While I love the Speedgoat 3, the new Speedgoat 4 hasn’t been what I’d hoped. Still a solid, durable shoe, but with some new issues. In regards to width and some comments pointing to this not being Hoka’s “wide” version, Hoka themselves advertise this as wider than v3. That’s what I am commenting on in my review. As for their “wide” version (2e), from my knowledge and experience, any “wide” version of a shoe from many manufacturers is built on the same last as normal widths with additional upper material, so not truly “wider” just more volume. This saves on tooling costs, yadda yadda. I’ll report back when I hear more on that specific model. Feel free to report back on your experience with the Speedgoat 4 below!

Wearing different shoes on each foot is right only if you also switch them left-right ,because our feet are different and also the way each foot lands on ground differs. Your reviews are always spot on! I remember your speedgoat 1 review about their faulty incline platform that i wished have known before i bought them,my ankles suffered a lot on them.

Just found a pair of new Speedgoats 3(!) my size on sale. In February 2020! I'm so happy :). Thanks for your reviews ;)

After running in the 3’s and 4’s this review is spot on.

Appreciate the review! Keep getting after it!

If you skip lacing the bottom holes, the Hoka narrow toe-box (a consistent problem with the Hokas) feels wider.

Thanks Ethan, just bought two more pairs of SG3 at a good price after this review! 👍🏻👊🏻

My “Running on Hope” sweatshirt arrived today.... happy, happy happy!

I've been watching your stuff for years, but I really think it would be refreshing to see some b-roll footage of the shoes in use, as opposed to holding it the whole time.

I look forward to getting my feet in these and doing a review myself, Speedgoat has been my all time favourite running shoe, so big expectations!

I really wanted to love my Speedgoats. Without a doubt the most comfortable shoes that I have ever worn. Two months in, multiple walks, no running, the shoes are coming apart. I'm not a shoe engineer so in simple terms: The "plackard" on of the top of the toe box has separated and flaps around as I walk. Glued down, failed again. The outer clear membrane also appears to be separating. It was a try. They are headed for yard duty.

As far as popular shoe reviewers, this guy is closer to honest than many.

my first hoka's i love them best trail running shoe i have had up to now

love the new Speedgoad 4. Put 275 miles on my first pair and was not disappointed. Just swapped in the Evos as my training shoe. I agree with you that the Evo Speedgoat is a better shoe and lighter. I'm running about 40-60 miles /week with 15-30 in the speedgoats.

Great review thank you

I came from the Altra world to Hoka recently... I tried the Speedgoat 4 and found them to be a touch too narrow in the mid/fore foot causing a hotspot. I ended up in the Hoka Stinson which rocks!

Great review!

I bought these in Wide. Ran 10 miles on my first run in them, and pretty comfy. Had a couple minor blisters.

Still rockin the SG2! Other than the fact that it takes 50+ miles of wear before they don't feel super tight, what an incredible trail shoe, especially for rocky conditions like here in AZ.

Was hoping for more than the speedgoat 3s as the 3s are my go to, I was getting excited for the 4s and what they might do to improve but it looks like I'll stick to my 3s while they still on the shelf 👍🏻 great review as always

I was told at The Running Event that had "wide sizes" available. However they did not have any at the show. I really like my Evo Speedgoats, but wish it was wider as it causes me some issues with my arch. Almost feels like I have planter fasciitis when I'm running (for the first few miles). I'm hoping it's true that they do have them made in wider sizes.

The SG2 was good and the SG3 is the perfect shoe for me. But the after 400-450 k the lugs are worn and the midsole cushioning is gone. But I am happy that the SG4 is not WIDER. So SG4 is not wider and will last longer with deeper lugs. So perfect upgrade and a sure buy for me. Great review as always GR. Thanks

I demo'd these and really liked them. I was coming off a pair of Challenger ATRs so the brand was familiar. Found the Speedgoat 4s really fun on singletrack (Santa Monica Mountains). I was worried the Goats might be a little too cushy. I ended up buying NW Enduris based on a friend's recommendation and the GR's review of it. But if I had to do it again, would probably go Speedgoat.

Looking forward to more reviews of the new Saucony shoes :)

Nice review. I personally tested the speedgoat 3, EVO speedgoat, speedgoat 4 and speedgoat 4 gtx. The speedgoat EVO was my favorite despite it being designed from the older speedgoat 3. It was most comfortable, most roomy in the toebox, the lightest and most breathable while still being aggressive and durable enough to withstand extended use on rough terrain.

The thinner tongue is a step back from the Speedgoat 3. Also the fabric that connects the tongue to the rest of the shoe (which was mesh in version 3) has been replaced by a thick one which is like neoprene.

