The short version
These are opposite answers to the same question. The Speedgoat is a tall, cushioned, 5mm drop shoe with aggressive lugs, built to protect your legs over rough ground. The Lone Peak is lower, wider and zero drop, built to let your foot behave like a foot. Neither is better. A zero drop shoe loads the calf and Achilles far more, and switching to one without a slow transition is one of the more reliable ways to injure yourself.
Common questions
Does zero drop cause injuries?
Not inherently, and switching too fast can. Dropping the heel changes how much load goes through the calf and Achilles, and the tissue needs time to adapt. Increase the proportion of your running in them gradually over several weeks rather than racing in a new pair. If you have a history of Achilles trouble, talk to a physiotherapist before switching.
Are these sizes accurate?
Both run reasonably true and Altra's shape is wider throughout, so people frequently size differently between them. Ultra runners commonly go up a half size from their road size to allow for swelling on long days.
How long do trail shoes last?
Fewer miles than road shoes, because the terrain destroys the outsole and the upper. Watch the lugs rather than the mileage counter: once the tread is rounded off, the grip that was the reason you bought them is gone.
At a glance
| Hoka Speedgoat 6 | Altra Lone Peak 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Heel to toe drop | 4 to 5 mm | Zero |
| Stack height | Tall | Moderate |
| Toe box | Standard to slightly roomy | Very wide |
| Outsole | Aggressive lugs, soft rubber | Moderate lugs |
| Best on | Rocky, technical, long descents | Smoother trail, long steady efforts |
| Transition needed | Little | Yes, if you are new to zero drop |
Choose the Hoka Speedgoat 6 if…
You run rocky technical ground, or you are on your feet long enough that the legs give out before the lungs do. The Speedgoat's stack takes the edge off repeated rock strikes and long descents, which is where most of the damage in a hundred miler accumulates. The grip is the other reason people keep buying them, and it is genuinely good on wet rock and loose dirt.
Check Hoka Speedgoat 6 on Amazon
Choose the Altra Lone Peak 9 if…
Your feet swell and cramp in normal shoes, or you already run in low drop and like it. The Lone Peak's foot shaped toe box is the reason it has a following among people doing very long days, because feet get wider as the hours pass and a tapered toe box is what causes the hot spots. Zero drop needs an adaptation period measured in weeks, not runs.
Check Altra Lone Peak 9 on Amazon
Full reviews of both shoes
Picked a side? We have written both up on their own, including where each one falls short: Hoka Speedgoat 6 review and Altra Lone Peak 9 review.
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.