Customer Reviews Hoka Challenger 7 GORE-TEX®

I sent them back the toe box was tight and I needed a wide width

I waited a few months for this gortex version to release, Unfortunately, I was disappointed it felt too firm for being plush, and too narrow. I don't have wide feet but it fits bit too tight. This shoe isn't for me. I returned this for a Bondi SR. On the other hand my friend loves her regular version.

I am on my feet walking and running on my job. The First day something popped in my left foot. I'm 6' foot 195 LBS, the shoe is slim which seemed to fit my foot, they seemed to firm and not real comfortable. This was the first Hoka purchase and Will never purchase this brand.

The recommended size from your site does not fit! They are way too narrow.

1

Customer service is out of this world. Matched shoe size to other brand. They came in small. Wore for a week and returned with no questions asked and was sent a bigger size. Seems the "toe box" is too small for me or I need a bigger size. Think I waited too long to send back.

I have been a loyal customer buying SpeedGoat GTX and Bondi shoes for a decade. Hoka has changed the fit of the SG 6GTX and ruined it, it far too narrow and doesn't fit someone with a high arch. They don't even offer a wide version of the GTX to help with the issue! So I tried the Transport GTX, and the Challenger 7 GTX, and they are all too narrow and too tight. The reviews all confirm the same thing, Hoka has abandoned us runners who made them what they are. We bought into Hoka for the wide toe box and roomy shoe and it's no longer that. I'm so disappointed they've left me no option but to test out other brands even though I have loved their shoes for years. I hiked the whole Appalachian Trail, New England Trail, Long Trail and others in them.

I never tried them on. It was sent as part of an exchange. But. Sneakers are awful.

I have gone through, at least 4 different sets of these shoes. Each and every time, within 6 to 8 months there is tear of the fabric at the toe box. Hoka had warrantied these shoes three times before. Now, after 6 months of wearing them, I am told the tearing that has occurred, yet again, is "normal wear and tear". You might ask why I keep purchasing these, if they don't hold up. Simple. I have a two level spinal fusion and other shoes just don't have the padding and I end up with significant back pain after standing or walking on concrete or asphalt after a couple hours.

Add my comments to the list of others very unhappy with the quality control tied to the Challenger 7 GTX. After 6 months of moderate use (I rely on for trail runs and alternate with Bondi for road runs), the tread at my right heal came unglued. Not something you'd expect from a shoe at this price point. Interestingly, I have an older model of the Challenger that is still holding up with no issues. The other similar reviews and my experience is enough to sway my from the Challenger GTX going forward. Too badsize and fit are great but quality of construction leaves much to be desired.

Less than a year in and the waterproofing went completely away. Just did ~8 miles today and my socks were swimming in both shoes. No holes, no crazy stuff. It was only light rain and wet grass. The sizing is ~0.5 sizes off, maybe a little more, though that is not the deal breaker here. I specifically ordered these for the GTX.

I received these shoes as a gift and the tread came unglued after just a few times wearing them. This is considered normal wear and tear by hoka. I would not recommend this product that hoka does not stand behind.

I wanted to try these to see what all the hype is around Hoka shoes. Although LL Bean recommends sizing up, I went by the "True Fit" on the LL Bean and Hoka websites, and they both suggested my regular size of 8. That said, the fit is perfect. The shoes are very lightweight but I find the extra cushioning to be a little extreme and it felt like I was wearing platform shoes. I don't want platform shoes. I want sneakers. Something in the tongue of the right shoe pushed against the top of my foot and the same thing happened when my wife tried them on. Like my title says, "these are weird". I do not understand hype and I am exchanging these for real sneakers as soon as I get the chance to go to the store.

Invisible FIT Goretex is a scam. There is no GTX at all your socks will get soaked just from grass dew. It happened to me within the first month. By the second month, the sole started falling apart. Marketed as waterproof and durable, but in reality it's cheap, fragile, and misleading. That said, it actually helped a lot with my plantar fasciitis.

Very comfortable shoe, on trail and road. Great grip. Then the rubber tread on the outsole started coming unglued after 2 months. Not my first pair of Challengers so it seemed like a defect. Submitted for warranty return and the customer support was not supportive at all. They declined my claim and sent the shoes back to me (after a 3 week turnaround from claim to return to me) with very little information as to what was going on.

I like the look of these shoes, but unfortunately, their quality is very poor. The padding around the heel starting wearing visibly within a month of use, even without wearing these every day, and now, after six months, the heel padding has disintegrated and is completely coming out. Hoka is calling this "normal wear and tear" and will not replace under warranty, so I would absolutely not recommend buying these.

Comfortable shoe but started tearing up inside within a couple of months. Dirt became stuck inside layers and changed colors. Put in warranty claim and they denied stating that's normal wear and tear. I like the shoes but with this level of longevity I will not buy them again.

Shoes are allegedly designed to last in an acceptable state for under 4-months. Do not buy. Shoes looked and felt great. Purchased February 2024. Worn probably every other day, nothing too hard or wild. Had to be warrantied in October 2024 due to the fabric on the inside of the heels being destroyed. The replacement shoes' heels are now equally destroyed after less than 3 months of light winter wear. Warranty declined due to "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." Awful decision on the warranty and an outward statement from the company that they are designed to last less than 4 months. Find a brand that is built to last.

I tried this on and was very disappointed. I have had trouble with last few Hoka Gore-tex shoes. Last year I tried the Speedgoat GTX and had to return them because they hurt my feet. So far the comfort on a pair of the newly designed Bondi 9 Wide in size 10.5 have been very comfortable. So maybe I need a wider shoe now. The toe box in these Challenger 7 GTX shoes were way too tight and felt constricting and uncomfortable immediately.

I wonder if I got a defective pair. No cushion, which is shocking for a Hoka. I thought that was the core brand ethos. Thinking of throwing them away.