I have the SG4 but I haven't run in it yet. I am waiting for snow. I hope it provides grip in snow. Mine is orange. I think that the blue one is the best looking colorway. There is a wide version coming out in spring to fix the fit problems if someone wants more room in the toebox.

Been a big fan of the SG2 that I picked up for $60 a year ago. Gotta get some of the 3s soon!

Bought a pair of the Speedgoat 4 GTX's whilst on holiday in USA (don't think they are availabe in Australia yet). Have taken them for a few runs so far and seem ok. I love Hoka's for road shoes but these are my first trails shoes by them. Like them so far, but need to take them on a few longer runs to really get a good impression.

Running my second 50k tomorrow in the same speedgoat 3s I ran my first in! Fantastic shoe

Hi Gingerrunner, You got it exactly right. Used the speedgoat3 before, unfortunatly it was too narrow in the forefoot. This speedgoat4 , exactly the same, could hardly tell the difference. However its pluche midsole feels more like Salomon 'pluche'. I like to go for Hoka One One for the long ultra's but Speedgoat has issues in the frontpart, Mafate issues in the backpart and other brands are just not comfortable, grippy (Salomon) or mature (Nike) enough

Great review as always. Now stocking up on 3’s 👍

I’ll try these on a few longer hikes. If they agree with me I might just use these for my AT thru hike. Thanks for the review!👍

I just got into trail running 2 weeks ago and i'm litterly using my allday white air force 1 shoes with insoles XD i'm kinda trooling looking at those actual trail running shoes, so dope!!

Ironically just ordered them because of they advertised a wider shoe. Hmmm doesn't sound like that is the case. I look forward to trying - thanks for your honest review!

Bummer regarding the lack of additional width. I have a pair of SG2 that have been solid but could use a few mm extra up front to make them perfect. Had hoped 4 would do the trick. Guess I'll be getting some 3's and look forward to next year's Saucony lineup. The new NB Hierro also looks really interesting.

Did you ever do a review of the Speedgoat 3? I can't find one.

*Dissenting* opinion: I tried to love the Speedgoat 3 but it was a tiny bit too narrow and I felt like the shoe was forcing me to run pigeon toed. But I LOVE THE NEW SG 4. Just wide enough that my toes can spread, prefer the new midsole material and love that the shoe doesn't force your gait to turn in. And it may be only 1 mm wider but feels like 4 mm wider. Basically my favourite shoe, maybe ever :)

Swap the insole for a thinner one, I used the insole from my hoka napali, improves fit of the shoe

Great review. So, where can you get SG3's for $88????? I love the ones I have and would be happy to stock up!

Been running in these since the day they came out. To me lots better than the 3. Much more responsive and less mushy than the 2/3. Have the Mafate 2 too and these have totally took over them. For me a better fit. Better grip too. Obviously slightly heavier but worth it.

These are my first proper trail running shoes they are amazing! ~I’m Ellis you may know me for interviewing Jim Walmsly or running a sub 3 half marathon at 9~

haha, how often do you test shoes by running with one of each version on your feet? I personally used this opportunity to buy another pair of 3s on sale! I love that shoe

Recommendation needed******* I am in search of more shock absorption, I tried on a pair of Hoka Speedgoat 4's, they were too squishy for me.....what would be a max shoe that is a tad less squishy but still offers rock protection and decent shock absorption. Currently i am on the other end of the scale with a 2year old pair of Altra Lone Peak 3.0s (stack ht of 25mm but feel like barefoot at times) which can feel a toothpick if you ran over one. I need some bounce, shock absorption, rock protection.......you get the idea. thanks in advance

Thank you!

Interesting. I’ve just got the Mach 3 to test (coming out in jan I think) and the midsole is really firm. Kind of feels a bit dead until you up the pace - then the responsiveness seems to make sense. I wonder if this is a Hoka trend?

Thanks Ethan! Do you use orthotics or any kind of arch support?

It is incredible how many companies fail with the width of the shoe, and the comfort of the toebox! Is it that ultrarunning is too recent? Is it that the traditional shoe standard is wrong from the beginning? I am thinking about the Speedgoad 4 Wide. Anyone has experience with this shoe?

Just bought a pair will up date 😄

Tried it on in the store the toe box was like wearing ballet slippers way to narrow good cushion though.

Might try the Speedgoat 3 over the 4, not too sure about the neon green outline around the tongue, kind of looks like something else

Picked up a pair of SG3 last week for $83.00 , may pick up another pair at that price based on this review .

