tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post9159138019874492137..comments2024-03-29T08:31:12.427-06:00Comments on Road Trail Run: Review Hoka One One Challenger ATR: What a Union! Super Light Meets Burly. Sam Winebaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-73710359507628253542015-11-22T12:59:50.643-07:002015-11-22T12:59:50.643-07:00Bruce, big difference to FluidFlex and depending o...Bruce, big difference to FluidFlex and depending on model quite a difference to PI. I do find it hard to adjust back to Hokas. Usually takes me a few weeks of at least semi regular running in them, more so on the road than for trails as there is very little sensation of what is under foot and you need to "roll along". For trails a different issue for uphills as they are stiff different muscles need to be engaged. More knee lift I think. Sam Winebaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-10261853671339287252015-11-22T09:08:42.280-07:002015-11-22T09:08:42.280-07:00i tried them on an easy dirt trail. my recent trai...i tried them on an easy dirt trail. my recent trail shoes have been mostly fluidflex and pearl izumi (prefer the fluidflex, all versions, obviously a drastically more flexible shoe). did you ever have that tiring feeling i mentioned? as i said, they seemed to run pretty smoothly, but maybe it is the stiffness. do you tend to stick with hokas for a while rather than finding it easy to switch back and forth with 'regular' shoes? <br /><br />thanks,<br />bruceBrucenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-86495906614070747482015-11-21T14:12:59.215-07:002015-11-21T14:12:59.215-07:00Hi Bruce, First what have you been running in late...Hi Bruce, First what have you been running in lately and what kind of trails? When I go back to Hoka's I always find there is an adjustment to the rocker and the relative stiffness which takes some breakin for the thick midsole. I found them considerably firmer than say Clifton, too soft for me, somewhat stiffer and firmer than Rapa Nui and Huaka. I thought I would like them on the road too but found they are best on trails. Sam Winebaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-18748436776623647152015-11-21T11:09:37.427-07:002015-11-21T11:09:37.427-07:00thanks sam. i got a pair and had my first run toda...thanks sam. i got a pair and had my first run today. i have limited hoka experience, but they seemed to work better for me than rapa nui 2 and fit much better than huaka (both of which i tried briefly). they felt more natural to me than i expected, quite smooth, but even though they did not feel mushy and were fairly responsive, they seemed exhausting right from the beginning of my run and i couldn't shake that feeling. granted, i'm used to firmer shoes, especially adizero (mainly adiprene), but this was strange. i wonder if anyone out there had this experience and, of course, whether they got over it after a while. on the other hand, my legs did indeed feel fresher afterward, so i wish i actually could enjoy them while i'm running; so far, not a great trade-off. any thoughts from anyone? <br /><br />thanks again,<br />bruceBrucenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-73876656384397463802015-11-17T05:06:47.152-07:002015-11-17T05:06:47.152-07:00Hi Bruce,
It's my understanding the Challenger...Hi Bruce,<br />It's my understanding the Challenger ATR and Clifton are built on the same last. The Challenger ATR 1 has a less firm toe bumper than the Clifton 2 or Huaka. The Huaka has a different upper design, I call it a burrito as it wraps up from the side and has a firmer upper material as well as toe bumper than Challenger. Huaka is more of a "race" shoe has a snugger fit. It is an incredibly versatile road trail hybrid as long as the trails aren't slick mud or snow and such. Challenger with real lugs has a more substantial outsole. A bit more heel slippage for me in Challenger mainly I think as the upper and overlays is overall a softer more pliable material than Huaka or Clifton 2 and as said above the toe bumper being less substantial. As with all Hokas I cut the quick lace off the Huaka and am much happier! Hope this helps. Thanks for reading! Sam Winebaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-89126239862344516152015-11-16T18:12:03.378-07:002015-11-16T18:12:03.378-07:00hi sam,
