Hoka Challenger 8 Review | Worth It In 2025?
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST Hoka Challenger 8 review for those who are wondering if the upgrade is WORTH It in 2025. As a seasoned trail runner with over 12 years of experience testing trail running shoes, I recommend these for runners looking for an extremely lightweight and comfortable pair of trail running shoes.
For this review, I have been constantly testing my pair of Challenger 8’s since their release in July of 2025.
I’m very familiar with how they feel and perform on the trails. I’ll go over comfort/fit , traction, stability & support , weight, overall protection, and durability.
I’ll be giving a score of each category based on OBJECTIVE testing standards and an overall score with recommendations at the end.
The Challenger 8 is one of the most comfortable trail running shoes out on the market today. If you can live with the soft outsole and decent traction, then they are totally worth it.
They compete very well with the Merrell Agility Peak 5, Hoka Speedgoat 5, Altra Lone Peak 9+ , and Salomon Speedcross 6.
Challenger 8 Pros and Cons
- Excellent Comfort
- Improved Upper
- Ultra Lightweight
- Ultimate Trail To Road Shoe
- Average Durability
- Soft Outsole
- Shallow Lugs
Should you buy the Hoka Challenger 8 ?
Buy if
- You want one of the HIGHESTED RATED comfortable trail running shoes in 2025
- You are looking for an ultralightweight pair of trail shoes
- You want a perfect “Road To Trail Shoe”
DON’T Buy if
- You prefer a budget trail running shoe
- You want the Vibram Megagrip outsole
- You prefer a low-stack trail shoe
Hoka Challenger 8 Price
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Hoka Challenger 8 Comfort & Fit : 9/10 (20%)
To no one’s surprise, when I first put on the Challenger 8, I felt the complete bliss of the Challenger 7, a heavily cushioned footbed with plushness all around.
The Compression EVA midsole, is nice and bouncy with that Ultra Comfort every Hoka user is looking for.
To my delight, they made the cushioning very balanced, I felt better trail responsiveness than the previous models especially on gravel terrain.
The toe box has plentiful room without any room for compression. The silky sockliner is an upgrade with the recycled polyester mesh on top which is much less rigid and more forgiving.
I was able to perform my first run without any break-in period, I didn’t experience any blisters or hot spots.
I felt the fit was much more dialed in than the previous models as well as the other trail shoes we have tested in our collection.
The toe box I measured at 3.6 inches It was just wide enough for my toes to splay out and give a nice wide, stable base. The inner lining of the shoe was nice and sleek without any scratchy overlays.
The tongue has a lot of plush material that is a nice barrier between itself and the top of your foot without any constriction.
I felt the heel tab was a major upgrade. The heel has more padding, which I noticed testing on uphill terrain. My heel pressed back into the padding with a nice plush rebound.
I tested a men’s 10.5 regular, I didn’t have to size up or down. The Challenger 8 gets a perfect score for fit.
The shock absorption on the previous model was elite. However, somehow Hoka added even more stack height for EVEN MORE shock absorption. The impact attenuation is top-tier.
Overall, the comfort and fit of the Challenger 8 is easily one of the best for 2025.
Traction: 8.5/10 (20%)
The Hoka Challenger 8 does not feature the Vibram Megagrip outsole.
The Durabrasion outsole is softer than most outsoles which was a negative for the Challenger 7.
However, with the 8 the outsole features more grooves in between the 4mm lugs. I noticed this upgrade RIGHT AWAY.
My foot was able to flex further due to the grooves, but it also helped shed mud and gravel faster than ever before. This is paramount, because of the shallow nature of the 4mm lugs.
When I tested the 8 on technical terrain, it held up better than expected given my previous experience with the 7. The shallow lugs were much more effective and grippy.
The Challenger 8 also regains the crown as the best “Trail To Road Shoe”. The transition from a gravel trail to asphalt or concrete is seamless and very subtle. This also adds to the versatility of the shoe for dual usage as a trail shoe and regular running shoe.
Overall, the Challenger 8 has some of the best traction for versatile terrain with some limitations on technical terrain. We are happy to reappoint it as the best trail to road shoe of 2025.
Stability & Support 8.5/10 (20%)
The upgraded recycled polyester mesh really adds an upper hand to the Challenger 8.
The mesh is VERY breathable for summer trail running as well as acting as a “seatbelt” for your foot reducing any unwanted internal motion.
