Hoka Challenger 7 Running Shoes Review
An in-depth gear review of the Hoka Challenger 7 shoe for crossover road running and trail running
Updated March 25th, 2024
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OUR VERDICT
The Hoka Challenger 7 walks the line between trail running and road running shoes. With this shoe, you can start your run on paved roads, hop on a gravel path, then follow a dirt trail to the top of a mountain.
The Challenger 7 is the Swiss army knife of running shoes. It can do almost everything, but it makes sacrifices to get versatility. It’s not the lightest shoe for fast runs on paved roads or the best for technical trail runs, but it works on any surface. It will do better on roads than a trail-specific shoe, and it will do better on trails than a road shoe. It's the winner for Best Road to Trail shoe in our Best Men's Trail Running Shoes and Best Women's Trail Running Shoes guide.
We tested both the women’s and the men’s version of the Challenger 7 running shoes this year. We tested the women’s Challenger 7 on mixed surface runs in Tahoe and Sonoma, California. We also tested an older version of the Challenger ATR while backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail.
I’ve been wearing the men’s Hoka Challenger 7 running shoe for at least 200 miles over three months. I primarily use these shoes for runs out my front door in Denver, where I often run on neighborhood streets to gravel and dirt trails in city parks. I also wear these shoes during trail runs on the Colorado Front Range. The Challenger 7 is well-cushioned, so I also wore them on recovery days when I had to be on my feet for long periods. Before I got the Hoka Challenger 7, I wore a pair of Challenger 6 running shoes for all the same applications, too.
As a backpacker, thru-hiker, and trail runner, I prefer to be on a trail. However, I’m not lucky enough to have dirt trails outside my door, so I often run on pavement. The Hoka Challenger 7 is a great shoe for me and is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a shoe that can do it all. Whether you’re a trail runner wanting a shoe for all-terrain cross training or a road runner looking to get into trail running, the Hoka Challenger 7 is up for the task. In this Hoka Challenger 7 review, we dive into why we like this shoe and what you need to know before buying.
Looking for Hoka reviews? See our In-depth Hoka Clifton 9 review and Long-term review of the Hoka Speedgoat
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COMPARE PRICES OF THE HOKA CHALLENGER 7
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
SPECS
Cushion: maximum cushion
Stability: Neutral
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm): 5 mm
Stack Height: 26 mm (forefoot); 31 mm (heel)
Lugs: 4 mm
Upper: vegan mesh
Midsole: compression molded EVA
Outsole: rubber
Weight (pair): 17.4 oz (men’s), 14.6 oz (women’s)
COMPARISON TABLE OF SIMILAR MODELS
| RUNNING SHOE | MAJOR DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|
| Hoka Challenger 7 Men's Women's |
n/a |
| Hoka Speedgoat 5 Men's Women's |
better for trail, more durable, more expensive |
| Saucony Peregrine 14 Men's Women's |
less expensive, not as versatile, deeper lugs, not as good on roads |
| Brooks Cascadia 17 Men's Women's |
trail-specific shoe better on trail, not as good on roads |
| New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v8 Men's Women's |
more heel to top drop, less cushion, gripper outsole, less durable |
WHAT WE LIKED
Work on roads and trails
Stable
Well-cushioned
Supportive midsole
Available in wide sizing
Details
Fit
The Challenger 7 fits true to size. If you’ve worn other Hoka shoes, you’ll wear the same size in the Challengers as other models. If you haven’t worn Hokas in the past, I’d recommend trying the size you usually wear first because that’s likely your shoe size for Hoka.
I usually wear a US Men’s 9.5. I’ve worn the Hoka Clifton, Hoka Speedgoat, and Torrent in that size. My pair of size 9.5 Challenger 7’s fit as expected.
The Challenger 7 comes in wide (EE) and regular-width (D) sizing. This Hoka shoe runs slightly wide by default, or at least wider than many running shoes. I have wider than-average feet, but I don’t have the wide version of the Challenger 7’s because the regular width fits my foot. I previously had the Challenger ATR 6 (now discontinued) in 9-wide. While those fit, I had to lace them tighter. Ultimately, I found the regular-width (D) Challenger fits my foot best.
Our women’s tester wore the Challenger 7 in a women’s 10, standard width. She also found the Challenger to be very true to size.
