened, because as you can see in the images below, there is a clear difference between the two pairs, having the green pair more kilometers than the red pair, and having been used in the same areas, training and terrain.
Obviously, in manufactured products this type of thing can happen, either by a change in the glue materials, the reaction of the glues to the colors, the different plastics, the “cooking” time or a simple human failure, the fact is that after 102 kilometers I have to “retire” the red pair, which I liked very much.
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5: CONCLUSIONS AFTER THE TEST, BY HÉCTOR RUBIO
If I had to summarize in just three words what I thought of these HOKA Speedgoat 5 I would say: comfort, grip and disaster.
Luckily I don’t have to choose just three words, so I’ll extend a little more… The sensations from the first moment you wear these shoes are very good and comfortable, as I said a little above, even reactive thanks to the midsole.
COMFORT
This comfort makes them, shoes to be able to run long and even fast and safe through the mountains providing the cover (for me one of the great forgotten by the brand when promoting these shoes) an extra space compared to the previous versions.
As we all know, many times it is very difficult for us to opt for one model or another of shoes, depending on the fit and comfort in relation to the size: in this case, my size is usually 42 2/3 in Hoka, and this model perfect size.
DURABILITY & SOLE
The problem with the sole of the second pair has overshadowed (a bit) my perception of what is still my favorite shoe this 2022. It is obvious that there has been something that has changed either in HOKA or in Vibram, so that the sole shows greater wear, until it takes off completely with only 100 km and in this way we will let the brand know.
So after this exposure, the clear question is Is it worth buying a HOKA shoe that may have this problem on the sole? I would answer directly yes to that question, but with nuances.
It is a manufactured shoe, and in that process production failures can arise, so leaving that issue aside, this shoe intended to roll long, with a price similar to many others on the market, but that would deference for its comfort and grip.
INVESMENT
That is, before the same investment I think that this shoe can take advantage of other models, so the investment is more than justified. ATTENTION, always that the issue of the sole does not arise.
In my case, I live in the Alps, and I am clear that for me the best sole on the market is still Vibram Megagrip, and as I have been explaining the rest of the pairs that I have used have not had this problem, even with the Speedgoat EVO I have reached 1000km.
My final conclusion is that it is a complete shoe, offering multiple aspects in a single shoe such as comfort, reactivity and grip for that reason, I would choose them again as travel companions, and in fact they will continue to roll with me all summer because their fit, grip and reactivity give me the motivation and security necessary to continue running with them along paths and paths, of course, with the green pair.
On the other hand, it is clear that the brand should study whether the savings in weight, both in the midsole and the sole have as a direct consequence a lower durability.
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