Shoe Review: Hoka One One Challenger Trail Running Shoe
In preparation for the long-distance European Peace Walk, I needed a good long-distance walking shoe. I purchased a pair of Hoka One One Challenger Trail Running Shoes which came recommended by a salesperson at REI.
It’s always a challenge for me to find comfortable shoes because I have bunions and wear slip-in orthotics to prevent pronation. But I was really pleased with these! Unlike my experience on the Camino, my feet held up well over long distances and I only got one tiny blister!
I’ve walked approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) in these shoes and they’re still looking good. The price of $110 is steep, but the total comfort, lack of blisters, and durability makes the price more palatable.
- Roomy enough to accommodate orthotics.
- Breathable. My feet did not get hot even after hours and hours of walking.
- Maximum cushioning. Like walking on marshmallows!
- Extremely lightweight.
- Machine washable and very quick to dry.
- Nice grippy sole and good stability on flat trails and pavement.
- No seams in the upper to rub and cause blisters.
- Held up well even after approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) of walking.
- The knee pain that almost always accompanies my long walks was absent while wearing these.
- Super-duper ugly.
- Not waterproof.
- Black paint on the soles flaked off almost immediately.
- The high, squishy sole did not provide good stability when walking on uneven surfaces like cobblestones.
I can enthusiastically recommend the Hoka One One Challenger Trail Running Shoe for long-distance walking on mostly flat trails like portions of the Camino de Santiago and the European Peace Walk.