Hoka Challenger 7 vs. On Cloudstratus

Hoka Challenger 7 vs. On Cloudstratus

The salesman (a fellow runner) in the specialist running shop told me that the On Cloudstratus were a great pair of shoes, popular, and that they were selling a lot. The sole is distinctive, with a cutaway down the center of the sole to help save weight and give extra comfort on long runs. The On Cloudstratus review on the Runners World website was equally complementary.

But, I was surprised that on the first outing, running on pavement, the shoe picked up a loose stone and got properly wedged into the cutaway groove. It was the first of many stops I’d make over the next few months to dig out pebbles and stones. Each unscheduled stop, I vowed not to buy shoes with this kind of sole again, especially as they were about £130. So, when it came to replacing them early, I didn’t even consider a replacement shoe from On. Instead, I plumped for a new brand of shoe—from Hoka.

I’d read about the Hoka’s in Runners World magazine, and the reviews were good. During the Black Friday sales last November, I bought a pair online. They arrived a few days later, and though the size was just slightly too small, I reordered a larger pair. Initially, I was impressed with the shoe’s build quality and construction. The Challenger 7 is made for trails; its cousin, the Speedgoat 5, which I was also considering is for more technical routes. In the end though, I settled for the Challenger 7, thinking they should be ok for the farm trails on my doorstep, where I live in Portugal.

The sole of the Hoka Challenger 7 is deep, oversized, and tough enough for demanding trails. I’ve run about 500kms in these shoes now, and over dry and wet terrain. The rocks that I sometimes come across on the trails are no problem for the Hokas. They’ve been comfortable since day one, no rubbing or blisters. These are the running shoes that I’m planning to run the 25kms Sanguinhal Wine Trail race a week Sunday (April 21st).

I once had a pair of New Balance 1080s that I wrecked when I ran over loose ground on the edge of a football pitch, with a couple of large stones breaking through the sole membrane. For the next 6-months, I ran with stones jiggling about in the base of my shoe. And, despite trying, I could never manage to dig them out. So, my preferred shoe style is trail-based and likely to give me a decent 12-month running, or 1000km, whichever comes first. The Hoka Challenger 7 seems to fit this bill perfectly, providing me with a durable and reliable running experience.

Yesterday, I washed the shoes with the hosepipe. I’d been out running, and they’d got muddy on one of the trails after a couple of days of rain. Once they were soaked through, they cleaned up easily with a stiff brush. I decided to do the same with the On Cloudstratus, which is now reserved for walking the dog. They also needed a wash to brighten them up. Having the two side-by-side got me thinking about writing a review on both. Especially as i’d run a similar distance on both, and seeing them together meant I could see obvious differences in build-quality, with the Hoka looking as though it hadn’t seen much use. Whereas the On Cloudstratus looked knackered, like me after a long run! The Hokas were looking good, and I felt confident in their performance and durability. 

While the On Cloudstratus didn’t work out for me, it might for you, especially if you’re running only on pavement. I gave feedback when I went back to the store that I bought the shoes, and shared my experience. But having bought the Hokas, I have to say that I am a convert.