Customer Reviews Hoka Challenger 7 GORE-TEX®

I've been a valet for 10 years at one of the busiest restaurants in the nation. The downfall is our exposure to the weather. When it rains, it puts here, and I've always resorted to rubber boots or just wet feet in my Clifton's. Then I found these. Just worked four six hour shifts in the pouring rain with dry feet pretty shocked. If you're having any doubt, toss that to the wind and just buy these. They're awesome and comfortable.

I am 75 years of age and wanted a pair of supportive and comfortable hiking shoes. This is one of the best pair I have ever owned. I should have probably purchased size 9.5 for wearing heavier socks in colder weather, but that is a minor issue. I am a big fan of Hoka after this purchase.

Been dealing with sore feet for the past few months. My wife's a big Hoka fan and recommended the Challenger ATR 7 for hiking. Extremely comfortable, enough stability and helping the pain for sure. Love them

These Challenger 7 Gtx shoes are light but still feel supportive with some good cushioning. They are a bit stiffer than my other Challenger models. I believe it is probably the gore-tex lining. Got them specifically for a multi-day walk in England where I will probably encounter wet weather. Have not tested the efficacy of the gore-tex. Only have had them a few weeks. From a sizing perspective, I know my Hoka size which is a half size larger than my other footwear so I think they run a bit small.

I needed a shoe that can be in the rain, mud and sand. This shoe handled it all. I'm in the elements for at least 8 hours at a time. My feet are tired but not sore. Very happy with the Challenger 7 GTX.

Pulled these out of the box and they looked so good I thought it would be a good idea to do the Mailbox Peak hike in Washington. Mailbox Peak is a 4,000 vertical hike in just over 2 miles. The sign on the trailhead says the average time round trip for the hike is 8 hours. The trail was relatively dry with some areas of mud, roots, and rocks. The shoes were great in all conditions and the only part of my body that wasn't in pain was my feet when I reached the summit after about 2.5 hours. I can usually fly on the down hike so figured I would be back at the van in an hour. Almost immediately my knees, hips, thighs, and calves were on fire. It was the longest down hike ever. Visions of me having to call my wife on the walkie talkie to have her call SAR kept flashing through my head. I finally made it to the parking lot after about 3 hours of agony and as I write this review 5 days later I struggle to stand up I'm so sore. The one part of my body that didn't hurt and don't hurt today were my feet. I did get some small rocks in my shoes on the way down but the thought of bending over to take my shoes off was far worse than just dealing with the pebbles. Sorry for the long winded review just wanted to give some perspective. I would strongly recommend the shoes.

Great shoe , stability is key and it's great! The gtx is next level

It feels like your walking on pillows and the grip these shoes have is amazing.

I bought these shoes as I loved the look of them online and needed a new waterproof trail runner. After walking in them at home for six hours (as I would normally do with a new pair of running shoes) I developed some moderate forefoot pain due to the very narrow toe box and gore-tex upper that has very little compliance. Hoka did not allow for a return OR an exchange as the shoes were 'worn' - Hokas own assessment photo attached showing small amount of dust on the sole. I would be extremely cautious when purchasing these shoes or Hokas in general as they will not accept returns or exchanges on shoes that show even the slightest amount of wear - unlike other footwear retailers.

I cannot believe how quickly these Challenger 7 GTXs have worn out. Two months after purchase and they are almost done for. The lugs are completely worn flat in some places and there are holes forming in each of the heals. On top of that, they have developed a squeak with every step that is very noticeable and annoying. I walk about 25-30 miles a week and these have not held up well. I have other Hokas that are older, have similar miles, if not more, are not nearly as worn out and do not squeak. The quality of these is not nearly as good as expected based on my other Hokas. If this is the new quality and they are going to last only a few months, might as well go back to my previous brand for half the price.

If you're like me, my routes include both trails and pavement, then you'll love this shoe

I'm absolutely in love with the colors. I purchased these for my husband and I for a family event we're having on July 6th. The gold color in the shoes match perfectly with our shirt. I was a little concerned about purchasing a men's size for myself, but they fit well. Will update later once I've worn them. Thanks Hoka

I Like the M challenger ATR 7 GTX shoes, they are comfortable, but some howe I wish I could tighten them better with the shoelaces, like the other pair a have,the M clifton 9, or the (regular Challenger). But all your shoes, they are comfortable.

As an aircraft mechanic, my husband is on his feet, on a concrete floor all day. He's been wearing these shoes about one and an half years and his feet hurt so much less. They wash up really nice too. I hand wash the shoe strings, throw the shoes in the washer and then put them on the back porch to dry. They look almost brand new! I highly recommend these shoes.

I like my new pair. My feet feel protected , warm and comfortable! I tested it on a rainy day and it feels fantastic!

What I like about my new pair is a perfect fit. I just had a a morning walk and it feels great, we had a rainy day and my feet stayed very comfortable.looking forward for a hike in Sierra Nevada mountains!

Love these. Outdoor ready and tough, waterproof and mostly fits true to size. Really like em.

I'm a marathon runner out of Buffalo, NY here. My race for this year is in April, and that has called for lots of winter training. These shoes fit the job perfectly. I've stomped through knee-high snow in these bad boys and stayed dry. Good traction, even on icy roads or through sleet. You still get a fairly plush, very comfortable ride you'd expect from HOKA. It's not quite as cushioned as the Clifton 9, but it's a comfortable shoe and an excellent addition for bad weather days year-round.

I've been running in the rain in London and my feet stayed dry . I also use these Hokas for running on the crushed granite trail around Lady Bird Lake in Austin. Hokas have the best impact absorption of any shoe I've had.

I have a long history w/Hoka (15+ pairs) since their original inception. I have been experiencing significant pain from an injury to my hip for well over a year, with surgery coming next month. The only shoes I could wear prior to getting the Challenger 7 GTX, without experiencing even more pain, was my Bondi 8's. Even my HOKA Kaha 2 Low GTX (which are designated plush) kill my hip. Tried the new Challenger and boom...they work awesome, every bit as comfortable and plush as the Bondi 8! Tighter fit but one should expect that in a shoe designed for trail running. I have about 30+ days of daily wear on these. They seem well constructed, although like all Hoka's, the soles wear quickly. I would not hesitate to buy another pair and may in a different color when available.

Overall, I am satisfied with this pair of shoes. I have worn it a few times during rainy days, and my feet remain dry, unlike my other shoes which are not waterproof. Gone are the days when my shoes would get all soaked, and I would have to quickly remove the shoelaces in order for the shoes to dry faster. This pair of waterproof shoes has indeed eliminated a lot of hassle, which is what I wanted.

Like the breathable warmth on fall days compared to the Bondi. May Run a touch narrow but maybe the goretex isn't as flexible I'm convinced they will adapt.

I was highly recommended by several friends about Hoka including those on their feet all day. I'm pretty finicky about most products or services I purchase. The shoes are just wonderful. I do feel like I'm almost floating on these shoes. They fit true to size and easy to get off and on. I'm truly happy about the purchase and will purchase future shoes as well. I only wish the style on their tennis shoes were good so I could purchase them as well.

The plush soles on the GTX version are amazing. The upper shoe was really tight for about a week. So tight across the top of my foot I thought I would have to return them. Then after about 20 hours of wear they became perfect. They are my new favorite urban hike shoes. The gore-tex shell means when they get dusty, you can rinse them in the sink and they are clean as new. My runner friends are impressed by how light they are.