HOKA Tecton X3 vs HOKA Speedgoat 6: Battle of the Fast Off-Roaders

Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price

In the men’s, the HOKA Speedgoat 6 and the HOKA Tecton X3 share the same stack height, with 40mm in the heel and 35mm in for the forefoot. While in the women’s the HOKA Texton X3 packs 1mm extra underfoot, with 39mm in the heel and 34mm in the forefoot. Both shoes have a 5mm drop.

The new Speedgoat 6 now weighs in at 10oz (283g) – in my US men’s 9. The HOKA Tecton X3 comes in lighter and racier under 10oz, at 9.6oz (273g).

When it comes to price, the HOKA Speedgoat 6 will set you back $155 – the same as the HOKA Speedgoat 5 at launch. The HOKA Tecton X3 lands at a considerably punchier price – $275.

Design

Past generations of the HOKA Speedgoat and the Tecton X shared much of their design DNA. Those days are gone. The Tecton X3 grew up and left home.

HOKA’s speedier carbon trail shoe now cuts a new, more distinct path. The most notable changes come up top where there are new flexible Matryx uppers and an extended gaiter-like collar for a one-piece booty fit.

The Tecton X3 heel package has much less structure than the more traditional Speedgoat 6. There’s not much by way of a heel counter and the padding is limited to two race-style internal pads each side of the ankle.

The Speedgoat 6 overhaul was more subtle. There’s a lighter, new engineered woven upper with an internal support chassis to improve the hold and security. The Speedgoat 6 also sticks with more traditional medium-padded heel collars, a stiffer heel counter with external clip and wrapping, gusseted tongues. The Speedgoat 6’s dynamic vamp also isn’t as big or flexible as the Tecton X3 – a potential factor for foot swell on ultras.

The midsoles are now majorly different, too. The Tecton X3 midsole deploys a dual-layer PEBA foam with winged parallel carbon fiber plates that aim to enhance stability. It looks a couple of millimetres narrower than that GOAT in the forefoot, for a more precise platform.

The Speedgoat 6 has a new compression moulded EVA foam formula that’s lighter and aims to be more responsive and durable. The Tecton X3’s speed-focused rocker looks marginally steeper than the rocker on the Speedgoat 6

When it comes to the outsole, the HOKA Speedgoat 6 has a regular Vibram Megagrip rubber covering with 5mm multi-directional lugs and an updated lug pattern. The Texton X3 has a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole with shallower 4mm lugs.

Fit

I ran in my regular HOKA size in both shoes – a US 9. HOKA shoes tend to fit snug and the Speedgoat 6 is no different. The fit is definitely hugging without much room in the toe box. That snug, hugging fit limits unwanted movement in the shoe with that secure midfoot lockdown but for ultra, longer time on feet or if you like a roomier fit it’s worth considering half a size up or the wide fit option.

When I first saw the booty style of the HOKA Tecton X3, my heart sank. As someone with high insteps and fat, fairly wide feet, I don’t tend to get on with booty shoes. But that booty collar stretches nice and wide and there’s actually quite a lot of room and flex across the top of the uppers. So they slide on easily enough for a booty design, though I wish they had a heel pull as well as the top pull.

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Once they’re on, the fit is surprisingly good. There’s good room in the toe box and the flex and wiggle room that comes from the dynamic vamp helps. There’s good hold across the top of the midfoot from those Matryx uppers, too. Though I did find I wanted a little more support from the heel collars for just a shade more security.

I was happier running true to size in the Tecton X3 but, again, if you like things roomier or you have high volume wide feet, it might be worth looking half a size up. But sadly the HOKA Texton X3 don’t come in wide.

Performance

In testing, I’ve done a good mix of miles in the HOKA Tecton X3 and the Speedgoat 6. A lot of that has been on more runnable rolling terrain I have access to. Groomed, compacted paths, forest floors, field and grassy meadows, the kind of trails you can attack.

I have a few miles of road to reach those trails, too, so I’ve tested the road-to-trail credentials, too. I also had the chance to hit the trails in Chamonix (home of the UTMB) in the Tecton X3 for some testing on steeper, stonier ups and some more rapid and technical descents.

The HOKA Speedgoat 6 treads the line between road and trail really well. It’s great on the compact runnable, groomed off-road but can also handle more technical terrain. There’s a good balance to it. It’s protective, connected and just precise enough. A workhorse that lets you amble or attack the run with happy reliability underfoot.

It balances protection, stability and lightness and control with enough precision to take on the technical stuff but enough cushion to eat up a mix of road and trail over the long haul. But offers a more responsive than springy ride.

HOKA has transformed the Tecton. The X3 is fun, lively and energetic and now a markedly better shoe for running at high tempo on the less technical, more attackable off-road. This shoe excels on the kind of off-road where you want agility, grip, protection and security but you’re able to move with freedom.

The midsole is soft and spring and sometimes a little wild, particularly on the steeper descents where I felt I wanted a little more control. The uppers are a real surprise with good comfort and good balance of hugging hold but lots of flex.

My Verdict

These are both good trail shoes. The Speedgoat 6 is a responsive, reliable, well-balanced workhorse offering great versatility and range. It’s good across the pace spectrum and at most distances, from easy plodding ultras to faster, shorter training miles.

The Tecton X3 is a whole lot livelier, more aggressive, bouncier and more fun. But not necessarily something everyone will be looking for, depending on their terrain and their off-road ability.

If the Speedgoat is safe and reliable, the Tecton X3 is a bit more erratic. More gifted steep, technical trail descenders, might be able to control the Tecton X3 better – and get more out of it on trickier terrain – but for those of average trail ability, the punchier ride is definitely better suited to less challenging routes.

In the past, this would definitely have been an either/or. You wouldn’t need both shoes in your rotation but the rides are now distinct and there’s an argument that both could find a place in your line up.

I think the Tecton X3 is the more exciting of the two. It’s a lot more fun. But If I had to choose one shoe, I think the Speedgoat 6 caters more to the miles I’m likely to cover on the trails – the 80% of slower, easier efforts that make up my running.

However, if you’re looking for a racy, speedier edge for a runnable adventure, the Tecton X3 definitely delivers.