Last updated at 03/21/2026 18:43:20
Mens HOKA Challenger ATR 7 (Wide) Harbour Mist / Castlerock / US 10.5
Free delivery between 26 Mar – 3 Apr
HOKA Challenger ATR 7 Wide 'Harbor Mist Castlerock' | Grey | Men's Size 10.5
Delivery between 23–30 Mar $25
originally posted on hoka.com
Recovering from knee surgery so haven't really gotten to take them for a run yet, but I like how they feel on foot. Just the right cushion to response feel that I like. Length true to size, width feels narrow to me (I got the wide & it's right on the edge of too narrow, which was not a problem in v.5 or v.6). Since I did get wide there are only select colours available. And while I appreciate more than one option (I'm looking at YOU v.6 until a year in), I'm not a fan of any of them. But I like the shoe enough that I kept the teal/orange version.I typically run road, gravel/urban trail, and back and this shoe seems like it will do well as a hybrid shoe.But HOKA, "Challenger 7" is the moniker for those who died in the space shuttle explosion. Maybe name it ... MoreRecovering from knee surgery so haven't really gotten to take them for a run yet, but I like how they feel on foot. Just the right cushion to response feel that I like. Length true to size, width feels narrow to me (I got the wide & it's right on the edge of too narrow, which was not a problem in v.5 or v.6). Since I did get wide there are only select colours available. And while I appreciate more than one option (I'm looking at YOU v.6 until a year in), I'm not a fan of any of them. But I like the shoe enough that I kept the teal/orange version.I typically run road, gravel/urban trail, and back and this shoe seems like it will do well as a hybrid shoe.But HOKA, "Challenger 7" is the moniker for those who died in the space shuttle explosion. Maybe name it something else.
originally posted on roadrunnersports.com
The lightweight Hoka Zinal is my go-to trail shoe, I generally run 3-6 miles so I wouldn't say I'm a real long distance runner that does half marathons or anything in that range. I bought the Challenger 7 because I could go for a trail shoe that has a BIT more cushion than the Zinal on some days, but I also didn't want something as heavy or max cushioned as the Hoka Speedgoat.The road-to-trail aspect of it is an added bonus for me because there are trails in North New Jersey that also have paved areas. I really love this shoe a lot! My only gripe is that a few of the lugs on the outsoles are already chipped after logging less than 30 miles. One lug came off completely. It's fine for now but I will be monitoring this. Even my Zinals that I've had since the summer ... MoreThe lightweight Hoka Zinal is my go-to trail shoe, I generally run 3-6 miles so I wouldn't say I'm a real long distance runner that does half marathons or anything in that range. I bought the Challenger 7 because I could go for a trail shoe that has a BIT more cushion than the Zinal on some days, but I also didn't want something as heavy or max cushioned as the Hoka Speedgoat.The road-to-trail aspect of it is an added bonus for me because there are trails in North New Jersey that also have paved areas. I really love this shoe a lot! My only gripe is that a few of the lugs on the outsoles are already chipped after logging less than 30 miles. One lug came off completely. It's fine for now but I will be monitoring this. Even my Zinals that I've had since the summer of 2022 are still holding up really well and I've only barely begun to see some wear on the lugs. The profiles of the trails I run are similar regardless of which shoe I wear. So yes, even taking into consideration that some of the trails I go to are technical and rocky, I'd expect the Challenger lugs to hold up. I'm guessing that the Vibram of the Hoka Zinals hold up much better over time.My ideal trail shoe moving forward would probably be a version of the Hoka Zinal but with the Profly+ of the Hoka Mach 5 road shoe: nimble, speedy, comfortable yet lightweight midsole.All in all, I like the Hoka Challenger 7 a lot, hope they use stronger material for the lugs in the future.
