HOKA One One Speed Instinct Review

First Impressions of the HOKA One One Speed Instinct:

Is this a Hoka? Where’s the huge midsole? I like what I’m seeing so far…then I picked the HOKA ONE ONE Speed Instinct up and examined it closer…

…wow, that’s a pretty light shoe (men’s size 9 = 9.0oz; women’s size 8 = 8.1oz). Looks like just enough cushioning for all types of trail runs. Not a ton of traction it appears but hopefully just enough? OK, so how does it perform?

Presenting the Hoka One One Speed Instinct. Definitely a versatile and nimble trail shoe.

Now for more details. In this review we’ll break things down in to five areas:

What’s good: the new, differentiating, or simply well designed or built features or aspects of the shoe.
What’s decent: the features or aspects that are OK but not particularly new or differentiating.
What could be improved: tweaks or improvements that could be made to make the shoe better.
When to use it: the situations or scenarios where the shoe excels.
How it compares: my current go-to shoes and how this compares

I’ll try to be as succinct as possible. After all, you’ve probably got more running you can do today!

What’s good?

The versatility. This shoe is versatile based on several factors we’ll discuss below. Wanna go fast? You can. Wanna slow down and enjoy a nice ride? No problem. Do you spend some time on the roads before you get to the trails? All good.

What do you want to tackle today in the Hoka One One Speed Instinct? Get after it!

The ride. Hoka calls the cushioning in this shoe Pro2Lite. The durometer of the midsole in the heel is softer than the foam in the forefoot. This means the shoe can get up and go should you want to pick up the pace. Additionally, like most Hokas the Speed Instinct utilizes a meta-rocker design to encourage a smooth ride. It works.

What do you want to tackle today in the Hoka One One Speed Instinct? Get after it!

The cush (i.e., the midsole). 25mm in the heel, 22mm in the forefoot. Much like one of my all-time favorite shoes (the Hoka One One Huaka) this shoe utilizes Hoka’s RMAT midsole. I really like RMAT. I think it’s a great combination of being plush not providing a good energy return making it responsive when you want to push the pace.
The fit. I debated on categorizing the fit under this bucket. The more I wore the shoe though the more I appreciated the fit. It’s not a super accommodating fit but there is just enough width and volume to keep things comfortable. What the fit does allow for is a nimble and precise ride. I know exactly what my foot is going to do in this shoe with every foot plant and that’s a good thing.

The fit is precise. I’d recommend wearing thinner socks in this shoe.

Like the rest of the fit the heel lock in is good. No heel slippage for me in this shoe whatsoever.

The weight. 9.0oz in a men’s size 9. Perfect.
The style. Does this matter? Not really, but I do think it’s a bonus when shoes are functional yet also look cool. The Speed Instinct doesn’t look like a traditional Hoka and that’s a good thing in my opinion. Plus, you have at least five colorways to choose from in each the men’s and women’s version to find your favorite style.

What’s decent?

The grip. The lugs are just deep enough and have just enough directional support for everyday situations. However, I don’t think this is the best outsole for tackling wet rocks and certainly not mud.

The outsole works well but I would be careful on rocky terrain.

The protection. This is not an overly protection shoe but because of how nimble the ride is you can hopefully move around sharp rocks as you pick your foot placements. Just be careful not to step on a sharp rock in the middle of the heel. Curious design choice to expose the midsole in that precious spot.

If you kick a big rock with this toe bumper, you will feel it. Be careful!

The price. These retail for $130. This price point kind of seems like the new normal nowadays. OK.

What could be improved?

The breathability. Somewhat surprisingly, the shoe runs a little warm. While Hoka claims the “Seamless Air Mesh on the upper is lightweight and allows for excellent airflow and breathability” I don’t think the shoe is super breathable. It’s OK but I think it could be better.

A less breathable upper than I would prefer. I think the next iteration can improve on the breathability claims.

The durability. I’ve put about 50 miles on these so far and I don’t think they will last much more than 250-300 miles I’m predicting. I’ve had friends completely blow out the upper and cause the upper to separate from the midsole so we’ll see how these hold up over time and I’ll report back if my durability predictions are wrong.

When to use it?

Fast days on the trail. This is a great trail half-marathon to marathon type of race shoe. Also, a great weekly trail workout kind of shoe for hill repeats, trail tempos, etc.
Everyday use for lightweight runners with narrow or average feet.
Door to trail. It rides on the roads well and transitions perfectly to less demanding terrain nicely.

The Hoka One One Speed Instinct is a great option in these scenarios.