All feet are different, so it’s hard to predict sizing, but Hoka throws no curveballs with how the Challenger 7 is sized. And the availability of wide sizing makes these shoes all the more inclusive.
Midsole and Cushioning
Hoka's signature midsole foam
Hoka’s signature midsole foam is the star of the show in the Hoka Challenger, as with most Hoka running shoes, and excels at comfort. The Hoka midsole is made of a thick, soft, yet springy layer of EVA foam. This layer makes the midsole cushion your foot as it lands on the ground, then propel you as you push off for the next step.
Hoka’s midsole is also slightly curved to encourage your foot to “roll” forward as you land on your heel and move to push off your forefoot. Hoka calls this a Meta Rocker, and the result is subtle but effective. These shoes don’t magically propel you forward without you working like the Hoka Clifton, but the curved shape does push you forward, albeit slightly.
Level of cushioning compared to other trail shoes/road shoes
The Hoka Challenger has more cushion than many other running shoes. Most trail and road shoes have between 20 and 25 millimeters of stack, which means the shoes have approximately that much cushion. The Challenger has 31 millimeters of stack in the heel and 26 millimeters in the forefoot.
The cushion in these shoes provides comfort and protects your joints when running on pavement and protects you from sharp objects underfoot when running on trails. I especially like well-cushioned shoes when running on hard surfaces, so these shoes are great for pavement.
Impact absorption and energy return
The Challenger midsole cushioning greatly absorbs impact when your foot lands with every step. When your foot hits the ground, the shoes' cushioning takes the brunt of the impact, not your foot, knee, and hip. The midsole is also quite springy, which means you get good energy return when you push off on the forefoot.
Most runners would benefit from a shoe cushioned like the Challenger. Those especially prone to landing hard on their heels with every step will benefit most from these shoes, though.
Comfort
The Challenger 7 is immediately comfortable out of the box. When running, the upper wraps around your foot in a supportive and comfortable way. The padded tongue and collar around the top make the shoes more comfortable. When you tighten the laces, these padded parts of the shoe tighten against your foot in a way that feels more like a gentle hug than the constrictive feel that some shoes give.
The cushioned midsole softens your landing with each step as you run. These shoes feel more comfortable as you go farther because they make your feet and joints feel less tired. The benefits of this cushion are apparent on the road, but I find a well-cushioned and comfortable shoe on trails is often more critical. Uphill traveling on trail runs is slower than running on roads, so you’re on your feet for more time, even if you aren’t running (or hiking) faster. And more cushioning under your feet for more time means your feet are more comfortable.
Stability and Support
The Challenger 7 is a relatively stable shoe overall. These shoes feel balanced. They give adequate arch support, and the footbeds prevent your feet from sliding.
On uneven terrain, I never feel like I’ll roll an ankle in these shoes. Even though they have a higher-than-average stack height, they make me feel well-planted on uneven dirt and rocky terrain.
The Challenger has the same amount of cushion from the inside to the outside of the foot, which provides a neutral platform. This means these shoes won't correct if you overpronate (your foot rolls inward). They provide average arch support but nothing more than average, which is best for most people.
Ride
The Challenger 7 gives a soft and stable ride. You don’t have to worry about foot placement with these shoes because they’ll absorb almost everything you step over. I can zone out while running on pavement and gravel roads, barely paying attention to where I place my feet.
On trails, every shoe requires more attention to foot placement. But these shoes make your steps on the trail feel fast and stable. The generous cushioning absorbs subtle variations on angled terrain and helps you maintain momentum on hills.
Outsole, Grip, and Traction
The Challenger 7 has 4-millimeter lugs arranged in a multi-directional pattern. As an all-terrain shoe it has improved traction compared to a road running shoe.
The lugs in the front of the shoe bite into the dirt on the backside of the lugs, so they give you traction when you push off your toes. The opposite is true for the lugs on the heel, which bite into the dirt on the forward-facing side of the lugs. This helps you maintain traction going downhill when gravity pulls you and the shoes down, and you need to push against that force. So, the lugs on the back of the shoe are pointed forward to keep your feet from sliding that way.
The rubber used on the outsole is Hoka’s own Durabrasion rubber. As you’d expect from the name, it’s a durable, long-lasting rubber. This outsole is great for a mixed-surface run with pavement, gravel, and dirt where you need more traction than a road shoe.
