Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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Hoka Challenger 8 — Road-to-trail all-rounder for gravel and light singletrack.
Sizing note
Everything here fits true to size. Leave a thumbnail of space at the toe.
Durability
Expect roughly 400 miles before the midsole flattens out.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | New Balance Fresh Foam Crag v2 | New Balance Summit Unknown v4 | Merrell Nova 4 | Brooks Divide 6 | Salomon S/Lab Genesis(2024) | Saucony Peregrine 15(2025) | Salomon Thundercross 2(2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 270 g / 9.5 oz | 280 g / 9.9 oz | 261 g / 9.2 oz | 272 g / 9.6 oz | 258 g / 9.1 oz | 275 g / 9.7 oz | 275 g / 9.7 oz |
| Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 4 mm | 8 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 28 mm | 32 mm | 29 mm | 24 mm | 33 mm | 28 mm | 35 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Standard | Standard | Wide | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Plate | — | Rock | — | — | Rock | Nylon | Rock |
| Intended pace | 8:30–11:30 /mi | 8:30–11:30 /mi | 8:30–11:30 /mi | 9:30–12:30 /mi | 7:30–11:00 /mi | 8:00–12:00 /mi | 8:30–12:00 /mi |
| Purpose | Trail, Daily | Trail, Tempo, Daily | Trail, Daily | Trail, Daily | Trail, Tempo, Race day | Trail, Tempo | Trail, Tempo |
| Sizing | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size |
| Durability | ~400 mi | ~400 mi | ~400 mi | ~400 mi | ~400 mi | ~400 mi | ~400 mi |
| Price | $100 | $130 | $130 | $110 | $200 | $145 | $145 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5, where 5 stability means the most guidance and 1 means fully neutral.