What replaced the Hoka Speedgoat 5?
Updated August 5, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Speedgoat 6 replaced the 5 in July 2024 and is the version the fanbase pushed back on. The soft CMEVA gave way to a lighter, firmer compound, the stretchy mesh was replaced by a non-stretch woven upper over an internal cage, and the platform narrowed at the heel and midfoot. Hoka also restated the stack as 40/35 mm and moved the drop to 5 mm. Believe in the Run graded it C tier and asked whether the goat had to be demoted.
- Hoka Speedgoat 5Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Hoka Speedgoat 6Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 5, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- Weight is unchanged
- 7 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 4 mm to 5 mm
- New midsole foam
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Speedgoat 5 vs 6.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterTaller on paper, firmer underfoot and tighter everywhere. The review panels and the buyers went opposite directions on this one: Road Trail Run scored it 9.7 and Doctors of Running gave it straight A minuses, while Believe in the Run put it in C tier under the headline asking whether the goat had to be demoted. The 6 is a competent trail shoe. It is not the shoe people bought the 5 for.
Stick with the Speedgoat 5 if
- You want the softer foam; the 6 is firmer and returns measurably less energy
- Your foot needs a forgiving upper; the 6 replaced stretch mesh with a cage and narrowed the heel and midfoot
- You wear standard width and found the 5 snug already
Move to the Speedgoat 6 if
- You wanted more lockdown on technical ground and never liked the 5 stretching underfoot
- You can wear the 2E, which is where most of the positive reports come from
Where the Hoka Speedgoat is now
Two updates on, the Speedgoat 7 (2026) is what sits on shelves today. Against the shoe you own rather than the one that directly replaced it:
- Weight is unchanged
- 7 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 4 mm to 5 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
What loyalists said about the update
The only Speedgoat that goes negative. Reddit aggregation reads 46 percent positive across 396 reviews, 45 positive against 43 negative, the worst score in the line. The three most-cited complaints are outsole and upper durability, a midsole that stiffens or flattens fast, and a narrow toe box. One owner at 200 miles said the cushioning was on its way out and the midsole visibly compressed. The wide version is the exception; runners who sized into 2E reported the toe space they wanted.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Speedgoat 5 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Aug 5, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Speedgoat 6, these come closest to what the Speedgoat 5 did.
- 9.2 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42 mm heel
- $155 list
The road shoe most Speedgoat owners already have in the closet. Same brand, same rockered max-cushion idea, and since 2025 the two quote nearly the same stack. The Clifton runs 8 mm drop against the Speedgoat's 5 and has no Vibram under it, so it is the pavement half of the pair rather than a substitute on dirt.
Against your Hoka Speedgoat 5: 0.5 oz lighter, 9 mm more heel stack, 4 mm more drop.
- 10.4 oz
- 0 mm drop
- 25 mm heel
- $140 list
The other name on every trail shortlist, and close to its opposite. The Lone Peak runs zero drop on 25 mm of firm foam with a toebox that lets your foot spread; the Speedgoat is 40 mm, 5 mm of drop, and holds your foot still. Runners cross-shop them constantly, but switching is an adjustment for your calves rather than a like-for-like swap.
Against your Hoka Speedgoat 5: 0.7 oz heavier, 8 mm less heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $15 less at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Hoka Speedgoat 5 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the Hoka Speedgoat 5, but the size run is thinning and prices swing with remaining stock. If your size is there, this is the late window, not the early one.
- Is the Speedgoat 6 a downgrade from the Hoka Speedgoat 5?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Speedgoat 6 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Hoka Speedgoat 5 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- Did the drop change from the Hoka Speedgoat 5 to the Speedgoat 6?
- Yes, from 4 mm to 5 mm. A drop change this size affects where your foot loads at landing, so plan a few easy runs to adapt.
- Is the Hoka Speedgoat still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Hoka Speedgoat 7, released in 2026, 2 versions on from the Hoka Speedgoat 5.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Hoka Speedgoat 5?
- The Hoka Clifton 11. The road shoe most Speedgoat owners already have in the closet. Same brand, same rockered max-cushion idea, and since 2025 the two quote nearly the same stack. The Clifton runs 8 mm drop against the Speedgoat's 5 and has no Vibram under it, so it is the pavement half of the pair rather than a substitute on dirt.