Speedgoat 6 Mid GTX Multi Tester Review: Winter Ready! 4 Comparisons

Article by Jeff and Allison Valliere

Speedgoat 6 Mid GTX $180)

Introduction:

Jeff V: The Speedgoat 6 GTX Mid builds upon the ever so standard Speedgoat by including a water-resistant Gore Tex membrane and improves upon the earlier mid variations with an improved, extra versatile ankle cuff (vs. a tall boot like construction). . This cuff is extra versatile, lighter and extra working pleasant. As at all times, the Speedgoat delivers prime notch traction and total efficiency, making this shoe a formidable contender for chilly, moist, snowy winter working.

Execs: Moderately gentle and responsive (for a winter shoe), traction, cushion, safety, waterproof higher, extra versatile ankle cuff. Jeff/Allison

Cons: heel raise (lacing the additional eyelet helps although), cuff doesn’t comfortable nicely across the ankle and permits moisture in, lace chunk. Jeff/Allison

Please discover the testers full run bios on the finish of the article after Comparisons.

Stats

Spec Weight: males’s 11.4 oz /323 g US10, ladies’s 9.8 oz / 278 g

Pattern Weight: males’s 11.6 oz / 328 g US 10, ladies’s 9.9 oz / 282g US

Stack Peak: males’s 37mm heel /32 mm forefoot (5mm drop spec)

Platform Width: 100mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 120mm forefoot

Most comparable footwear

Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTX Spike

Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX

Salomon S/Lab Genesis Backbone

La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX

First Impressions, Match and Higher

Jeff V: The Speedgoat 6 GTX Mid is basic Speedgoat in seems, with the addition of a Gore-Tex membrane and a versatile mid prime collar with a velcro collar (in distinction to earlier variations that have been far more harking back to a tall boot).

The splashy colorways may be a bit polarizing, not my favourite, however not all that unhealthy both, so I suppose I’m a bit impartial on the look. They really feel impressively gentle for a winter prepared Gore Tex shoe and in comparison with the competitors, are a bit lighter.

The higher is fabricated from a 100% recycled polyester mesh with a water-resistant GORE-TEX membrane. The toe rand is on the minimal facet, however efficient. The higher with GORE-TEX membrane could be very waterproof in typical snowy, slushy circumstances.

The tall “mid” collar is softer and extra versatile than earlier variations that have been extra excessive prime/boot like. For my skinny ankles, this tall collar, whereas extra comfy, is actually ineffective, because it doesn’t comfortable up tightly sufficient to maintain out snow and moisture (a criticism I additionally had for the earlier variations).

If I might counsel an enchancment, it will be to imitate the gaiter used on the Tecton X3 and maybe add some water resistance to it, as that gaiter snugs and conforms to the ankle with no gaps and is gentle and minimal. Because it stands now (except you have got significantly massive ankles), I might counsel going with the non mid model of this shoe, as you really want so as to add a real gaiter to maintain the snow out.

The velcro is safe and straightforward to make use of, however simply doesn’t comfortable up sufficient for me to successfully preserve snow out.

There’s successfully no tongue and no extra padding the place the tongue would usually be to forestall lace chunk. The Tecton X3 has no safety right here both, but I’ve no points.

Nevertheless on the SG 6 GTX Mid I do expertise lace chunk, particularly as as soon as the shoe fills with snow and melts, it will get actually heavy and I must comfortable up greater than regular to raised preserve the shoe in place. The decrease model of this shoe has a traditional tongue and I’m positive that might resolve that drawback.

The heel loops are fairly useful on this occasion when pulling these on.

Match is true to dimension and in line with the common Speedgoat 6. I do discover some heel raise and wanted to make use of that additional eyelet to assist with this. Whereas I typically dimension up a half dimension in winter footwear to accommodate a thicker sock, I didn’t must right here and there may be enough room for a mid weight wool sock, however when you choose actually thick socks, you could take into account sizing up.

Allison: Jeff describes the higher nicely. I too have the identical issues in regards to the mid collar, the place it doesn’t comfortable round my ankle all that nicely and allows moisture when in deep snow, nevertheless when sporting a gaiter, this isn’t a difficulty. I too would suggest going with the decrease model.

In snow and moist that doesn’t go over the ankle although, I discover the higher to be waterproof, heat and versatile. Match is nice, with sufficient room for a mid weight sock at my traditional dimension of girls’s 9, although I discover the lacing to be difficult, with an ungainly transition and steadiness between getting the laces comfortable sufficient and too tight and whereas I’ve not skilled lace chunk like Jeff, I believe having a “regular” tongue right here would assist loads. I additionally skilled the heel raise challenge like Jeff and needed to lace up the ultimate eyelet, which helped, however remains to be not good.

Midsole & Platform

Jeff V: The compression molded EVA midsole is just not fairly as gentle and energetic because the common SG 6, however remains to be moderately responsive, steady and maintains a extra constant really feel in chilly climate. I discover it to be nicely cushioned and forgiving, but properly supportive for lengthy outings irrespective of how chilly and the way laborious the floor is beneath (numerous ice these days and utilizing supplemental traction).

Allison: I agree with Jeff on the above, because the midsole could be very nicely cushioned, supportive and constant in chilly temperatures. I discover them nice for lengthy days in your toes and lengthy downhills leaving my legs feeling recent and to be steady in difficult winter circumstances with glorious stability and a predictable journey. The thick foam additionally helps insulate your toes from the bottom making them hotter.

