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Hoka One One Challenger ATR 3 Review and Coupon!

July 6, 2017 • By Jessica

*** Disclaimer: I received these shoes free of charge as part of my partnership with JackRabbit. My opinions and review are all mine and are not influenced by JackRabbit or HokaOneOne in any manner. ***

My first pair of trail shoes were ready to retire after a year of use. So when it came time to get a new pair I knew I wanted to try Hokas. I had heard many good things about them from my run club friends and with 4 other pairs of Hokas, I figured they would likely work as well on the dirt as my other Hokas have performed for me on the road. So I was excited that my fifth pair of Hoka One One shoes were the all terrain Hoka Challenger ATR 3s! I say all terrain because they aren’t JUST for trails. They are multiuse – road, trails, track … you name it. I’ve run just shy of 50 miles in them and I am so grateful to my Jack Rabbit peeps for hooking me up with them so I could test them out and share my opinion of them with you all!

For those of you familiar with Hoka One One, if you like the Clifton 3 (on sale now), keep reading because these shoes have many similarities (see my reviews on those here: Hoka Clifton 3 released and Hoka Clifton 3 fit)!

SHOE STATS
Weight: women’s 7.9 oz (size 7) men’s 9.5 oz (size 9)
Stack height: women heel 28 mm, forefoot 23 mm
Stack height: men heel 29 mm, forefoot 24 mm
Heel drop 5 mm
Widths available: regular

Sizes women’s 6-11, men’s 8-14

Various colors to choose from (Mine are Persian Jewel/Green Glow)

SIZE AND FIT:

This is a “neutral” running shoe best for ALL terrain, meaning it works well on any surface!!! This means it is kind of a hybrid of sorts. Definitely great bang for your buck if it works for your foot. As an overpronator, this type of shoe only works for me with my custom orthotics that help control my excessive pronation. It is not meant as a stability shoe or motion control shoe. It runs true to size. I’m an 8.5 in all other running shoes and other Hokas and an 8.5 in this pair, too.

UPPER:
This version of the Challenger features a thick but not heavy mesh overlay with nice ventilation thanks to the 3D Puff Print Overlays. I have been running in them in 90+ degrees and high humidity and they do not retain odor or sweat! These seem to have a slightly wider toe box than the Clifton 3s but not as wide as the Arahi.

MIDSOLE:
The Challenger ATR 3 features the signature Hoka EVA midsole for maximum cushioning throughout the shoe. I’m only 50 miles in but as with my other Hokas, I don’t doubt that this EVA midsole will help still give that cushion-y feel when I’m 500 miles in, as well!

OUTSOLE:

The outsoles feature 4 mm lugs (those used to Hoka will be accustomed to the feeling) that deliver better than average traction. On the trail, they provide a great sense of security similar to a hiking boot but without the bulk or stiffness. The Challenger ATR 3 heel has nice wide outsole with great heel grip.

RIDE:

Those familiar to Hoka know about the metastage rocker technology. This cushion-y feel is one you either love or hate. I personally love it because I’m injury prone and need the extra relief on my joints. Know that in this shoe, it’s there, as well, but like other Hokas it provides a super soft cushioned feeling but not heavy feel. The shoe is still very lightweight and when wearing it you want to run fast (even on the trail)!
hoka runner

CONCLUSIONS:

This shoe is awesome in that it is good on many surfaces. It’s great that you can take it to and from the trail via the road (I often have to run a mile to my trails on roads) and also an awesome shoe for travel. You can do a road race one day and take them to the trails the next! But it isn’t for everyone. If you overpronate (and don’t have orthotics), have wide mid and/or forefeet or large bunions or bunionettes, these may not be the right shoes for you. I do have bunions but they haven’t been irritated in a while and to me, the toebox is wide enough. I also only ran in these on sandy, rocky and dirt trails; I didn’t run in mud so can’t say for sure how they perform on slippery surfaces. But a twofer shoe for $130 with free shipping (if your foot fits in the neutral, cushion loving, lightweight, smooth ride category)??? How can you beat that? Oh wait, you can! Because I have a coupon for you! Click here for your $20 off $120 coupon at JackRabbit! That would make the Challenger ATR 3s even cheaper, and that my friends, is hard to beat!

hoka challenger 3