HOKA Speedgoat 6 vs. Challenger 7 vs. Mafate Speed 4: Full Comparison and Reviews 2025

HOKA Speedgoat 6 vs. Challenger 7 vs. Mafate Speed 4: Comparison Table

HOKA Speedgoat 6 Review

The Hoka Speedgoat is a trail running shoe that's built for tough terrains. Named after Karl Meltzer, a record-breaking ultrarunner known as "Speedgoat Karl", this shoe is designed to tackle any trail. Its specialized design is perfect for taking on technical trails and conquering long distances with ease. The Meta-Rocker midsole design of the Speedgoat enables runners to achieve greater efficiency by propelling them forward during each stride, resulting in a smooth and natural gait. For multiple iterations and years, the Speedgoat series has been runners'top pick for big days of vertical and descending.

The Speedgoat 6 shines with Vibram's top-tier Megagrip outsole, offering unparalleled traction on varied trails. Enhanced with Vibram's latest Traction Lugs, including small protruding dots, it excels in grip during direction and elevation changes.The upper is designed for durability and breathability. It's made with a mesh material that allows for good airflow, keeping your feet cool during your runs. The shoe also features a wide toe box, providing ample space for your toes to splay naturally.It allows you to run at full speed with its featherlight 9.8 oz, much lighter than the 10.3 oz average trail shoe. This boosts not only your agility but also the comfort with its barely-there feel. The shoe's midsole offers a comfortable and responsive ride, making it a favorite among long-distance runners. With only 5mm of heel-to-toe drop, the Speedgoat can facilitate more mid/forefoot strike.  

As a true trail workhorse, the Speedgoat 6 boasts exceptional durability and comfort, ensuring it can withstand countless miles on a wide variety of terrains without compromising on performance.While the shoe doesn't get as mushy in the past its starting comfort for the one to two hundred miles is reduced. If the Speedgoat was your shoe of choice, you may be disappointed by this change, and I find there are more comfortable heavy vert shoes in the market now. However, if you're willing to be patient with the break-in period you will be rewarded with long-term comfort.

Hoka Speedgoat 6 Pros and Cons

Hoka Challengers 7 Review

The Challenger 7 is billed as an all-terrain running shoe and was completely rebuilt from its previous iteration.The latest Challenger 7 model is lighter, breathable, offers an increased stack height, and new materials throughout its design.

This shoe is a trail adaption of their popular Clifton road running shoe.  It is an extremely lightweight trail shoe, which translates to increasing the efficiency of every single stride you take. It is constructed with a very breathable mesh upper to reduce sweat and decrease the likelihood of blisters. 

Hoka increased the stack height for a more luxurious feel and added a proprietary rubber to the bottom of the sole—mimicking “gravel” tires. Deep and evenly spaced 4mm lugs span the front three-quarters and rear sections of each shoe, allowing tons of grip, especially on slippery surfaces.The fit is very much true to size, from width, to midfoot, to heel cup, it will accommodate almost any foot comfortably and securely. On Hoka’s scale of stability where neutral is on one side of the spectrum and stable is on the other side, the Challenger 7 falls on the neutral end of stability. They’re not a replacement for dedicated hiking boots, but they’re not meant to be. 

Thanks to all of the above, HOKA Challenger 7 is an extremely efficient and effective trail running shoe for all but the most rugged terrain.Those who loved previous versions of the Challenger will love this one even more. 

Hoka Challengers 7 Pros and Cons

Hoka Mafate Speed 4 Review

The Mafate Speed 4 is a little more of a niche option than, say, the Speedgoat or Challenger but has a loyal following.It's designed to be race-ready and handle the most technical of terrain.Featuring a Litebase Vibram Megagrip outsole, it is lighter than its precursor. With improved lockdown via an updated upper, it is ready to tackle technical trails at speed.The midsole is dual density foam, HOKA’s Profly+, with a softer layer above and an extra firm layer just above the outsole. You feel the squish when you plant, and then get a nice little bounce from the stiffer foam. They’re springy, in other words, which makes you feel faster which makes running more fun which makes you more likely to do it. 

The grip might be the most loved feature of this shoe. The Mafate Speed has plenty of protective cushioning for your longest runs, while having some "pop" when you want to pick up the pace.In the dirt, they’re like AT tires. Solid traction, even when running downhill. You can confidently run through a gauntlet of wet, greasy roots, squishy mud, then slick granite without slowing or bracing for a fall. Just what you want in a trail runner. 