Similar shoes to compare with:

Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 3: Really similar shoes in a lot of ways. Both weigh 9.0oz in a men’s size 9. The Hoka has just a touch more cushion in the heel and forefoot. The fits are similar although I might give the edge to the Nike here. The Pro2Lite cushioning in the Hoka is responsive just like the Zoom cushioning in the Nike. You can’t go wrong with either shoe.
Salomon Sense Pro 2: Again, similar in weights (9.2oz for the Sense Pro 2) and fits. However, I had some issues with rubbing on the inside of my big toes on these Salomon’s that prevented me from loving the shoe. The Salomon is also a firmer ride with less overall cushion. I would choose the Speed Instinct over the Sense Pro 2 but I know plenty of people who swear by both the Sense Pros and the Sense Pro 2s.

So, the $130 dollar question – should you purchase The Hoka One One Speed Instinct?

In a word, yes. If you are looking for a fast, nimble, precise shoe with plenty of cushioning to handle a variety of distances the Hoka One One Speed Instinct is a nice shoe.

Questions, comments, or feedback on this shoe? Please share! And thanks for reading!

Purchasing Information

If you’re interested in purchasing this shoe, please first check availability at your local, independently owned running specialty store. They need your business and are a great resource for the community.

If that’s not an option, please consider using this Amazon affiliate link. The return policy is great, and it’ll drop a few nickels into URP bucket if you decide to keep it. Thank You!

Meet Your Reviewer: Ben Zuehlsdorf

I am an avid running gear junkie. When I’m not smelling new shoes I’m usually running or racing around the local trails in Marin County, California or talking shop with the San Francisco Running Company community of friends. I was once a road marathoner but now have transitioned almost exclusively to the trails and racing ultras the last few years.

Disclaimer: These shoes was provided to URP/Ben for testing purposes. All words and thoughts are ours and no compensation was offered or received.

15 Responses to "HOKA One One Speed Instinct Review"

Ben says:

March 16, 2017 at 10:45 am

I know some folks have complained about durability issues with the upper. One of my friends even completely blew out the upper causing it to break away from the midsole. I’m weary and will report back if I notice any issues as I continue to put more miles on this pair.

Reply
1. Travis says:
  
  March 20, 2017 at 12:08 pm
  
  I’ve only owned one pair of these, and they were great while they lasted. But sadly they succumbed to a catastrophic upper failure at just over 200 miles. I get closer to 400-450 miles out of the challenger ATRs, so the speed instincts are definitely not a good value. I’d try version 2.0 for sure if they address the durability.
  
  Reply
Herbert Wingfield says:

March 16, 2017 at 12:03 pm

Not asking for free shoes or a job disclaimer: got any 220 plus big foot plodding guys out there to test shoes as well?
Thank you for the excellent free content.

Reply
Adam Haesler says:

March 16, 2017 at 6:16 pm

Thank you for the review I have been thinking of getting a pair for awhile.

Reply
Ultramarathon Daily News, St Patrick's Day Edition says:

March 17, 2017 at 6:53 am

[…] reviews the Hoka One One Speed Instinct right here. In depth review with comparisons to similar shoes and a promise to report back re abnormal […]

Reply
Eugene says:

March 17, 2017 at 7:59 pm

For rocky/technical running, the Speed Instinct requires some prudency from the wearer. Had Hoka One One chosen not to extrude the supple midsole through the outsole cutouts, this shoe would be just about as good as a neutral trail shoe can get, IMO. I’m still loving it so far, and rotate between my Nike Wildhorse 3s and the Speed Instinct most days.

Fingers crossed Hoka nixes the outsole cutouts in the second version of this shoe.

Reply
Icebug Oribi RB9X Trail Shoe Review | Light, Protective, and Fast says:

May 31, 2017 at 5:48 am

[…] Speed Instinct (My review here.) Again, you pay a weight penalty in the Hoka but you get significantly more cushion. It’s also […]

Reply
theorist says:

July 21, 2017 at 8:30 pm

Any preliminary findings on how the Speed Instinct 2 compares?

Reply
1. Ben Zuehlsdorf says:
  
  July 24, 2017 at 1:01 pm
  
  So I just received a pair of the Speed Instinct 2 over the weekend. I haven’t run in them yet but upon close inspection I’m predicting it will be essentially the same fit and ride with one key change – the upper should breathe a bit better and thus, dry a bit faster. They didn’t change the midsole or outsole so there shouldn’t be a change there. What Hoka did was to remove and rearrange overlays from the upper and, I think, use a less dense mesh. It may also be a touch more forgiving in terms of fit but probably not much. So if you liked the fit and ride of the first shoe this shoe should be improved. If the fit didn’t work for you I don’t think this update will work either. TBD on upper durability.
  
