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Trail
Runners find the Challenger 8 holds up well, with several getting hundreds of kilometers from a pair, and they see it as a solid successor to the 7.
A score out of 100 for how well reviewed a product is next to others of its kind. It rises with positive reviews and with how many there are; negative and mixed reviews take points off. The best in each category scores in the 90s.
So a handful of glowing reviews can’t beat a product lots of people like. No sponsored placements.
Showing 4 reviews mentioning great cushioning Show all
Reddit · r/trailrunning · Sep 20, 2026 · summarized
PositiveThey love the Challenger 8 for road-to-trail and gravel, comparing the feel to pillows, and say it covers most of their summer off-road kilometres. Only downside is they do not enjoy hiking in them.
Reddit · r/trailrunning · May 27, 2026 · summarized
MixedThey own the Challenger 8 and describe a very soft, high-stack shoe with smaller lugs that is better as a road-to-trail option than for technical ground.
Blog · Adventure Alan – Jaeger Shaw · summarized
PositiveThe comfiest, cushiest and grippiest version yet: zero blisters and ache-free feet over 300 miles. The midsole was shot and the tread worn by the end, which is average durability. It rubbed his arches early, there was minor outsole glue failure around mile 150, and the 8 mm drop is a con for him.
Blog · iRunFar – Alli Miles · summarized
PositiveAn excellent everyday shoe for a wide variety of surfaces: highly cushioned, plush and stable, with a roomy toe box. It is versatile on pavement, gravel and non-technical trail and great for travel, but not designed for extreme terrain.
Runners find the Challenger 8 holds up well, with several getting hundreds of kilometers from a pair, and they see it as a solid successor to the 7. One fell apart after two months of light use.
Of the 15 reviews with a clear verdict, 67% are positive, 7% mixed and 27% negative. The praise mentioned most is great cushioning. The most common complaint is wears out fast.
The complaints reviewers mention most: wears out fast (2 reviews) and narrow fit (1 review). For example: A runner's Challenger 8 fell apart after two months of light use, leaving them very disappointed.
We collected and summarized 15 experiences shared on Reddit and blogs, with links to the original sources. Reviews submitted here are checked for spam before they appear. Every review, submitted here or collected, is read as positive, mixed or negative.
Trail and off-road shoes, ranked by real runners.
