Hoka One One is known for its high end trail and road running shoe lines. And if you’re looking for something in-between that’s capable on all terrains (AT), they have you covered too. Today we’ll be comparing the brands two most popular AT modals, the Hoka Challenger vs Stinson.
One provides the extra cushion needed for those big miles. And the other is a great day to day shoe without the frills, that is more than capable of handling both the trails and the road. When comparing these shoes there is a lot to like from both. But there are few differences that you should be aware of if you are looking at the two. So let’s get to it!
Hoka Challenger vs Stinson
- The Hoka Challenger is noticeably lighter than the Stinson. The men’s shoe is 1.9oz lighter and the women’s is 1.7oz lighter.
- The Hoka Stinson has a lot more cushion. You can tell this is where the extra weight comes from. But if you’re a fan of the “hoka” cushioned feel you will like the Stinson.
- Both shoes have a 5mm drop. Hoka One One’s are known for their small drops which tends to make them more comfortable for big miles.
- Both shoes feature a 4mm lug but have very different lug patterns. Both of these shoes have a sole built to handle all terrains. But the two are very different in design and how you feel the ground under you. You can see the lug patterns for both shoes below in the review section.
Hoka One One
Challenger ATR 6
MSRP Price: $130
Link:
Men’s – Click Here
Women’s – Click Here
Surface: All Terrain
Weight Men’s: 9.80oz
Weight Woman’s: 8.10z
Stability: Neutral
Cushion: Balanced
Drop: 5mm
Lugs: 4mm
Hoka One One
Stinson ATR 6
MSRP Price: $160
Amazon Link:
Men’s – Click Here
Women’s – Click Here
Surface: All Terrain
Weight Men’s: 11.70oz
Weight Woman’s: 9.80oz
Stability: Neutral
Cushion: Plush
Drop: 5mm
Luds: 4mm
Performance Summary
When comparing the Hoka Challengers vs Stinson there is a lot to like from both of these shoes. The Challenger feels great on the trails and transitions smoothly to the roads. The shoes feel connected to the ground under you and I really like the lug pattern on the Hoka Challengers. The 4mm lugs grip great even if the trail/road has a little water on it.
The Stinson feel great the moment you put them on. If you like cushioned shoes then the Hoka Stinson may be the perfect AT shoe for you. The cushion makes running on both trails and roads a breeze. And even if you can’t “feel” the road. You can tell there is plenty of traction.
Below are the Hoka Challenger vs Stinson side by side for comparison. They are very similar in design with only a few noticeable differences.
Challenger Outside Profile
Stinson Outside Profile
The inside view of both models.
Hoka One One Challenger Inside Profile
Hoka One One Stinson Inside Profile
As you can see below, the lug patterns for the two shoes are very different.
Challenger Sole
Stinson Sole
Conclusion – Hoka Challenger vs Stinson
Looking at the Hoka Stinson and the Challenger I can see how people would like each of these shoes. The Stinson is perfect if you are looking for a lot of cushion and are not worried about the feeling of the road. I do question how many miles these will hold up for. And for the price tag I’m not sure they are the shoes for me.
The Challenger on the other hand are a little more minimal, or at least as much as a Hoka can be. You will get a bit more feel for the terrain under your feet and to me the lug pattern felt like it would hold up well. To me the Challenger also felt like the more breathable of the two shoes which is a big plus for hot weather running.
So in conclusion, if you are going to log big miles on your daily runs (8+) then you may want to invest in the Hoka One One Stinson. That extra padding and support will pay off for long days on your feet. That’s where the Stinson wins.
On the other hand, if you are looking for one of the best overall AT shoes around. Something that can handle runs and be your daily hikers, then go with the Hoka One One Challenger. This is the shoe I recommend for a lot of people looking to get into hiking/trail running that won’t break the bank. And is a shoe I like to keep in my travel bag because of it’s versatility.
