HOKA  Challenger 8 Trail-Running Shoes - Women's

There is a ton to like about this shoe! They are incredibly comfortable and supportive, with lots of energy return from each step making workouts feel easier. The grip feels secure and they seem solidly constructed and like they will hold up over time. For me though, there are some cons. As a bigger person with a history of a bad ankle sprain, the amount of cushion gives me a bit too much movement on more technical terrain. I’ll be keeping these for gravel, less technical trails, and road surfaces, and may even choose these for city sightseeing, theme parks, and other days where I’ll be spending lots of time on my feet. But for true hiking or trail running, I prefer something with a wider toe box and that I can feel the ground, to give me more stability.

The shoes were comfortable out of the box. No break-in period needed. The Challenger has good bounce and spring without being too soft. I own several Hoka’s - The Clifton, the Bondi, the Transport and now the Challenger. The Hoka is my favorite brand of running shoe. I think the Challenger is the best “overall” shoe for me. To clarify this point, let me explain that I use my running shoes for running, walking, and traveling (think cobblestone streets, mountain trails and rocky ruins.) I also use my shoes for working out in a hotel or cruise ship gym. I travel the world and I am traveling several months a year. When I say it’s the best overall, I think it’s the best shoe suited for multiple purposes. When space is limited (which it almost always is), this is the shoe I will pack. I have used this pair of Challengers for running and walking on loose, deep sand, hard packed trails, unimproved roads and pavement. The treads do not collect stones. I live in Arizona and it has been hot and muggy this summer. The shoes seems to breathe well. I have the Barley/ Faded Navy Color, I was hoping it would be more of a wheat or vanilla color. It is instead more like a light mustard. It is not my favorite color, but it is neutral enough to wear with almost a color scheme or outfit.

These shoes provided just basic cushioning support from the first wear and only moderate ankle stability on trails. I didn't find them to offer the support I expect in running shoes, especially since I found previous challenger trail running shoes to perform better. I wore these for about 50 miles on both trails and roads (runs ranged from 2-6 miles per use) and they never felt like new shoes to me. The sizing was true to size for other Hokas I wear (I wear a 9 in Hokas and usually a 9.5 in most other shoes). I also was not a fan of this color choice, but a solid running shoe is more preferable than style when it comes to running. Unfortunately, this particular shoe did not shine in either category.

I've been using HOKA Challenger shoes for walking and running for years. I need a wide toebox to accommodate a silicone spacer for an arthritic toe, so appreciate the wide width option. Love the colors offered!

Once again Hoka has come through with a great shoe! I have completely worn out 2 other pairs! The first pair took me 500 miles across Spain and the most recent pair took me on miles of trails in Bend Oregon. What I love about the Challenger is the wide toe bead and excellent arch support. The shoe fits and walks like a dream. I have never had a single blister!

These are a nice road to gravel running shoe. Lightweight with lots of cushion. The stack height and cushion are a bit too much for true trail, running in my opinion. So I’d recommend these for light trail at most. I found the fit and sizing to be spot on. I don’t have a particularly wide or narrow foot and these fit me just right.

These trail shoes are great for trail running. I have used these on rocky and uneven trails, on gravel trails, and on packed dirt trails. I usually average about 40 miles per week and most of these miles are on trails. These shoes are light, responsive, and feel stable. Be aware that these run 1/2 size big. I usually take a 6.5 in my Hoka road running shoes, but in these (and other Hoka trail shoes) I take a 6.

This are immediately one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I've ever worn. I was looking for a more technical trail shoe, which I don't think these will be. But they are so good that I am going to keep them and will be a dream to wear on moderate trails or the gym. I'm not kidding, these are some of the best shoes I've ever put on my feet. Nice wide toe box for your feet to breathe and swell. Padding in all the right places. Nice moderate traction. Light. Don't buy them if you don't want to fall in love.

I have been told about how comfortable these shoes were from multiple people before I gave them a try, and man were they right! These shoes are like walking on a fluffy cloud with a bit of spring in each step. They have a wide toolbox, which is awesome for me, they’re lightweight and breathable and even fashionable. Very happy with my purchase! 😀

Since I wear a women's wide width shoe, I am challenged to find ones that work. HOKA brands works well for me with the cushion and arch support. I had hoped to replace my current Speedgoat but there aren't any in my size available. So I went with the Challenger knowing that when I could get a Speedgoat, I would use these more as "walking around shoe" than trail shoe. My only negative review is that my feet seem to get warmer in these than the Speedgoat. However, since it's we're getting into fall weather, maybe that's a good thing?