Hoka Mafate Speed 4 Pros and Cons

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HOKA Speedgoat 6 vs. Challenger 7 vs. Mafate Speed 4: Comparison Side by Side

1. The Upper

Speedgoat 6 - Even though the Speedgoat 6 is heavier than Challenger 7, it upperfeels much lighter. This is probably down to the fact that the Speedgoat features a more premium upper fabric that feels more sock-like. The Speedgoat tongue is much thinner than the Challenger and the Speedgoat also features a more protective toe cap.These small features are what make the Speedgoat upper more suited to the demands of technical trail runs. 

Challengers 7 - Challenger’s engineered mesh is more open and breathable. But it also has a smooth interior liner fabric layer throughout all of the forefoot. Combined, the two layers of material decrease breathability, but offer a smoother, comfier foot feel.

Mafate Speed 4 - The shoe has an engineered mesh, or jacquard mesh, upper. It does a much better job of locking in your foot. There is a lot more room if you need it to lock down. The Hoka Mafate Speed 4 has lots of overlays. It has a pull tab on the back. Love it or hate it, it’s there, but you can see a much more refined take than in previous versions of this shoe.It does this better than really any of their other trail running shoes, this is up there in terms of fit and secureness of the upper. Especially with this new material, which in general, the trail shoe market has struggled to provide this engineered mesh, plus control.

2. The Midsole

Both HOKA Speedgoat 6 and Challenger 7 are made with compression molded EVA foam midsoles. The stiffness of this foam is fairly average, not too stiff, not too soft. Notably, the speedgoat is 10mm thicker at the heel, 40mm vs 30mm.When it comes to cushioning, both the Hoka Speedgoat and the Challenger excel. They are designed with Hoka One One's signature oversized midsoles, providing a plush and comfortable ride.If you're looking for maximum cushioning and comfort, the Speedgoat might be the better choice. However, if you prefer a firmer and more responsive ride, the Challenger could be a better fit.

On the other hand, The midsole that Mafate Speed 4 uses is ProFly+ foam. There are two types of foam in the midsole. The bottom layer is a little bit stiffer, and you can feel that by poking your hand into it. The top layer is a little bit softer. So the softer part of the shoe sits right underneath your foot, and then the firmer part is on the ground — adding to its responsiveness.This ProFly+ lands on the responsive side of a Hoka shoe — more toward the springy side. 

3. The Outsole

Speedgoat 6 - The Speedgoat features a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5mm lugs. This design offers excellent traction on a variety of surfaces, from rocky terrains to muddy trails. The lugs are multidirectional, providing grip both uphill and downhill.

Challengers 7 - The Challenger uses a rubber outsole with 4mm lugs. While it also provides good traction, it might not be as aggressive as the Speedgoat and Mafate Speed's outsole. This makes the Challenger more suitable for smoother trails or mixed terrains.And it even includes an untreaded foam section in the midfoot. This sacrifices some grip to increase energy efficiency on level surfaces, while also saving weight.

Mafate Speed 4 - This is Vibram Megagrip and it’s Litebase. This was on the Hoka Zinal, the first time that Hoka used it, and it’s a lighter-weight compound of the Vibram Megagrip. The shoe has 5-millimeter lugs, so they’re pretty deep. For Hoka and trail shoes in general, this is a nice depth of tread for even muddy conditions.Another feature is tiny little bumps all over on the tread pattern. These add extra surface area, extra grip when these things are biting down, so it’s not just the lug — it’s the lug plus all these little spikes. It’s supposed to add some additional performance.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

As you can see, the answer is not clear-cut. It’s primarily a question of personal preference and practice.If you're a trail runner who often tackles technical terrain and values superior grip and cushioning, the Speedgoat might be the best choice for you.On the other hand,The HOKA Challenger 7 is a versatile shoe that's great for trail runs and hikes.If you're a runner who switches between road and trail running and values versatility and a more natural ride, the Challenger could be your perfect match.

If you mainly ride on low or medium technical surfaces, the Mafate Speed 4 will clearly be more comfortable.Turning a pair of Hoka’s into a shoe worthy of the most aggressive terrain is just what they have done with the Mafate Speed 4’s. It’s almost criminal how much traction the Vibram Megagrip outsoles provide, but they do make it very easy to power through any trail I’ve encountered. Cushioning is as I expected (just right) and rebound too. If you’re looking for an aggressive trail runner that’s easy on your joints, these are on the money.

Remember, the best shoe is the one that fits you well, suits your running style, and makes your runs enjoyable. Always try on different models and sizes before making a decision.

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