The Comfiest Cushiest Grippiest Version Yet
This HOKA Challenger 8 Review Covers Updates, Fit, Pros, Cons, Design, and if You Should Buy It
Beyond all doubt, HOKA Challenger 8 is the comfiest, cushiest, and grippiest Challenger to date, and a shoe we intend to wear frequently while running and hiking in the coming months. To summarize the improvements from V7 to V8: way more cushion; slightly better traction; widened throughout mid and forefoot; overall improved. Choose this shoe for its comfort and versatility. It is the perfect trail runner for crushing high mileage days on moderate terrain.
Cover photo: HOKA Challenger 8 on the Summit of Mt. Whitney, 14,505′.
- Price: $155
- M’s Weight: 20.2 oz | W’s Weight: 16.2 oz (per pair)
- Heel-Forefoot-Drop: M’s 42-34-8 | W’s 39-32-7
- Lugs: 4 mm | Rockplate: No
- Width: Trending wide | Length: True to size
- On Trail/Off Trail/Pavement? Yes/No/Yes
- Peers & Competitors: HOKA Speedgoat, HOKA Stinson, HOKA Mafate, Topo Ultraventure, Altra Olympus
- Changed from 7 to 8: Slightly wider. Stack height +10mm. Much more cushion. Slightly better traction. Drop increased from 5mm to 8mm. Slightly heavier. Now with toe bumper.
- Pros: Exceptionally comfortable out of the box. Max cushion. Exceptional mesh breathability. Structured heel tab. Outsole is great on nearly all surfaces. Laces never come undone.
- Cons: Lost ground feel sense. Hybrid outsole (intentionally) reduces traction. Open mesh allows dust to pass through. Traditional-not-low drop height. Outsole glue issues.
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Compare to more great options in our guide to the best trail running shoes. Like HOKAs? Check out our reviews of Speedgoat 6 and Mafate 5.
How Does HOKA Challenger 8 Fit?
I tested a men’s size 12 in the standard width, and found it fit my average width feet perfectly. I would describe this shoe as true to size in length, and very typical in terms of width. You don’t need to size up or down. Compared to the 7s, the fit is slightly wider throughout the forefoot, and I consider this to be a major improvement, though still not quite as wide as Altra or Topo! The fit reminds me of HOKA’s most popular road runners, the Clifton.
How I Tested Them – 300 miles in the High Sierra, Zero Blisters
After a few ~5 miles runs in local parks to make sure they fit, I took the HOKA Challenger 8s out on a 300 mile section hike through the High Sierra, averaging 15 miles per day over three weeks. The traction was more than sufficient, the cushioning kept my feet ache-free, and I experienced ZERO blisters! The biggest discomfort point was that they rubbed the interior of my arches more than other shoes, requiring leukotape while I built up calluses over the first half of the trip.
Hiking or running through abrasive granite terrain drastically increases wear and tear on trail runners. So while they lasted the full trip, the tread was worn and the midsole was shot by the end, so I don’t expect any further use out of this pair. Ergo, I consider the durability/longevity to be average.
Expanded Pros
Exceptionally comfortable out of the box
After opening up the box and double checking fit, I immediately took them out for a five mile test run. No chaffing, rubbing, or discomfort of any kind. The next day, I went running again, this time with a Challenger 8 on my left foot and an Altra Experience Wild 2 on my right. The Wilds were fast becoming my go-to shoe and were themselves quite comfy. But low and behold, the Challenger foot felt a bit better during and after the run.
Max cushion
Brands have been bandying about the term “max cushion” recently, applying it to any shoe with a stack height of at least 30mm. Even HOKA is guilty of this – the 31mm tall Challenger 7s were also classed as “max cushion.” But HOKA Challenger 8 really embodies the concept of “hypercushy.” With a 42mm stack height, you know it’s going to absorb impact. But even compared to other thicc boys like the Speedgoat 6 (40mm stack height), it feels much softer upon ground strike and more forgiving. In terms of cushion sense, it was abundantly clear which was softer between the Challenger 8 and Altra Wild 2 (32mm stack height). If your feet ache after longs days on rocky surfaces, the Challenger 8s are a great choice.
Great mesh breathability
HOKA Challenger 8’s engineered mesh upper is nearly identical to the 7s, and as breathable as ever. Pretty much best-in-class in terms of breathability. This material is a great choice for use in hot weather when ventilation is extra important. Shine a headlamp or phone flashlight through the shoe from the inside and you’ll see what we mean.
Structured heel tab
If I could put HOKA’s extended reinforced outward curving heel tabs onto every running shoe, I would. They speed up the on/off process, never seem to crush or squash, and are especially handy if you’re lazy like me and don’t always untie first.
Outsole is great on nearly all surfaces
The new and modestly improved traction of HOKA Challenger 8 (now with sharper chevron shaped lugs!) is a great choice for most trail-based surfaces, from local parks to the PCT. While we wouldn’t recommend it for use on off-trail routes in Alaska, serious mud, traversing extra steep slopes, or navigating endless scree fields, it’s likely sufficient for 90% of people 90% of the time.
In addition, the flat, untreaded foam surface below the mid foot improves performance and energy return on hard flat surfaces, such as gravel or pavement, where traction is less of a concern. The combination of treaded forefoot and heel with an untreaded midfoot is what makes this shoe such a versatile hybrid.
Laces never come undone
I love HOKA’s laces as much as I love the heel tab. The bottom line is that they’re not too long or too short, and never come untied.
