Speedgoat 4 – Available at Seven Hills Running Shop NOW!
Named for HOKA Athlete Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer, the Speedgoat 4 is part of an award-winning family known for making quick work of technical terrain. The fourth edition features a new breathable yet rugged mesh. Hoka One One included 3D printed overlays for increased midfoot support and an overall more secure feel. The Speedgoat 4 also boasts a more accommodating fit in the toe box, it’s wider for a more comfortable ride. Grippy on the uphill and secure on the downhill, the Speedgoat 4 is badass on every trail.
Phil’s “Shoe vs Shoe”
#1 – Speedgoat 4 (left) vs Speedgoat 3
1) Weight: SG4 weighs in a bit heavier, surprisingly so because you can’t feel it! 11.7 oz men’s 10.5 vs 11.1 SG3.
2) Fit: SG4 is wider! Phil, Glenn, and Arya are all avid SG3 fans and all agree it’s roomier. Glenn feels like the heel fit of SG4 is a bit looser.
3) The tongue and material connecting the tongue to the upper have changed. Phil feels like this is giving the sensation of more volume since the new tongue is thinner and the material on the inside is stretchier. Phil cut that material in the SG3 because it squeezed his mid foot too much.
4) Sizing: Glenn and Arya stayed the same as their SG3 size. Phil had worn both 11 and 11.5 SG3 and went with 11 SG4. Phil and Arya both wear 1/2 bigger in SG4 than Rincon.
5) Feel: The ride and cushion feel really similar to the SG3.
6) Upper: The SG4 isn’t as soft as SG3 which hasn’t caused issues yet, and may prove more durable.
7) Wide Width: It’ll be available for both men and women starting in January. Note though that the wide versions will have limited color options – Gull Grey for the men, Majolica Blue for women.
#2 – Speedgoat 4 (left) vs EVO Speedgoat
1) Weight: Wow! The Evo is noticeably lighter trying on both side by side! Size 11 men’s weighed in at 10.6oz and a whopping 12oz for SG4 same size.
2) Sizing: Phil kept same the size in both; Glenn went 1/2 smaller in the Evo. The Evo upper is so accommodatingly stretchy that Phil, who craves space, loves the room; but Glenn with a lower volume foot finds it sloppy—thus sizing down and tying tighter. If you happen to try the Evo on at a shop, it does still feel snug, it’s only when you run—and the Matryx upper moves with your foot—does it feel roomy.
3) Feel: the Evo feels much less present on your foot; Evo is softer under foot with less of a rocker feel—probably because the midsole is more flexible than the SG4 so your body weight flattens out the rocker. SG4 is stiffer so the rocker holds true. When not comparing to the EVO, the SG4 feels soft and not particularly stiff, but the differences are pretty stark when you try both side by side.
4) Upper: the Evo upper is so nice and hopefully it will trickle down to more Hoka models. @walmsleyruns says it drains really well too. The only folks who might not like the Evo upper are lower volume feet or folks that really like a tight fit.
This photo shows how much Glenn needs to cinch up the laces of the Evo compared to SG4 in order to take up volume to fit his feet, but once they are cinched up he loves how comfortable the EVO upper is. They just look a bit odd laced that way.
5) Price: Evo is $160 vs $145 for SG4.
6) Limbo: if you end up loving the Evo, you just might be in a bit of a shoe limbo because even we don’t know when inventory will run out or if Hoka plans on continuing it on. Maybe a Speedgoat 5 will meld the 2 versions together 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐?!
Both Evo and SG4 are available at the shop for you to try!!
#3 – Speedgoat 4 (left) vs EVO Mafate 2
1) Weight: EM2 was 11.6oz men’s 11 vs 12oz for SG4.
2) Stack Height: Mens listed as 33/29 for EM2 and 32/28 for SG4.
3) Feel: SG4 feels like more cushion even though it’s listed as thinner. EM2, like the Evo Goat, feels more grounded and less present on your foot. EM2 is much firmer than SG4 with less of a rocker.
4) Fit: With the Matryx upper the EM2 feels more accommodating of volume but the width between the two in the forefoot is comparable. Width in the arch area has been an issue with both Evo Mafate and Mafate Speeds that preceded it. EM2 is narrower in the arch, or a lot of folks say “has too high of an arch” or “I feel the medial side too much.” SG4 does not have that sensation, so much flatter or wider in the midfoot. Heel fit: should feel snugger in EM2, but it does have a stiffer heel counter (and one that comes up slightly higher on the ankle bones). A lot of EM2 complaints have been fit related: arch issue; rubbing ankle bone issue; or rubbing heel.
5) Sizing: Most folks should get same size in both.
6) Upper: The EVO upper is just so nice!
7) Tread: Both shoes are listed as 5mm lugs with @vibram MegaGrip, the tread on the EM2 just feels more noticeable under foot which should make it better in deep mud but less smooth feeling “door to trail.” 🐐🐐🐐🐐
