Hitting the Trails with Hoka

 

J and his Hoka

Okay you guys. Chrys here. This is Js first blog post… I asked for a simple paragraph to post in the blog post and he basically writes the whole thing for me! What a great dude, eh? 

Let’s give him a warm Blogosphere welcome, shall we? This is part two of “We’re Hitting the Trails….Maybe”

Hoka Challenger ATR trail shoe

Man sooner or later looks into mirror and he realizes the change he sees before him is not the path he wholeheartedly pursued 20 years back.  He grumbles and excepts fate.  Some men rebel fate, they demand and reclaim lost time and sally forth with a degree of physicality that will bring a physical and spiritual rebirth.   That man more or less is relegated to a neophyte of physicality.  Limitations are not in his scope of practice.  Setbacks from injury and neglect of the body are the effects of over-zealousness. That perfect fantasy of looking like Henry Cavill in Superman is becoming a fleeting reality.

Amazon.com Hoka One One Challenger ATR 2 Men s Running 11.5 D M US Blue Green Shoes

I too have struggled through the years to reclaim my youth, and the Hoka’s have given me the ability to do so. I’m 6’0ft and 260lbs.  I cant even conceive of the forces that come into play in every step I make or when I can run in a full stride.

For too long I bought into the cult of NIKE Corp. My last purchase was the Nike Wild Horse 3 trail running shoes.  Granted, they look great and no issues seem to be noticed when I’m ambulating from point A to B.  However, quick step jogging and running give me an arthritic pain in the following hours.

What’s even worse is the cacophony of pounding  that is emitted from my spine and traverse up to my skull.  When I have my headphones on, it sounds like a low thud of a sledge hammer slamming into concrete.  However, that’s my spine and skull that are acting as a tuning fork for repetitive trauma.  Keep in mind, this is when I’m running on compacted dirt.

Hitting the Trails with Hoka | Nevermore Lane

HEY NOW – the god’s have answered my prayers for the perfect shoe!  I feel like Cinderella.  And this is one glass slipper I have NO desire to remove.  The toe box is narrow, but roomy enough.  I got the dark blue and green HOKA ATR Challengers.  The fit and construction is top notch.  Laces stay laced.  My heel is snug but not cramped.  I’ve got loads of traction on ALL surfaces.  Heck, I even wear these throughout the hospital with zero issues.

Hitting the Trails with Hoka | Nevermore Lane

One word of caution:  The soles have a proprietary construction that is nothing I have encountered.  When I’m engaged in a full sprint, I feel like my feet can keep up with my legs – very weird, but also invigorating.  I just need to ensure I don’t make a fool of myself in front of some cute co-eds.  Yikes!!

The only negative that I could surmise is those who have a wide foot.  You will be disappointed. Or, runners who like to have the ability to splay their toes in the toe-box, they too will be disappointed as well.

For the others, welcome to Valhalla.  Get out there and enjoy what Mother Nature has given you.  For $130.00 you can beat this kind of passion of shoe engineering and comfort.  The HOKA ATR Challenger is the ‘game changer’.

 

 

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53 Comments

  1. I have about killed my shoes I have now so I should get a new pair like this. I like the idea of it helping with the shock so your knees and effected as much

  2. Wow! These look amazing in so many respects! I love the bright colors, and they also look so comfortable! The soles of the shoes look very durable. I bet my kiddos would love these!

  3. I have never heard of Hoka brand shoes before. I definitely need to try them out because I am trying to get more serious about exercising.

  4. I have a super wide foot. I need a lot of room and a bit of cushion for my running shoes. These sound like great shoes otherwise!

  5. These look like some great shoes! They look really comfy, and they look like some shoes I would like to have after baby arrives so I can get out there walking and exercising!

  6. Comfortable footwear can totally make or break any workout. I love the look of these, and would just go a half size up since I do have a rather wide foot. Thanks for the great review!

  7. The perfect pair of shoes can take us to places far beyond what we imagined. I’m glad you found the right pair to keep you on your toes! This is a brand that I’ll look out for in the future.

  8. I’m a firm believer that it’s very important to have good shoes… it’s not something I’m willing to skimp on. My back and body are too important to me. These look great and I’m writing down the name to try em sometime.

  9. I always make sure I have at least two pairs of running shoes. They are very comfortable and they provide the right support for walking or hiking. I will check out this brand, Hoka. I like the colors of the one you showed in this post. Thank you for the review.

  10. I have never heard of this brand before but I will have to check them out! The shoes look great on and off of you! I love how you are witty and let it shine in this post! Great Job!

  11. Wow, this is a nice shoes. I haven’t been into going to trails but someday I will and I am going to use this shoes.

  12. Good shoes are so important no matter what your level of activity. I am very, very hard on shoes and wear them out quickly. I have a hard time finding shoes that can keep up with me. It sounds like you found a pair 🙂

  13. I think those look like some great shoes. They would be great for running or walking. I love to walk, so those would be great for me.

  14. A good pair of shoes is so important to have. Seriously-I spent some money on some great running shoes and it made all of the difference!

  15. Agreed! I HATE running in Nikes. I’m forever a fit-to0run girl, getting fit for new shoes every few years. Otherwise, I’m continuing to buy the model that works.

    1. Lindsey, I have never been able to run in Nikes. I get the most traction from Puma, but lately I haven’t been able to find a good model. Seems the newer models are meant for folks with super skinny feet. I’m not sure about these, but he really likes them so that’s what matters. I’ll continue to pound the pavement in my New Balance…for now 😉

  16. These look like great running shoes. I will have to share this with my Sister. She is the runner in the family.

  17. I have all sorts of medical problems but once I started physical therapy, I have been amazed at how exercise is helping me cope with the pains of Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid arthritis. I could use a good pair of shoes. My body wants to run eventually but I have to work my way up to that. I’m proud of how far that I have come considering I had major back surgery two days before Christmas.

  18. These look really cool and comfortable. I appreciate your honest review and the experience during sprinting does sound odd. I’m sure you just become used to it.

    1. I agree Robin!

      I’m still not sure of their platform looking bottom, but hey, they work well for him!

  19. Our local magazine just wrote a list of the best hiking trails. My husband is using it as a checklist. Those shoes look like a great way to cross them all off our list in comfort.

  20. Looks like a nice pair. Never tried hiking, but I’ve been thinking about it and once I’ve decided, I’ll surely be needing a good pair of hiking shoes.

  21. I have heard really good things about Hokas. I used to run in New Balance, but I think I may give this brand a try when I start training again.

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