Article by Renee Krusemark and Ben David
Hoka Challenger 8 ($155)
Pros:
Comfortable yet responsive midsole: Renee/Ben
Good stack to weight ratio: Renee/Ben
Outsole versatile for gravel, moderate trail: Renee/Ben
Cons:
Feels a bit narrow on the medial side: Renee
Less forefoot protection than v7: Renee
Stats
Spec Weight: men's 11.3 oz / 320g US9 women’s 8.2 oz / 232g US8
Sample Weight:
women’s 8 oz / 227g US7.5
Stack Height:
Official men’s v8 42 mm heel / 34 mm forefoot, 8mm drop
men’s v7 37 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot, 5mm drop
women’s v8: 39mm heel / 32mm forefoot, 7mm drop
women’s v7: 34mm heel / 30mm forefoot, 5mm drop
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Ben: Hoka has crafted another great door-to-trail option with the Challenger 8. One of the staples in the Hoka trail lineup, the Challenger has been a trusted choice for years now. The Challenger 8 is a robust, reliable, well-cushioned shoe that will work well on the roads and most trails. At $155, runners get a shoe that is dependable, versatile and durable.
Upon step-in I found that my size 9 fit just right, with a bit of room still in the toe box. It does not run narrow and offers ample volume, which is always appreciated. For a few years early on, the Challenger was in fact my daily trainer of choice. I liked it more than Clifton and appreciated its range and versatility. Incidentally, both the Clifton and the Challenger are arguably as good now as ever before.
Renee: For me, the previous version–the Challenger 7–is one of the “hybrid” shoes that actually runs better on trails than gravel roads. Of course, the durability on trails is lacking but it’s really a no nonsense shoe. The Challenger 8 has a different purpose, at least for me. At $155, I would expect the upper to have more security for trail purposes, but it is comfortable. The fit is similar to the previous version. The minimal mesh upper has some breathability in the toe box and the toe bumper gives some protection for trails. The tongue is plush, and overall the comfort is felt as soon as you place your foot. Importantly, I find both v7 and v8 to run narrow in the medial side. That was an issue for me when running on gravel roads. On trails, the narrowness is not an issue because I’m not striking consistently from my forefoot. For anything flat or rolling, I wouldn’t wear the shoe for more than 10 miles. I wore the v7 for a 50 miler and had no issues. I give v8 the same usage. So, while I think the midsole actually favors more runnable terrain, the narrowness limits the distance. I don’t feel the narrowness when walking or when constantly descending/ascending. If I was purchasing this shoe for easy terrain, I’d try the wide version.
Midsole & Platform
Renee: Important to note is the Hoka now lists stack heights including the insole and outsole, so if you’re looking at listed stacks for v7 online, those don’t include total stack.
The midsole immediately feels different than the previous version, which I still have. The men’s and women’s versions of the shoe have different stacks, so I think the comparisons might be differ some. I have the women’s version in both.
The v8 has 2mm more stack in the heel (measured) with a stated drop of 7mm. For the women’s version, I can feel the higher stack in the heel but the forefoot feels less protective.
This is caused not only by the higher drop but also from the midsole. The midsole itself has more forgivingness than v7 and compresses more easily. All of that adds to a faster, peppy ride. On the downhills the shoe is fun (aided by the outsole, which I’ll discuss in the next section). The shoe flexes well and the rocker is in no way overbearing.
Ben: As Renee notes, this is a plush, forgiving midsole that offers good comfort on the roads or the trails. It’s not super responsive but it’s also not overly mushy. The shoe is not built to go fast but it also won’t hold anyone back I suspect. I picked it up a bit on 1-2 runs and found that the shoe was up to the task. The compression molded EVA and the increased stack make it pleasant to run in at most paces. Again, this isn’t a race shoe so the expectations have to be in the right place. This shoe is ready for long, easy days on either the roads, the trails or a combination of the two.
Outsole
Renee: Renee: The 4mm lugs have some bite, which is an upgrade from the previous version, at least when running loose terrain. No, it’s not Vibram but the shoe’s intended use does not warrant a super-technical outsole or a more costly rubber outsole component. As stated in the midsole section, the midsole has more pep than v7. For hilly terrain with loose gravel, the outsole gives traction. I was sure footed when running fast downhill and had enough grip to run uphill without slipping.
Ben: The lugs underfoot offer ample traction and support. As Renee notes, the traction is not top tier, but it will work for most moderate trails and certainly for door-to-trail runners. There is significant coverage and the shoe will handle most terrain and most conditions. I never felt uneasy or unsure on less stable surfaces or when going down hill at higher speeds.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Renee: The Challenger 8 is a true hybrid shoe. While not the best shoe for any specific terrain, it’s one of the best shoes for runners who need one shoe for everything. I did not run on pavement with this shoe, but on packed dirt and gravel, it’s a comfortable ride. The fit is narrow on the medial side. Any runner who finds that Hoka shoes are narrow, might opt for the wide version if running more road-type surfaces. On trails, I don’t notice the narrow fit (same as v7).
