Street-approved. Trail tested. The HOKA Challenger ATR gets a new exciting update in its 7th edition, a complete reimagination from the ground up. The Challenger ATR 7 has a new compression-moulded EVA foam midsole and increased stack height, providing a softer and plusher feel. The engineered mesh upper and extended heel pull gives a snugger fit and is more breathable and lighter.
Street-approved. Trail tested. The HOKA Challenger ATR gets a new exciting update in its 7th edition, a complete reimagination from the ground up. The Challenger ATR 7 has a new compression-moulded EVA foam midsole and increased stack height, providing a softer and plusher feel. The engineered mesh upper and extended heel pull gives a snugger fit and is more breathable and lighter.
Street-approved. Trail tested. The HOKA Challenger ATR gets a new exciting update in its 7th edition, a complete reimagination from the ground up. The Challenger ATR 7 has a new compression-moulded EVA foam midsole and increased stack height, providing a softer and plusher feel. The engineered mesh upper and extended heel pull gives a snugger fit and is more breathable and lighter.
Street-approved. Trail tested. The HOKA Challenger ATR gets a new exciting update in its 7th edition, a complete reimagination from the ground up. The Challenger ATR 7 has a new compression-moulded EVA foam midsole and increased stack height, providing a softer and plusher feel. The engineered mesh upper and extended heel pull gives a snugger fit and is more breathable and lighter.
Last updated at 01/05/2025 02:18:22
originally posted on hoka.com
I am a Hoka Challenger person and buy 2 to 3 pairs a year. I wear them for work in which I walk a few miles a day, and for walking my dogs a couple miles a day. I like Challengers because they are a bit more responsive than some of the plusher Hokas. I got these for the rainy season, and they fit me so much better than the non GTX Challenger 7s. I wear a size 9 in Challengers, Clifton 9s, Graviotta, and various hoka hiking boots. The regular Challenger 7's are a bit too big, and sizing down, a bit too small. I have an Egyptian shape foot (big toe the longest) so that does affect how some shoes fit me, seems like a lot are made for the Roman foot. These have proven to be water proof so far, I wish they came in some other colors, I had to get black, but a subdued blue ... MoreI am a Hoka Challenger person and buy 2 to 3 pairs a year. I wear them for work in which I walk a few miles a day, and for walking my dogs a couple miles a day. I like Challengers because they are a bit more responsive than some of the plusher Hokas. I got these for the rainy season, and they fit me so much better than the non GTX Challenger 7s. I wear a size 9 in Challengers, Clifton 9s, Graviotta, and various hoka hiking boots. The regular Challenger 7's are a bit too big, and sizing down, a bit too small. I have an Egyptian shape foot (big toe the longest) so that does affect how some shoes fit me, seems like a lot are made for the Roman foot. These have proven to be water proof so far, I wish they came in some other colors, I had to get black, but a subdued blue or purple would be great.
originally posted on hoka.com
I've had somewhere between 8-12 pairs of Hokas over the years (including trail runners, water shoes, and hikers) and this pair definitely has the worst fit of all of them. On me, the shoe runs small. My toes hit the end and don't do that in any of my others. I have the GTX version, so I wonder if that is a result of the waterproofing? The arch also seems a bit low or off in a way I can't put my finger on. That being said, I bought these shoes with GTX mostly to walk our property with my dog and not worry about my shoe soaking through from wet grass. These hold up great for that! I have decided to not use them for any other outdoorsy purpose because of the fit. I'm still giving them 3 stars because the GTX is great and the shoe is durable. I'd try them again maybe a ... MoreI've had somewhere between 8-12 pairs of Hokas over the years (including trail runners, water shoes, and hikers) and this pair definitely has the worst fit of all of them. On me, the shoe runs small. My toes hit the end and don't do that in any of my others. I have the GTX version, so I wonder if that is a result of the waterproofing? The arch also seems a bit low or off in a way I can't put my finger on. That being said, I bought these shoes with GTX mostly to walk our property with my dog and not worry about my shoe soaking through from wet grass. These hold up great for that! I have decided to not use them for any other outdoorsy purpose because of the fit. I'm still giving them 3 stars because the GTX is great and the shoe is durable. I'd try them again maybe a half size bigger to see if that helps.
originally posted on hoka.com
After trying a few different models, and returning them, I am keeping the Challenger 7 GTX. I am a big fan of the Arahi 6, no longer available. The Challengers are more stiff, with some trail treads on the soles. The colors are bright and I like them, the cushioning is good for my feet (I have arthritis and a flat arch), and they fit true to size. The toe box is roomier than I expected. I do about 75% of my walking on sidewalks or paved trails, with 25% in the woods on non paved trails. So far, so good. The shoes feel stable and supportive. I'm keeping an eye on the quality of these shoes, as some reviews mentioned the poor workmanship and "cheapness" of the shoes. Again, great shoes for hybrid walkers.
