Hoka - Challenger Series
Models:
Challenger 7
Challenger 7 GTX
Challenger ATR 6 GTX
Challenger ATR 5
Challenger 8
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 5, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
37
4
"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."
"Definitely a hybrid shoe, though. ... It can hold its own on mid to high technical terrain, but it's more at home in gravel and hard-packed trails."
"I got some hoka challenger 7’s with 600 miles on them! ... They’re toast now but have held up so well!"
24
8
"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."
"They’re like wearing slippers compared to my Speedgoats."
15
11
"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."
"I got some hoka challenger 7’s with 600 miles on them! ... They’re toast now but have held up so well!"
13
9
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"Hoka challengers is exactly what I wear in this situation. ... They are literally made for road to trail. ... I run to the trails on rainy days, smash around than run home. ... Best shoe."
"I jog on gravel trails and grass every once and a while, and go through patches of pavement, and theyre great."
7
4
"Always loved the wide Hoka models for my thick toes"
"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."
Disliked most:
4
4
"they blistered my feet even if I just used them for walking"
"they blistered my feet even if I just used them for walking. ... Hoka Challenger 7 are the first shoes I ever gave up on."
"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."
0
6
"Mine did the same thing after like 50 miles"
"The exact same thing happened with my Challenger 7's after a few months. ... to have a massive chunk just fall off the bottom of the shoe is ridiculous."
"Where my heel sits is ripped through"
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."
"Challenger don't have good traction on wet surface (both tarmac and offroad) ... so I avoid them on wet"
3
5
"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."
"Anyone else find the foam in Hokas goes dead way too quickly? ... I literally got < 300km out of my Challenger 7’s before my knees started hurting"
"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."
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 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."
I’ve run my last two pairs of Challengers into the ground. Probably a bit too much with my last pair at almost 1,400k! I have had bad “luck” with my previous Speedgoats where the inside of the back of one felt really odd and rubbed against my Achilles loads. No issues with a newer pair. My latest Challengers feel a bit less tight on my feet but maybe I need to change my lacing. That happening twice to you doesn’t just feel like bad luck though.
r/trailrunning • Shoes: Hoka Challenger 7 ATR review / advice needed pls ->Hoka Challengers are my go to shoe for mixed terrain with light trails. They feel like slippers when they’re on and I’ll choose them over my Speedgoats whenever I can.
r/trailrunning • Trail shoes for mixed surface ->Hoka Challengers are my go-to for most runs. Must be 1,000km into this pair at least. And Speedgoat 6s for the heavier stuff. Went into the shop to go for something else after a bad experience with the 5s but they were still the best fit of everything I tried.
r/trailrunning • What shoes are you rocking at the moment? ->Love my Challengers. I use them for over 80% of my runs and the tread doesn’t wear too quickly on the tarmac; I’m about 1200k into this pair and probably looking to replace them soon. They’re like wearing slippers compared to my Speedgoats.
r/trailrunning • A versatile trail/road shoe ->I’m on my third pair of Hoka Challengers as they’re great for the majority of what I do, with a pair of Speedgoats for harder terrain. They last pretty well too with my most recent ones going for 1,200k before I retired them and I still use them for walking. (I’m not a Hoka fanboy but whenever I’ve been into a shop to try new shoes, I’ve still always preferred these ones).
r/trailrunning • Hybrid running shoe ->The Hoka Challenger is a really good door-to-trail shoe.
r/trailrunning • Road to Trail shoe ->Hoka Challenger 7. Matibay lugs nya sa road. At makapit din sa trail.
r/PHRunners • Road to trail running shoes recommendation. ->100% Hoka Challenger wide
r/trailrunning • Jack of All Trades, Master of None: Shoe Recommendation ->The foam on the zegama 2 is more comfortable for me for long efforts than the challenger. My feet get sore in the challengers a lot faster than the zegama.
r/Ultramarathon • Nike v. Hoka Trail Shoes for NON technical 100 ->I swear by the hoka challenger. I know some folks who only do trails prefer the speedgoats. I’d say go to a shoe store and get fitted up and see what you like.
r/trailrunning • Shoe recommendations for beginner ->I wear Challengers in the southeast, but I've also slid down more than one clay embankment.
r/trailrunning • Do you use your trail shoes when you have to run the roads? ->I had to return my ATR Challenger 7s the other day after 2 months (250ish km) because the glue holding the grippy bits on was failing. I got another pair to see if I was just unlucky, but we’ll see… they’re so comfy but I’m not sold on the longevity/quality.
r/hiking • Does anyone have HOKA shoes? ->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 challengers or adidas terrex for dry days, Salomon quest 4 gore tex for wet/muddy/snowy days
r/discgolf • Disc golf shoes? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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