Review of Hoka Challenger 7 Shoes
The Hoka Challenger 7 are versatile running shoes that perform well on both trails and roads. Here is a detailed overview of their features and performance.
General Features
Comfort and Cushioning
The Challenger 7 features Hoka’s signature cushioning, providing a soft and comfortable feel with every step. The compression-molded EVA foam midsole offers excellent cushioning, reducing impact on the joints, which is particularly beneficial during long runs. This technology also ensures an even distribution of pressure, enhancing overall stability and comfort.
Weight and Lightness
Despite their robust appearance, the Challenger 7 is surprisingly lightweight. This lightness allows runners to maintain good speed without feeling weighed down by their shoes.
Traction and Durability
The outsole of the Challenger 7 is designed to provide optimal traction on a variety of surfaces. With the Durabrasion Rubber™ outsole, the shoes offer exceptional durability and solid grip, even on challenging terrains. The lugs are deep enough to ensure good traction on rough trails while remaining comfortable on the road.
Breathability
The engineered mesh upper ensures good ventilation, keeping the feet cool and dry. This is particularly important to prevent blisters and other discomforts caused by excessive moisture.
Versatility
One of the main strengths of the Challenger 7 is their versatility. They are sturdy enough for trails but comfortable enough for the road, making them ideal for runners who like to mix up their routes.
Personal Opinion
As the name suggests, this review is personal and only reflects my feelings. A shoe can have all the features you are looking for, be very nice… But if once your foot is in it you don’t feel good, then there’s no point in forcing yourself to buy them! I don’t have a lot of experience and haven’t (yet) had the chance to try hundreds of pairs, but I feel extremely good in these Challenger 7. The cushioning is really good and pleasant. The sole provides good grip on dry ground. Once the ground is wet (rocks, slabs, asphalt), I find that the grip deteriorates significantly and the loss of traction is really noticeable. To compare, I have hiking shoes with Vibram soles that are much more “grippy” on wet ground. I would therefore recommend these shoes for your outings on dry ground. I have big doubts about their ability during wetter periods and even more so in autumn with the leaves. Apart from this aspect (which is still relatively important), I really love this model which, for me, has all the required qualities to feel good in your shoes. Note that I have never done very long outings (more than 30k).
Review n°2 after 600 km
Here we are for a review after 600 km! Not being (yet) an ultra-trail runner, this represents quite a significant number of runs. I’ve tested them on different terrains and various run lengths. The overall impression is quite positive. The wear seems reasonable, although there are some signs of wear around the heel. The sole, however, is almost new! It’s quite surprising, but it’s probably due to my light and airy stride ^^
I’m very happy with this model, which delivers on its promises: a rather versatile shoe for road running and tackling gravel. One negative point concerns the sole, which I don’t find very grippy, especially when it gets humid. A Vibram sole would be much more suitable. But since we’re talking about a versatile shoe, it’s not a major issue. However, for winter and primarily off-road use, I would recommend going for another, more adapted model.
The bounce still feels pretty good, but it would be worth testing them alongside new shoes to have a real comparison.
For someone new to the discipline, this shoe is really great, and its versatility is much appreciated. I also think it would fit well in the rotation for more experienced runners.
Conclusion
The Hoka Challenger 7 is an excellent option for runners looking for versatile and comfortable shoes. Their combination of cushioning thanks to the compression-molded EVA foam midsole, lightness, traction, and durability provided by the Durabrasion Rubber™ outsole makes them a solid choice for various running conditions. Whether you run on the road or trail, the Challenger 7 will meet your expectations with flying colors.
