Speedgoat 6 vs Fast-Trac Nitro 3

The Hoka Speedgoat 6 is the do-everything trail running shoe that most runners reach for first, and for good reason. This is a max-cushioned trail workhorse built to swallow big miles on rough ground without beating up your legs. At 278g with a 5mm drop it is not the lightest trail shoe out there, but the deep, protective ride and grippy, aggressive-lugged outsole make it a genuine one-shoe quiver for anything from a muddy local loop to a mountain ultra. We rate it as the safe, sensible pick when you want cushion, grip and durability over outright speed. If you want a plated racer for shorter, faster efforts the Hoka Tecton X 3 is the sharper tool, and the newer Speedgoat 7 refines the same recipe. For most trail runners chasing distance and comfort, though, the Speedgoat 6 remains one of the most trustworthy trail shoes you can buy.

The Puma Fast-Trac Nitro 3 is a lightweight, do-it-all trail running shoe built for runners who want one pair to cover most of what the UK throws at them. It is not an ultra cruiser and it is not a stripped-out racer. It sits in the sweet spot between the two: agile enough to feel fast on rolling singletrack, cushioned enough to hold up on a longer day out. At 290g with an 8mm drop, it is nicely balanced, and the nitrogen-infused Nitro foam gives you a lively, springy return that keeps tired legs turning over. The grippy outsole is the real story here, biting confidently into wet grass, mud and loose gravel where plenty of rivals slither. If you want a versatile, well-priced trail shoe for training, mixed terrain and the odd race, we rate it highly. The closest rival is the Saucony Peregrine 16, and the Puma holds its own.