Hoka - Challenger 8
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 5, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
4
3
"Hoka Challenger in wide with custom insoles, (I use Archcrafters), is my perfect"
"Always felt a bit too narrow (esp in to box) ... I got the challengers and love them."
"Always loved the wide Hoka models for my thick toes"
16
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."
"I even ran my first marathon in them on the road XD"
25
4
"slightly tougher/longer lasting tread than speedgoats ... Challengers can tolerate it due to the tougher outsole ... nothing stops you from almost literally running them into the ground with how much of an outsole they've got on them."
"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."
"Hoka challenger is designed specifically for this. ... they are fantastic for road and any non technical trail"
6
4
"the tread doesn’t wear too quickly on the tarmac ... I’m about 1200k into this pair and probably looking to replace them soon."
"slightly tougher/longer lasting tread than speedgoats ... Challengers can tolerate it due to the tougher outsole ... nothing stops you from almost literally running them into the ground with how much of an outsole they've got on them."
"Must be 1,000km into this pair at least."
6
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"
"on dry surface, shoe is fantastic."
Disliked most:
0
3
"bad enough at that in wet weather"
"Challenger don't have good traction on wet surface (both tarmac and offroad) ... so I avoid them on wet"
"Not much grip"
1
2
"I did find that when I was using Hokas that I had an increased tendency to roll my ankle after about ten miles. ... The thing with trail runners is when you are tired, it is easier to roll your ankle. I have only found this to be a concern when I was using Hoka."
"I did find that when I was using Hokas that I had an increased tendency to roll my ankle after about ten miles. ... The thing with trail runners is when you are tired, it is easier to roll your ankle. I have only found this to be a concern when I was using Hoka."
"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"
3
4
"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."
"a little ripped up and worse for wear ... I'd want something tougher for a repeat adventure"
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."
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.
r/ultrarunning • Looking for Trail Shoe Advice for 50K Ultra – Wide Feet ->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.
r/ultrarunning • Feet Scan Shoe Recommendations ->Nike 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.
r/trailrunning • Hybrid running shoe ->I have 130miles on my challenger 8s with no issues- they are very comfortable cruisers for easy trails-
r/Ultramarathon • Wider trail shoes for first 100M ->Normal 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).
r/AskRunningShoeGeeks • What shoe would you recommend for trail running? ->I’m trying to break in the new Altra Olympus 275. Zero drop but their original foot shape. It’s quite a comfortable shoe so far. I’ve been struggling with numb toes on all my trail runs and want to transition to zero drops in the hope of maybe alleviating it. Other trail shoes I’ve had success with as a high volume, wide foot: Nike zegama 1 (2 was okay but too low volume. Definitely the better shoe - half sized up in both) Hoka Speedgoat 6. Not a fun ride but it fit okay (half sized up) The new hoka Challenger 8 (true to size and 2E) - these are actually pretty nice.
r/ultrarunning • Looking for Trail Shoe Advice for 50K Ultra – Wide Feet ->Hoka Challengers are my go to shoe for mixed terrain with light trails. They feel like slippers when they’re on and I’ll choose them over my Speedgoats whenever I can.
r/trailrunning • Trail shoes for mixed surface ->Hoka Challengers are my go-to for most runs. Must be 1,000km into this pair at least. And Speedgoat 6s for the heavier stuff. Went into the shop to go for something else after a bad experience with the 5s but they were still the best fit of everything I tried.
r/trailrunning • What shoes are you rocking at the moment? ->Love my Challengers. I use them for over 80% of my runs and the tread doesn’t wear too quickly on the tarmac; I’m about 1200k into this pair and probably looking to replace them soon. They’re like wearing slippers compared to my Speedgoats.
r/trailrunning • A versatile trail/road shoe ->I’m on my third pair of Hoka Challengers as they’re great for the majority of what I do, with a pair of Speedgoats for harder terrain. They last pretty well too with my most recent ones going for 1,200k before I retired them and I still use them for walking. (I’m not a Hoka fanboy but whenever I’ve been into a shop to try new shoes, I’ve still always preferred these ones).
r/trailrunning • Hybrid running shoe ->The Hoka Challenger is a really good door-to-trail shoe.
r/trailrunning • Road to Trail shoe ->The foam on the zegama 2 is more comfortable for me for long efforts than the challenger. My feet get sore in the challengers a lot faster than the zegama.
r/Ultramarathon • Nike v. Hoka Trail Shoes for NON technical 100 ->I swear by the hoka challenger. I know some folks who only do trails prefer the speedgoats. I’d say go to a shoe store and get fitted up and see what you like.
r/trailrunning • Shoe recommendations for beginner ->I wear Challengers in the southeast, but I've also slid down more than one clay embankment.
r/trailrunning • Do you use your trail shoes when you have to run the roads? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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