originally posted on hoka.com
This is my first HOKA shoes. The fit was perfect and shoes felt great during walk/run. Initially, I had small discomfort in both feet about 1.5 inches from the heel in the inside. It seems like the shoe design and it was OK after 4-5 days. Then I started seeing soft black debris inside shoes after the walks. The inside liner (inside the mesh, below the top holes of the laces) started to peel off. In about a week from purchase, about 3/4 inches inside liner worn off - both side of the shoes and both the shoes. Only outside mesh was remaining, and one could see light on the other side through the mesh. HOKA has excellent return policy and I decided to promptly return shoes for alternate HOKA shoes.
| Best For | Trail Running; All Terrain Running |
| Heel-To-Toe Drop | 5.00 mm |
Mens HOKA Challenger ATR 7 (Wide) Harbour Mist / Castlerock / US 10.5
Free delivery between 26 Mar – 3 Apr
HOKA Challenger ATR 7 Wide 'Harbor Mist Castlerock' | Grey | Men's Size 10.5
Delivery between 23–30 Mar $25
Recovering from knee surgery so haven't really gotten to take them for a run yet, but I like how they feel on foot. Just the right cushion to response feel that I like. Length true to size, width feels narrow to me (I got the wide & it's right on the edge of too narrow, which was not a problem in v.5 or v.6). Since I did get wide there are only select colours available. And while I appreciate more than one option (I'm looking at YOU v.6 until a year in), I'm not a fan of any of them. But I like the shoe enough that I kept the teal/orange version.I typically run road, gravel/urban trail, and back and this shoe seems like it will do well as a hybrid shoe.But HOKA, "Challenger 7" is the moniker for those who died in the space shuttle explosion. Maybe name it ... MoreRecovering from knee surgery so haven't really gotten to take them for a run yet, but I like how they feel on foot. Just the right cushion to response feel that I like. Length true to size, width feels narrow to me (I got the wide & it's right on the edge of too narrow, which was not a problem in v.5 or v.6). Since I did get wide there are only select colours available. And while I appreciate more than one option (I'm looking at YOU v.6 until a year in), I'm not a fan of any of them. But I like the shoe enough that I kept the teal/orange version.I typically run road, gravel/urban trail, and back and this shoe seems like it will do well as a hybrid shoe.But HOKA, "Challenger 7" is the moniker for those who died in the space shuttle explosion. Maybe name it something else.
The lightweight Hoka Zinal is my go-to trail shoe, I generally run 3-6 miles so I wouldn't say I'm a real long distance runner that does half marathons or anything in that range. I bought the Challenger 7 because I could go for a trail shoe that has a BIT more cushion than the Zinal on some days, but I also didn't want something as heavy or max cushioned as the Hoka Speedgoat.The road-to-trail aspect of it is an added bonus for me because there are trails in North New Jersey that also have paved areas. I really love this shoe a lot! My only gripe is that a few of the lugs on the outsoles are already chipped after logging less than 30 miles. One lug came off completely. It's fine for now but I will be monitoring this. Even my Zinals that I've had since the summer ... MoreThe lightweight Hoka Zinal is my go-to trail shoe, I generally run 3-6 miles so I wouldn't say I'm a real long distance runner that does half marathons or anything in that range. I bought the Challenger 7 because I could go for a trail shoe that has a BIT more cushion than the Zinal on some days, but I also didn't want something as heavy or max cushioned as the Hoka Speedgoat.The road-to-trail aspect of it is an added bonus for me because there are trails in North New Jersey that also have paved areas. I really love this shoe a lot! My only gripe is that a few of the lugs on the outsoles are already chipped after logging less than 30 miles. One lug came off completely. It's fine for now but I will be monitoring this. Even my Zinals that I've had since the summer of 2022 are still holding up really well and I've only barely begun to see some wear on the lugs. The profiles of the trails I run are similar regardless of which shoe I wear. So yes, even taking into consideration that some of the trails I go to are technical and rocky, I'd expect the Challenger lugs to hold up. I'm guessing that the Vibram of the Hoka Zinals hold up much better over time.My ideal trail shoe moving forward would probably be a version of the Hoka Zinal but with the Profly+ of the Hoka Mach 5 road shoe: nimble, speedy, comfortable yet lightweight midsole.All in all, I like the Hoka Challenger 7 a lot, hope they use stronger material for the lugs in the future.
