In the present study, we show a new and comprehensive analysis of the elastic scattering cross sections of 8Li by 9Be, 12C, 13C, 14N, 27Al, 51V, 58Ni and 208Pb target nuclei. For the first-time, the real potential based on the optical model is obtained by using proximity potentials which consist of Broglia and Winther 1991 (BW 91), Aage Winther (AW 95), Bass 1973 (Bass 73), Bass 1977 (Bass 77), Bass 1980 (Bass 80), Christensen and Winther 1976 (CW 76), Ngo 1980 (Ngo 80), Proximity 1977 (Prox 77), Proximity 1988 (Prox 88) and Siwek-Wilczynski-Wilczynska (SWW). The theoretical results are compared both with experimental data and with each other. The similarities and differences of the potentials investigated are discussed and alternative potentials are put forward.