I am a Hoka Challenger person and buy 2 to 3 pairs a year. I wear them for work in which I walk a few miles a day, and for walking my dogs a couple miles a day. I like Challengers because they are a bit more responsive than some of the plusher Hokas. I got these for the rainy season, and they fit me so much better than the non GTX Challenger 7s. I wear a size 9 in Challengers, Clifton 9s, Graviotta, and various hoka hiking boots. The regular Challenger 7's are a bit too big, and sizing down, a bit too small. I have an Egyptian shape foot (big toe the longest) so that does affect how some shoes fit me, seems like a lot are made for the Roman foot. These have proven to be water proof so far, I wish they came in some other colors, I had to get black, but a subdued blue ... MoreI am a Hoka Challenger person and buy 2 to 3 pairs a year. I wear them for work in which I walk a few miles a day, and for walking my dogs a couple miles a day. I like Challengers because they are a bit more responsive than some of the plusher Hokas. I got these for the rainy season, and they fit me so much better than the non GTX Challenger 7s. I wear a size 9 in Challengers, Clifton 9s, Graviotta, and various hoka hiking boots. The regular Challenger 7's are a bit too big, and sizing down, a bit too small. I have an Egyptian shape foot (big toe the longest) so that does affect how some shoes fit me, seems like a lot are made for the Roman foot. These have proven to be water proof so far, I wish they came in some other colors, I had to get black, but a subdued blue or purple would be great.
I've had somewhere between 8-12 pairs of Hokas over the years (including trail runners, water shoes, and hikers) and this pair definitely has the worst fit of all of them. On me, the shoe runs small. My toes hit the end and don't do that in any of my others. I have the GTX version, so I wonder if that is a result of the waterproofing? The arch also seems a bit low or off in a way I can't put my finger on. That being said, I bought these shoes with GTX mostly to walk our property with my dog and not worry about my shoe soaking through from wet grass. These hold up great for that! I have decided to not use them for any other outdoorsy purpose because of the fit. I'm still giving them 3 stars because the GTX is great and the shoe is durable. I'd try them again maybe a ... MoreI've had somewhere between 8-12 pairs of Hokas over the years (including trail runners, water shoes, and hikers) and this pair definitely has the worst fit of all of them. On me, the shoe runs small. My toes hit the end and don't do that in any of my others. I have the GTX version, so I wonder if that is a result of the waterproofing? The arch also seems a bit low or off in a way I can't put my finger on. That being said, I bought these shoes with GTX mostly to walk our property with my dog and not worry about my shoe soaking through from wet grass. These hold up great for that! I have decided to not use them for any other outdoorsy purpose because of the fit. I'm still giving them 3 stars because the GTX is great and the shoe is durable. I'd try them again maybe a half size bigger to see if that helps.
After trying a few different models, and returning them, I am keeping the Challenger 7 GTX. I am a big fan of the Arahi 6, no longer available. The Challengers are more stiff, with some trail treads on the soles. The colors are bright and I like them, the cushioning is good for my feet (I have arthritis and a flat arch), and they fit true to size. The toe box is roomier than I expected. I do about 75% of my walking on sidewalks or paved trails, with 25% in the woods on non paved trails. So far, so good. The shoes feel stable and supportive. I'm keeping an eye on the quality of these shoes, as some reviews mentioned the poor workmanship and "cheapness" of the shoes. Again, great shoes for hybrid walkers.
Okay, I am new to HOKA as of 2023. I am a 10 year fan of Asiscs and Asiscs ONLY. I have been 323 pounds and lost 110 lbs by walking, biking, weight lifting and more. My feet felt fine, but hurt after a while and my back kept hurting and I thought it was just me being overweight. My Chiropractor and weight trainer have HOKA shoes and I thought maybe I should try a pair. I got my first pair and ran a 5K the next day, they felt wonky, but it was my first day. I went in a hike, then I did a Spartan. My feet NEVER hurt and my back was oddly in tact. So these shoes fit JUST fine, they feel like you're walking on nothing and it's crazy the science in making a shoe lightweight, with this much protections. So, I'm a believer and a fan. The women's color is AMAZING!!! I wear ... MoreOkay, I am new to HOKA as of 2023. I am a 10 year fan of Asiscs and Asiscs ONLY. I have been 323 pounds and lost 110 lbs by walking, biking, weight lifting and more. My feet felt fine, but hurt after a while and my back kept hurting and I thought it was just me being overweight. My Chiropractor and weight trainer have HOKA shoes and I thought maybe I should try a pair. I got my first pair and ran a 5K the next day, they felt wonky, but it was my first day. I went in a hike, then I did a Spartan. My feet NEVER hurt and my back was oddly in tact. So these shoes fit JUST fine, they feel like you're walking on nothing and it's crazy the science in making a shoe lightweight, with this much protections. So, I'm a believer and a fan. The women's color is AMAZING!!! I wear a size 12 and often I have to buy the men's shoes and the colors aren't as cute. But HOKA has my sizes in the cute lady's colors. You have to get use to the size or bulkyness of the HOKA, but they are amazing and they are becoming for those who are fit or not, they really help us who are overweight.
