HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 4 Review

Having spent the summer in HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 2s, I was intrigued by the offering of the 4s, pertaining to be a ‘winter-worthy’ shoe which as the GTX version, is also waterproofed by Gore-Tex fabric. Traditionally known more for their fantastic cushioning, the Speedgoat works well as a summer shoe, particularly when faced with a long dry summer leading to hard, compact trails that we’ve enjoyed in recent years. But sure enough the 4 holds itself very well as a winter trail alternative. Usually I would have swapped to my innov8 x-talon 230 which offer superb grip in the wet weather, but I was delighted to find that the Speedgoat 4s offer a more than comparable grip.

Deep lugs throughout the underfoot make for a confident foot placement and yet the cushioning which HOKA ONE ONE are so well known for is not at all lacking or compromised, making for a far more comfortable stride particularly on longer runs.

Having experienced one of the wettest winter’s on record this year I have really put the 4s to the test over the trails recently and was pleased to notice that whilst they collected mud across a particularly thick, boggy field they shed the cloying stuff instantly once on firmer ground. An essential feature to avoid turning into something akin to ice skating!

The black and turquoise colouring is sleek and cool. And the waterproof Gore-Tex section offers great protection against the elements, whilst still allowing for drainage when really soaked!

Smooth lacing and seamless tongue section ensure no discomfort or rubbing on the top of the foot, a problem I often face with the innov8’s more minimal approach.

Overall, I am thrilled with this new offering from HOKA ONE ONE and could see myself easily transitioning into summer running without needing to change shoes!

Written by Lucy Hume, RtW UK trail running guide (shoes provided for review by HOKA ONE ONE)