  Reply
Inov-8 Trailroc 270 | Low Profile Trail Shoe Review says:

July 25, 2017 at 11:48 am

[…] One One Speed Instinct (review here): I much prefer the level of cushion and protection the Hoka offers but I prefer the fit and […]

Reply
theorist says:

July 25, 2017 at 7:15 pm

I’ve also since had a chance to compare the Speed Instinct 1 and 2. First, I noticed there’s two versions of the Speed Instinct 1: an older one, with a softer blue insole, and a newer one with a firmer red insole (which seems to be the same insole as on Speed Instinct 2). I found the Speed Instinct 1 with the red sole felt about the same underfoot as the Speed Instinct 2. Not identical, but close enough that any differences could simply be due to production variation, which I’ve found a lot of in running shoes. [Note, for instance, how even the left and right shoes of a particular pair can differ in weight; I’ve found that differences are typically 0 – 5 grams (0.0 – 0.2 oz), but I’ve measured instances of 7, 8, 10, and even 15 gram differences. (15 grams = 0.5 oz). And these are for men’s size 7.5 & 8; larger shoes would be expected to show a greater absolute difference.]

I measured the weights of the three different types of Speed Instincts mention above (all men’s size 8). Here’s the average weight per pair I found:

Speed Instinct 1, blue insole: 8.6 oz
Speed Instinct 1, red insole: 8.8 oz
Speed Instinct 2, red insole: 9.0 oz

[I haven’t bothered pulling the insoles, so I can’t say whether the difference in weight between the two different versions of the Speed Instinct is due to the insole, or production variation. But the red insole definitely makes the shoes feel firmer.]

As far as sizing goes, I noticed the new upper (on the Speed Instinct 2) seems looser in the forefoot and toebox — both higher and wider (though still low and narrow compared to other shoes). Indeed, while the 8 is definitely my size in the Speed Instinct 1, I’m not sure if I should be in a 7.5 or an 8 in the Speed Instinct 2 (I tried both on).

Reply
theorist says:

July 25, 2017 at 7:22 pm

[The red insole that I mention is the same as the one pictured in your review.]

Reply
theorist says:

July 26, 2017 at 9:49 am

[And the blue insole is the one pictured on Hoka’s site: https://www.hokaoneone.com/sale/speed-instinct/1012561.html?dwvar_1012561_color=MSCY#start=1&cgid=sale%5D
I should add that it’s possible the reason the one pair of blue insoles I examined felt so much softer than the two red pairs I examined could have instead been yet another accident of production variation, rather than a deliberate change in their design.

Reply
theorist says:

August 6, 2017 at 2:03 pm

Yesterday I did a trail run in the Speed Instinct 2, size 7.5. I do mostly technical terrain, including sections with 1000′ vertical gain/mile.

Summary: I loved the shoe, except for one characteristic that makes it unusable for me. [This may not be an issue for others.]

Pros:
1) Midsole has perfect level of cushioning for me for the descents. The balls of my feet get sore if I don’t have enough cushioning. And the joint at the balls gets sore if there’s too much. I didn’t have either issue with this shoe. It was a blast bombing downhill in these.
2) Light weight.
3) Low drop.

Cons:
1) Traction just OK.
2) Heel cup is a bit low. I needed to lace the very top eyelets to eliminate heel slip.
2) The midsole’s squishy-ness in the forefoot, while overall great, causes it to loses some energy on the ascents. I’m willing to accept this tradeoff, though, in exchange for pro #1, above.
3) This is the big one: I’m a supinator, so I’m already too much on the outsides of my feet, and thus susceptible to ankle rolls. Previously, to avoid ankle rolls, I’d been using Vibram Five Fingers Spyridons and Vivo Barefoot Trails. But they don’t provide enough cushioning to keep the balls of my feet from getting sore, so I’m looking for something with more cushioning that won’t make my ankles vulnerable. Alas, for me, this shoe rolls big time. The reason isn’t the drop, which is low, or the height of the midsole, which is also low. Rather, it’s that the material used for upper doesn’t sufficiently lock down my foot. The specific problem seems to be there’s too much give in the material at the forefoot, so on off-camber terrain, my forefoot slides to the outside (within the shoe), bulging out over the outer edge of the midsole. The heel is also not that substantial, which may contribute to the rolling problem.

I had these same two problems with the Asics GEL-FujiLyte, which also resulted in unacceptable ankle rolls. Interestingly, I didn’t have ankle rolling issues with the Hoka ATR3 (size 8). There the upper is much more substantial, and thus does a much better job locking down my foot. Also, on the ATR3, it’s possible there is a “hammock” effect from all the cushioning, as if the cushioning is higher on either side of my foot (because my foot is sinking into it), which keeps my foot from sliding laterally within the shoe. Unfortunately, the ATR3 has so much cushioning the joint at the balls of my feet becomes sore; plus it has too much drop.

I don’t know if the Speed Instinct 1 would provide better control because the upper has less give (I didn’t try the Speed Instinct 1 I had, because I have an 8 and ultimately decided I would need a 7.5 in that one as well).

Reply
john says:

April 26, 2019 at 6:50 pm

speed instinct are ok bu they do tend to give you sore knees below the knee cap why I don’t know the tongue is annoying as it keeps sliding to the right for the right foot and left for the left foot this shoes be sown into the shoe like the atrs I have threaded the lazes thru to top to prevent this and it works very good on slippery trails though and if fit is too small insert thinner inserts

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