Outsole

Jeff V: The Speedgoat 6 GTX Mid outsole the identical efficient Vibram MegaGrip 5mm lugs Traction Lug design (that includes small extra lugs on the perimeters of every lug) because the Speedgoat 6. The Vibram Megagrip rubber compound is among the more practical outsoles in the marketplace, offering glorious grip on nearly any floor.

I’ve run the Speedgoat 6 and now SG 6 GTX Mid on laborious on rocky technical trails, scrambled up and down slabs, run on frozen snow, slushy snow, steep unfastened off path, moist, dry, difficult creek crossings, restricted mud and have by no means had a lot as a slip.

Allison: Traction is wonderful in any situation, because the traction lugs actually grip in unfastened terrain, snow and every other difficult footing, plus the Vibram Megagrip compound could be very sticky, so I really feel actually assured on dry rock, moist rocks, and many others….

Journey, Conclusions and Suggestions

Jeff V: The journey is usually in line with different earlier Speedgoat fashions. Easy, energetic, soft, protecting and a very nice roll with the late stage Meta-Rocker that assists in ahead movement and helps encourage a fast toe off.

There’s a lot to love in regards to the SG 6 GTX Mid, as they’re heat, waterproof, nicely cushioned, protecting and have nice traction. Whereas I’ve not examined them personally, I might nevertheless suggest the non mid model, the common Speedgoat 6 GTX, as I don’t discover the collar of the mid model to be a profit and if something, is a little bit of a detriment by additionally not having a traditional tongue on this occasion. Plus, the Speedgoat 6 GTX prices $10 much less and both manner, you might be possible going to want a gaiter when working or mountaineering in recent/deeper snow.

All in all although, it’s an excellent winter coaching choice for steep mountain trails or snowy roads and paths and in case you have a wider ankle and usually are not working in deep snow, my above issues shouldn’t be a difficulty.

Jeff V’s Rating: 9.2/10

Journey: 9.5 Match: 8.5 Worth: 8.5 Type: 8.5 Traction: 10 Rock Safety: 10

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Allison: The journey could be very easy, with a fast and straightforward transition and so they run lighter than the burden would counsel, and in my ladies’s 9, they do really feel very gentle and fast. They’re glorious for chilly, snowy winter days, heat as they’re waterproof and have nice traction. Nevertheless if the snow is recent and deep, a gaiter is a should, because the mid collar is not going to be efficient right here for most individuals (except you have got a thicker ankle). In any other case, the SG6 Mid GTX is a good winter choice.

Allison’s Rating: 9.2/10

Journey: 9.5 Match: 8.5 Worth: 8.5 Type: 8.5 Traction: 10 Rock Safety: 10

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4 Comparisons

Index to all RTR critiques: HERE

Hoka Speedgoat 5 GTX Spike (RTR Overview)

Jeff V: The SG5 GTX Spike is a decrease conventional model and has the identical Gore membrane, midsole and outsole including options carbide tipped studs for added grip when on icy trails.

Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX

Jeff V: Whereas I’ve not reviewed this mannequin, they share most traits, apart from the mid collar, which I don’t discover to be helpful on this occasion and the decrease model has a traditional tongue that may get rid of lace chunk.

Salomon S/Lab Genesis Backbone (RTR Overview)

Jeff V: The Backbone is total a extra rugged, competent winter shoe, with a significantly better in-built gaiter that basically works nicely to maintain out the snow and moisture. The Backbone is slightly heavier, not fairly as plush, however over match is superior and total winter confidence/usability.

La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX (RTR Overview)

Jeff V: A winter favourite, the Cyklon could be very efficiency oriented, steady and has very good grip, a greater collar and is extra nimble. The journey of the Cross GTX is firmer, whereas the Speedgoat has higher cushioning and a extra rockered really feel.

Tester Profiles

Allison Valliere is a fifth technology Coloradan who’s passionate in regards to the outdoor and has been mountaineering, backpacking, snowboarding, snowshoeing and working within the mountains since she was younger. She has accomplished all however 5 of the Colorado 14ers (a dozen or so in winter), has many lots of of 12 months spherical ascents of 14ers, 13ers and different peaks in Colorado and the West. Allison has additionally traveled the world and trekked to over 18,000 toes within the Himalayas, to excessive altitudes in Ecuador and has labored for the Nationwide Park Service mapping vegetation within the Sierra Nevada mountains of California . Her nearly day by day routine entails runs/energy hikes within the foothills above Boulder, or 4-5 mile flatter runs at 8-10 minute mile tempo if schedule necessitates. However what actually retains her on her toes is working as a nurse and taking good care of her 12 12 months outdated twin daughters who’re additionally rising to share her love for the outside.

Jeff Valliere likes to run and discover the mountains of Colorado, the steeper and extra technical the higher. He has summited all the 14ers within the state, many 13ers and different peaks in Colorado and past, plus, he has summited his native Inexperienced Mountain over 2,100 occasions prior to now 20 years. He will be discovered on mountain trails day by day, irrespective of the climate, season, circumstances or whether or not there may be daylight or not. On the facet he likes to ski (all kinds) bike and hike, typically together with his household, as he introduces his twin daughters to the outside. Jeff was born and raised in New Hamp

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