Hoka - Challenger Series
Models:
Challenger ATR 6 GTX
Challenger 7
Challenger 7 GTX
Challenger 8
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:
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."
13
9
"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 got some hoka challenger 7’s with 600 miles on them! ... They’re toast now but have held up so well!"
"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!"
20
7
"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."
31
4
"I got some hoka challenger 7’s with 600 miles on them! ... They’re toast now but have held up so well!"
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
"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"
9
7
"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."
Disliked most:
0
6
"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."
"The Speed Goats stay at home (Norway), where the trails are wet, steep and rugged."
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 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."
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."
4
3
"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."
"pointy little toebox ... I got them in a wide and still got massive blisters on the insides of my big toes ... if you need a wide toebox, you may have similar issues"
"pointy little toebox ... I got them in a wide and still got massive blisters on the insides of my big toes ... if you need a wide toebox, you may have similar issues."
0
5
"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"
5lipn5lide 1.0I’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.
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.
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).
I have a love/hate relationship with Hoka. I've had two amazing pairs of Challengers and a pair of Speedgoats but I've also had a pair of each I've had to ditch because of severe rubbing on my Achilles. Same size and fit as what I've had before so can't find any reason for it. But I've yet to find shoes I like better than those models.
I’ve had three pairs of Challengers; first two were great but the third really rubbed on my Achilles. Maybe just unlucky as I will probably get another pair at some point as the other pairs were so good.
Aaron4_6 1.0The Hoka Challenger is a really good door-to-trail shoe.
Admirable_Avocado_45 1.0100% Hoka Challenger wide
aggiespartan 1.0The 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.
Agreeable-Hand-2941 1.0I 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.
aoifee_ 1.0I 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.
Ashamed-Attention-78 1.0I’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.
Astheworldterns 1.0Hoka challengers or adidas terrex for dry days, Salomon quest 4 gore tex for wet/muddy/snowy days
ausbirdperson 1.0I have tried ASICS Gel Nimbus TR and Hoka Challenger. ASICS is way more comfy esp on the road, but has slightly worse grip on the trails. Challenger looks much better imo, so I like using it as a travel do-it-all shoe, but for road to trail runs I’d pick the ASICS every time.
beady38 1.0I went back to hoka, using the challenger 7 atm. To be honest all my issues went away when I really pulled the laces apart and wore them super loose
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