Run to the Finish98
A very comfortable max-cushioned road-to-trail shoe whose updates handle more trail than before.
Hoka Challenger 8
5 expert reviews#3 of 13 running shoes
Image: Hoka4/5critics
recommend
recommend
Best for runs that mix road and trail
Critics’ consensus
5 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.
Broad agreement
Scores run from 70 to 98All 5 scores printed by the outlets
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What do critics say about the Hoka Challenger 8?
CleverHiker96
A top pick for women's trail shoes, blending comfort and performance on varied terrain and beating the Speedgoat 7 in several areas.
Outdoor Adept84
A soft, heavily cushioned cruiser that is great for long easy miles on gentle ground.
RunningShoesGuru80
A durable, comfortable and reliable cushioned trail trainer that feels good from the first run.
OutdoorGearLab70
Plush and comfortable for easy miles but less stable, heavier and less grippy than before.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
Comfort and cushioning5 of 5
What critics dislike most
No clear pattern.
Alternatives
Not sure about the Hoka Challenger 8?
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- 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.