The HOKA Speedgoat 2 ranks among the stronger trail shoes in our data. Cushioning and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 9 runner reviews and 6 other rated shoes in the Speedgoat product line. Another 3 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.
Good
89/100
Overall
Good89
Cushioning
Exceptional98
Appearance
Decent78
Comfort
Decent77
Value
Decent71
Durability
Below average70
Confidence
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on
confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long
record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low
when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Reviewers find the cushioning protective on long trail runs and ultras.
Reviewers rate the lugged Vibram outsole grippy on varied terrain.
At 9.8 oz, two reviewers call it light and nimble for the cushioning.
Cons
Several reviewers report the upper tearing early, one at 30 miles and another by 90.
Two of nine reviewers find it runs small, and one says the toe box is tighter than other HOKAs.
One reviewer says it loses responsiveness on the road, where the lugs are noticeable.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how
much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both
well rated and well established.
Confidence
5060708090100255075100
Better Shoes Rating
Speedgoat 2 rates 89.
This shoe has moderate certainty.
See how we rate shoes.
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Speedgoat
Each dot is one version of the Speedgoat, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Rating
406080100
912016892017922019892020862022982024792026
Release year
We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating.
See why.
The Speedgoat 2 improves on everything good about the first iteration and improves some parts. As a runner, I’m definitely mid-pack, and on LRC I’d be called a hobby jogger for my 35mi/wk of generally moderate trail running. I run 8’s most of the time. I’ve put these shoes through 200+ miles on mixed trails and find the shoes excellent on several fronts: the tread is grippy and durable, the shoe takes punishment in the toes and protects my feet from rocks while still being supple and not overly rigid, and the cushion is nice.
What I don’t love: the tongue is never an obstruction, but it does travel some to the sides. That’s really it. The tongue. I’ll take it.
Anonymous runner · Jul 12, 2018
35 mpw·training for a half marathon
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5
Good trail shoe, but not for rolling fast downhills
4/5
Overall
I like these for all around easy training, trails and paved paths alike. In the mountains, the stack makes contouring not ideal, but that's to be expected. I like putting a lot of miles in my training shoes, often well over 1,000 miles (including over 1,500 miles in a pair of the original Cliftons). With about 360 miles in my Speedgoat 2s, these look like they will go 2,000 miles for me. They are just breaking in for me, since I like how the mileage flattens them a bit.
I'm not one to rave about cushioning, even though I like Hokas, so I won't. I just like that after a ton of miles, because there was so much to start with, there's still enough cushioning under the forefoot that it doesn't feel flat under the ball of my feet. So I like the cushioning because there's still some there at 1,500 miles, not because I like excessive cushioning.
With that in mind, I found the Speedgoat 2s too soft for me initially, making the rebound not match up with my quick turnover. I ended up taking out the thick (5 mm) Ortholite insoles halfway through my first run in them, but the Strobel last surface felt harsh. After that first run, I used a thinner Ortholite insole, then a thinner standard EVA insole. Eventually, the Strobel last surface conformed enough to my feet that I now run without any insoles at all in them (as I do in most running shoes) without it feeling harsh. That also gives me plenty of room for my wide feet (due to bunions). Another benefit is that the shoes are 0.9 oz lighter per shoe without the insoles. I don't like Ortholite insoles because they are absolute sponges, and I often have to run through creeks in the mountains. Without the insoles, I realized that the midsoles are definitely not pillows. They are quite firm actually, but with some thickness, which I like. The bottom geometry of the midsole, including the 4.5 mm drop, work well for me like other Hokas I've had, with the exception of forward of the ball of the foot, which I'll go into later.
The outsole had good traction for all around trail use, while feeling decent on the paved paths also. They seem on the soft side, but I am super easy on outsoles (don't scuff my feet) so that's never a problem with any shoe for me. I like that they provide a wide coverage over the midsole. That's a big selling point of the Speedgoat 2s over something like the Challenger ATR (I had 4 pairs of the first version). The Challenger ATR rides much better for me, but if you use them on rocky ground, the outsole will start peeling off sooner than later (with the EVA shearing under the outsole due to stress, not a glue issue).
My main dislike for the Speedgoat 2 is that it's a bad shoe for running fast downhills. I like to let myself go, and go 4:00-5:00 mile pace on short downhill drops or longer less steep downhills, and these just don't allow it. I think it's due to how the midsole tapers dramatically from the ball of the foot, where it's really thick, to the tip of the toes, where it's quite thin. I just can't turnover my legs quick enough to blast the downhills, like I can in most other running shoes. Other Hokas, like the Clifton/Challenger ATR and Huaka have been great for fast downhills, so it's just this particular shoe. On the other hand, I can do hill sprints just fine in the Speedgoat 2s.
Note that many early reviews (2017) of this shoe noted the upper mesh developing holes in the usual forefoot flex area where there were little notches in the overlay. The little notches were stress risers for the mesh. Hoka has corrected this issue in the 2018 version that I have, eliminating those little notches in the overlays.
Running down hill- fast as sh*t!
Comfort for long runs- amazing
Durability of tread- that Vibram stuff is stout
Durability of upper - significant wear after 415 miles, only made them more comfy on my foot.
Appearance - girls think I'm taller