This is my 9th pair of hokas- I am completely married to the brand. I wanted a trail/road combo shoe good for wet PNW running, similar in weight to my beloved Clifton's. So, I asked for the Challenger 7 GTX's for my birthday.*disclaimer- the shoes rock. Quality check, not so much.Upon receiving my order, I noticed a defect in the left shoe. The glue where the tread wraps up to the toe box (the "nose" of the shoe) appears to have failed and is peeling apart.I called to make an exchange but Lucas (very kind) from customer service unfortunately let me know that the exact shoe I had purchased (size and color combination) is officially sold out. No other shoe retailer is selling this colorway either...This was the reason I bought from Hoka directly!I'm frustrated ... MoreThis is my 9th pair of hokas- I am completely married to the brand. I wanted a trail/road combo shoe good for wet PNW running, similar in weight to my beloved Clifton's. So, I asked for the Challenger 7 GTX's for my birthday.*disclaimer- the shoes rock. Quality check, not so much.Upon receiving my order, I noticed a defect in the left shoe. The glue where the tread wraps up to the toe box (the "nose" of the shoe) appears to have failed and is peeling apart.I called to make an exchange but Lucas (very kind) from customer service unfortunately let me know that the exact shoe I had purchased (size and color combination) is officially sold out. No other shoe retailer is selling this colorway either...This was the reason I bought from Hoka directly!I'm frustrated that it seems like my only option is to send them back, wait for the order to be accepted and reviewed, then go through the entire buying process again only to be left with a shoe I purposely didn't buy. Around the holidays, this whole process will take exponentially longer I'm sure.I purchased these specifically for an upcoming race to match my girlfriends- feeling dejected that I am at a loss due to a clear defect that went unnoticed during QA.Do I just keep the shoes knowing they're going to fall apart faster? Or, go through a lengthy, annoying process just to have a mismatched shoe I purposely didn't select? Feeling like this birthday order didn't go my way and I wish customer service could somehow make things right for this quality issue. Don't let me down now, Hoka!
Challenger 7 got me through the Camino and are my miracle shoe. So I was excited to find the same model with gore Tex. However, after purchasing , and walking long distance, they didn't have the same comfort feeling as the regular ones. The fit was stiffer and it seemed that I could feel the top edge of the shoe rubbing my ankle bone. I kept trying to break them in by wearing often to soften the feel, but unfortunately they don't seem to be getting any better but too late to return. So probably attribute it to the gore Tex which I've read can make a shoe stiffer and less breathable. Also, didn't seem to be as much cushion, but hard to know why they aren't as comfortable. The regular ones were amazing right out of the box, no breaking in. My only wish is that they ... MoreChallenger 7 got me through the Camino and are my miracle shoe. So I was excited to find the same model with gore Tex. However, after purchasing , and walking long distance, they didn't have the same comfort feeling as the regular ones. The fit was stiffer and it seemed that I could feel the top edge of the shoe rubbing my ankle bone. I kept trying to break them in by wearing often to soften the feel, but unfortunately they don't seem to be getting any better but too late to return. So probably attribute it to the gore Tex which I've read can make a shoe stiffer and less breathable. Also, didn't seem to be as much cushion, but hard to know why they aren't as comfortable. The regular ones were amazing right out of the box, no breaking in. My only wish is that they would make more colors, like white ones. I'm really getting tired of the bright colors and would prefer more muted.
Hoka, I'm sorry for my initial review of these shoes. I believe I gave them 3 or 4 stars the first time around, complaining that there wasn't enough cushion. While they aren't ultta plush, they are perfect for good support and just enough plush for walking and running. These waterproof shoes have quickly become my favorite pair of shoes EVER. I wear them on all seasons of hikes and my feet never get cold or wet. Plus they are so pretty! I adore them. Also, they have great traction and a wide base. They are too wide for me, but I have abnormally narrow feet. I'd love a narrow size in the future though. Great for every day or hiking!
