Did this coupon
work for you?
work for you?
Sorry, this deal has expired.
Get notified of deals like this in the future.
Add Deal Alert for this Item
Popular
Hoka Challenger ATR 7 Running Shoes (Ceramic/Vibrant Orange) $90.68 + Free Shipping
$90.68
$144.95
Backcountry [backcountry.com] has Hoka Challenger ATR 7 Running Sneakers (Ceramic/Vibrant Orange, sizes 8-14) on sale for $90.68. Shipping is free.
If you purchase something through a post on our site, Slickdeals may get a small share of the sale.
21 Comments
Your comment cannot be blank.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
It's almost like people have different shape feet huh
What's the most comfortable shoe? If bondi 8 isn't it, they have some great marketing people.
The only shoe I've found that comes even close to a Bondi 8 is a Brooks Glycerin GTS (I am a supinator so I need cushion). What shoes do you recommend?
They do have great marketing people. Marketing and image is super important in apparel and footwear. Without tactful marketing HOKA would just be another brand out of many.
Comfort is going to be interpreted differently by each person. The Bondi 8 fits a particular foot type that is narrow and has high arch. That's probably 15% or less of the population. If you have that type of foot the Bondi 8 will feel comfy.
The New Balance 1080 and More were more comfortable for my lower arched feet.. Objectively, the Fresh Foam X EVA foam that is used in the 1080 and More provide more cushion than the CMEVA in the Bondi 8. I don't have a shore tester but just pressing into the midsoles with my thumbs the Fresh Foam is softer than the Bondi Midsole.
I previously had the Bondi 6 and Bondi 4 along with two different versions of the Clifton, a Challenger, a Stinson, a Mafatae Evo, a Torrent, a Tecton X, a Mach X, a Zinal, four versions of the Gaviota (1-4), a Carbon Rocket, a Mach 4, a Mach 5 and several other HOKA models going back to 2015 which are no longer in the brands product range. So I have experience with this brand well before they became dominate trendy brand.
I used to be a HOKA evangelist and wore the brand exclusively for several years before the pandemic. I'm 2020 I became disenchanted with their shoes after binge buying several pairs during the lockdowns through Summer 2020. I was really disappointed with drop off in quality. Every HOKA shoe I purchased that year was a disappointment in terms of performance, fit, durability, or design.
That summer a pair HOKAs gave me a bizarre ankle injury. I shook that off only to get a tendon injury in another HOKA model. This experience prompted me to dabble with other footwear brands. I wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side of the road. I went back to Asics which I had avoided since 2011. I gave New Balance a shot, Brooks as well. Then Saucony and Puma. I tried a lot of shoes. Some did not pan out. But after the past couple of years of trial and error I have found some very comfortable shoes. Shoes that are both more comfortable and perform better than any of the HOKA shoe.
I'm at the point now that I cannot fathom running in a HOKA shoe.. For casual use I'll throw some lightweight Machs on every now and again. But I'm no longer enthusiastic about the brand and the Machs don't wow.
What HOKA has going for them is their clean aesthetic design of their uppers. The midsoles still look a bit orthopedic but most HOKA models have an appealing trendy look. This brand is popular with certain demographics. Healthcare workers, women, senior citizens, and fashion forward folks. These demos are not really clued in to the technology side of shoes. Their purchase decisions are informed from word of mouth and step-in-feel.
You didn't answer the question
It seems like a sure good fit for some runners as they are selling like hot cake.
Last year I tried Challenger ATR 6 and it provided good cushion for day to day sports and activities. I am not much of a runner. It lasted longer than NB, Rebook, Nike while providing good support. I would buy that again for that price ($69).
Your typical Bondi customer is a healthcare worker with a normal to high arch who is looking for a densely cushioned shoe that can withstand 8-12 hour shifts. The shoe is also pushed by podiatrists to their boomer aged patients who have arthritic conditions and need a stable, cushioned shoe with a stiff sole and wide net base. The Bondi's volume is roomy and people with foot problems can order the wide version, pull out the OEM ortholite sock liner and slide in some orthotics from that their podiatrist talked them into buying and that will negate the arch issue.
The pair of Challengers I tested last year had a nice bounce to them which suggested that HOKA has infused the foam with a gas. But the midsole is still made with EVA and that material will not retain its bounce for long. Even if it's undergone a supercritical process.
For trails In using mostly road shoes because in the trail space most brands have not committed to using TPE based superfoams such as PEBA. So far I only have a one trail shoe and it does have a PEBA midsole. Running easy dirt and sand trails with PEBA is way more enjoyable than doing so in an EVA shoe.
Of EVA options I would say the New Balance 1080 or the More. Both are good for long static standing and walking. The upper on the 1080 is more performance optimized than the one on the More. The tongue is fully gusseted and the upper is more breathable. For work NB makes a Kaiha model in a triple black colorway with an OSCA compliant slip resistant outsole. This model shares the design philosophy of the 1080 and More but in a more durable package.