Price: $140
Specs: 4mm heel-toe drop; 9.8 oz. (men’s size 9.0); 8.2 oz. (women’s size 7.0)
The Scoop: The Speedgoat 2 is a trail running shoe designed to conquer a wide variety of surfaces, from mild dirt paths to semi-technical terrain. It was designed in the likeness of Karl Meltzer (aka The Speedgoat), the winningest 100-mile ultra-distance race winner in history.
Who’s it best for? Trail runners who appreciate a lot of midsole cushioning and a high-off-the-ground feeling while running on various trail surfaces.
What’s New? The second edition of the Speedgoat has a more accommodating fit in the forefoot (the first version was too narrow), a slightly wider base for better stability and what seems like a slightly firmer and more durable foam midsole package (the foam in the first version would bottom out on hard impacts running downhill). A new engineered mesh upper is also an improvement as it increases breathability, adds mid-foot support and improves the fit with the ability to adapt to a variety of foot shapes. It retains the Vibram MegaGrip outsole from the first edition, but the 5mm multi-direction lugs have been improved for better grip on technical trails.
What we like best: Versatility and comfort. The Speedgoat 2 has just enough trail-worthy features to allow it to tackle all types of off-road terrain, but it also has the long-wearing comfort, cushion and flexibility of your favorite pair of road shoes. (It also has no trouble—and doesn’t feel awkward—running on paved roads) Like its predecessor, the Speedgoat 2 doesn’t have a rock plate but the high-stack cushioning keeps any rocks, roots or other possible underfoot “stingers” at bay. Perhaps one of its best aspects is that it’s fairly lightweight for a shoe with this much girth.
