Challenger 8

I enjoyed mine for soft trail work, but found them useless if it gets muddy. Now I can't find a slot in the rotation because I'm happy using a road shoe on light trail with better rebound and better ankle support. Don't think I'd buy another pair.

Yeah, I got a Challenger 8 and it fell apart after two months of use. And not even heavy trail running, literally just daily use. I heard so much about them, and I was so disappointed. Now I have $150 of site credit through warranty, and I don’t know if I want them, or what to get

Hi all, Background: long time new balance cross trainer user, but switched to hoka recently as I did not like the new designs. (Old new balance designs were DURABLE and lasted years apiece) Bought the hoka challenger 8 in August, which was actually quite comfortable… …but only used it like 2-3 months and ultimately had to file warranty claim, due to cloth separation from the rubber sole area… which they approved I now have credit for new shoes, and was wondering if y’all had any recommendations for: \- cross trainer \- not zero drop \- more durable \- black colored Would appreciate what models I should look into. Some have suggested speed goat

Hi, thank you for reaching out. I appreciate your expertise. Previously for the new balance, I used to use I think something like an 860 series, which I understand is more geared towards comfort, but stability. I’ve always liked using shoes with decent tread pattern, even for a daily basis. I am aware that they will wear down, but I feel like I get a lot more grip and support than with the standard walking shoes, which I hate with a passion Because of the whole issue with my Challenger8, I ended up buying an altra experience wild. I’m loving the shoes so far. With that data in mind, what would you recommend accordingly?

Hoka challenger 8. It's miles above any other gravel shoe out there on the market. Don't buy the speedgoat. Its a trailshoe and the recent ititeration has a very stiff mid. The aggressive lugs will make pavement running uncomfortable as well. 

Seriously. They are amazing.

They are finding out that most people run on manicured single track. I find these gravel shoes excellent for technical trails on my long runs. I haven't found trailshoes that are comfortable for more than 3-4 hours. I recommend the Challenger 8 by Hoka. They are the best gravel shoe on the market. I run 50-150 miles a week.

I have challenger 8 and it is a very soft shoe with a lot of stack and smaller lugs that might not be best for technical sections. It's more of a road to trail shoe. The H1 is also road to trail if I remember correctly with a lot of stack and smaller lugs. Out of the three you listed the speedgoat would likely be the best bet. It's comfortable and is better built for technical sections. You might also look at the Mount to Coast T1. I have it currently and it's a fantastic shoe. The foam is very comfortable and energetic. Plus the build is very durable as well. I think it will last a long time. I've run in speedgoat 5 and 6, and the ride of the T1 is similar to speedgoat 5.

Hi everyone! i've seen a lot of posts about the Challenger 8 outsoles peeling off early, so I just wanted to share my experience. ​I’ve just hit 350km and, while they aren’t perfect, they’re definitely not as bad as some others I’ve seen on here. The outsole shows some normal wear, but the glue is holding up and I haven't had any issues with delamination or lugs falling off. ​For context, I’ve done about 60% of these kilometers on soft or light terrain, 30% on technical trails, and 10% on asphalt. The rest of the shoe is still in great shape, so I’m going to keep using them as my main trail shoes for a while longer. I’m not saying the durability issues don't exist, but for my pair and my trails, they’re doing just fine.