Hoka One One Challenger ATR 2

Field Notes: Sometimes a little bit of pavement has to be endured before the joy of the trail, and sometimes a run downtown is all the weather allows for. The well-known comfort and posture protection of Hoka One One combined with the 4mm lugs on the Challenger ATR 2 makes this the only shoe that trail runners who occasionally hit pavement will need. The Challenger ATR 2 offers traction for all kinds of terrain, making it ideal for long distances on the trail or road. 

The brand explains the early-stage Meta-Rocker with 5mm offset propels you forward for aided momentum and natural gait movement. While the oversized EVA midsole creates a lightweight mega cushion, its tall stack height – 23mm at forefoot and 28mm at heel – has the potential to feel like a bit of a balancing act. But, the podular outsole is designed to prevent ankle rolls and provide stability on the rocky and root-filled trails. 

The style and bright color options are signatures of Hoka One One running shoes, and this trail shoe is available in three color options and sizes spanning from 5 to 11 to fit a broad range of foot sizes and women hitting the trail.

Tester Comments: “Trail shoes are usually god-awful on pavement after a mile. The Challenger ATR 2s fixes that problem by giving a trail shoe a road-friendly midsole. We favored them on trails with minimal obstacles and a harder packed surface.”

Pros: The fact that these shoes perform on pavement as well as they do trails gives them the versatility for city slickers who don’t always have access to dirt. 

Cons: Despite their efforts to stabilize the shoe, gnarly trails still felt wobbly until we really got used to the shoe.

Key Attribute: Value