The RW Takeaway: A secure upper and tacky sole give you everything you need for running fast on technical trails.
- Matryx upper locks your foot to the midsole.
- The Best Running Watches for Mapping and Pacing.
- Supernova Rise: Race Day Foam for Everyday Mileage.
Price: $160
Weight: 9.9 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W)
Type: Trail
Drop: 4 mm
From Runners World for Wahoo Fitness’s best trail shoe yet is light, roomy, and springy for running fast over long distances. The EVO designation means the shoe gets a durable, Kevlar-infused upper. That extra techy material comes at a $15 premium, but it’s hydrophobic so it won’t absorb much water on sloppy trails and river crossings. One drawback is the stiffness of the fibers, though a stretchy, almost neoprene panel over the toes provides a little relief. I’m a narrow-footed runner and found the standard Speedgoat snug, but the EVO fit comfortably—even our testers with wider feet loved the fit. But if your feet swell a lot, you may want to go up a half size. Underfoot, Hoka gives you its classic Speedgoat 3 midsole and outsole. The extra-tacky Vibram Megagrip rubber sticks to absolutely everything. It has enough surface area to grip wet rocks and roots, yet the lugs are deep enough to bite into mud and other soft surfaces. Because of that all-weather grip, I changed into them for the last 135 miles of constantly changing alpine terrain at Tor des Géants.
The mystery prototype that now holds the two fastest times in Western States history was released to the masses in late August, but you don’t need to be a record-breaker to enjoy Hoka’s best trail shoe yet. On the surface, the EVO Speedgoat doesn’t seem like much of an update. It’s essentially the Frankenstein mashup of Hoka’s two trail race shoes—it uses the midsole of the Speedgoat and the upper of the EVO Mafate. While that’s mostly true, what it really means for runners is a lighter, roomier, and springier Hoka for race day.
The biggest improvement in the EVO is a roomier toe box. Even for me, a narrow-footed runner, the OG version was pretty low volume, but testers with wider feet love the fit of the EVO for short runs and races. The addition of the durable, Kevlar-infused Matryx upper material also allowed Hoka to add that volume while saving weight—it’s 1.5 ounces lighter than the Speedgoat 4. That extra techy material, however, comes with a $15 upcharge.
Underfoot is classic Speedgoat 3 midsole and outsole. The extra tacky Vibram Megagrip rubber sticks to absolutely everything. The midsole foam is marshmallow soft, yet springy to provide a nice pop with each step.
Pros
- Sticky outsole
- No-stretch upper has a secure fit
Cons
- If your feet swell a lot, go up a half-size
Shoes & Gear
The Vibram Megagrip outsole of the Speedgoat has the best grip of any trail outsole. It has enough surface area to stick to wet rocks and roots like a tree frog, yet the lugs are deep enough to bite into mud and other soft surfaces. Because of that all-weather grip, I changed into them for the last 135 miles of constantly changing alpine terrain at Tor des Géants (200-mile race in Italy). Across the board, testers agreed, “The traction on this shoe is second to none. It never slipped or gave way under any condition I could put it through.”
oz M, 7.9 oz W
Lightweight uppers often lack the security you need for technical trails. But the Matryx fabric used on the EVO Speedgoat saves a lot of weight, while still locking down your foot for fast running. The material is also hydrophobic, so it won’t absorb a lot of water in wet conditions. It’s fashioned together in a light weave with a lot of holes that drains and breathes well, without sacrificing stability. One drawback however, is the stiffness of the fibers. A stretchy, almost neoprene panel over the toe box provides a little bit of leeway. If your feet swell a lot, however, you may want to go up a half size. At Tor des Géants, I had to cut holes in the sides after pressure created hotspots on the outside of my feet.
[The 5 Best Folding Treadmills of 2025 Runner’s World Training Plan, designed for any speed and any distance.]
Wear Tester Feedback
Shoes & Gear
Published: Dec 20, 2019 8:57 AM EST
“The Speedgoat was a real pleasure to take on the trails. I beat it up through mud, rocks, scree, rivers and snow, and it handled them all like a great trail shoe should. The ride was springy and smooth even on some gnarly downhills, while the traction was great on steep stone (granite) surfaces and scrambling.”