The rubber compound in the outsole is grippy enough, but it lacks the tacky bite of a shoe that I’d want to rely on while hopping between rocks on technical trail runs. It’s also not very grippy when wet, nor are the lugs deep enough to inspire confidence in mud. These shoes can handle trails, but I prefer a more aggressive lug pattern made of softer, stickier rubber for steep, rocky, muddy, and root-covered terrain.
Versatility
The Challenger 7 is the perfect shoe for those runners who want to do some of everything. They’re great for road runners who want to start doing moderate trail runs. They’re great for the runs that begin at your front door and go up the nearest trail.
And they’re great for pragmatic trail runners who don’t live on a mountain. If I could have my way, I’d only run on trails. However, the closest dirt trail to my house is a 25-minute drive. So I often run out my front door, taking roads to a nearby park where I run on gravel paths. These shoes are perfect for that.
They’re also excellent shoes for hiking and walking. I would even use these for thru-hiking or backpacking on well-groomed trails, like the well-traveled PCT or Colorado Trail sections. However, another of our testers has used the Challengers for backpacking, and she found they didn’t hold up to the rigors of backpacking on rocky terrain. So stick to smoother trails if you plan to use these for backpacking.
Responsiveness
The Challenger 7 is responsive when running fast or slow. The curved Meta-Rocker midsole allows you to roll through each step. When running fast, this effect is more pronounced. However, the springy midsole better propels your feet with every push-off when moving slower.
Warmth
The Challenger 7 isn’t a particularly warm shoe. The entire upper is a highly breathable engineered mesh, so they’re well-suited for hot temperatures. However, I put tons of miles on these shoes during a Colorado winter. They’re not great for cold weather, but they do well on milder, less windy days in town.
Break-In Time
These shoes require no break-in time. My first steps in these shoes were on an 8-mile run around Denver. They’re immediately comfortable out of the box. Our women’s tester thought they were immediately comfortable, too. And, other customer reviews I’ve found online tend to agree that these shoes don’t require any break-in period.
Comparison of the upper on the new Hoka Challenger 7 (left) with the older Hoka Challenger ATR 6 (right).
Upper and Breathability
As mentioned above, the upper is made of breathable engineered mesh. This mesh is exceptionally breathable and incredible at wicking moisture. I wear these shoes on most of my low-elevation runs, where it gets hot in Colorado during summer. These shoes keep my feet comfortable in triple-digit temperatures.
The mesh has vertical strips of added material to reinforce it. These shoes also have a small rubber toe cap and a larger area of stiff material to strengthen the toes further. This doesn’t negatively affect the breathability but does protect your toes from rocks.
Comparison of the sole on the old Hoka Challenger 6 ATR (left) with the new Hoka Challenger 7 (right). The pair on the left have at least 500 miles and the right has 200 miles.
Durability and Longevity
I logged at least 500 miles on my pair of Hoka Challenger 6 shoes, and they’re still in great shape. I haven’t put that many miles in my Challenger 7s yet, but they seem at least as durable as the 6s after 200 miles.
If you’re logging many rugged trail miles in these shoes, I wouldn’t expect them to last as long as if you’re mostly running roads. The uppers aren’t as reinforced as a burly trail runner, especially in the toe box. And the outsole has large areas of exposed midsole foam. This exposed foam will get shredded if used over long stretches of rocky terrain.
If you want to get the most life out of these shoes, stick to roads and well-groomed moderate trails. These shoes are remarkably durable if used for smooth surfaces, but the rough terrain always rips up trail running shoes, no matter what they’re made of, and these shoes won’t fair as well as some trail running shoes.
Price and Value
At $155, the Challenger 7 is slightly more expensive than other neutral, balanced, and cushioned trail, road, or crossover running shoes. In the last year, the price has gone up by $10 while other brands have gone up less or in the case of Altra, reduced their pricing.
For reference, the On Cloudvista costs $150; the Altra Lone Peak and Saucony Peregrine 14 and Brooks Cascadia 17 cost $140; and the Salomon Speedcross 6 cost $145.
Trail running shoes are expensive, but the Challenger 7 provides great value. Some other trail shoes I’ve worn haven’t lasted nearly this long, and these are the only trail running shoes I’ve been able to comfortably wear on such a variety of terrain.
