HOKA’s Speedgoat 7 is Made for the Roughest of Trails

Seven of anything is pretty good, but for a trail running shoe it’s legendary. Tim breaks down what HOKA’s done differently for the brand new Speedgoat 7, and why it’s an awesome shoe for the trails you really want to run.

I found out recently that my mate doesn’t mark his trail runs on Strava as ‘trail’ runs. ‘It’s all running, right?’ he said, my jaw agape. In some ways, he’s right, they are both running. In fact, I recently heard pro trail runner David Roche say that he didn’t understand the gravel running hype – after all, any pro road runner would probably dominate a race on non-technical trails.

It’s that word – technical – that hints at the distinction. Trail running becomes its own sport when the terrain gets steep, rocky, muddy, and unpredictable. It rewards mental strength, muscle strength, and adaptability in a way the controlled world of the road marathon never could.

Trail running becomes its own sport when things get unpredictable

I’m training for my first 100km race at the moment, the HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB in the stunning Blue Mountains west of Sydney. My training involves things like hiking uphill with a weight vest, maximising how much weight I can squat, and heaps of trips to the steep, slippery terrain of the Blue Mountains itself.

Which means the HOKA Speedgoat 7 couldn’t have come at a better time. Named after HOKA’s first pro athlete, Karl ‘Speedgoat’ Meltzer, the shoe launched in 2015 and pioneered a combination of thick foam and grippy rubber to handle long distances over rough terrain.

Today the Speedgoat has found its place as the shoe of choice for tough tracks that require a stable footing, trail feel, and a durable upper. I love this, because the majority of Aussie trails are on the techy side. Let me take you through what’s new, and how it compares to the other trail shoes in HOKA’s lineup.

Quick Specifications

Weight: 275g (Men’s US size 10)
Stack height: 37mm heel / 32 mm toe
Heel-to-toe Drop: 5mm 
Outsole: 5mm with Vibram Megagrip in redesigned pattern for better traction
Price: $289.99

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The Speedgoat 7 has a nice slab of midsole foam, but it’s not too thick

New Foam That’s Softer & More Responsive

For a long time people thought about trail shoes pretty simply. If the foam was thin, it was firm and responsive, and if it was thick it was soft, but good luck feeling the trail.

Foam tech has come a long way though, and combos like ‘soft and responsive’ are making themselves known. The Speedgoat 7 has EVA foam in its midsole, a material known for durable, somewhat firm cushioning. To counter this, the new model uses a supercritical foaming technique that essentially fills the EVA with tiny bubbles. This makes it lighter and less dense than the foam in the Speedgoat 6. The amount of foam used hasn’t changed, but it’s noticeably more springy.

The new foam springs off the trail when its needed without losing groundfeel

Compared to the HOKA Tecton X 3 and the HOKA Mafate 5, the Speedgoat 7 is closer to the ground by 3mm and 7mm respectively and lighter weight too – it’s a whopping 40g lighter than the Mafate 5, which is more of an all rounder. The drop remains at 5mm which is a great zone that takes some load off the achilles without losing stability.

New Redesigned Tougher Upper

The upper of the Speedgoat 7 has been updated with a woven textile material that’s tougher and less stretchy, designed to lock your foot in place and resist abrasion from sticks and rocks. The material’s made of RPET, a form of recycled plastic, that apart from being more environmentally friendly, also holds less water so your shoes don’t become deadweight after the inevitable puddle.

The patent-pending dynamic vamp from the Mafate 5 makes an appearance here too, allowing for stretch across the top of the foot. It’s a great combo; tougher, less stretchy material on the sides of the shoe that see wear and side-to-side force, and stretchy across the top of the foot for a comfy fit.

Wide, stretchy dynamic vamp with a tough RPET woven textile around the sides of the foot and toes is a powerful combo

The heel collar has been updated too and isn’t as tall, to make sure it avoids any heel rubbing or achilles discomfort.

The Speedgoat 7 is a snug fit for its size and won’t stretch or ‘break in’ as much as its predecessor, so as always I recommend heading into your local running store to try the shoe on in person (and double check your size, feet keep growing!).

Pro tip: There’s also a wide version available.

Vibram Megagrip with Redesigned Lugs

You’ve probably heard me rave about Vibram Megagrip before. It’s really, really grippy and worth the extra cost for brands to add to their shoes – especially if they’re designed for spicy terrain like the Speedgoat.

The 5mm traction lugs have been updated from the Speedgoat 6 to be slightly better at handling mixed terrain – they’re slightly smaller and heart-shaped to grip in any direction.

The wide surface area from the 6 that led to a stable and confidence-inspiring shoe remains, which is great, everyone loved it!

Proper 5mm traction lugs tame loose terrain and find grip anywhere

Updated Tongue with Padding

The Speedgoat 7 has dual gussets that connect the tongue to the shoe and ensure it doesn’t move or slip over the course of a long run. The tongue is also longer to ensure it doesn’t bite, and a sizeable piece of foam (in the shape of the HOKA logo, nice) prevents the lace knot from pinching the top of your foot.

The high tongue with padding ensures comfort when you’ve tied the laces tight

This is a huge improvement as many shoes have gone too far recently and caused discomfort issues while trying to save weight. The Speedgoat 7 does this in other areas, tipping the scales at only 275g for a men’s US10, or 235g for a women’s US8!

It’s the Little Things

It’s always interesting to see what features make the cut.

First is the gaiter attachment on the heel, which makes sense given the filthy terrain the shoe is made for. Heavy reflective detailing is unusual for a trail shoe, but I love the large rear panel with the SG logo.

They look awesome, and the white foam resists stains

The Speedgoat 7 name on the toe is the right way up too, unlike the Mafate 5 which tried to be a bit cool. The orange heel tab looks great, but it’s both large and a little fiddly to get your finger into – can we just have normal ones back?

Overall though, it’s a fantastic-looking trail shoe, especially in this dark green colourway with gold writing – crushed it HOKA.

Bad Day to Be a Technical Trail

With other shoes in HOKA’s lineup taking care of maximum stack and gravel approaches, the Speedgoat has been left to do what it does best – tackle untamed trails all damn day. It’s comfy and light, so I won’t be surprised if you see it on the feet of hikers and fastpackers as well as trail runners.

The new foam is fast and fun, allowing you to still make the most of easier sections without sacrificing the confidence you need to power through the rough stuff. After seven iterations, the Speedgoat knows exactly what it is, and it’s safe to say, it’s goated.

Enough shoe chat, I’m outta here!

Photos by @eandrewsphoto