HOKA ONE ONE Challenger ATR 6 Review
Versatile Cushioning For Any Terrain
Likes
- Versatile road to trail shoe
- Comfortable fit
- Lightweight cushioning
Dislikes
- Break-in period
- Slightly unstable on technical terrain
- Wider fit
What's New
Continuing the success of the previous Challenger models, the HOKA ONE ONE Challenger ATR 6 sees only minor updates from last year. HOKA's focus was to improve the experience of this versatile road and trail running shoe with a smoother feel and a softer, more comfortable upper. To give version 6 a better ride, HOKA modified the rocker's design for an enhanced heel-toe transition. Meanwhile, the dual-layer mesh upper holds the foot without the need for irritating overlays, and the use of recycled fibers makes the shoe more sustainable for the environment overall.
The Bottom Line
The HOKA ONE ONE Challenger ATR 6 continues to be a versatile running shoe for both road and trail use. Its high level of cushioning offers plenty of protection no matter the running surface, and our testers especially loved the shoe's comfortable underfoot feel. They found it to be a fun blend of soft cushioning and springy energy return. While this shoe isn't recommended for more technical terrain due to its high stack height, the Challenger ATR 6 is a perfect partner for the runner who wants one shoe for both the trail and the road or for anyone looking for comfortable cushioning with a lively ride.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium to high |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium |
| Heel Width | Medium |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.8 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.1 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 31 mm (Heel), 26 mm (Forefoot) | 5 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road and Trail |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
The Challenger ATR 6 combines the soft feel of a road running shoe with the rebound typically found in trail shoes. Our testers agreed that while this isn't the softest shoe in HOKA's lineup, its balanced cushioning made the underfoot experience optimal for both road and trail running.
Kaitlin: "The cushioning is most noticeable on the road, where it felt quite soft and a little bouncy. The Challenger also provides a soft landing with a bit of rebound to get you into the next step on the trail. There's plenty of cushioning for both daily training and high-mileage runs."
Liese: "While these Challenger ATR 6s aren't super soft compared to other HOKAs like the Clifton, I thought the cushioning was perfect for a trail-road hybrid."
Ride/Energy Returni
Our testers were pleased to discover that the Challenger ATR 6 offered even better energy return on the run than a pure road shoe like the Clifton. They agreed that this allowed the shoe to feel more agile on the trail than other models with the same stack height.
Liese: "I found the Challengers to be quite springy, more than I expected. I think I expected this shoe to be a "Clifton for trails," and in my experience, my Cliftons feel a bit more cushioned and less springy than this Challenger 6. I was surprised to find the Challengers to be agile and responsive on hardpack trails."
Kaitlin: "The midsole delivers some snap when on the road and a little bit of springiness on the trail. However, I think other parts of the shoe hold it back from feeling as responsive as it could. The fit of the shoe was a little sloppy and threw off my performance a bit."
Underfoot Protectioni
As expected, our team loved the protection the Challenger ATR 6 provided. They found that the shoe had plenty of underfoot cushioning that protected them from the impact of running on the road and from rocks underfoot.
Kaitlin: "The Challenger provided excellent impact protection on both road and trail. I felt like this shoe made running easier on my joints. I also felt protected from kicking or landing on larger stones on the trail."
Liese: "The Challenger's stack height is high, only one step down from the Stinson, which is the HOKA's most maximally cushioned trail shoe. I found the Challenger to provide the right amount of cushioning without limiting my confidence on the trail. Sometimes I felt like I was 'tottering' in the Stinson on rocky patches, while this Challenger feels more stable."
Flexibilityi
Keeping in line with other highly cushioned trail shoes, the Challenger ATR 6 is relatively stiff. That being said, HOKA's rocker technology gave the ATR 6 a seamless heel-toe transition.
Liese: "The Challengers are somewhat flexible. Due to the nature of the trail, shoes need to be protective, so the sole was reasonably rigid. However, the upper is quite flexible."
Kaitlin: "The Challenger ATR 6 was flexible enough, considering its stack height. The design of the rocker made the transitions during my runs feel pretty close to seamless. From touching down to pushing off, it felt smooth and controlled."
Upper Supporti
Our testers found the Challenger ATR 6 to offer a very generous fit. One of our testers noted issues finding a proper lockdown at first, and both testers recommended using a runners loop if you are having problems getting the desired fit.
Kaitlin: "This shoe's toebox was very generous for me and did not interact much with my foot. I enjoyed this, but I would have preferred a bit more security throughout the midfoot. Even with cinching down the laces, it felt like I risked rolling my ankle or sliding around in my shoe."
Liese: "The upper is soft with minimal overlays. I like how the mesh fabric of the upper molds around my foot while supporting me as I round curves in the trail, but I always employed a runners loop to keep the shoe secure around my ankle."
Individual Thoughts
I really enjoyed the underfoot feel of the Challenger ATR 6. It felt plush and lightweight on both the road and trail. These shoes make great daily trainers. I am excited to expand my road-to-trail territory with these. I usually try to keep the road section of my runs as short as possible, but these shoes feel great on both surfaces.
As for the fit, there was a lot of volume throughout the shoe, but I would still say it was almost short in length. I can usually wear either a size 6.5 or 7, but I definitely needed to go with a size 7 for the Challenger. The toe box volume was generous, which I loved, but that same generosity continued throughout the shoe's whole fit, and it felt like it needed to be tightened up through the midfoot. Even when I really tightened my laces, the fit still seemed a bit sloppy. The shoe volume also caused some open gapping on the sides while in motion, allowing more debris than expected to get into the shoe on the trails.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
I typically size down in HOKA shoes. I'm generally a size 8 and usually order a 7.5 in this brand. With the Challenger ATR 6, I stuck to a size 8 and found it to run true to size.
I needed a breaking-in period for these, and I reconfigured the laces quite a bit during my first few runs, as I was getting numbness in my feet. Initially, I wasn't sure if these shoes were going to work for me, but I'm glad I kept at it. After the right lace configuration and about 8 miles, they popped into place and started to feel just right.
The Challengers are an excellent trail-road hybrid! They look great, and I'm excited to travel with them as my main pair of shoes. Wear 'em all day, run in them on roads, trails, fire roads, you name it — this shoe can handle it all! I found this to be the best iteration of the Challenger yet.