Hoka Challenger 8
Exact average 85.6 · all scores printed by the outlets
Image: Hoka5 professional reviewers tested the Hoka Challenger 8, and 4 recommend it. Most praised: comfort and cushioning.
Reviewed by Run to the Finish, CleverHiker, Outdoor Adept and 2 more
The catch: It is not fast and limited on technical trails.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes a score.
What 5 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 98Run to the Finish
A very comfortable max-cushioned road-to-trail shoe whose updates handle more trail than before.
Read Run to the Finish review - 96CleverHiker
A top pick for women's trail shoes, blending comfort and performance on varied terrain and beating the Speedgoat 7 in several areas.
Read CleverHiker review - 84Outdoor Adept
A soft, heavily cushioned cruiser that is great for long easy miles on gentle ground.
Read Outdoor Adept review - 80RunningShoesGuru
A durable, comfortable and reliable cushioned trail trainer that feels good from the first run.
Read RunningShoesGuru review - 70OutdoorGearLab
Plush and comfortable for easy miles but less stable, heavier and less grippy than before.
Read OutdoorGearLab review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
No clear pattern.
Other running shoes critics rate highly
Also reviewed, not yet scored
- Asics Megablast · 2 reviews so far
Common questions
Is the Hoka Challenger 8 worth it?
Most critics think so: 4 of 5 recommend it. It is not fast and limited on technical trails.
Do critics agree about the Hoka Challenger 8?
Broad agreement: scores range from 70 (OutdoorGearLab) to 98 (Run to the Finish), a spread of 28 points across 5 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What is the best alternative to the Hoka Challenger 8?
The Hoka Skyflow (critic score 88), top pick, narrowly.