Expanded Cons
Lost ground feel sense, too much cushion for some people and use cases
When you choose to wear shoes as thick and cushy as HOKA Challenger 8, you are willingly sacrificing a small amount of balance in exchange for a comfort boost. If you can’t feel the surfaces underneath your feet, it becomes harder for your body to subconsciously know where to shift your weight. Furthermore, you are raising your center of gravity by a centimeter (compared to the average trail shoe), which in turn further degrades balance. While this isn’t a major issue, you will immediately know what I mean when you wear the shoe, and it is another reason why not to choose it for technical terrain. Runners and hikers accustomed to stack heights in the 25mm range, such as Altra Lone Peak, will likely find this shoe to be too much cushion. If you want HOKA’s but with a shorter stack height for better ground feel, consider the Mafate instead.
Hybrid outsole (intentionally) reduces traction
HOKA Challenger 8 is intentionally designed for versatility from trail to gravel to pavement. While the untreaded mid-foot improves performance on the latter two (without sacrificing the most important grip zones of forefoot and heel), it does reduce some traction on softer and slippery surfaces. While I find the traction to be adequate for nearly all trail-based pursuits, it bears repeating that there are many other shoes with better traction. Choose those choose when traveling on technical terrain, dangerously steep climbs, or off trail cross country routes. If you want HOKA but with better traction, consider the Speedgoat instead.
Open mesh uppers allow dust to pass through
While the exceptional breathability of the Challenger 8’s open mesh uppers is a huge win for sweat/blister reduction, it does yield dirtier, dustier feet than other shoes. If you are frequently hiking on super dry dusty trail or in really fine sand, you might consider alternative options with a more tightly woven upper.
Traditional-not-low drop height
Long ago, everyone was running and hiking in shoes with a “traditional” drop. That is, a heel stack height which is 8-10mm higher than the forefoot. The theory being that the extra cushion helped protect against heel strike impact and angled the wearer ever so slightly forward into a more ergonomic running position.
Then Altra came along and popularized zero drop for a more natural stride. HOKA was an early adopter of the low-not-zero drop, and most of their shoes land in the 4-5mm range for a best of both worlds. We’ve come to love low drop shoes, and all of our preferred models fall into this range. So it’s odd to see that HOKA is reverting to traditional drop heights when their users are used to low drop. Why switch now? Maybe this shoe will convince me, but until proven otherwise, I view its 8mm drop as a con.
If you want HOKAs with a lower drop height, consider the Stinson, Speedgoat, or Mafate instead.
Outsole glue issues
A number of users have reported glue issues with the rubber outsole peeling away from the foam midsole. I experienced a bit of this on my 300 mile section hike, probably around mile 150, but the tread made it all the way through with only a bit glue failure in one high wear spot. It’s possible that this is a QC issue, and REI would likely accept a return in the event it happens to you.
Who Should Choose It
Choose HOKA Challenger 8 if
- You want max cushion
- You will primarily be using it on trails with some gravel/pavement
- You are running or hiking
- Your feet get sore after long days on rocky/bumpy surfaces
- You value having a high breathability mesh upper
Avoid HOKA Challenger 8 if
- You prefer zero or low drop (consider Altra Olympus or Topo Ultraventure)
- You prefer moderate to low cushion (consider Altra Lone Peak)
- You want an extra wide toe box (consider Altra Olympus or Topo Ultraventure)
- You will be on excessively steep, slippery, muddy terrain, off-trail routes, scree fields, etc (consider HOKA Speedgoats)
- You will be running entirely on gravel and pavement (consider HOKA Clifton)
HOKA Challenger 8 vs Challenger 7
If you wore the 7s, should you upgrade to the 8s? This list highlights notable difference between the previous and current version. While not strictly superior, the Challenger 8 is overall a big upgrade from the 7s. Check REI to see if the Challenger 7s are still available on discount.
HOKA Challenger 8 vs 7 Changes
- $10 more expensive
- Significantly more cushion, more plushness
- Slightly widened at forefoot, curves more gradually to front of toe box
- Improved traction via more aggressive chevron shaped lugs
- Rubberized toe bumper cap added to boost durability
- Engineered mesh now 100% recycled
- +3mm drop (was 5mm, now 8mm)
- (M’s) +11 mm stack height in heel, was 31 mm, now 42 mm
- (W’s) +10 mm stack height in heel, as 29 mm now 39 mm
- (M’s) +1.2 ounces heavier per shoe – size 9
- (W’s) +0.8 ounces heavier per shoe – size 7.5
HOKA Challenger 8 vs 7 Sameness
- Highly breathable engineered mesh
- Untreaded midfoot outsole for improved performance on gravel/pavement
- Extended reinforced protruding heel tab
- Flat laces
- Loud colorways
- Highly versatile
(heavily used) HOKA Challenger 7 in yellow, (new) HOKA Challenger 8 in red
Very similar breathable mesh uppers and laces
Note the more aggressive chevron shape of Challenger 8’s lugs. This boosts traction.
Rubberized toe bumper added to Challenger 8
Similar stiffened extended heel tabs
HOKA Challenger 8 Review Conclusion
HOKA Challenger 8 is as comfy and cushy as it is versatile, and a shoe I intend to wear frequently for high mileage days on moderate trails. It’s an overall upgrade from the 7s, with a slightly wider fit, better traction, and more cushion. If you want to live the hypercushy life, I definitely recommend Challenger 8s.
