Speedgoat 6 vs Ultra Glide 4

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 Ultra Glide 4 is Salomon's soft, high-stack trail runner built for one thing above all: keeping your legs fresh over long, rolling miles. With 38.6mm of heel stack and a moderate 7.5mm drop, it sits firmly in the cushioned trail shoe camp, closer to a plush daily trail cruiser than a nimble racer. At 295g it is not the lightest option out there, but that weight buys you a genuinely comfortable, protective ride that soaks up rocky, uneven ground on the way home from a big day out. This is a shoe for runners who value comfort and easy-going stability over sharp, aggressive handling. It thrives on smoother, non-technical trails, gravel, forest paths and long ultra efforts where fatigue is the enemy. If you want a running shoe that lets you switch off and just log the distance, the Ultra Glide 4 makes a strong case at its £130 price.