Testing the new Hoka Speedgoat 5 trail runners

I tested out my new Hoka Speedgoat 5 trail running shoes for a test run today. Pam LeBlanc photo

I tossed my old running shoes in the trash last week and laced up a new pair this morning.

My Hoka One One Speedgoat 5 shoes may not make me run faster – or maybe they do, I’m not sure – but I sure like the orange-blue color scheme.

They’ve got nice lugs on the bottom, too, which make them good for trail running, and I think they’ll work for backpacking too. (I switched from heavy hiking boots to trail runners for backpacking years ago and will never go back.) These shoes feel extra grippy.

But this morning’s run just took me on an easy 5 miles around my neighborhood. No gravel to skid on, no rocks to clamber up, no tree roots to leap. They felt cushy and comfortable on flat pavement.? They’re light, too. Even with Hoka’s classic thick sole, my new Speedgoats are lighter than the Brooks I just retired.

What brand running shoes do you wear?