i'm a bit late, but great review! how...hi sam,<br /><br />i'm a bit late, but great review! how would you compare the fit (including length) of the huaka and/or the clifton to the challenger? i've never really found hokas to be shaped like my foot, or to be capable of being snugly shaped to the contours of the foot. do you find these any different? (regular laces, right?) also, how bad is the heel slippage? otherwise, they sound pretty terrific.<br /><br />thanks,<br />bruceBrucenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-48042839437518851962015-07-14T05:51:00.669-06:002015-07-14T05:51:00.669-06:00Hi Miki,
I have run some but not much pavement in ...Hi Miki,<br />I have run some but not much pavement in Challenger. A touch firmer and stiffer than Huaka with more stack due to the midsole and the harder rubber lugged outsole. Not quite as smooth running but good. You might also try the Clifton 2. It now has firmer outsole rubber and a new more supportive upper. I found the Clifton 1 too soft in the heel for me due to soft outsole and sloppy upper. Much of this corrected and a fine shoe if not quite as lively and snappy as the Huaka. The firmer rubber outsole will also give better wear than Huaka. Sam Winebaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-65997371972552744702015-07-13T11:56:18.094-06:002015-07-13T11:56:18.094-06:00Hi Sam
I used to run in the Huakas, which were pe...Hi Sam<br /><br />I used to run in the Huakas, which were perfect for me (I run on pavements). The Huakas are no longer available where I live, and I wonder what you think about running in the Challenger ATR on pavement.<br /><br />Thanks for your advice<br /><br />Mikimikihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960575575371976834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-64385183551566214942015-06-02T09:45:49.105-06:002015-06-02T09:45:49.105-06:00I absolutely love these. Keeping me sated while I...I absolutely love these. Keeping me sated while I wait for the Clifton 2s. <br /><br />While I'm not wild for loose on the road, I love that Skechers like feel on the trail. <br /><br />Just enough but not too much grip/lugs. And the flimsy tongue works well to keep out stuff, whereas on the Clifton I found it more annoying and stupid.<br /><br />Thx!@midpackbipednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-42541884825081353852015-05-27T12:17:12.425-06:002015-05-27T12:17:12.425-06:00Hi Paul,
Thanks for comment and feedback. I too l...Hi Paul, <br />Thanks for comment and feedback. I too love the overall fit of Altra and I have narrow feet. I just miss some drop in them... I can run Huaka at about 2-3mm and all kinds of shoes at 4mm but when i go to zero drop and/or a super soft heel such as on Hoka Clifton I miss the heel...<br />Sam Winebaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-84136113255318811192015-05-27T09:10:03.465-06:002015-05-27T09:10:03.465-06:00Hi Sam,
just to follow up: Neither the Stinson A...Hi Sam, <br /><br />just to follow up: Neither the Stinson ATR nor the Challenger ATR fit my feet. I got the Altra Olympus 1.5 instead and couldn't be happier! Zero drop and foot shaped toe box fit my feet perfectly. I've had zero issues going zero drop even on the long runs. In fact for the first time it feels like my shoes are not in the way when running. Just 3 weeks later I bought the Torin for the road and it's just as nice! <br /><br />This may be helpful for anybody looking into maximalist shoes and can't get a good fit in the Hokas. This doesn't go against the Hokas, I really wanted to like the shoe but my feet didn't … Just my 2 cents ;)<br /><br />Best, <br />PaulAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09182555710513280622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-30691446291678897412015-03-06T01:58:16.068-07:002015-03-06T01:58:16.068-07:00Hi Sam,
Thx for your quick and detailed response...Hi Sam, <br /><br />Thx for your quick and detailed response! I guess I will order both the Challenger and the Stinson ATR to see how they fit and feel. The Altra Olympus is another shoe I am really interested in putting on my feet as it seems to be a perfect match for training in Berlin. For the Chiemgauer 100 ( http://www.chiemgauer100.de/English/EChiemgauer_100_home.htm ) I will need a shoe with more grip though. The Nike Zoom Wildhorse which I wore the first 26 mi was *very* slippery on the rocky downhills …<br /><br />I just hope the Hokas aren't too stiff. I have a Salomon Sense Mantra in my rotation. It works fine up to 20 mi and on soft ground, and because of the grip it has been my go-to shoe for running in snow. Recently though I found them too hard on my joints … Maybe I am getting old ;) <br /><br />I usually order shoes online both from German and international retailers as the local shoe stores only have the mainstream line-up of the major brands but no Hokas, Skechers, La Sportiva or other niche brands. If I convert to Hoka I may order from them directly.