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.

Hoka One One Challenger Trail Running Shoe