Hoka - Challenger ATR 5
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 5, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
6
6
"the tread doesn’t wear too quickly on the tarmac ... I’m about 1200k into this pair and probably looking to replace them soon."
"slightly tougher/longer lasting tread than speedgoats ... Challengers can tolerate it due to the tougher outsole ... nothing stops you from almost literally running them into the ground with how much of an outsole they've got on them."
"Must be 1,000km into this pair at least."
8
4
"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."
27
6
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"slightly tougher/longer lasting tread than speedgoats ... Challengers can tolerate it due to the tougher outsole ... nothing stops you from almost literally running them into the ground with how much of an outsole they've got on them."
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
6
3
"Hoka Challenger in wide with custom insoles, (I use Archcrafters), is my perfect"
"Always felt a bit too narrow (esp in to box) ... I got the challengers and love them."
"Always loved the wide Hoka models for my thick toes"
5
1
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"on dry surface, shoe is fantastic."
"I've used Challengers for some pretty technical trails and never had a slipping issue."
Disliked most:
1
6
"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."
"Hoka Wide fit is ok but tends to rip out at the bulge on the outside of the ball of my foot eventually."
0
7
"bad enough at that in wet weather"
"I do the Bambi on ice thing in my Challengers with any wet mud. ... They are a summer trail shoe."
"I do the Bambi on ice thing in my Challengers with any wet mud. ... They are a summer trail shoe."
4
4
"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."
"they blistered my feet even if I just used them for walking. ... Hoka Challenger 7 are the first shoes I ever gave up on."
1
4
"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."
1
3
"I did find that when I was using Hokas that I had an increased tendency to roll my ankle after about ten miles. ... The thing with trail runners is when you are tired, it is easier to roll your ankle. I have only found this to be a concern when I was using Hoka."
"I did find that when I was using Hokas that I had an increased tendency to roll my ankle after about ten miles. ... The thing with trail runners is when you are tired, it is easier to roll your ankle. I have only found this to be a concern when I was using Hoka."
"I found the foam to be unstable"
100% Hoka Challenger wide
r/trailrunning • Jack of All Trades, Master of None: Shoe Recommendation ->Wide versions of both Speedgoat and Challenger are good to me.
r/ultrarunning • Alternative shoes for Ultra run ->I’ve bought wide versions of both the Speedgoat and Challenger. Altra’s have been fine as well.
r/ultrarunning • Hoka Speedgoat - more durable, wider toe box alternative? ->My feet are a 4E width across the ball and pretty square across the toe. Hoka Wide fit is ok but tends to rip out at the bulge on the outside of the ball of my foot eventually. The New Balance X-Wides are my current go to, really comfortable.
r/Ultralight • Wide toebox trail runners that aren't made by Altra or Topo? ->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.
r/ultrarunning • Looking for Trail Shoe Advice for 50K Ultra – Wide Feet ->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.
r/ultrarunning • Hoka Speedgoat - more durable, wider toe box alternative? ->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
r/Ultramarathon • Wider trail shoes for first 100M ->Yes - that's the wide version that didn't work for me and in that picture I linked.
r/Ultramarathon • Wider trail shoes for first 100M ->I ran in Fuerteventura with the Challengers on rough trails that petered out to volcanic landscape. They were comfortable enough on sand and rock, but a little ripped up and worse for wear. I'd want something tougher for a repeat adventure.
r/ultrarunning • Signed up for 100k in the desert, need shoe advice ->Agreed. I do the Bambi on ice thing in my Challengers with any wet mud. They are a summer trail shoe.
r/trailrunning • Does barefoot/barefoot-friendly trail shoe that can handle mud exist? ->I’m a widefoot, but Topo Ultraventure is my favorite shoe for exactly this scenario. I originally had Hoka Challengers in wide, but they blistered my feet even if I just used them for walking. Hoka Challenger 7 are the first shoes I ever gave up on.
r/ultrarunning • Best hybrid shoes ->So I live in the UK, Cornwall to be specific, and at the moment a lot of the coast paths are sodden and the mud is THICK. I’ve been running in my HOKA challenger ATR 5’s as they’re my best option atm. (I’m aware these aren’t remotely barefoot or even BFF) I wear barefoot shoes for daily life and work, during the dry and less muddy days I typically run in vivobarefoot Primus trail. However, they are just not an option as I just look like Bambi on ice running along the coast paths. Does a barefoot shoe exist that can handle mud? Would it even be possible to add deep enough luggs onto a barefoot shoe? I may find a barefoot sub to share this to as well as I understand it may be a bit niche. Any shoe suggestions are always welcome, or any brands that have wider toe-box. Thanks!
r/trailrunning • Does barefoot/barefoot-friendly trail shoe that can handle mud exist? ->I was running in a pair of Salomons (I can’t remember what make sorry) and they were pretty handy in the mud, but the toe box was ridiculously tight for my feet so that’s why I’ve been resorting to my Challengers. I will check out your suggestions though, thank you! I think when it’s awful conditions I am better off sticking with a shoe with a decent lug that’ll keep me upright as opposed to being barefoot. I may do some more research on the vivo hydra’s. Going by the pictures online, they appear to have bigger lugs to what I’ve looked at on other barefoot shoes. I do agree with you about finding a 5mm lug on a barefoot shoe though
r/trailrunning • Does barefoot/barefoot-friendly trail shoe that can handle mud exist? ->Yeah they are for sure slowing me down. I was running in a pair of Salomons, which were great but they’re just too narrow for me so that’s why I’ve resorted to hoka for now
r/trailrunning • Does barefoot/barefoot-friendly trail shoe that can handle mud exist? ->Another vote for the Challengers…they’re so much more comfortable to run in than the SG’s.
r/Ultramarathon • Trail Shoe Recommendation ->Hoka Challenger in wide sizing.
r/ultrarunning • Looking for Trail Shoe Advice for 50K Ultra – Wide Feet ->I’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.
r/hikinggear • Hoka Speedgoat or Challenger for a 6 month trip? ->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.
r/hikinggear • Hoka Speedgoat or Challenger for a 6 month trip? ->Hoka ATR is road to trail and the all black model also looks pretty good for street wear
r/trailrunning • Looking for train running shoes that can be used for regular streetwear ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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