18 in Trail Running Shoes
Hoka - Challenger ATR 6 GTX
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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:
15
6
"They’re like wearing slippers compared to my Speedgoats."
"I just did Baldy in the Challengers so I’m sure they’d be comfortable enough for Catalina."
"They are miraculous, I can go all day without pain now."
21
2
"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."
"I run to the trails in my hoka challengers! ... They’re awesome I do such a mix that they cover everything! ... But when ever I run to the trails it’s the challengers"
2
1
"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"
6
4
"the tread doesn’t wear too quickly on the tarmac ... I’m about 1200k into this pair and probably looking to replace them soon."
"My old challenger 6 ATR lasted 600 miles! ... I miss them!"
"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."
4
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."
Disliked most:
5
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"
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."
3
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."
"the outside edge of the toe box curves in too early for my feet putting pressure on the small toe."
0
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"
0
4
"The Speed Goats stay at home (Norway), where the trails are wet, steep and rugged."
"For more technical and trail only runs I switch to Speedgoats."
"Not much grip"
Icy_Eggplant_8461 1.0My old challenger 6 ATR lasted 600 miles! I miss them! I have a 7 now but haven’t used much. Hope they hold well 🤞
Loose_Ad_9718 0.4I’m a Wisconsin runner. I run in Challenger GTXs (older pair) and use Kahtoola nanospikes after it snows or is icy. They don’t have as much grip as my Speedgoats but feel better on my usual city routes.
This is what I run on an old pair of Challenger GTX. Works great!
PhantomCranefly 0.4I wear HOKA Challenger GTXs and pack a pair of Keen whisper sandals. I just wear black hiking pants and I don't do anything that would require being "stylish."
Ashamed-Attention-78 0.3I’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 0.2Hoka 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.
Lessimon 0.2Hoka Speedgoat for trail + Hoka Challenger ATR for light trails and asphalt. Both are available in Goretex version.
michaelhoney 0.2Hoka ATR Challengers work pretty well for this. Suitable for running on different terrain types, and feel fine for walking the streets. I will happily do a trip with just them.
this is my answer too. They are also a good “just what I’m wearing” shoe for short trips, if your style constraints allow it
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