This is my first HOKA shoes. The fit was perfect and shoes felt great during walk/run. Initially, I had small discomfort in both feet about 1.5 inches from the heel in the inside. It seems like the shoe design and it was OK after 4-5 days. Then I started seeing soft black debris inside shoes after the walks. The inside liner (inside the mesh, below the top holes of the laces) started to peel off. In about a week from purchase, about 3/4 inches inside liner worn off - both side of the shoes and both the shoes. Only outside mesh was remaining, and one could see light on the other side through the mesh. HOKA has excellent return policy and I decided to promptly return shoes for alternate HOKA shoes.
Being an ultra runner and on average between 50 & 300 miles per event can take a persons feet and shoe to their limits and back. Hoka’s Challenger 7 for me was an upgrade in many ways over the ever popular Speedgoat 4 & 5. The similarities between the shoes are many but my first observation was the slightly broader sole and base of the Challenger. It instantly made for more stable footing. If the trail isn’t heavily rutted or overly rooted the slightly beefier shoe shouldn’t cause any issues where a more nimble shoe would prevent you from getting a foot caught between rocks or roots etc… and by beefier I’m not saying overly bulky or heavier. It’s just slightly bolder. It’s as if the Speedgoat got a big brother the Challenger 7 would be exactly that.Because I’m ... MoreBeing an ultra runner and on average between 50 & 300 miles per event can take a persons feet and shoe to their limits and back. Hoka’s Challenger 7 for me was an upgrade in many ways over the ever popular Speedgoat 4 & 5. The similarities between the shoes are many but my first observation was the slightly broader sole and base of the Challenger. It instantly made for more stable footing. If the trail isn’t heavily rutted or overly rooted the slightly beefier shoe shouldn’t cause any issues where a more nimble shoe would prevent you from getting a foot caught between rocks or roots etc… and by beefier I’m not saying overly bulky or heavier. It’s just slightly bolder. It’s as if the Speedgoat got a big brother the Challenger 7 would be exactly that.Because I’m putting such aggressive high miles in at each outing and many times for multi-day events “foot swelling” can make or brake your ability to comfortably continue to wear a pair of shoes any longer. The wide model offered in the Challenger 7 was a welcomed one. Since feet primarily swell width-wise often buying a larger size isn’t the full fix. Having that extra width in the toe box area along with sizing up is the most complete fix to the problem. I was glad to see them offer that!Lastly for me the material used over the top of the toe box is fully breathable yet much more durable than the more elastic/spandex material on Speedgoat models. Still flexible enough for miles of comfort.Overall an amazing, stable, light weight, long distance runner that allows for comfort over many miles or even multi-day events. It’s been a favorite addition to my race day kit and my feet and ankles are equally happy for the added comfort and soft ride without sacrificing any stability or balance.
This was my first time trying the Challenger lineup, I decided to purchase these shoes as I have a wide foot and they were offered in a wide size. Also they looked like they would be comfortable due to the high stack of the midsole. Happy to report as far as comfort of the upper and under foot they are very nice. I wore them around for a couple of weeks and had no issues. The problem I ran into was when I decided to wear them on a moderately technical hike. The hike was 8.8 kms, half of which was largely downhill and the second half mostly uphill. I slipped multiple times on dry rocks, not gravel or loose rock, but larger rocks. I almost rolled my ankle on the downhill so I had to be careful of that as well. And worst of all when the hike was done I noticed quite a ... MoreThis was my first time trying the Challenger lineup, I decided to purchase these shoes as I have a wide foot and they were offered in a wide size. Also they looked like they would be comfortable due to the high stack of the midsole. Happy to report as far as comfort of the upper and under foot they are very nice. I wore them around for a couple of weeks and had no issues. The problem I ran into was when I decided to wear them on a moderately technical hike. The hike was 8.8 kms, half of which was largely downhill and the second half mostly uphill. I slipped multiple times on dry rocks, not gravel or loose rock, but larger rocks. I almost rolled my ankle on the downhill so I had to be careful of that as well. And worst of all when the hike was done I noticed quite a bit of chipping on the lugs and a couple of lugs had been completely ripped off! I realize these shoes are marketed as a "road to trail shoe", but I don't think I was hard on the shoes at all. I've worn much cheaper shoes in the past on the same hike and had no such issues. So be aware of this if you are planning to purchase these shoes, they work fine for road and gravel but anything more then that and you will see damage to the outsole very quickly.
