18 in Trail Running Shoes
Hoka - Challenger ATR 5
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 24, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
6
3
"Hoka Challenger in wide with custom insoles, (I use Archcrafters), is my perfect"
"Always loved the wide Hoka models for my thick toes"
"Always felt a bit too narrow (esp in to box) ... I got the challengers and love them."
22
4
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
"I absolutely love Hoka Challengers. ... Work well on streets and less technical trails ... I fell in love taking them to Peru ... now use them anytime I need a hybrid."
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"the tread doesn’t wear too quickly on the tarmac ... I’m about 1200k into this pair and probably looking to replace them soon."
"I’ve just passed 120k on this pair and no problems apart from some slight wear on the tread of the heel (the first thing that always goes for me). ... My previous pair lasted about the same amount of time too so I’ve never had issues."
"They last pretty well too ... my most recent ones going for 1,200k before I retired them"
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1
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"I think the Challenger is like the Clifton with better grip."
"Ideal for longer undulating ( dry) British countryside ."
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"They’re like wearing slippers compared to my Speedgoats."
"I even ran my first marathon in them on the road XD"
"i am a big guy (6’0 270lb) and i prefer my challengers over my speedgoats. ... the challengers are just more comfortable as a beginner."
Disliked most:
1
4
"Mine developed a tear pretty quickly (100 miles or so) ... the grip started coming away from the sole… ... they were relegated to dog walking shoes after about 150 miles. ... do not last."
"Yeah same I loved my Challengers for about 100k. Won't get them again in a hurry ... Mine developed a tear pretty quickly (100 miles or so), the grip started coming away from the sole… they were relegated to dog walking shoes after about 150 miles."
"mine didn’t last as long as I’d hoped"
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"had some real, uhm, "challenges" with my knee (very swollen) after my last 100 ... feel like I might need a bit more "cushion" for a 100 ... I've had horrible knee swelling after a 100 in Challengers and obviously that could be from a lot of different things BUT I wondered if a bit more cushion might help mitigate the issue."
"had some real, uhm, "challenges" with my knee (very swollen) after my last 100 and feel like I might need a bit more "cushion" for a 100. ... I've had horrible knee swelling after a 100 in Challengers and obviously that could be from a lot of different things BUT I wondered if a bit more cushion might help mitigate the issue."
"My feet get sore in the challengers a lot faster than the zegama."
0
5
"bad enough at that in wet weather"
"I just look like Bambi on ice running along the coast paths. ... Yeah they are for sure slowing me down."
"I just look like Bambi on ice running along the coast paths."
0
2
"I found the foam to be unstable"
"Hoka are also comfy if you stay clear of the racing shoes - Challenger ATR or Speedgoat. ... I’d suggest avoiding the S/Lab Genesis, Tecton X3, Mafate 5, Prodigio Pro, Nike Trail Ultra, or anything with a PEBA Foam or really pronounced rocker. They will be too squishy, unstable and wobbly underfoot."
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"Just beware that wide in most traditional shoes, Hoka included, widens the midfoot without really widening the toebox. ... I have wide Challengers I was trying out and they're great shoes, but the pointy little toebox just isn't working for me. ... My two big toes have some pretty awful blisters right now from being pressed in."
"Just beware that wide in most traditional shoes, Hoka included, widens the midfoot without really widening the toebox. ... I have wide Challengers I was trying out and they're great shoes, but the pointy little toebox just isn't working for me. ... My two big toes have some pretty awful blisters right now from being pressed in."
"Where are your feet wide? If it's in the toebox, I'd avoid Hoka. Their wides widen the midfoot a bit, but they still have a pointy, narrow toebox. ... I tried Challengers in wide and they ran great, but ultimately didn't work for me because of the narrow toebox. ... Yes - that's the wide version that didn't work for me and in that picture I linked."
Admirable_Avocado_45 1.0100% Hoka Challenger wide
CALL_ME_ISHMAEBY 1.0Wide versions of both Speedgoat and Challenger are good to me.
I’ve bought wide versions of both the Speedgoat and Challenger. Altra’s have been fine as well.
