Hoka - Challenger ATR 3
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 11, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
6
4
"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."
"Must be 1,000km into this pair at least."
20
6
"I just did Baldy in the Challengers so I’m sure they’d be comfortable enough for Catalina."
"They’re like wearing slippers compared to my Speedgoats."
"Always felt a bit too narrow (esp in to box) ... I got the challengers and love them."
26
4
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"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."
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
4
3
"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."
"Always loved the wide Hoka models for my thick toes"
7
2
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"on dry surface, shoe is fantastic."
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
Disliked most:
4
4
"Mine developed a tear pretty quickly (100 miles or so) ... the grip started coming away from the sole… ... they were relegated to dog walking shoes after about 150 miles. ... do not last."
"Yeah same I loved my Challengers for about 100k. Won't get them again in a hurry ... Mine developed a tear pretty quickly (100 miles or so), the grip started coming away from the sole… they were relegated to dog walking shoes after about 150 miles."
"a little ripped up and worse for wear ... I'd want something tougher for a repeat adventure"
3
4
"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."
"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."
"the outside edge of the toe box curves in too early for my feet putting pressure on the small toe."
0
3
"bad enough at that in wet weather"
"Challenger don't have good traction on wet surface (both tarmac and offroad) ... so I avoid them on wet"
"Not much grip"
2
7
"I've also slid down more than one clay embankment."
"if the race is even somewhat technical I wouldn’t race in them"
"For more technical and trail only runs I switch to Speedgoats."
1
4
"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."
"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."
"My feet get sore in the challengers a lot faster than the zegama."
I stopped wearing the speedboats after the 4s bc I kept turning my ankle in the 5s so I can't comment on that but I do love the Hoka challenger (I ran R3 in those and they were just fine). Altra recently released a 4mm drop trail shoe too that I'm really liking: the experience wild. Good luck on your 50k!
r/trailrunning • Are the Speedgoat 6s really that terrible? ->I’m glad to see this post. I want to get on the trails again and was thinking SG but being slightly out of shape, a tennis player, and older, ankle rolls cannot happen at this stage in my life. While cushioning is up on the list, all the talk about high stack height is scary. My previous trail shoes were Hoka Challenger 3 and now they’re 7 so it’s been a bit. Still looking at Hoka but low(er) stack height strengthen the ankles to avoid ankle rolls, Got it. Thanks lol
r/trailrunning • Do Hoka speedgoats -> ankle rolls? ->Agree, it really depends on how fast, how far, the ratio of road to trail etc. my Saucony Tempus are pretty good on park run trails and “fire track” style roads. Puma shoes with their Puma Grip are great in the rain or on slightly uneven terrain. Then you have what some call Commuter shoes - road to trail shoes with lower lug depth and softer midsole. Hoka’s Challenger ATR isn’t bad, and the Tecton X and X2 had proper gravel lugs that worked well, along with shows like the Saucony Xodus Ultra, Nike Terra Kiger or Pegasus Trail. Personally I’ve just run in road shoes if it’s dry, and I trust my trail shoes (currently Salomon Genesis and Hoka Mafate 5) in the wet or more technical terrain.
r/trailrunning • Trail shoes vs road shoes for mixed terrain? ->Hello - I would say that the Prodigio Pro will feel a bit too squishy for general walking around. I walk the dogs in a pair of Salomon GTX Thundercross. They’re stable enough, comfy, and waterproof. The Ultraglide are also a good option. I’ve also had numerous Inov8 Roclite, Trailfly which are also good for hiking if you like zero drop. Hoka are also comfy if you stay clear of the racing shoes - Challenger ATR or Speedgoat. I also like the ASICS Fujilite for walking. 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.
r/trailrunning • Shoe recommendation ->Hoka ATR Challengers work pretty well for this. Suitable for running on different terrain types, and feel fine for walking the streets. I will happily do a trip with just them.
r/trailrunning • Looking for train running shoes that can be used for regular streetwear ->this is my answer too. They are also a good “just what I’m wearing” shoe for short trips, if your style constraints allow it
r/trailrunning • Road to trail shoe recommendations. ->I use the HOKA Challenger ATRs for my combo runs, and I go up 1/2 size for the extra room.
r/trailrunning • Road to trail shoe with wide toe box? ->The sole on that shoe is quite narrow in the middle. I tend to overpronate too and am much happier on hoka challenger atr. You can get them in wide even if the regulars are too narrow for your feet. But even the regulars version is designed better for people who overpronate due to better support.
r/trailrunning • Agility peak 5 pronate ->Hoka ATR's are pretty great for this.
r/ultrarunning • Shoes for combined trail and road ->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 ->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 ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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