I have a few friends who swear by HOKA's. I tried theirs on and felt the bed of the shoes were too wide. I am small and can get tripped up by all these wide bed shoes nowadays. However, I saw one that looked narrower and decided to try it or just send it back. I was scared to take them to Italy as we would be covering a LOT of walking miles. When I returned I tried them on for cleaning my stood and loft (lots of up and down stairs). I went all day long and my feet never hurt!! I just got too tired to work anymore. That is a testimony to these shoes as my feet have changed a lot since menopause and need really good shoes and arch support without squishing my toes. (I grew up at the beach and mostly barefoot or in flip flops. Not possible anymore with my 68 year-old, ... MoreI have a few friends who swear by HOKA's. I tried theirs on and felt the bed of the shoes were too wide. I am small and can get tripped up by all these wide bed shoes nowadays. However, I saw one that looked narrower and decided to try it or just send it back. I was scared to take them to Italy as we would be covering a LOT of walking miles. When I returned I tried them on for cleaning my stood and loft (lots of up and down stairs). I went all day long and my feet never hurt!! I just got too tired to work anymore. That is a testimony to these shoes as my feet have changed a lot since menopause and need really good shoes and arch support without squishing my toes. (I grew up at the beach and mostly barefoot or in flip flops. Not possible anymore with my 68 year-old, little duck feet. These shoes at very lightweight and feel like LOVE on my feet. Would like some prettier ones with the same bed for dressier outings.I was encouraged to buy .5 size larger than my normal size 6. I chose W Challenger ATR GTX 6.5B.
These are pretty great comfort-wise and the waterproof aspect is key for me, but they run huge and I cannot return them as I have used them a few times. I was too excited to receive them that I wore them against my better judgement. The toe box is giant and I have a pretty wide foot. I should have gone with my favorite brand La Sportiva, but I wanted to try these for the GoreTex aspect. I wear a 9 in all shoes, not just the notoriously slim La Sportivas, so I was surprised at this. The front is almost buckled as they are too large. Coupled with the sole being thick, as I expected from this brand, as well as me dumbly choosing the red color, they kinda look like clown shoes. They work, but I don't love them and will likely not buy Hokas again. Seems like even if you ... MoreThese are pretty great comfort-wise and the waterproof aspect is key for me, but they run huge and I cannot return them as I have used them a few times. I was too excited to receive them that I wore them against my better judgement. The toe box is giant and I have a pretty wide foot. I should have gone with my favorite brand La Sportiva, but I wanted to try these for the GoreTex aspect. I wear a 9 in all shoes, not just the notoriously slim La Sportivas, so I was surprised at this. The front is almost buckled as they are too large. Coupled with the sole being thick, as I expected from this brand, as well as me dumbly choosing the red color, they kinda look like clown shoes. They work, but I don't love them and will likely not buy Hokas again. Seems like even if you size down, the toe box will always be too giant.
I ordered these in October of 2023. I wanted to give them a fair trial before posting a review. I used them daily, 2-5 miles a day, on trails/walks/runs for 60 days or so. In that time, I did note they are truly waterproof. I could go out in the rain and my feet would be dry after walking on trails, so in that aspect I give 5 starts, but the comfort and design, it's 2 stars. I have never in my life ever experienced plantar fasciitis with any shoe, I've used Brooks , on cloud, etc. even my casual shoes like converse or hey dudes, that are essentially flat, have never caused me problems. But these HOKAs right here have caused the worst pain in my left foot, so bad that after trying them for 60 days I stopped wearing them as much and switched back to my Brooks. At ... MoreI ordered these in October of 2023. I wanted to give them a fair trial before posting a review. I used them daily, 2-5 miles a day, on trails/walks/runs for 60 days or so. In that time, I did note they are truly waterproof. I could go out in the rain and my feet would be dry after walking on trails, so in that aspect I give 5 starts, but the comfort and design, it's 2 stars. I have never in my life ever experienced plantar fasciitis with any shoe, I've used Brooks , on cloud, etc. even my casual shoes like converse or hey dudes, that are essentially flat, have never caused me problems. But these HOKAs right here have caused the worst pain in my left foot, so bad that after trying them for 60 days I stopped wearing them as much and switched back to my Brooks. At first I didn't think it was these HOKAs but as soon as I'd switch into a different shoe, I'd have immediate relief. I don't know if I just got a bad pair but they truly hurt and the weird thing is that it's only the left foot, not the right foot so I think something in the production went wrong with the left shoe. I've throughly investigated the shoes to see if there was something caught inside the pad but without literally cutting it apart I wouldn't be able to tell. So I feel like I should give others a heads up, you might get a bad pair and if you do, you'll be in a lot of pain and won't be able to use these shoes. I'm out of the 60 day return window so I cannot return them but this will be my first and last HOKA pair due to the amount of pain and strain this pair caused on my feet where no other shoe has ever caused this type of issue.
