Our assessment of the up to date Hoka Challenger 8 as an excellent street to path possibility.Throughout our 3 week working journey to New Zealand I restricted myself to 2 pairs of footwear, a kind of was certainly the Hoka Challenger. It’s a shoe that I’ve discovered comfy for quite a lot of miles and that may transition for various wants.
Which is to say I used to be most likely a bit of biased in the direction of liking the shoe previous to ever making an attempt it on…which as we all know could be a huge let down. But it surely wasn’t! Let’s speak via what’s modified and who’s going to get pleasure from this shoe.
- Huge ft: Normal Hoka which is extra accommodating than many footwear, but additionally accessible in huge.
- Technical trails: Can deal with loads, however not probably the most technical or muddy trails.
- Lengthy runs: Undoubtedly a go to for all day path run consolation.
- Entrance of the Pack: Not what we’re reaching for on speedy days street or path.
Whereas I’d by no means name this one of the best path shoe as a result of it’s merely not designed to be that, it’s completely a prime street to path working 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 function of Hoka the 5mm heel to toe drop to an 8mm. I admit this doesn’t make me tremendous pleased, but additionally the additional cushion is admittedly beautiful.
So it’s a commerce off that I think about a win. Particularly once we take a look at a number of the different modifications that took what was already a very good 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 may 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 greater rocks, unfastened grime, and many others. However with out the Vibram grip they gained’t be a sticky for moist or actually technical Colorado offroading.
What’s key right here is that often I’d NOT put on my path footwear on the street 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 loads of street 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 can will let you really feel that cushion and depart the traction for these uphill/downhill wants.
The cushion on this shoe is without doubt one of the causes that I flip to it repeatedly. 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 pieces to be max cushion, nevertheless it down differentiates it extra from the Speedgoat.
You’ll discover it is a gentle cushion. The extra quantity does reduce some floor contact really feel, which isn’t an enormous deal when not on technical trails and may make them extra comfy for lengthy days for working or mountaineering.
Regardless of the gentle cushion and large stack, this shoe feels actually steady.
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 recognize that.
The Challenger is a perfect consolation shoe for street to average path working days. You’re ft will really feel comfy, when you really feel safe stepping out on the grime.
Hoka Challenger 8 Specs
- Weight: 8.7 oz girls’s, 9.7 oz males’s
- Heel toe drop: 8 mm
- Stack Peak: 42 mm males/ 39mm girls
- Obtainable in 5 colours and GTX (waterproof)
- Obtainable from Hoka.com for $155
Fast Take
- Comfy cushioning
- Simply transitions street 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 case you’re new to Hoka, I put on a measurement 11 in them and in just about all different trainers.
They aren’t a slender match shoe, fairly pretty common. I discovered the amount via the mid-foot to be accommodating to extra foot shapes, however nonetheless very simple to lock down with lacing. The toebox could have improved some in measurement, however don’t anticipate a large toe field.
Truthfully, I believed so little or no in regards to the match of this shoe whereas carrying it that I’m having to actually 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 is just not gusseted, the lacing appeared to maintain it in place fortunately.
This time round I didn’t must do heel lock lacing, which might be good as a result of it might 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 Footwear to the Hoka Challenger 8
Hoka Speedgoat vs Challenger
As many people try to determine which shoe is true for us after which a model has some that always look comparable, it’s simple 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 select up the tempo
- Challenger now has the 8mm drop to the Speedgoat 5mm
- Challenger is a better stack, heavier shoe
- Speedgoat is your quicker, extra technical shoe
- Challenger is your consolation possibility, much less splendid for slick situtations
98%
This can be a unbelievable max cushioned street to path working shoe. The updates imply it will possibly deal with extra trails than beforehand and nonetheless provide you with all of the consolation you need for lengthy days in your ft. They did improve the standard Hoka heel drop, however we didn’t discover it noticeable.
What to learn subsequent?