Was bummed when I paid full price for a pair of 3’s and then found out the 4’s were right around the corner. Thanks for making me feel better about myself!! 😎

I bought this pair of shoes in men’s, I’ve really enjoyed my runs in them but I feel that the smaller tongue digs into my leg and I have to wear taker socks to not get bloody.

Great review as always, glad I picked the speed goat 3's up in the sale! What watch are you using currently and would you recommend it? Also, what's the grey top you're wearing this episode??

First Speedgoat I've been able to wear that didn't feel cramped.

What are everyones thoughts on the Speed Goat 4 vs the Evo Speed Goat?

Should I grab these or the Torrents for Marathon Trail Race?

I actually think the added stability is a big plus. I never liked the 3 because I just felt I lose too much energy, and that it was too mushy. The SG4 I feel like the more cushioned version of the Sense Ride 3. Both of them are perfect for the tech trails of the alps. I use the SR3 for everything lower than 3..4 hours and the SG4 of everything over that.

Have u reviewed the scarpa ultra spin shoe. I am interested in that shoe based on what I have read about it but can’t seem to find anyone who carries it in size 14 (European 49).

Ethan, I've tried the speedgoat 3 and the sense ride 2, both give me a little blister in the arch behind the big toe, which is a shame as I otherwise love the feel of the speedgoat. I need a speedgoat that fits like a NB1080? What is the magical shoe that I'm looking for?

I'm generally fine with narrow shoes but spending this last summer training & racing in the SG3s wreaked havoc on my toenails! Never again!

Fabulous grip and comfort (for a X/C) but still too tight around the mid foot (that's if you like the Brooks Ghost width)

hey , love the channel. What is the shoe that is sitting on the shelf in the background?

Are the Speedgoats good for running on asphalt as well? Thanks!

Hi how u compare speed goat 4 vs nike trail 2 new version which is better

Buuutttt....arent they touting a wide version of this shoe in the new version?? Thanks!

How r these shoes in winter time where it's slowy etc?? I would love to buy a shoe for my gf thats comfortable in the winter times, so she doesnt slide around and still feel comfort.

Hi everyone, been running with a Hoka Torrent for the past year and loved it (especially its wider toe box than the Speedgoat 2 that I used to wear). I was wondering how is the toe box of the Speedgoat 3 & 4, the Speedgoat EVO compared to the Torrent?! I would really appreciate some feedbacks in comparison to the Torrent! Thanks in advance folks :)

Thanks for the review. Yet again my hopes were built up and yet again they were dashed. When will Hoka release a properly wider Speedgoat? The 3 was simply too narrow. There is a wide 2E version due at the end of December: Perhaps that will deliver. In the meantime, an Altra Paradigm 4.5 review would be great!

Would you consider using the Speedgoat or Mafate on Spartan races?

im looking for a shoe i can wear during a standing job at a hospital. it needs to have a toe that is not soft mesh that can withstand if a surgical knife fell on it to not puncture it.. would the toe on these shoe be durable for this ? im looking for a shoe with great cushion, light but not soft mesh that can be punctured.

So for ultras it's either an Altra Olympus 4 or a Topo Ultraventure in your opinion? Have you tried the latter?

my foot is narrow n small...should i get sg3 instead 4?

When can we expect a Speedgoat 5 review? Curious to hear if you think the 5 improves on the 4.

dangit just replaced my hacked by trail Hokas with the SG4 and my first thought (after walking round the house) was, Gee they seem kinda heavy... will have to pretend they are 3's now in my mind!

I tried the challenger atr5 and found it more plush and joints didnt hurt after 13miles Ran in the speed goat 4 today for 9miles and ouch Joints hurt I run road to offroad The speed goat felt slower??and disnt spring me fwd if that makes any sense Any other suggestions for a shoe similar to challenger atr 5?

I compared the 4 to the 3 at a store and the sole is one or two millimeters wider. Also when I tried them back to back the 4 did indeed have more room for my toes to splay. So at least for me there is a noticeable difference there :) I'll try the wide version though before I pull the trigger on the 4s.

Hey Ethan. Could you please do a Saucony Peregrine 10 vs Hoka One One Speedgoat 4. Or just a Saucony Peregrine 10. :) Love the channel and always come here before I buy new shoes. (Hence the request). Cool cool. Thanks.

I feel like the width is actually improved a lot. And it still feels really extremely soft cushoned not hard at all. And half an ounce heavier, seriously? I dont know what you are complaining about

Altho I didn’t have the old Speedgoats, I expected more width compared to the Brooks I have. The overall volume of the sole and the rolling system is rather a huge difference to the Brooks I have to say. Let’s see what my knees tell me over the next few weeks...

