HOKA Challenger 8 running shoes with thick cushioning
HOKA Challenger 8: a road-to-trail shoe. Extra heel cushioning, an 8 mm drop, and 4 mm multi-directional lugs for grip. 21 supplier photos and a video.
2 supplier videos
About this model
HOKA calls the Challenger a gravel-grinding workhorse built at the intersection of road and trail. The line began with the Challenger ATR, built on the Clifton blueprint with a more supportive upper, a slightly stiffer midsole and 4 mm lugs, and named Trail Shoe of the Year for 2015 by Competitor magazine. RunRepeat recommends the 2025 Challenger 8 to Clifton fans who want a tougher, trail-ready version that feels similar underfoot.
For version 8, HOKA moved to a new last with a better fit in the forefoot and instep, raised the drop from 5 to 8 mm and added cushioning at the heel. iRunFar reports the men's heel stack grew from 37 to 42 mm, with 2 mm more foam throughout. The midsole is still compression-molded EVA on a Meta-Rocker, and RunRepeat measured it at 30.1 on the Asker C scale, softer than its trail-shoe average. The 4 mm lugs got new shapes and a new orientation, the upper is recycled engineered mesh, and a 3D screen-printed toe cap protects the front.
iRunFar weighed a men's US 9 at 264 grams. RunRepeat found it roomier than earlier Challengers, which felt restrictive even in wide versions, and iRunFar's tester had room to splay the toes with a snug midfoot. Owners voting on RunRepeat say it fits true to size. RunRepeat rates it best on gravel roads and easy coastal or river trails, while iRunFar found it out of its depth on steep, technical mountain terrain.
Sources: hoka.com · iRunFar · RunRepeat · HOKA press release, 2015
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