I love Hoka's just this year I have purchased two pairs of Bond's, Ora recovery shoe, and Ora recovery slide. I purchased the Challenger 7's because I needed a wide "trail" shoe to do the occasional hike. The shoe like all my other Hoka's feel great and are comfortable. The issue is the lack of traction on anything other than hardpack. Any mixed surfaces I encountered and the shoe would break loose and not in a predictable manner especially on inclines and declines. The issue seems to be the lug depth and large flat area in the midsole that just skates across the surface, On flat roads or hardpack this is not a big deal and the shoe performs well. However ,on mixed terrain it is a problem which will come apparent quickly. Hoka likens the lug spacing to gravel tires ... MoreI love Hoka's just this year I have purchased two pairs of Bond's, Ora recovery shoe, and Ora recovery slide. I purchased the Challenger 7's because I needed a wide "trail" shoe to do the occasional hike. The shoe like all my other Hoka's feel great and are comfortable. The issue is the lack of traction on anything other than hardpack. Any mixed surfaces I encountered and the shoe would break loose and not in a predictable manner especially on inclines and declines. The issue seems to be the lug depth and large flat area in the midsole that just skates across the surface, On flat roads or hardpack this is not a big deal and the shoe performs well. However ,on mixed terrain it is a problem which will come apparent quickly. Hoka likens the lug spacing to gravel tires and with that sport people put a lot of thought into the expected terrain and trade off between rolling resistance and traction to meet the demands of the terrain. If you choose incorrectly you might have lower rolling resistance at the expense of staying upright. Im not sure why they chose not to go with a Vibram sole and reduce the flat mid foot area with no lugs but the design choices limit the range of the terrain you will be safely able to traverse in this shoe. Now that they offer wide in the Speedgoat I will be switching to those for anything other than maintained hardpack flat trails.
I generally know if I'm going to have problems with a shoe during my first try on at home while walking around the house. During that time the HOA Challenger 7 felt great. In fact, it felt great over the entire next week while on runs/hikes.Compared to past versions of the Challenger, the soft cushioning didn't bottom out. It was just enough firmer than past versions that it seemed to have a little bounce to it. This felt like a good thing to me and probably is for a number of people.I am a 76 year old male and have found that after running for years, I do best with soft highly cushioned shoes. Having run and hiked exclusively in these shoes for more than a week, my feet are beat up and sore. The impact while using these shoes was enough to cause Morton's Neuroma, ... MoreI generally know if I'm going to have problems with a shoe during my first try on at home while walking around the house. During that time the HOA Challenger 7 felt great. In fact, it felt great over the entire next week while on runs/hikes.Compared to past versions of the Challenger, the soft cushioning didn't bottom out. It was just enough firmer than past versions that it seemed to have a little bounce to it. This felt like a good thing to me and probably is for a number of people.I am a 76 year old male and have found that after running for years, I do best with soft highly cushioned shoes. Having run and hiked exclusively in these shoes for more than a week, my feet are beat up and sore. The impact while using these shoes was enough to cause Morton's Neuroma, which is a thickening of tissue around the nerve on the bottom of the foot going to the toes.So for this old man with high arches and sensitive feet they are a disaster, but for people with less sensitive feet that are used to firmer shoes they may be great.
