You’re a trail running lover but your runs always include both trail and road to get to the good stuff. You need a shoe that can excel in both worlds. Que the Hoka Challenger 7.
Conceived at the intersection of road and trail, the new Hoka Challenger 7 has had an injection of foam at the midsole and an overhauled rubber outsole that Hoka says is inspired by the grippiest gravel bike tyres.
The Challenger 7 is designed to provide both unrivalled adaptability to your run across a range of terrains and cushioning to soften the blow over long miles. Question is, can it really excel equally on such different terrains?
Sportsshoe ambassadors Marc Smerdon and Anna Wiles put the Hoka Challenger 7 through its paces to find out....
Hoka Challenger 7: Features
"First impressions? I love the colourways and the huge stack height that Hoka is well known for”, says Marc, who is impressed by the numerous updates since the Challenger’s predecessor.
The midsole’s increased stack height with 5mm drop provides comfort "equivalent to a brand new mattress”, while the engineered mesh upper is designed to both protect from trail debris and be breathable enough to avoid any overheating on the go.
The EVA foam midsole is produced by compression moulding (as opposed to injection moulding), allowing a higher level of detail in the brightly coloured design, which Hoka is fast becoming known for.
"What I love about this shoe is the road-to-trail format in which the Challenger shoe has cemented into its DNA"
Marc Smerdon
A new big feature of the overhauled design is the Durabrasion rubber outsole with multidirectional lugs, which tester Anna found provided "great traction on the trails with rubber outsole which adapts to any type of terrain.”
You’ll notice the striking extended heel tab on the rear of the shoe which is made to make the shoe quick and easy to slip into and take off. Inside the heel sits some in-built padding for that extra injection of comfort.
Hoka Challenger 7: Verdict
After putting the shoes to the test over a range of terrain – tarmac, mud, sand and trail – would Marc and Anna recommend the Challenger 7?
Marc: “Personally, this shoe has now become my day-to-day shoe when running from home, the CMEVA midsole is a dream for comfort when you just need to put miles into the legs. The new upgrades have elevated this shoe to new heights and are good for beginners trying out trail running for the first time or elite runners just wanting some comfort from time to time.”
Anna: “I found the Hoka Challenger 7 the perfect hybrid shoe which will take you from your front door to the trails with ease. Right from the get-go the shoes felt plush, breathable, and versatile.”