18 in Trail Running Shoes
Hoka - Challenger 8
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 24, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
22
3
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
"I absolutely love Hoka Challengers. ... Work well on streets and less technical trails ... I fell in love taking them to Peru ... now use them anytime I need a hybrid."
"I run to the trails in my hoka challengers! ... They’re awesome I do such a mix that they cover everything! ... But when ever I run to the trails it’s the challengers"
4
2
"They’re super grippy and have gotten me up 4k+ft of tough trail"
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
"Hoka Challengers are my go to shoe for mixed terrain with light trails."
5
3
"the tread doesn’t wear too quickly on the tarmac ... I’m about 1200k into this pair and probably looking to replace them soon."
"I’ve just passed 120k on this pair and no problems apart from some slight wear on the tread of the heel (the first thing that always goes for me). ... My previous pair lasted about the same amount of time too so I’ve never had issues."
"They last pretty well too ... my most recent ones going for 1,200k before I retired them"
13
5
"I just did Baldy in the Challengers so I’m sure they’d be comfortable enough for Catalina."
"They’re like wearing slippers compared to my Speedgoats."
"They are miraculous, I can go all day without pain now."
4
3
"Hoka Challenger in wide with custom insoles, (I use Archcrafters), is my perfect"
"Always loved the wide Hoka models for my thick toes"
"Always felt a bit too narrow (esp in to box) ... I got the challengers and love them."
Disliked most:
3
3
"Mine developed a tear pretty quickly (100 miles or so) ... the grip started coming away from the sole… ... they were relegated to dog walking shoes after about 150 miles. ... do not last."
"Yeah same I loved my Challengers for about 100k. Won't get them again in a hurry ... Mine developed a tear pretty quickly (100 miles or so), the grip started coming away from the sole… they were relegated to dog walking shoes after about 150 miles."
"mine didn’t last as long as I’d hoped"
1
4
"had some real, uhm, "challenges" with my knee (very swollen) after my last 100 ... feel like I might need a bit more "cushion" for a 100 ... I've had horrible knee swelling after a 100 in Challengers and obviously that could be from a lot of different things BUT I wondered if a bit more cushion might help mitigate the issue."
"had some real, uhm, "challenges" with my knee (very swollen) after my last 100 and feel like I might need a bit more "cushion" for a 100. ... I've had horrible knee swelling after a 100 in Challengers and obviously that could be from a lot of different things BUT I wondered if a bit more cushion might help mitigate the issue."
"My feet get sore in the challengers a lot faster than the zegama."
0
2
"bad enough at that in wet weather"
"Not much grip"
0
1
"I found the foam to be unstable"
2
2
"Just beware that wide in most traditional shoes, Hoka included, widens the midfoot without really widening the toebox. ... I have wide Challengers I was trying out and they're great shoes, but the pointy little toebox just isn't working for me. ... My two big toes have some pretty awful blisters right now from being pressed in."
"Just beware that wide in most traditional shoes, Hoka included, widens the midfoot without really widening the toebox. ... I have wide Challengers I was trying out and they're great shoes, but the pointy little toebox just isn't working for me. ... My two big toes have some pretty awful blisters right now from being pressed in."
"pointy little toebox ... I got them in a wide and still got massive blisters on the insides of my big toes ... if you need a wide toebox, you may have similar issues"
heyyyjoo 1.0Generally Hoka Challenger 8 is regarded to be lighter, bouncier, better for mixing in road miles and all-day comfort, less technical, wide-friendly. Brooks Caldera 8 is more of a ultra/trail tank - plush but firmer, ultra-stable, slightly better for more technical stuff. So if your trail is not gonna so technical you might find the challenger better. FWIW, I recently did an analysis on Reddit data for trail runners. Basically ranked them by aggregated sentiment. Maybe you'll find it helpful [https://redditrecs.com/trail-running-shoes/](https://redditrecs.com/trail-running-shoes/) You can get a breakdown of what ppl have said about the most often recommended ones (disclaimer some links are affiliate they help fund the analyses)
HokaCoka 1.0I have the cascadia 17 (now retired from my rotation) and the Gel 13 (bought to replace the cascadia’s). I can’t really comment on fit other than to say I went half a size up in both, but I should have gone for my usual size in the Gel13’s as they’re slightly too big. The cascadia is a better shoe. the Gel13 has really terrible grip in the mud. I only use it for dry / non-muddy runs. It’s a fairly average shoe. doesn’t really sparkle. not plush. not sure where it excels, if at all. I prefer my HOKA’s overall (Mafate 5, Mafate X and Challenger 8) but none grip in the wet/mud like the cascadia’s did. The Mafate’s are SUPREMELY comfortable though. its a shame as the Gel 13’s look really really good.
jjflight 1.0I use trail runners for most hikes, and once a pair has either worn down most of its tread or I get a new model that doesn’t fit quite as well but too late to return them I swap those pairs in as daily shoes. Topo Ultraventure 4 and Hoka Challenger 8s are my favorite two pairs. The Topos have a very dark grey that doesn’t look too goofy for daily wear too.
Kelsier25 1.0Just beware that wide in most traditional shoes, Hoka included, widens the midfoot without really widening the toebox. I have wide Challengers I was trying out and they're great shoes, but the pointy little toebox just isn't working for me. My two big toes have some pretty awful blisters right now from being pressed in.
Word of warning on the challengers. Great shoes, but pointy little toebox. I got them in a wide and still got massive blisters on the insides of my big toes. Definitely not an issue for everyone, but if you need a wide toebox, you may have similar issues.
klicknack 1.0I ran 150km in a pair of Hoka Challenger 8 and I found them incredibly comfortable. If your feet like Hokas, you can't go wrong with those.
KobiLou 1.0Unfortunately the 8s now have a different heel:toe drop. :(
Higher. I think it's 8 now if I remember right. Same with Cliftons. How you can change something so significant, yet call it the same model is beyond me.
Matej1889 1.0Nike Pegasus Trail 5. I have been using Pegasus Trail 4 extensively and it was one of the best if not the best hybrid shoe out there. Had two pairs, ran over 1400 km with them. Now got the new version Trail 5. It seems great too. I tried Challenger 7 and 8 on but I didnt like their heaviness and they didnt seem so much hybrid, they were more robust and bulkier into more technical hybrid terrain.
mmfrazier1 1.0I have 130miles on my challenger 8s with no issues- they are very comfortable cruisers for easy trails-
No_Material_9508 1.0Grappig, ik weeg zelf ongeveer hetzelfde wat jij weegt, ben een cm korter én heb vorige maand een ultratrail gedaan met meer dan 1000 hoogtemeters (Zevenheuvelentrail, 56km, kleine 1300 hoogtemeters). Heb zelf eerlijk gezegd gewoon 90% van de tijd mijn gewone hardloopschoenen gebruikt voor trainingen. Dat is puur omdat er nauwelijks bos/onverharde paden in mijn omgeving is. Enkel voor het inlopen heb ik de 2 weken vantevoren een paar keer op de trailschoenen gelopen. Ik heb zelf de Hoka Challenger 8. Ik zou lekker even naar de schoenenwinkel gaan en een paar modellen uitproberen. Ik ben zelf iemand die vrij weinig demping wil. Maar dat laatste is sowieso meer het geval bij trailschoenen. Succes met het uitzoeken en de voorbereiding!
Ok-Method5635 1.0Normal width, large toe box See altra, topo, inov8. I’ve actually found Hoka challenger 8 (wide) to be a little bit snugger than inov8 trailfly max (wide).
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