The upper also conforms well to your foot without overly compressioning it or forming any hot spots.
Hoka claims the Challenger 8 to have “neutral” stability, however the upper tells a different story. While there are no internal technologies in the shoe like a rearfoot frame, the upper really becomes stiffer towards the heel giving it excellent heel counter stiffness as if it does have a rearfoot frame.
The torsional stability is upgraded by the new premium engineered mesh throughout the shoe, giving it that extra you need on the trail.
The stability is really impressive on flat terrain or even using it as a running shoe on pavement. The shoe itself really kept me from overpronating.
Weight 9/10 (15%)
The Challenger 8 is one of the lightest trail runners I have personally tested to date. I weighed my men’s 10.5 at 10 oz flat.
The high stack height with high-cushion technologies is a real oxymoron. Impressively this shoe has remained light but also has the “lightweight feel” on the trail as well.
How’s The Overall Protection Of The Challenger 8?
The Hoka Challenger 8 does not incorporate a rock plate for foot protection on the trail. However, the high stack height ensures no trail debris would be able to penetrate the footbed.
In addition, Hoka added a 3D printed rubber toe cap that is much more robust than the previous model. The toe cap also expands out further covering the entire toe box to protect against rock kicks.
The lack of sensitivity is not the most ideal for technical trails, but the high stack height really protects your foot and compensates for the soft outsole and lack of a rock plate.
The previous versions of the Challenger came out with a waterproof and non-waterproof version. This iteration currently does not have a waterproof version.
Hoka Challenger Overall Protection 7.5/10 (10%)
Durability 7.5/10 (10%)
The previous iterations of the Challenger definitely had durability concerns because of the upper and soft outsole.
I will say the new upper mesh is definitely more resilient and robust. I haven’t noticed any scrapes or rips in the mesh as others noticed right away in the previous models.
While the outsole is still soft, it is definitely upgraded with a higher stack height that may flatten out over time but will maintain its bounciness and shock absorption just purely because the high stack height has room to lose some to wear and tear.
Overall, after testing the Challenger 8 for 30+ miles now it is definitely on a better track when it comes to durability of the entire shoe. We will update this review with any changes as time goes on.
Is the Hoka Challenger 8 worth it?
If you are looking for one of the most comfortable trail shoes on the market that can handle easy road to trail transitions, as well as the versatility of a running shoe then the Challenger 8 is well worth it.
For the price of $155, they are definitely one of my top picks for a trail runner under $175.
At today’s prices, these are my favorite trail to road shoes under $200.
For those looking for extreme traction and trail sensitivity, I will say the Challenger 8 may not be your best bet because of the softer outsole and lack of a rock plate.
For me, the Challenger 8 is all about mild to moderate trails while still enjoying a comfortable ride without the hassle of trail feel and stiffness.
For those looking for stronger alternatives for traction, check out the Norda 001, or even the Salomon Sense Ride 5. For stronger alternatives when it comes to traction check out the Hoka Speedgoat 6, Altra Lone Peak 9+, or Merrell Agility Peak 5.
Value: 4.5/5 (5%)
Scoring Breakdown
Comfort & Fit (20%): 9/10
Traction (20%) : 8.5/10
Stability & Support (20%): 8.5/10
Weight (15%) : 9/10
Overall Protection (10%) : 7.5/10
Durability (10%) : 7.5/10
Value (5%) : 4.5 / 5
Total Weighted Score :1.80 + 1.70 + 1.70 + 1.35 + 0.75 + 0.75 + 0.45 = 8.275 / 10 = 8.5 / 10
Our Rating: 8.5 / 10
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How We Tested and Our Methodology
I personally tested the Hoka Challenger 8 since their release this year in 2025, with the sole intent of giving you the most unbiased review possible. Mountaineer Journey is a 100% independent publisher with years of testing and reviewing outdoor equipment.
Over the past 15+ years, I’ve logged thousands of trail miles across everything from smooth single-file roads to steep, technical singletrack. This deep experience allowed me to create an OBJECTIVE scoring system for all trail shoes for the most unbiased scores possible.
This kind of hands-on experience helps me evaluate how a trail running shoe truly performs—whether it’s truly stable, grips well on varied surfaces, and holds up over time under real mileage.
We currently pay for the products we test ourselves; no company or manufacturer pays us to sway our opinions or decisions.