Kelsier25 1.0Just beware that wide in most traditional shoes, Hoka included, widens the midfoot without really widening the toebox. I have wide Challengers I was trying out and they're great shoes, but the pointy little toebox just isn't working for me. My two big toes have some pretty awful blisters right now from being pressed in.
Not many options unfortunately. Hoka "wide" versions just seem to widen the midfoot, but the toebox is still pretty tiny. I currently have Challengers in a wide and it's almost comical how pointy the toebox gets. If you really need a wide toebox, Altra and Topo are about the only options. They're the only ones I can run in without getting gnarly toe blisters. I find Altra to be more comfortable, but their durability has been hit or miss and seemingly getting worse year to year. My Experience Wilds fell apart at 300mi. I'm not crazy about the Topo Ultraventures I have, but they do seem much more durable than Altra.
For flat feet, stay away from Topo - they have super high arch support that caused me major issues even with just low arches. I've been having good luck with Inov8 lately and have also heard really good things about Norda. Altra Experience Wilds were also nice. Hokas in a wide didn't work for me because they only widen the midfoot, but still have a pointy little toebox. Xodus Ultras were also a bit too narrow in the toebox for me for anything over 50k.
Where are your feet wide? If it's in the toebox, I'd avoid Hoka. Their wides widen the midfoot a bit, but they still have a pointy, narrow toebox. I tried Challengers in wide and they ran great, but ultimately didn't work for me because of the narrow toebox. Here's a Challenger Wide next to an Altra shoe: https://imgur.com/a/hoka-vs-altra-vCaqepy
Yes - that's the wide version that didn't work for me and in that picture I linked.
Lucky_lefty_123 1.0Hoka Challenger in wide with custom insoles, (I use Archcrafters), is my perfect, run anywhere shoe
I’m a fan of the Hoka Challengers in wide; but I also switch out the insoles for custom Archcrafters
Ultrarunner1197 1.0Hoka Challenger in wide sizing.
Ashamed-Attention-78 0.4I’m currently using both pairs. I like the Challengers for multi use trips. They’re my One Bag travel choice, where my time will be mixed between urban and outdoor use. The Speedgoats are my hiking/wet weather choice. That increased grip on the heel section is clutch when hiking down muddy/wet trails.
The Challengers are fine. I mostly travel to southern England and the trails there are easy. For running on the beach they’re great. The Speed Goats stay at home (Norway), where the trails are wet, steep and rugged. Both pairs suffer slightly from Hoka’s big weakness: durability.
hawth212 0.3Hoka ATR is road to trail and the all black model also looks pretty good for street wear
Blightlight 0.2Hoka Challenger ATR. Hoka runs narrow as hell so keep that in mind.
emilyg28 0.2Hoka has soo many models it's quite a generalization to say that new models aren't vegan. I wear the ATR Challenger and Tecton X and these are vegan.
endeesr3alm 0.2Agree, it really depends on how fast, how far, the ratio of road to trail etc. my Saucony Tempus are pretty good on park run trails and “fire track” style roads. Puma shoes with their Puma Grip are great in the rain or on slightly uneven terrain. Then you have what some call Commuter shoes - road to trail shoes with lower lug depth and softer midsole. Hoka’s Challenger ATR isn’t bad, and the Tecton X and X2 had proper gravel lugs that worked well, along with shows like the Saucony Xodus Ultra, Nike Terra Kiger or Pegasus Trail. Personally I’ve just run in road shoes if it’s dry, and I trust my trail shoes (currently Salomon Genesis and Hoka Mafate 5) in the wet or more technical terrain.
Hello - I would say that the Prodigio Pro will feel a bit too squishy for general walking around. I walk the dogs in a pair of Salomon GTX Thundercross. They’re stable enough, comfy, and waterproof. The Ultraglide are also a good option. I’ve also had numerous Inov8 Roclite, Trailfly which are also good for hiking if you like zero drop. Hoka are also comfy if you stay clear of the racing shoes - Challenger ATR or Speedgoat. I also like the ASICS Fujilite for walking. I’d suggest avoiding the S/Lab Genesis, Tecton X3, Mafate 5, Prodigio Pro, Nike Trail Ultra, or anything with a PEBA Foam or really pronounced rocker. They will be too squishy, unstable and wobbly underfoot.
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