Sustainability/Ethical Company
Hoka’s parent Company, Deckers Brands, is a United Nations Global Compact member, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative committed to following ethical practices in labor, environment, and anti-corruption.
By 2030, Hoka aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water usage by 20% per pair of shoes. By 2027, they aim for 25% of all materials used in their footwear to be made from recycled, regenerated, or natural materials. Read more about Hoka’s sustainability goals here.
Running gravel trails in Denver in the Hoka Challenger 7.
Features
Volume
The Hoka Challenger 7 has a medium volume and accommodates most average foot shapes. They also come in wide, which will better fit higher-than-average volume feet.
Weight
These shoes weigh 17.4 ounces in a men’s size 9 and 14.6 ounces in a women’s size 7.
Heel-to-Toe Drop
These shoes have a 5-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, meaning the heel is five millimeters higher than the forefoot.
Laces/Lockdown
These shoes have traditional laces with an extra eyelet at the top for alternate lacing patterns. Overall, these shoes keep my feet securely in place during runs.
Reflective Material
The mesh uppers have reflective detailing built into the material.
Extended Arches Pull Tab
They have an extended arch pull tab on the heel of the shoe, which integrates the heel pull loop and the heel into one piece. This makes these shoes easier to take on and off.
Meta-Rocker
They have a Meta-Rocker midsole designed to provide a smooth and efficient ride with a slight rounding of the midsole. This promotes a more natural running pattern and allows your foot to roll forward with each step.
Style and design
The Challenger 7 shoes come in six different colors. They come in a mix of bright colors with a couple more subdued color choices. I think they look pretty cool, too.
The author wearing the Hoka Challenger ATR 6 (front foot, in navy blue) with the Hoka Challenger 7 (back foot, in blue) to compare the models.”
DIFFERENCES FROM CHALLENGER 6
As I mentioned, I wore the Hoka Challenger ATR 6 (now discontinued) for over a year before I got the updated Challenger 7. These are what I’ve noticed is different between the new and old versions of the Challenger.
Comparing the stack height on the new Hoka Challenger 7 (top) with the old Hoka Challenger ATR 6 (bottom).
LIGHTER
The Challenger 6 weighs 19.2 ounces, while the Challenger 7 weighs 17.4 ounces. The Challenger 7 feels immediately different if you’re used to the Challenger 6, primarily due to the lower weight.
Comparing the heel cup and tab on the Hoka Challenger 7 (left) with the Hoka Challenger ATR 6 (right).
INCREASED STACK HEIGHT
Hoka was able to cut weight while adding cushion to the newest version of the Challenger. The stack height on the Challenger 6 is 29 millimeters in the heel and 24 millimeters under the forefoot. The Challenger 7 is two millimeters higher: 31 in the heel and 26 millimeters in the forefoot.
Comparing the mesh upper on the Hoka Challenger ATR 6 (left) with the Hoka Challenger 7 (right).
MATERIALS
The materials on the Challenger 7 are different in the upper than on the Challenger 6. On the 6, the upper is a two-layer material, whereas the 7 uses a single layer of reinforced mesh. The material on the 7 feels lighter, more breathable, and more comfortable overall.
SHOULD I BUY THE HOKA CHALLENGER 7?
If you’re trail running-curious or like runs that start at your front door and go anywhere, the Hoka Challenger 7 is the trail shoe for you. These are also excellent shoes for trail runners who sometimes find themselves running on roads. If you’re primarily a trail runner, you’re probably not used to the extremely lightweight feel of many road running shoes. The Challenger 7 will feel less foreign to your trail-accustomed feet than a road shoe.
WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
Like any shoe made to “do it all,” these shoes make sacrifices. They could be made more durable to withstand the wear and tear of running on technical trails, but then they wouldn’t be as good for running on roads. They could also be made lighter, like a road running shoe, but then they wouldn’t be as good on trails.
Long-term testing notes and durability
After a year of testing, we stand by our original assessment that the Challenger 7 is a great shoe for a mix of roads and trail and gravel road running.
The Challenger is less expensive than the Hoka Speedgoat 5 and as a result, one of our testers was tempted to use the Challenger 7 on a thru-hike of the rocky and rugged Arizona Trail.
