Hoka Trail Lineup: Speedgoat 5, Tecton X and Mafate Speed 4 Compared

Introduction

Hoka’s trail lineup covers three very different runners, and it is worth understanding the split before you pick one. There is a fresh update to the tried-and-true all-rounder, a brand-new carbon-plated race shoe, and a fully rebuilt version of the max-cushion classic that helped define the brand. Prices are a moving target depending on where you shop, but the recommended retail prices announced for the lineup were $155 for the Speedgoat 5, $200 for the Tecton X, and $180 for the Mafate Speed 4.

The All-Rounder: Hoka Speedgoat 5

The Speedgoat 5 is the go-to shoe in Hoka’s trail range, and this update borrows heavily from what worked before. The midsole uses the same lighter, more responsive compound introduced in recent iterations, and the tried-and-true Vibram Megagrip outsole remains, now with an integrated traction lug: a micro-texture that wraps around each lug, increasing surface area and improving traction by a claimed 25 percent. More surface area means more grip, and more grip means more control, especially when cornering fast on technical ground.

The upper is where the biggest changes land. Feedback on the Speedgoat 4 pointed to a stiff upper with overlays that some runners did not love, so the 5 returns to the more supple, flexible feel of the Speedgoat 3. A dynamic vamp built with Lycra in the forefoot allows toe splay during toe-off and flexion through the stride, paired with a breathable, gusseted tongue that will not shift laterally. Microfiber at the top of the vamp lays nicely on the instep, and a bolstered heel collar locks the foot in place. Weight sits somewhere between the Speedgoat and the Evo Speedgoat, so slightly lighter than before. A mid GTX version was also slated to arrive in fall 2022 alongside updates to the low version.

This is the shoe for faster-paced trail runners who like to carry speed through corners on technical terrain while keeping that quintessential Hoka cushioning.

The Racer: Hoka Tecton X

The Tecton X is the new name in the lineup: Hoka’s carbon fiber plated trail shoe, introduced in spring 2022. It keeps Megagrip on the outsole but uses a lighter Base construction with a thinner material, and drops to a 4mm lug versus the Speedgoat’s 5mm to cut weight without giving up the same traction character.

Underfoot, two new foams are stacked in a sandwich: a lightweight, highly responsive compound next to the ground and a lightweight, super-critical cushioned layer directly beneath the foot. The real trick, though, is the plate. Instead of one continuous plate, the Tecton X uses two parallel carbon fiber plates running toe to heel with a gap in between, unconnected. Think of it like a car’s suspension: the plates let the shoe adapt to cambered trails and obstacles, allowing immediate lateral movement while still propelling you forward.

Early impressions frame it as a racer, without question: propulsive speed on both buffed-out and technical trails, but with more built-up cushioning than a pure low-slung race shoe, so you are not feeling every rock directly through the sole. It sits where shorter, more technical racing shoes leave off and carries speed from there onward, and it is planned to continue as a line rather than a one-off experiment.

The Classic, Rebuilt: Hoka Mafate Speed 4

The Mafate is the original, the shoe the brand was born with, and it has always been easy to spot: huge cushioning, unmistakable silhouette. The Mafate Speed 4 is an entirely new shoe, new from rubber to laces. The bottom unit had stayed essentially the same for roughly four and a half to five years with only upper updates, so this one gets new foams, new rubber, a new outsole and a new upper, while keeping the Mafate DNA intact: max cushion, ultra distance, and a super-technical expression of trail running.

The foams mirror the Tecton X approach: a lightweight, responsive foam directly next to the ground, with soft, quintessential Hoka cushioning on the top layer. The Megagrip outsole is super aggressive with the right amount of technology in it, and the upper delivers the fit and lockdown expected for long days out.

This is the go-long, go-far, have-fun shoe, an all-rounder built for far and long days on technical trail, and the one that feels like the most fun underfoot of the three on big mountain terrain.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you want one shoe that does nearly everything well on technical trails, the Speedgoat 5 is the safe and refined pick, now with better grip and a more comfortable upper than its predecessor. If you race and want the fastest possible ride across a multitude of trails, the Tecton X is the purpose-built option, and the carbon plate comes at the highest price of the three at $200. If your priority is covering very long distances in maximum comfort on rough ground, the rebuilt Mafate Speed 4 keeps the classic formula with entirely new construction underneath.

A simple way to decide: everyday training and versatile trail running points to the Speedgoat 5, race day points to the Tecton X, and ultra-distance adventures point to the Mafate Speed 4.

Conclusion

This is a well-rounded trail lineup where each shoe has a clear identity. The Speedgoat 5 refines a proven all-rounder with a 25 percent traction claim and a suppler upper, the Tecton X brings a genuinely different dual-plate carbon design to trail racing, and the Mafate Speed 4 modernizes the max-cushion classic from the ground up. Matching the shoe to the way you actually run is the best way to get your money’s worth from any of them.