The ride is quicker and more fun thanks to the midsole, which is more forgiving and more responsive than before. That said, for trail, especially ultra distances, I found the forefoot to have less protection (less stack under the forefoot because of the drop at least in the women’s version).
I know many runners who use the Challenger for ultras on trails because it’s lightweight with enough stack. In those cases, I suggest looking at the men’s version which has a higher stack than the women’s version.
In sum, if you loved v7 for runnable terrain you might like v8 better. If you loved v7 for ultras on trail, you might find the forefoot comfort to be slightly less in v8.
Renee’s Score: 9.1/10
(Ride 10/10, Fit 8/10, Value 9/10, Style 10/10, Traction 10/10, Protection 8/10)
😊😊😊😊
Ben: The Challenger 8 is a refreshing, highly user-friendly trail shoe from Hoka. It continues what has been a successful line for the brand that continues to make its presence felt in trail running. This shoe is not designed for the most intense or aggressive trail running or the most extreme training.
The Challenger 8 works for the door-to-trail runner who is up for easy miles on the roads and comfortable miles on the trail. The fit is good. The upper is very good and the outsole offers significant coverage, grip and protection.
This is the type of shoe that could do it all if needed. It probably will not be the number one choice for ultras, but luckily Hoka offers models that are. This is a likable, wearable shoe that will work for most of us.
Ben’s Score: 9.4/10
😊😊😊😊
6 Comparisons
Hoka Challenger v7 (RTR Review)
Renee: The midsole has more forgiveness and responsiveness in the new version in comparison. The ride rolls faster on rolling terrain because of the midsole and the now 7-8mm drop. The previous version had a firmer midsole and more protection under the forefoot, perhaps giving a slight edge for those using it on single track trails at ultra distances. Both shoes feel narrow to me on the medial side when on runnable or easy terrain, but I don’t notice the narrowness when on trails. The lugs on v8 have better traction on loose gravel. Sizing is similar.
Hoka Torrent 4 (RTR Review)
Renee: The Torrent v4, unlike previous versions, has a midfoot rocker. I’d like to see the Torrent revert back to a traditional geometry to distinguish it from the Challenger. Both shoes are narrow on the medial side, although the Challenger midfoot seems to irritate my foot less. The Challenger’s outsole now has a bit better grip, making these two shoes too similar in my opinion. In theory, go with the Torrent for trail and the Challenger on moderate terrain. Sizing is similar.
Hoka Clifton 10 (RTR Review)
Ben: This Challenger 8 feels in a lot of ways like the trail companion to the Clifton 10, whether intentionally or not. I really enjoyed both and believe that they’re both adept at light trails as well as the roads. The ride is rather similar in both, with well-padded, plush uppers and great heel counters. The Challenger 8 is a bit more protective, particularly in the toe box, but somewhat heavier. The Challenger 8 is likely the more versatile shoe if one was looking for a single, do-it-all shoe.
On Cloudsurfer Trail 2 (RTR Review)
Renee: The Challenger is much better for trails in every way. The CS Trail 2 is comfortable and fine for flat bike paths, but not nearly as versatile as the Challenger. The CS Trail has a shallow and narrow toebox. I recommend a half size longer in the CS Trail 2 as compared to the Challenger.
Ben: As Renee says, the Challenger 8 is much more durable, versatile and cutout for trail running. It has more heft, more protection around the toe box and better fit.
Merrell ProMorph (RTR Review)
Renee: The ProMorph has more of a rocker than the Challenger and I found the midsole to be firm whereas the Challenger’s new midsole has forgiveness and pep. The ProMorph has a Vibram outsole, so the tackiness on wet terrain is better although the outsole doesn’t have true lugs. For traction on gravel the Challenger lug pattern works better. I recommend a half size smaller in the Challenger as compared to the ProMorph.
Nike Pegasus Trail 5 (RTR Review)
Renee: With the 8mm and more forgiving midsole, the Challenger 8 is now more similar to Peg Trail 5 than the previous version. For trail the Challenger is more protective and cushioned. The Peg Trail 5 is a more easy trail and road shoe than the more versatile Challenger. The Challenger is more narrow on the medial side while the Peg Trail 5 is a bit more roomy. I wear a half size shorter in the Hoka but I’m between half sizes and most runners can probably wear the same size in both shoes.
Ben: This is a good comparison. Both fit my size 9 very well. Both are very comfortable and well-cushioned. Both offer moderate stability on the roads and light trails. The Pegasus Trail 5 runs a bit narrower than the Challenger 8, as is common for Nike shoes. The Hoka offers more room in the toe box and slightly more protection underfoot.
All RTR reviews: HERE
Latest Reviews-chronological order HERE
Tester Profiles
Renee is a former U.S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon.
Ben is the Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, PA. A cancer survivor, he has run 23 marathons. He holds PRs of 3:15 for the marathon and 1:30 for the half. At 46, he still enjoys pushing himself and combining his running with supporting a variety of causes. Follow him on Instagram: @RabbiBPD or Twitter: @BDinPA
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
No comments:
Post a Comment