Which should you buy?
Choose the Vectiv Enduris 4 if you mostly run long on smooth to moderate trails and want a stable, rolling ride for less.
Choose the Speedgoat 7 if your trails are technical, muddy or off-camber and you want the livelier, more cushioned shoe.
The Vectiv Enduris 4 is 10 g heavier than the Speedgoat 7. It has 5 mm less foam under the heel. Its drop is 6 mm against 4 mm. It costs £15 less at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | Vectiv Enduris 4The North Face | Speedgoat 7HOKA |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 91/100 (1 review) | 91/100 (2 reviews) |
| Type | Trail | Trail |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 291 g | 281 g |
| Heel stack | 32 mm | 37 mm |
| Drop | 6 mm | 4 mm |
| Cushioning | Balanced | Soft |
| Bounce | Lively | Lively |
| Plate | Plate / rods | No plate |
| Support | Inherently stable | Neutral |
| Fit | True to size | Runs small |
| Widths | standard | standard |
| Waterproof version | No | HOKA Speedgoat 7 GTX |
| UK RRP | £145 | £160 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedReviewers rate both highly for different strengths. Road Trail Run's Jeff Valliere and Jen Schmidt praised The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4's stable platform, smooth rocker and roomy forefoot, though it was less nimble on technical ground. They praised the HOKA Speedgoat 7's secure hold on technical ground and sticky Vibram grip, but Schmidt flagged a tapered toe box.
Vectiv Enduris 4
- Secure, stable fit with a roomy forefoot
- Smooth, efficient rocker that keeps long miles rolling
- Durable outsole that grips across most conditions
- Some testers could feel the plate along the outer forefoot
- Less nimble and flexible on technical ground
Scores from Road Trail Run.
Speedgoat 7
- Excellent lockdown on technical, off-camber ground
- Livelier, bouncier foam than the Speedgoat 6
- Vibram Megagrip that sticks in wet and mud
- Upper feels rugged and a bit scratchy
- Runs smaller than earlier Speedgoats
Scores from RunRepeat, Road Trail Run.
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4: Supercritical Dream foam, deeper 4 mm lugs (up from 3.5 mm) and a TPU plate-and-cage that adds stability.
HOKA Speedgoat 7: A new supercritical foam that feels livelier and less spongy than the Speedgoat 6, with a firmer midfoot and heel hold and a slightly refined rocker.
About each shoe
About the Vectiv Enduris 4
The North Face describes the VECTIV Enduris 4 as a super stable, cushioned all-rounder for trail adventures of any distance, on terrain from gravel to rocky trail. Within the range it is the everyday training option, less race-focused than the carbon-plated Summit Vectiv Pro 3 and more trail-oriented than the road-to-trail Altamesa 500 v2.
Its midsole uses DREAM, a supercritical foam that the brand describes as light and ultra-cushioned. Instead of a carbon plate, the shoe relies on a TPU plate and cage for stability. A SURFACE CTRL outsole with 4 mm lugs, up from 3.5 mm on the previous Enduris, is aimed at what The North Face calls unpredictable surfaces. The heel stack is 32 mm and the drop 6 mm, and the shoe comes in a standard width.
Specs and features from thenorthface.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
About the Speedgoat 7
A cornerstone of HOKA's trail range, the Speedgoat is a cushioned all-rounder for mixed terrain, now in its seventh version. It sits between the lighter, lower Zinal 3, which uses the same supercritical EVA on a narrower platform, and the taller Mafate 5, built for long mountain days and ultra distances.
The headline change from the Speedgoat 6 is the midsole: compression-moulded EVA gives way to supercritical EVA foam, and a gentle rocker has been added. There is no rock plate. Grip comes from a Vibram Megagrip outsole with Vibram's Traction Lug design, and HOKA quotes a 5 mm lug depth. The mesh upper has reflective details. The men's version has a 37 mm heel stack and weighs 281 g in a UK 8.5. A waterproof Speedgoat 7 GTX is also offered for wet conditions, extending the line beyond the standard mesh model.
Specs and features from runrepeat.com, roadtrailrun.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Vectiv Enduris 4 vs Speedgoat 7
In short
Two cushioned, do-everything trail shoes. The Speedgoat 7 has the taller, livelier stack and locks down better on technical, off-camber ground. The Enduris 4 is £15 cheaper and very stable, with a TPU plate and a smooth rocker that keep long, runnable miles rolling.
- LighterSpeedgoat 7
- CheaperVectiv Enduris 4
- More foamSpeedgoat 7
Get the full story
The North FaceEverything on the Vectiv Enduris 43 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Vectiv Enduris 4
HOKAEverything on the Speedgoat 73 video reviews, scores from 2 published reviews, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Speedgoat 7More comparisons
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