Our evaluation of the up to date Hoka Challenger 8 as a perfect highway to path choice.
Throughout our 3 week operating journey to New Zealand I restricted myself to 2 pairs of sneakers, a type of was certainly the Hoka Challenger. It’s a shoe that I’ve discovered comfy for a wide range of miles and that may transition for various wants.
Which is to say I used to be most likely a bit of biased in direction of liking the shoe previous to ever making an attempt it on…which as we all know could be a massive let down. However it wasn’t! Let’s speak via what’s modified and who’s going to get pleasure from this shoe.
Who’s Hoka Challenger 8 a great match for? Let’s break it down with some widespread classes:
- Extensive toes: Commonplace Hoka which is extra accommodating than many sneakers, but additionally out there in extensive.
- Technical trails: Can deal with quite a bit, however not probably the most technical or muddy trails.
- Lengthy runs: Positively a go to for all day path run consolation.
- Entrance of the Pack: Not what we’re reaching for on speedy days highway or path.
Whereas I’d by no means name this the perfect path shoe as a result of it’s merely not designed to be that, it’s completely a high highway to path operating shoe that may deal with extra path than many different choices.
Hoka Challenger 8 Overview
One of many largest modifications to the Challenger 8 is shifting from a well-known characteristic of Hoka the 5mm heel to toe drop to an 8mm. I admit this doesn’t make me tremendous completely satisfied, but additionally the additional cushion is actually pretty.
So it’s a commerce off that I contemplate a win. Particularly once we have a look at among the different modifications that took what was already a great shoe and upgraded it with out dropping the aim.
The Challenger is greater than a gravel shoe just like the Salomon Aero Glide Gravel and fewer than a tough core path shoe just like the Saucony Xodus. We’ll speak comparability to the Speedgoat later. You possibly can completely use this shoe simply to deal with native travels of crushed gravel, however you need to really feel assured taking them out on extra. 
The 4mm outsole lugs are going present extra traction on these intermediate trails with some larger rocks, unfastened grime, and so on. However with out the Vibram grip they gained’t be a sticky for moist or really technical Colorado offroading.
What’s key right here is that often I’d NOT put on my path sneakers on the highway due to put on on the lugs. However that’s what these are designed for and the softer rubber means it’s comfy on roads, although true a number of highway and little or no path will put on them down.
Moreover, you’ll discover the midfoot (proper across the arch) is uncovered rubber on the outsole, which goes to assist with it feeling good on the roads. It would let you really feel that cushion and go away the traction for these uphill/downhill wants.
The cushion on this shoe is likely one of the causes that I flip to it many times. They’ve added 10mm extra cushion to this model and it makes me mildly nervous as a result of we don’t want all the things to be max cushion, nevertheless it down differentiates it extra from the Speedgoat.
You’ll discover this can be a mushy cushion. The extra quantity does reduce some floor contact really feel, which isn’t an enormous deal when not on technical trails and might make them extra comfy for lengthy days for operating or climbing.
Regardless of the mushy cushion and massive stack, this shoe feels actually secure.
The outsole has been redesigned and a part of that created a bit wider base for the additional cushion. Which means you may roll via the path comfortably and fairly thrilling you’ll see the new toe bumper. In upgrading this shoe for the paths, they took in to account that so many people are likely to kick issues and we respect that.
The Challenger is a perfect consolation shoe for highway to average path operating days. You’re toes will really feel comfy, whilst you really feel safe stepping out on the grime.
Hoka Challenger 8 Specs
- Weight: 8.7 oz ladies’s, 9.7 oz males’s
- Very drop: 8 mm
- Stack Peak: 42 mm males/ 39mm ladies
- Accessible in 5 colours and GTX (waterproof)
- Accessible from Hoka.com for $155
Fast Take
- Comfy cushioning
- Simply transitions highway to path
- Improved grip
- Not the quickest feeling shoe
- Not sufficient grip on extra technical trails
- Elevated heel drop
Hoka Challenger 8 Match
This appears like a extremely regular Hoka shoe match for me. In the event you’re new to Hoka, I put on a measurement 11 in them and in just about all different trainers.
They don’t seem to be a slender match shoe, moderately pretty common. I discovered the quantity via the mid-foot to be accommodating to extra foot shapes, however nonetheless very straightforward to lock down with lacing. The toebox might have improved some in measurement, however don’t count on a large toe field.
Actually, I assumed so little or no in regards to the match of this shoe whereas sporting it that I’m having to essentially look it over to offer you particulars. That for me is the signal of an excellent match.
The heel is padded, as are the tongue and collar. All match properly with no rubbing or extreme motion. Whereas the tongue will not be gusseted, the lacing appeared to maintain it in place fortunately.
This time round I didn’t have to do heel lock lacing, which might be good as a result of it could be a stretch to get sufficient out of those laces.
The higher is their normal breathable mesh, I don’t really feel like I’ve an entire lot to say right here. It’s fairly normal, it’s actually comfy and hey I just like the look of it as properly.
Related Sneakers to the Hoka Challenger 8
All proper, let’s speak about what may be just like this cushioned highway to path shoe? We’ve examined just a few that really feel comparable, however completely different primarily based on the model match:
Hoka Speedgoat vs Challenger
As many people try to determine which shoe is true for us after which a model has some that usually look comparable, it’s straightforward to get overwhelmed. I occur to like each the Speedgoat 6 and the Challenger…however they’ve very completely different makes use of.
If I’m going for a real path day, 100% I’m grabbing the Speedgoat.
- Speedgoat has a firmer feeling underfoot
- Speedgoat has that Vibram outsole for higher traction
- Speedgoat appears like a slimmer shoe with skill to choose up the tempo
- Challenger now has the 8mm drop to the Speedgoat 5mm
- Challenger is the next stack, heavier shoe
- Speedgoat is your quicker, extra technical shoe
- Challenger is your consolation choice, much less supreme for slick situtations
98%
This can be a unbelievable max cushioned highway to path operating shoe. The updates imply it may deal with extra trails than beforehand and nonetheless offer you all of the consolation you need for lengthy days in your toes. They did improve the normal Hoka heel drop, however we didn’t discover it noticeable.