<br /><br />I am looking forward to the next iteration of the GRU and hope they work out the forefoot fit which I found to be way too loose – there's just too much lateral movement which doesn't provide enough stability on technical descents. The S-Lab Wings you mentioned has definitely too much drop for my feet, Adidas and NB shoes usually don't provide enough room in the toebox for my slightly bent up large toenails. <br /><br />I'll keep you posted ;)<br /><br />Best + thx again!<br />Paul<br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09182555710513280622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-53019806440278455312015-03-05T19:32:23.655-07:002015-03-05T19:32:23.655-07:00Another shoe to consider launching this summer Sal...Another shoe to consider launching this summer Salomon S-Lab Wings. A bit heavier than Challenger. Also a new adidas the Raven Boost launching this summer. Heavy but I think will be spectacular for long distances on any terrain including road and rough technical. Review soon when I get on some dirt! Far better running than the new Ultra Boost with its very soft forefoot but if you like soft as GRU you might like, heavy though due to Primeknit. Sam Winebaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-36675594825464245002015-03-05T19:28:17.552-07:002015-03-05T19:28:17.552-07:00Hi Paul, love to see your Strava runs from Berlin....Hi Paul, love to see your Strava runs from Berlin. Here too in NH USA and in Dec and Jan UT USA it has been cold, We have almost 2 meters of snow on the ground at the seashore in NH. To get at your questions about Challenger vs Ultra. I am very familiar with both. For me the GORim Ultra is not enough shoe for rougher trails, too soft and flexible for my taste. more an easy road recovery run shoe for me. Skechers is working on it... I am a wear tester and new versions will be truly incredible but have no idea when they will launch. Ultra is bit lighter for sure at 240 grams in my US 8.5 vs Challenger still light at 258. Despite the snow I did run the Challenger on smoother trails in Utah in December including up to 30K and they were spectacular. Firmer than Clifton for sure more flexible than Stinson but not as flexible as Go Run Ultra. More durable in terms of outsole than Ultra as Challenge has very decent hard rubber in all the right places. Challenger upper I prefer to GRU 1. Soft and supportive enough for my narrower feet. No rubbing on the top of big toe bunion as GRU 1, this issue mostly solved in GRU 2 for me, a shoe I wear tested. Overall Challenger is a spectacular shoe for moderate trails given its cushioning and light weight. Hope this helps and thanks for reading my blog. A bit of a research question. Where do you shop for newer innovative shoes from Germany?Sam Winebaumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-55089636676038938212015-03-05T14:02:44.102-07:002015-03-05T14:02:44.102-07:00Hi Sam,
this is Paul from Berlin (on Strava). Th...Hi Sam, <br /><br />this is Paul from Berlin (on Strava). Thx for the detailed review. I'm currently looking to step up the game both in distance and shoewise and am now looking at the Hoka line-up for my first 100-miler. I am wondering how the Challenger ATR compares in terms of fit, flexibility and durability to the Stinson ATR which Trailplodder highly recommends. <br /> <br />I have been training in the Skechers GoRun Ultra and have run the second half of a 50 miler in them in 2014. The 100 miler is on the same terrain, about 50/50% trail and forrest roads. <br /><br />I have kind of a love and hate relationship with the Skechers due to what John Savage (fellrnr.com) called a "medial post" which on some runs is more noticable than on others. After about 500 mi they now seem to have a "custom fit" which shows my personal wear pattern (from supination). <br /><br />Anyway, thx for a brief feedback!<br />Best from cold Berlin, <br />PaulAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09182555710513280622noreply@blogger.com