I like these shoes (got the all-black/gray), and I have some Cliftons coming in too; they're great if you have plantar fasciitis injuries.I just wish most of them weren't hideously ugly color combinations. I like the look of goblin blue, for example - but not paired with neon yellow, orange, or some other garish color. Why not paired with a darker shade of blue? It's often a struggle finding one pair in each model I'd be willing to be seen wearing in public - I'm usually limited to black, which gets old.It looks like a three-year-old designs every. Single. Combination. How about non-hideous pairs just for variety? Do you not want have a larger market share? These are good shoes. Fire your color guy - or at least limit him to half the versions, and hire someone ... MoreI like these shoes (got the all-black/gray), and I have some Cliftons coming in too; they're great if you have plantar fasciitis injuries.I just wish most of them weren't hideously ugly color combinations. I like the look of goblin blue, for example - but not paired with neon yellow, orange, or some other garish color. Why not paired with a darker shade of blue? It's often a struggle finding one pair in each model I'd be willing to be seen wearing in public - I'm usually limited to black, which gets old.It looks like a three-year-old designs every. Single. Combination. How about non-hideous pairs just for variety? Do you not want have a larger market share? These are good shoes. Fire your color guy - or at least limit him to half the versions, and hire someone with eyesight for the other half.
Works for most situations but with a lot of compromise as well. Rubber under foot will wear very quickly on pavement due to being incredibly soft, which makes for decent road running, but means a likely short lifespan. Just enough grip and nug height to do gravel roads and light singletrack. Heel height feels quite extreme on these for whatever reason, far more pronounced than the Speedgoats which I run on for singletrack and climbs, so much so it is a bit uncomfortable if you don't heel strike. Front lateral rubber is already worn down after 130 miles. Definitely not my favorite shoe, wish it was more durable and wasn't so heel strike focused. Will use em just past 200 miles at which point the uneven wear is likely to be unsafe. Probably a good shoe for some people ... MoreWorks for most situations but with a lot of compromise as well. Rubber under foot will wear very quickly on pavement due to being incredibly soft, which makes for decent road running, but means a likely short lifespan. Just enough grip and nug height to do gravel roads and light singletrack. Heel height feels quite extreme on these for whatever reason, far more pronounced than the Speedgoats which I run on for singletrack and climbs, so much so it is a bit uncomfortable if you don't heel strike. Front lateral rubber is already worn down after 130 miles. Definitely not my favorite shoe, wish it was more durable and wasn't so heel strike focused. Will use em just past 200 miles at which point the uneven wear is likely to be unsafe. Probably a good shoe for some people (upper mesh is actually really really good, and super well cushioned is nice for sore feet) but far too many compromises in the sole design to recommend.
This is my first time trying a crossover shoe that combines both trail and road shoe features. I was a little skeptical but made the purchase thinking they could help me for a race on a hard packed and not so technical trail. They performed great! After 67 miles I only changed socks once and even though I brought my Speedgoats, I never felt the need to make the switch. I actually got my first race win with these shoes. Now I find myself wearing the Challenger 7's for most of my training runs. They're great for running the short road distance from my house to the trail head and perform nearly as well on trails as the Speedgoat.Pros:1. Light feel with great cushioning. They feel less bulky than the Speedgoats.2. Tougher and longer lasting than typical roadshoes ... MoreThis is my first time trying a crossover shoe that combines both trail and road shoe features. I was a little skeptical but made the purchase thinking they could help me for a race on a hard packed and not so technical trail. They performed great! After 67 miles I only changed socks once and even though I brought my Speedgoats, I never felt the need to make the switch. I actually got my first race win with these shoes. Now I find myself wearing the Challenger 7's for most of my training runs. They're great for running the short road distance from my house to the trail head and perform nearly as well on trails as the Speedgoat.Pros:1. Light feel with great cushioning. They feel less bulky than the Speedgoats.2. Tougher and longer lasting than typical roadshoes like my go-to Hoka Clifton. After 131 miles the tread is still great (even for a heel-striker like me). Only have one small chip in the tread (not from wear, more likely a sharp rock).3. Good for pavement runs, great for trail runs.Cons:1. I will occasionally kick a hard rock and feel it in my toes, don't normally have this problem with the Speedgoat.2. Not much of an issue but the "Stone Blue/Evening Primrose" color starts to look dirty fast due to being a light color. If I could go back I would have gone with one of their darker options.Overall I love this shoe and would recommend it for all trail running on easy to moderate trails. For trails with a considerable amount of thick mud or steep gravel I would buy the Speedgoats.
