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Hoka Challenger 8 review: my verdict after 40 miles of running
The Hoka Challenger 8 is an all-terrain running shoe that’s designed for training on both roads and trails, with more grip than a standard road shoe and a more comfortable ride than most trail shoes.
It’s one of the best trail-running shoes available for those who have to pound some pavements to get to and from those trails, and works well as a versatile daily trainer for those who split their time between road and off-road running.
While it doesn’t have the most exciting or fast ride, I found the Hoka Challenger 8 to have a smooth feel, and its versatile design makes it worth considering for beginners and experienced runners who need a road-to-trail shoe.
Hoka Challenger 8 review: price and availability
The Hoka Challenger 8 launched in July 2025 and costs $155 in the U.S. and £130 in the U.K., which is a $10 price rise on the Hoka Challenger 7. It’s the same price as the Hoka Clifton 10 road running shoe, and can be seen as a Clifton for the trails in many ways, and also matches the price of the Hoka Speedgoat 6, which is a more specialist trail shoe.
Hoka Challenger 8 review: design and fit
The Hoka Challenger 8 is currently available in four colors, including the white model that I tested. It also comes in two widths, though the wide option isn’t available in all colors. I found that the shoe fit me well in my normal running shoe size and width, the same size I use across the Hoka range.
Like other Hoka shoes, including the Clifton and Arahi, the heel-to-toe drop of the Challenger has increased with this year’s version. The Challenger 8 has an offset of 8mm, compared with 5mm on the Challenger 7.
It also has a slightly higher midsole stack, and the Challenger 8 is heavier than its predecessor. It weighs 9.7oz in a US men’s size 9.5, whereas the Challenger 7 weighs 9oz in the same size. It’s still quite light for a trail running shoe, though, which are generally heavier than road shoes because of their more substantial outsoles.
Upper
The Hoka Challenger 8 has a mesh upper with a toe bumper to provide more protection when on the trails and some padding on the collar and tongue of the shoe for extra comfort.
It’s a comfortable upper all round, though if you are frequently running on uneven, rocky trails, a little more protection on the sides and front of the shoe would be welcome.
Midsole
The Hoka Challenger 8 uses a compression-moulded EVA foam in its midsole, similar to the material used on the Hoka Clifton 10. It’s soft and comfortable over long distances, though it doesn’t provide a huge amount of energy return.
A mild rocker helps you to roll through the miles smoothly on even ground, and there are sidewalls of foam your foot sits within to add stability, though the Challenger 8 is a bit softer and less stable than trail shoes you’d use on more technical, uneven terrain.
Outsole
The outsole on the Challenger 8 has been redesigned compared to the Challenger 7 to offer more grip, with 4mm lugs that bite into soft ground quite well in my experience.
To ensure the shoe is still comfortable on the road and hard ground in general, the lugs are quite broad, and the grippy rubber used provided good traction on wet surfaces during my runs.
While I’d want deeper lugs if I were always running on soft and muddy terrain, the outsole of the Challenger 8 lives up to its billing as an all-terrain shoe in providing reliable grip on a wide range of surfaces.
Hoka Challenger 8 review: running performance
I’ve run around 40 miles in the Hoka Challenger 8 and used it on a wide range of different trails as well as the road, and tried runs at different paces in it. Along with running on the well-groomed dirt paths of my local forest, I also took the shoe to the Forest of Bowland in the UK for some fell running.
The main thing I love about the Challenger 8 is its versatility. You can put it on and head for your run, not knowing exactly what terrain you’ll run on and the pace you want to run at, and the odds are it will be fine.
It’s a great shoe for a trip as a result. My second run in the shoe was a 15-miler where I knew I’d start on the road and then head up a hill, but I wasn’t sure what kind of trails would be waiting for me at the top.
In the end, it was a real mixed bag of rocky paths, narrow forest trails with wet roots, and flat gravel tracks. Across the whole lot, the Challenger 8 was comfortable and gripped well.
I would say that the stack height and soft midsole aren’t ideal for the jagged rocky sections I tackled, where it felt unstable and that my foot was rolling from side to side more than I’d like. Shoes like the Speedgoat 6 would be better for that kind of terrain, but if it’s just a short section of your run, the Challenger 8 will get you through.
For most everything else, though, the Challenger 8 will be a safe bet, and I also found it moved well at faster speeds when I was on flatter trails or roads, so you can use it as a daily trainer for easy and tempo runs on mixed terrain.
It’s also a good hiking shoe for less challenging terrain where you don’t need the support of a full boot, and comfortable for regular walks in urban environments as well.
Should you buy the Hoka Challenger 8?
The Hoka Challenger 8 is the kind of shoe that can find a home in any runner’s rotation, because its versatility makes it a safe option for all kinds of runs. It’s my favorite road-to-trail shoe and a great pick for those who split their time between surfaces.
However, that versatility can also count against it, because there are running shoes that are better for any specific kind of run. If you’re hitting the mountains or the mud, you’ll want a specialist trail shoe like the Speedgoat 6, and if you’re just on the roads, then you can get livelier, more comfortable road shoes like the Asics Novablast 5.
If its versatility as a running or hiking shoe sounds like it will suit you, I can happily recommend picking up the Challenger 8, and I’ll keep it around my rotation for when the need to go exploring on a run strikes me.
