Challenger vs Bondi
I was happy with the cushioning on the Bondi 7...it fit my orthotics great and gave my neuromas a rest for most of the day. I wanted a water resistant shoe and tried a Bondi Unisex but it was too narrow on me. One of the staff at Hoka suggested I try the Challenger 7GTX which is water resistant ...I order men's b/c the ladies are all to narrow anymore. She told me they didn't have as much cushioning but I tried them and I must say, by the time my orthotic is in the shoe it feels great. It doesn't have the same heal height but everything was wonderful. So now I have a rain/snow/sand solution to my Hokas. Thank you to Hoka for hiring sales people who really know their product lines and who I can understand!... Show more
lynn
originally posted on hoka.com
Game Changer
I purchased the Challenger 7 GTX after seeing many Hoka's around the school. I put long hours on my feet and most of the shoes I own left my feet sore and tired. I went to a local store to try some on but I didnt care for the style or color. After checking on line I decided on the GTX and pulled the trigger. I received the shoe promptly and slid in my insoles and couldnt be happer. I can be on my feet all day long and they don't get as fatiged as they use too. Love the GTX with the Gortex fabric and have been looking at getting another pair of Hoka's to replace my hiking shoes.... Show more
MrNacho
originally posted on hoka.com
HOKA Men's Challenger 7 GTX
I'm on my feet a lot. I put on 5 to 10 miles a day and I'm always looking for a good shoe. It has to be comfortable, waterproof and look good. I can honestly say that I have been a fan of many brands, but have noticed a downtrend in quality over the years. So I tried Hoka as a recommendation from a REI employee. Granted it has only been three weeks, but I'm impressed. They fit right out of the box, passed the rain test and look good in the work environment. The only thing that I noticed was a little slipping on a wet decline. It was one time and they were new, so we will see.... Show more
B Hatfield
originally posted on REI
NEEDS WIDE SIZES!!
There have been no wide GTX models from Hoka for almost three years now. I have a pair of the last Challengers to have GTX, and they are almost dead now. The new models are way too narrow for someone with wider feet and/or high arches. I have tried sizing up a half a full size, but D width Hokas are just too narrow. All men's shoes should be available in wide. Other reviews and many, many runners I have met agree. Please make this otherwise great shoe available in wide. Thanks!... Show more
SteveK
originally posted on hoka.com
Not for trail running, not for pavement either
I bought these in February as a replacement for Arcteryx Norvan LD3. I was initially hyped on the Gore Tex and the running profile. I travel a bit for work and figured I could run in them or hike in them, and walk the dog in the rain in them. While they’re definitely waterproof, the soles don’t hold up to pavement and are not great for hiking either.I’ve worn the soles out in 3 months of mostly just walking 2-3 miles per day. I’ve attempted to run in them twice on rainy days and they invariably leave me with sore feet.Additionally, they’re the least stable of all all hiking shoes I’ve owned, and very similar to hiking in tennis shoes.The real killer though is the material inside. The material where your Achilles tendon interfaces with the shoe was blown out in ... MoreI bought these in February as a replacement for Arcteryx Norvan LD3. I was initially hyped on the Gore Tex and the running profile. I travel a bit for work and figured I could run in them or hike in them, and walk the dog in the rain in them. While they’re definitely waterproof, the soles don’t hold up to pavement and are not great for hiking either.I’ve worn the soles out in 3 months of mostly just walking 2-3 miles per day. I’ve attempted to run in them twice on rainy days and they invariably leave me with sore feet.Additionally, they’re the least stable of all all hiking shoes I’ve owned, and very similar to hiking in tennis shoes.The real killer though is the material inside. The material where your Achilles tendon interfaces with the shoe was blown out in literal weeks after purchasing. To be fair, I slip all my shoes on and off like a child, but I haven’t had this happen with a nice pair of technical shoes ever. Just really poor design putting a high friction material there. It doesn’t happen with any of my other hokas.I never write reviews, and if it wasn’t for the fact that I’d have to haggle with the REI employee over it I would return these to REI. They’re truly disappointing. That being said, I’m going to try to get my hands on a pair of their vibram soled trail runners, keeping an eye on the issues I’ve seen with these.Hokas are usually great, but these ones shouldn’t even be sold.... Show more
originally posted on REI
Perfect fit
Ordered a few pair I needed to return. Hoka works very well for my left arthritic foot and the supination my foot has when walking. The wide base rubber platform at the ball of the foot helps give my lateral side of my left foot a lot of support. The olthet shoes or style of Hoka was sent back. The Breeze had wrinkles in the nylon that wasn't pretty. The transport was too narrow. I can't remember the other one but it didn't fit right at all. These Challenger 7s are as great as my Clifton 8 are but it will do. I'm heading to Egypt and wanted to break them in. I since put in a foot support to help my high arch. I think I'm good to go . I leave tomorrow 🤣. I'll know more as this is the ONLY shoe except plantar fasciitis sandals. The Hoka recovery slip on that I have ... MoreOrdered a few pair I needed to return. Hoka works very well for my left arthritic foot and the supination my foot has when walking. The wide base rubber platform at the ball of the foot helps give my lateral side of my left foot a lot of support. The olthet shoes or style of Hoka was sent back. The Breeze had wrinkles in the nylon that wasn't pretty. The transport was too narrow. I can't remember the other one but it didn't fit right at all. These Challenger 7s are as great as my Clifton 8 are but it will do. I'm heading to Egypt and wanted to break them in. I since put in a foot support to help my high arch. I think I'm good to go . I leave tomorrow 🤣. I'll know more as this is the ONLY shoe except plantar fasciitis sandals. The Hoka recovery slip on that I have are too large to pack in a carry on.... Show more