| Best For | Trail Running; All Terrain Running |
| Heel-To-Toe Drop | 5.00 mm |
The all-terrain HOKA Challenger 7 gives you road performance with trail traction, so you can run wherever life takes you. HOKA improved the Challenger by re-engineering the 4 mm lug pattern to provide a smoother road running experience while still giving you great grip for trail runs. The durabrasion rubber outsole extends the longevity of the shoe no matter what surface you run on. Designers also added more cushioning in the midsole to increase the stack height and allow you to run comfortably for longer. A brand-new upper provides plenty of breathability as you put in the miles. New engineered mesh fits better around your feet and is made with recycled material. Testers noticed that this shoe was not as narrow as the previous version in our HOKA Challenger 7 review. Plus, there is an extended heel pull for easy entry if you are changing shoes during an ultra marathon, or trying to quickly put your shoes on as you dash out the door for your run. Whether you are hitting the roads, trails or both, do it in comfort with the HOKA Challenger 7.
The all-terrain HOKA Challenger 7 gives you road performance with trail traction, so you can run wherever life takes you. HOKA improved the Challenger by re-engineering the 4 mm lug pattern to provide a smoother road running experience while still giving you great grip for trail runs. The durabrasion rubber outsole extends the longevity of the shoe no matter what surface you run on. Designers also added more cushioning in the midsole to increase the stack height and allow you to run comfortably for longer. A brand-new upper provides plenty of breathability as you put in the miles. New engineered mesh fits better around your feet and is made with recycled material. Testers noticed that this shoe was not as narrow as the previous version in our HOKA Challenger 7 review. Plus, there is an extended heel pull for easy entry if you are changing shoes during an ultra marathon, or trying to quickly put your shoes on as you dash out the door for your run. Whether you are hitting the roads, trails or both, do it in comfort with the HOKA Challenger 7.
The all-terrain HOKA Challenger 7 gives you road performance with trail traction, so you can run wherever life takes you. HOKA improved the Challenger by re-engineering the 4 mm lug pattern to provide a smoother road running experience while still giving you great grip for trail runs. The durabrasion rubber outsole extends the longevity of the shoe no matter what surface you run on. Designers also added more cushioning in the midsole to increase the stack height and allow you to run comfortably for longer. A brand-new upper provides plenty of breathability as you put in the miles. New engineered mesh fits better around your feet and is made with recycled material. Testers noticed that this shoe was not as narrow as the previous version in our HOKA Challenger 7 review. Plus, there is an extended heel pull for easy entry if you are changing shoes during an ultra marathon, or trying to quickly put your shoes on as you dash out the door for your run. Whether you are hitting the roads, trails or both, do it in comfort with the HOKA Challenger 7.
The all-terrain HOKA Challenger 7 gives you road performance with trail traction, so you can run wherever life takes you. HOKA improved the Challenger by re-engineering the 4 mm lug pattern to provide a smoother road running experience while still giving you great grip for trail runs. The durabrasion rubber outsole extends the longevity of the shoe no matter what surface you run on. Designers also added more cushioning in the midsole to increase the stack height and allow you to run comfortably for longer. A brand-new upper provides plenty of breathability as you put in the miles. New engineered mesh fits better around your feet and is made with recycled material. Testers noticed that this shoe was not as narrow as the previous version in our HOKA Challenger 7 review. Plus, there is an extended heel pull for easy entry if you are changing shoes during an ultra marathon, or trying to quickly put your shoes on as you dash out the door for your run. Whether you are hitting the roads, trails or both, do it in comfort with the HOKA Challenger 7.
