Hoka One One M Challenger 8 Faded Navy/Pampass Grass

I walked 4 miles in these the first time I wore them. I live on a road with partial millings and the rest is dirt/gravel. I could feel the grip on the millings so I preferred them on the gravel where I felt secure with each step. I had previously been wearing new balance T410s which advertise as a trail shoe but I felt like my foot slipped with each step on gravel in those. After even only doing 3 miles my back would hurt afterwards as well. In these hokas I felt like I could’ve kept walking but had to stop due to time constraints and had zero back pain after. The shoes are much lighter than I was expecting too. I’m very happy with my purchase! Another note to add: I have high arches and measure between a medium and wide width. These felt like they were hugging my feet just right and I had no pain whatsoever.

There is a ton to like about this shoe! They are incredibly comfortable and supportive, with lots of energy return from each step making workouts feel easier. The grip feels secure and they seem solidly constructed and like they will hold up over time. For me though, there are some cons. As a bigger person with a history of a bad ankle sprain, the amount of cushion gives me a bit too much movement on more technical terrain. I’ll be keeping these for gravel, less technical trails, and road surfaces, and may even choose these for city sightseeing, theme parks, and other days where I’ll be spending lots of time on my feet. But for true hiking or trail running, I prefer something with a wider toe box and that I can feel the ground, to give me more stability.

Sole literally started falling off after just 5-8 days of use in the mountains. With the first pair, I thought it might have been a production error, but the exact same thing happened with the second pair. Best-fitting shoe I’ve ever had, but unfortunately also the worst durability of any shoe I’ve ever owned.

Comfortable, all day wear! Love the colors, styles and how supportive they are. My 4th pair of Hokas!

This is my 7th Hoka’s pair of shoes. I use this pair for running/walking. I really like the shoes, it’s comfortable and with good cushion. The problem is, runs big. Usually my size is 6. I will return these shoes and exchange to smaller size.