Pjdreamon
originally posted on hoka.com
PERFECT TRAVEL SHOE
I bought this shoe to replace a great pair of nikes that I used for the same reason. Travel. This shoe has really fit the bill. First of all I love the colors. The orange and blue just pops. For the fit they are narrow, which works great for my feet but are wider than the Bondi which I had to return because it hurt my feet. The length is true to size. Great arch support with and without custom orthotics. The shoe does everything that I have thrown at it so far. I am curious to try it out on more technical trails but so far light trails, running around town (5k to 15k so far), walking the dogs, and getting in 50k steps in one day of walking around town has been a pure pleasure. They are supportive when needed and cushioned when you need that. I would recommend it as ... MoreI bought this shoe to replace a great pair of nikes that I used for the same reason. Travel. This shoe has really fit the bill. First of all I love the colors. The orange and blue just pops. For the fit they are narrow, which works great for my feet but are wider than the Bondi which I had to return because it hurt my feet. The length is true to size. Great arch support with and without custom orthotics. The shoe does everything that I have thrown at it so far. I am curious to try it out on more technical trails but so far light trails, running around town (5k to 15k so far), walking the dogs, and getting in 50k steps in one day of walking around town has been a pure pleasure. They are supportive when needed and cushioned when you need that. I would recommend it as the one shoe for traveling as long as you're not going to a fancy dinner, but hey you do you.... Show more
Oleg
originally posted on hoka.com
The Challenger 7 GTX disappointing!
First the shoe is too narrow for my foot. Secondly it doesn't feel Plush, like it states in the description. It felt really stiff and hard. I'm am exchanging them for Stinson 6 , which I have .. I tried to wear them , but they hurt my feet. On a positive note they do feel light. Can't speak to the waterproofing, which is the main reason I bought. I love Hokas and have many pairs for different activities. These might work for someone else , but for hiking I'll just stick with the Stinson6.... Show more
Ji
originally posted on hoka.com
These shoes changed my feet!
I recently purchased a pair of HOKA running shoes and I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. The comfort and support provided by these shoes are unmatched by any other brand I have tried. The cushioning is perfect for absorbing impact, making my runs feel smoother and easier on my joints.The shoes have a great fit, thanks to the well-designed upper that conforms to my foot shape perfectly. The outsole also provides excellent grip and traction, ensuring that I feel confident and stable on any terrain.In addition to their great performance, the shoes look great too! They have a sleek and stylish design that makes them versatile enough to wear both on and off the track.Overall, I highly recommend HOKA shoes to any runner looking for a comfortable, supportive, ... MoreI recently purchased a pair of HOKA running shoes and I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. The comfort and support provided by these shoes are unmatched by any other brand I have tried. The cushioning is perfect for absorbing impact, making my runs feel smoother and easier on my joints.The shoes have a great fit, thanks to the well-designed upper that conforms to my foot shape perfectly. The outsole also provides excellent grip and traction, ensuring that I feel confident and stable on any terrain.In addition to their great performance, the shoes look great too! They have a sleek and stylish design that makes them versatile enough to wear both on and off the track.Overall, I highly recommend HOKA shoes to any runner looking for a comfortable, supportive, and high-performing shoe.... Show more
UnionWorker720
originally posted on hoka.com
What a solid solid Shoe
Im a field guy and as such I find myself walking through and working a lot in the rain. The Winter of '22/23 had historical rain and snow fall for much of California. These shoes were the best purchase I could have made. The water resistant Gortex is a game changer versus wearing regular sneakers during rain events. It's not 100% water proof but it provides enough protection to keep my feet and socks dry walking through puddles and standing out in the rain for a bit. The best part about these shoes, which I haven't seen others mention, is that the Tongue (top part of shoe flush against the laces), is stationary, so I can slide into and out of the shoes without having to bend over and hold the tongue each time! Im constantly taking my shoes off and on and being able ... MoreIm a field guy and as such I find myself walking through and working a lot in the rain. The Winter of '22/23 had historical rain and snow fall for much of California. These shoes were the best purchase I could have made. The water resistant Gortex is a game changer versus wearing regular sneakers during rain events. It's not 100% water proof but it provides enough protection to keep my feet and socks dry walking through puddles and standing out in the rain for a bit. The best part about these shoes, which I haven't seen others mention, is that the Tongue (top part of shoe flush against the laces), is stationary, so I can slide into and out of the shoes without having to bend over and hold the tongue each time! Im constantly taking my shoes off and on and being able to just slide my feet in and still maintain a tight seal is such a huge flex. I've taken them to Mammoth and these shoes have good grip on snow, ice not so much, but again which sneaker does. The waterproofing though is clutch for using them around Ski Towns. The Heel Drop took me a few days to get used to as I've mostly worn flat shoes. The shoe, at least for me, runs slightly narrow, but nothing I couldn't get used to. A wide version would be nice. Here's to Hoka not discontinuing this line because they found themselves a lifetime customer!... Show more
go4sergio
originally posted on hoka.com