Hoka Challenger 8 vs Hoka Mafate 5
Hoka Challenger 8 vs Hoka Mafate 5: weight, drop (8 mm vs 8 mm), cushioning, lugs and which races each one suits best.
Quick verdict
The Hoka Challenger 8 is 57 g lighter. The Hoka Mafate 5 has more cushioning (45 mm at the heel). The Hoka Mafate 5 grips better, with 4.4 mm lugs.
HokaHoka Challenger 8Road-to-trail with Hoka's signature max cushioning and 4 mm lugs: comfortable from the first kilometre and perfect for beginners or long runs on easy, mixed terrain.
Check price(se abre en una pestaña nueva)Hoka Challenger 8: specs and races
HokaHoka Mafate 5Hoka's ultra-trail flagship: the maximum cushioning and protection possible in a trail running shoe. Integrated stability plate, Vibram Megagrip outsole with aggressive 5 mm lugs, and reinforced construction built for the final kilometres of a 100-miler, when your legs have nothing left to forgive.
Check price(se abre en una pestaña nueva)Hoka Mafate 5: specs and racesSpec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Hoka Challenger 8 | Hoka Mafate 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (per shoe) | 275 g | 332 g |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Heel stack | 42 mm | 45 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 34 mm | 37 mm |
| Lug depth | 3.7 mm | 4.4 mm |
| Fit | Medium | Medium |
| Stable platform | – | ✓ |
| Waterproof | – | – |
| Carbon plate | – | – |
| Terrain | smooth, mixed | mixed, technical |
Brand-stated specs or values measured by independent sources. Green marks the better value when one is clearly better.
Which races does each one suit? Checked against 249 races
For each race we look at the terrain, the distance and the average rainfall around race day in recent years, and see which shoe fits best.
Hoka Mafate 5: better pick in 109 of 249
Tied in 140
We couldn't find that race in our calendar. Try another name or the town.
| Race | What it needs | Hoka Challenger 8 | Hoka Mafate 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Raid de La Réunion180 km | Ultra: cushioning | Built for it | Built for it |
| L'Infernal Trail des Vosges205 km | Likely mud | Not its terrain | Copes |
| Mañaritik Atxetara43 km | Rock and technical ground | Not its terrain | Built for it |
| Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB168 km | Ultra: cushioning | Built for it | Built for it |
| Topo Athletic Bibracte Ultra-Trail185 km | Likely mud | Not its terrain | Copes |
| Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls185 km | Likely mud | Not its terrain | Copes |
| Ultra Tour des 4 Massifs176 km | Ultra: cushioning | Built for it | Built for it |
| UTMB Mont-Blanc174 km | Ultra: cushioning | Built for it | Built for it |
Criteria: mud when it often rains around race day on soft ground; rock for skyrunning and vertical kilometres; ultra from 50 km; mixed otherwise.
Analysis: where they really differ
Both have an 8 mm drop and plenty of foam, but the Mafate 5 is a mountain ultra shoe with a stable platform and 4.4 mm lugs. The Challenger 8 is 57 g lighter and built to mix road and fire road.
Choose the Hoka Challenger 8 if…
- You link road sections with fire roads and easy trails.
- You want a light, comfortable shoe to get started.
- You don't need mountain grip.
Choose the Hoka Mafate 5 if…
- Your races are rocky mountain ultras.
- You want a stable, protective platform.
- You value protection over weight.