ShoeGeometry

Hoka Challenger 8 vs Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneHoka Challenger 8: heel 44 mm, forefoot 37 mm (drop 7 mm); toe rocker 39 % of length, radius 52 % of length; heel bevel 15 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, reaching in front of the heel bone (the sole still curves up under it: a heel rocker).Hoka Challenger 8: toe rocker 39 % of lengthSalomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL: heel 41 mm, forefoot 33 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 31 % of length, radius 39 % of length; heel bevel 7 % of length, 18 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL: toe rocker 31 % of length
  • Hoka Challenger 844/37 mm · toe rocker 39 % · heel bevel 15 %
  • Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL41/33 mm · toe rocker 31 % · heel bevel 7 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offHoka Challenger 838.6 vs 31.3 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelHoka Challenger 844 vs 41 mm heel stack
More under the forefootHoka Challenger 837 vs 33 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropHoka Challenger 87 vs 8 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootSalomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL21 vs 46 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelSalomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL37 vs 79 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootSalomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL115.3 vs 121.1 mm forefoot base
Less weightAbout the same275 vs 269 g

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricHoka Challenger 8
Road/trail hybrid · Mixed
Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL
Road/trail hybrid · Mixed
Heel-to-toe drop7 mmStated8 mmDerived
Heel stack44 mmStated41 mmStated
Forefoot stack37 mmStated33 mmStated
Weight275 gStated269 gStated
Toe rocker39 %est.31 %est.
Rocker radius52 %est.39 %est.
Rocker rise angle25 degest.31 degest.
Rocker angle at toe59 degest.62 degest.
Toe tip over ground39 mm*est.33 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset75 %est.77.7 %est.
Toe spring (relative)18.2 %est.18.5 %est.
Heel bevel length15.4 %est.7.5 %est.
Heel bevel height20 mm*est.18 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)115.3 mmMeasured121.1 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)99.6 mmMeasured92.8 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width96.5 mmMeasured93.7 mmMeasured
Toebox width72.8 mmMeasured71.4 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness21Derived46Derived
Midsole firmness37Derived79Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamCMEVAoptiFOAM2 (supercritical), Reverse Camber rocker
List price$155$160

Key differences

  • Hoka Challenger 8's heel-to-toe drop is 7 mm, 1 mm lower than Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL's 8 mm.
  • Hoka Challenger 8's heel stack is 44 mm, 3 mm thicker than Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL's 41 mm.
  • Hoka Challenger 8's forefoot stack is 37 mm, 4 mm thicker than Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL's 33 mm.
  • Weight is about the same: 275 g for Hoka Challenger 8, 269 g for Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL.
  • Hoka Challenger 8's toe rocker is 39 % of length, 7 % of length longer than Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL's 31 % of length.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Hoka Challenger 8

Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Hoka Challenger 8 details · Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL details · Add more shoes