Hoka Challenger ATR 7 GTX Review - ''They feel solid yet forgiving out of the box.''
Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 10, 2025
I chose Hokas for my Chamonix to Zermatt trek because of their comfort, and I wasn’t disappointed, they feel solid yet forgiving out of the box.
On reflection though these were the wrong choice for this trek, high altitude trekking is tough on shoes and the Hoka Challenger ATR 7 GTX weren’t up to the task. They immediately showed signs of wear and throughout the trek suffered from being scraped and dragged across rocky terrain.
As well as simply wearing down the sole they also lost whole sections of rubber leaving them with very little grip and I was relieved there wasn’t much rain. I have included some ‘After’ photos so you can judge for yourself – I walked for 11 days, 8-10 hours a day on tough rugged terrain.
In summary, you can’t fault Hokas for comfort but on rough terrain the Hoka Challenger ATR 7 GTX just doesn’t have a robust enough sole.
 |
||
 |
||
| Mark Richardson |
||
|
Mark was the founder of Ultralight Outdoor Gear back in 2006 and has completed long distance backpacking routes in some of the remotest parts of the world. His favourite hikes have been Torres del Paine (full circuit), the John Muir trail and the Markha Valley trail (Ladakh, India). Although semi-retired Mark has not lost any enthusiasm for minimalist backpacking and is tackling Scotland’s Munros choosing multi-day backpacking routes over the more usual guide book excursions. |
||