I bought the 4 last week. And the toe box seems narrow. Maybe I need a wide. With thicker sock.

That’s really interesting. It’s all subjective, but I am loving my 4s and wasn’t able to wear the 3s because they were too tight. I felt like it opened up just enough for me to be enjoyable. I think you are on to something about the tongue and allowing volume in there. Maybe that’s what I enjoy 🤔. One thing I can’t stand is how the shoe is a vacuum for mud and the only way to discard it is by round housing a tree ala Jean Claude Van Damme. Unfortunately I injure my leg and there is still mud.....

im a newbie trail runner wanna be .. planning to buy speedgoat 4 this Christmas .. is it ok? thanks

I like them. The 3’s outer material broke down rather rapidly which was a disappointment. These look sturdier and still look good after a fair number of miles. Can’t say that I notice the half ounce of weight difference (not sure I even have a scale that would show me the difference). Width, yeah I don’t feel a difference either. Midsole... i must be a very indiscriminate runner, I don’t feel a difference. But I also run on Altra Lone Peak 4 with a lot less cushioning so every time I pull on the Hokas they feel very plush to me. And yes, I am wearing them right now.

I’ve actually loved the 3 previous models and the Mafate as well. My least favorite model is this SG 4. I do not like the tongue, but agree on the “likes and dislikes”Ethan commented on.

I bought a pair speedgoat4 and I returned them after the first run. The upper material it’s a little tough, and was digging on top of my toe. I was pretty disappointed, but I will say I felt like I was bouncing all over the place.

Got mine from Amazon 3 weeks ago for $160. Now three weeks later $250 on Amazon. Not sure why price jumped. Maybe it's being phased out?

So far I ran 1500 km with the mafate 2 and they still get up, they have lost traction and softness. Due to the high price I switched to goat 4, for me the comfort is enough and in the wide version there is really more space than goat 3 which is narrow for me.

Your ginger foot may be not wide enough to notice the difference in width between the SG 3 and 4. You could always break out your ginger measuring tool and measure it.

Received Speedgoat 4 today and it's a no, it's going back. Hate the tongue. My foot feels tighter around midfoot with the 4 and it's just not the same as the 3 :(

Ethan please don’t forget that the Speedgoat 4 is the first of the Speedgoats to be or already ( not here in Oz yet) released in a 2E wide. Which I am looking forward to trying. Keep up the great work you and Kim are doing 👍😎

I had to run about 50 miles for the upper to break in

Any good for a 10k Spartan race ?

Love your shoe reviews -- even though I gave up on wearing anything but shoes of a single brand a few years ago.

Thanks for the review. I live in the UK and am looking for a good winter trail shoe that is light and comfortable enough to train and race in. I’ve previously worn Salomons, but I’m quite tall and their lack of cushioning just destroys me during a race. I’ve never worn Hokas before, but I tried on the Evo Mafate 2 and Speedgoat 4 today. The Mafates definitely felt much better for me. No heel slippage in my normal size UK 10 and I really like the upper. Obviously the SG4 is beefier, with more foot protection and a really aggressive stable outsole, but it doesn’t feel quite as good on my feet. My question is, will the Mafate be able to cope with my racing conditions- going from mud to hard slippery rock to loose rocks, wet grassy fields, technical rocky sections and back to mud again? The SG4 outsole looks perfect for all that, but it’s a heavier shoe and I’m really leaning towards the Evo Mafate 2 (it’s just so comfy).

Unfortunately I could never get into Hokas because of their narrow and shallow toebox across the whole range.

Million dollar Shoe idea for any company out there. Brand Name: Squeakies- a shoe that intentionally squeaks when you land hard on your heel to make you aware that you are heel striking so you can correct your form when you are getting sloppy. Or, a device that will hook onto your normal running shoes that would make a sound when you start heel striking. I think this would be great because I don’t know about you guys, but when I first started running, I could not tell if I was heel striking unless I videotaped myself running. And I ended up over correcting to a extreme forefoot strike which gave me very bad shin splints. I feel like this would be a good way of getting real time immediate feedback on what your footstrike is actually doing as you’re running without encouraging overcorrection.

I just want a wide speedgoat. I loved the 2 and 3, but for the width of my feet, they're no good past a 50k for me.

Very dissapointed with the SG4. I was hoping that finally they fixed the pointy toebox, but like Ethan, I did not feel any difference compared to SG3. Unuseable shoe because of the toebox. Hate the idea that I would have to size up just because the toebox is being shaped like a cowboy boot.