![]() ![]() What if they broke this amazing shoe? Well, there are some changes with the ATR 6 - some good, some bad. I was half dreading the launch of the new generation. I expected the Challenger to feel unresponsive on technical trails due to that hefty sole, instead I feel confident that I’m going to have a soft landing.Īs someone who has struggled with knee pain while running in the past, the cushioning in these shoes has been a revelation, and the Challengers aren’t even close to the most cushioned shoe in the Hoka One One range. But, once you’ve put some miles through the ‘meta-rocker’ (as Hoka calls it), the ride’s a smooth one and I’ve learnt to love it. It’s a bit like running in platform shoes (not that I’ve tried), and it does take some time to adapt. So what does that mean for the ride? Honestly, it takes a bit of getting used to. In fact, they claim to have 2x as much midsole cushioning as other shoes on the market. While the competition is building trail shoes that are getting thinner, lighter, and adding carbon plates, Hoka is adding pillow levels of cushioning to their soles. If you’re used to other brands of shoe, you’ll likely take a few runs to settle into the chunky Hoka One One sole. Here’s what I think of them, and why I keep coming back. I’ve now worked my way through two pairs of the Challenger ATR 5’s with over 500km of hiking and running in each, and I’ve just bagged a pair of the new Challenger ATR 6’s. Hoka One One pitch the Challenger ATR range as an ‘adaptable, all-terrain shoe that defies convention - performing light on the trail and smooth on the street, thanks to its midsole geometry and outsole construction.’ And that sounded perfect. ![]() Lockdown in Melbourne was just starting - and finding myself a couple of kilometres from the Yarra river trails - I needed something to suit increasingly random routes as I exhausted my regular running loops. I was looking for an all-terrain shoe that was going to be great on the trails and stand up to some pavement pounding city runs too. Having seen her run over 3,000 km in her various Hokas, I decided to give them a try in early 2020. For me, the tipping point to pick some up came from Lucy Clark, a Bright based runner who ran the length of New Zealand in 66 days, breaking the women’s record along the way. If you follow any trail runners on Insta, you’ve more than likely seen more of Hoka One One over the past few years as the community embraces their cushioned kicks. ![]() Here’s what he makes of the Challenger ATR Range. Is Ed Hoka One One’s number one fan? He’s put over 1000km into two pairs of Hokas and just bought a third pair. ![]()
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