Ultimately, the Challenger had a hard time on that rugged of terrain. We recommend for rugged terrain, sticking to the Hoka Speedgoat 5 (which also got torn up by the Arizona Trail).
SIMILAR MODELS / OTHER SHOES YOU MAY PREFER
HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5
Sizes available: 7-12 (men's), 5-12 (women's)
Widths available: men's and women's
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm): 4 mm
Stack Height: 38-34 mm
The Hoka Speedgoat 5 is one of our favorite shoes for hiking, backpacking, and trail running. It is designed to be better for trails than road with deeper lugs and better traction. As a result, it is also more expensive than the Challenger.
After 9 months and three pairs of Hoka Speedgoat 5, we still stand by our original assessment—the Hoka Speedgoat 5 is an excellent all-around trail running shoe. Read our long-term, in-depth review of the Hoka Speedgoat 5.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE HOKA SPEEDGOAT 5
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Saucony Peregrine 14
Sizes available: 7-13 (men's), 5-12 (women's)
Widths available: Standard, Wide
Drop: 4 mm
Stack height: 24-28 mm
Weight: 1 lb 2 oz (men's), 1 lb (women's)
These trail-specific shoes cost slightly less than the Challenger 7 but aren’t as versatile. The Saucony Peregrines 14 have deeper lugs and a more reinforced upper. They also don’t do nearly as well on roads as the Challenger 7.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE SAUCONY PEREGRINE 14
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Brooks Cascadia 17
Sizes available: 7-14 (men's), 5-13 (women's)
Widths available: Standard
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 12-20 mm
Weight: 1 lb 3.1 oz (men's), 1 lb 1.9 oz (women's)
The Brooks Cascadia 17 is also a trail-specific shoe with smaller lugs, so it will work on smoother trails and light road use. However, the Challenger 7 will fair better on roads long term. The Cascadia gives better off-road grip than the Challenger 7, though.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE BROOKS CASCADIA 17
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v8
Sizes available: 6-16 (men's), 5-12 (women's)
Widths available: regular, some wide
Drop: 8 mm
Stack height: 29 mm
Weight: 1 lb 5.2 oz (men's), 1 lb 0.6 oz (women's)
The New Balance Hierro v8 is another all-terrain running shoe, much like the Hoka Challenger 7. The Hierro has more heel-to-toe drop and less cushion than the Challenger 7 but has a grippier rubber outsole. However, this grippier rubber on the Hierro won’t last as long as the Durabrasion rubber found on the Challenger 7.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE NEW BALANCE HIERRO V8
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Salomon Speedcross 6
Sizes available: 7-14 (men's), 5.5-12 (women's)
Widths available: Standard, Wide
Drop: 10 mm
Stack height: 32-22 mm
Weight: 1 lb 5 oz (men's), 1 lb 2.4 oz (women's)
The Salomon Speedcross 6 is more off-road oriented than the Challenger 7. The Speedcross has deeper, more spread-out lugs than the Challenger 7, making it a dedicated trail running shoe. The Speedcross also has more heel-to-toe drop than the Challenger and a more substantial toe cap.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE SALOMON SPEEDCROSS 6
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
Altra Lone Peak 8
Sizes available: 7-16
Widths available: Regular, Wide
Drop: 0 mm
Stack height: 25 mm
Weight: 11 oz / 314 g
The Altra Lone Peak 8 has less heel-to-toe drop than the Challenger 7 and a more off-road-oriented design. The Lone Peak has deeper lugs with sharper angles than the Challenger 7. The Lone Peak also has a wider toe box, but the Challenger 7 in wide sizing is comparable in width to the Lone Peak 7 trail shoe.
COMPARE PRICES OF THE ALTRA LONE PEAK 8
MEN'S
WOMEN'S
WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US / ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sam Schild is a thru-hiker, trail runner, cyclist, and mountain athlete based in Colorado. He’s been a runner since he was a child, when he used to run five days a week as cardiovascular training for soccer. As he grew older, he stopped playing team sports and focused on running and cycling.
After moving to Colorado a decade ago, he started trail running on the local trails. Since then, he has completed countless ultra-distance self-supported trail runs on trails throughout the American Southwest. He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and the Colorado Trail twice, always in trail runners.
You can read more about Sam on his author page or website.
