There are few shoe brands more recognizable around the world today than HOKA. Since its founding in 2009, this sportswear company has become a staple in the running world. Whether you prefer to spend your time at the gym, on walks around the city, or at a marathon start line, you’ve likely seen plenty of people wearing this powerhouse brand.
And even among such a well-known, beloved brand, one running shoe model stands out – the HOKA Clifton. First launched back in 2014, this comfortable, maximalist road running shoe has built a loyal following over the years.
Now on its 10th iteration, HOKA is clearly not resting on its laurels with this popular, mainstream everyday trainer. The Clifton 10 continues to see innovative new design elements, an updated fit and upper, and more cushioning than ever before.
With all these changes, it’s important to test out the updates and determine if the Clifton 10 stands up to the previous iteration’s comfort and reputation. So our dedicated Marathon Sports review team laced up the Clifton 10 and took to the streets, trails, and track for a closer look at how this fan-favorite shoe truly performs.
In this review, we’ll offer an in-depth assessment of the Clifton 10, including a closer look at all the features the shoe has to offer, a summary of our road test findings, and some insight into how the Clifton stacks up next to comparable running shoes today.
Our Review Process
It’s hard to know how a shoe holds up until you put in the miles, testing it out on a variety of terrains and types of runs. The footwear experts at Marathon Sports did exactly that, taking the Clifton 10 on a range of long runs, daily miles, tough trail runs, and uptempo workouts.
Now that we have a better idea of all the Clifton’s new and exciting features – and how these features feel on a range of runs – we’ll give you some insight into how exactly the Clifton 10 performs, and if this HOKA favorite is the right running shoe for you.
HOKA Clifton 10: The Key Specs and Highlights
While we always suggest a road test, a quick overview of a shoe’s specs and highlights can help you know what to expect when you’re sliding on a shoe for the first time. Here’s a quick look at the Clifton 10 details and highlights.
- Advertised as a moderate-cushion, neutral daily trainer
- Stack height: 42/34 mm for men’s shoes, 38/30 mm for women’s shoes
- 8 mm drop (up from 5 mm in the Clifton 9)
- Men’s weighs 9.8 oz, women’s weighs 8 oz
- Midsole made of compression-molded EVA foam
- Meta-Rocker geometry aids in smooth transitions
- Active Foot Frame and wide platform add inherent support with landings
- Upper is made from a soft, light, and breathable jacquard knit upper
- Durabrasion rubber outsole adds traction, grip, and durability
- Available in regular and wide widths for women and regular, wide, and extra wide for men
- Price: $149.95
Is the Clifton 10 Right for You? A Closer Look
Now that you have a rundown of what to expect when you put the Clifton 10 on, it’s time for a deep dive into how these features feel and perform.
Plush, High-Stack Compression-Molded EVA Midsole
HOKA has relied on their soft, spongy compression molded EVA foam for that signature plush, cloud-like feel you can find in most of their running shoes, and they didn’t deviate from this proven formula in the newest version of the Clifton 10.
This reliable signature foam gives the Clifton 10 an incredibly soft, luxurious underfoot feel, all while maintaining bounciness and springiness with each stride.
To give the shoe an even softer feel, HOKA added more cushioning to the Clifton 10’s heel. The men’s shoe features 42 mm of this lightweight foam in the heel and 34 mm in the forefoot, while the women’s has 38 mm in the heel and 30 mm in the forefoot.
While the Clifton is still technically HOKA’s moderate cushion shoe (The Bondi 9 has even more cushioning!), this update offers plenty of soft padding to cushion your landings and deliver unmatched comfort on any type of run.
Overall Design and Geometry
Soft, plush, maximalist cushioning isn’t the only thing HOKA has become known for over the years. Their shoes have also become acclaimed for their meta-rocker geometry, offering a curved sole that aids in smooth transitions, improves efficiency, and propels you forward through each stride.
The HOKA Clifton 10 incorporates this pronounced meta-rocker for smooth and enhanced heel-to-toe transitions. And while the shoe itself is a neutral shoe, meaning it doesn’t correct for overpronation, the rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame cradles your feet and adds a touch of stability throughout runs.
While HOKA maintains much of what loyal Clifton-wearers love about this model, they also made some crucial changes when it comes to overall design and geometry. The Clifton 10 has an 8mm offset from the heel-to-toe, a significant departure from the 5 mm drop featured in previous Clifton versions and nearly all of HOKA’s other shoe models.
If you’ve worn the Clifton before, you’ll be glad to know this extra 3 mm in the heel doesn’t give the shoe too much of a drastically different feel. However, this change may be good news for heel-strikers. With this increased drop, the soft cushioning in the heel won’t compress quite as fast, offering soft and supportive landings for even more mileage.
Soft and Breathable Jacquard Upper
The new jacquard knit upper is another huge plus of the newest Clifton iteration. This soft, breathable upper comfortably wraps the foot, giving you a snug and secure fit with an accommodating forefoot design.
HOKA is all about comfort and cushioning, and the extra padding around the heel tab, tongue, and ankle add even more luxurious comfort when you slide the shoe on your feet. And while the upper itself effectively hugs your foot, the new double lock lace adds even more security and protection, preventing any excess movement or tongue migration.
Durability and Traction
The bad news when it comes to the Clifton 10? There was a slight price increase. The Clifton now costs $149.95, a $5 increase from the previous iteration. So is the shoe worth it for the slightly higher cost?
The short answer is, between the increased cushioning and the heel and the durable outsole, you’ll likely find the cushioning and comfort worth the extra cost.
The durabrasion rubber outsole protects the soft cushioning and allows you to enjoy mile after mile without early wear. And while the Clifton 10 works best on the road, this outsole also adds a bit of grip and traction so you can get more versatility out of these shoes and use them for all types of runs.
While we haven’t put an excess amount of miles on the Clifton 10 yet, we’re also hoping the new 8 mm drop will prevent the heel from sinking and compressing too early. It’s too soon to say if HOKA met its goal of increasing the shoe’s longevity with this increased drop, but with the mileage we have out on the shoe’s so far, it’s looking promising.
Road Results
As one of the most popular running shoes around today, our team of reviewers was very eager to lace up the new Clifton and see how it holds up to HOKA’s extraordinary reputation in the running shoe world.
Putting the shoes on for the first time, our reviewers had a pretty positive first impression. The new upper snugly and securely wrapped our foot, while the toe box offered a comfortable and roomy fit for our toes to splay out. The high heel tab made it easy to slide on, while the extra padding around the heel and tongue, paired with the soft jacquard knit upper, kept our feet feeling locked in.
When we hit the roads, trails, treadmill, and track with the Clifton 10, there were a few key features that immediately stood out.
The extra millimeters of cushioning underfoot was one of the main positive standouts. The compression-molded EVA foam was comfortable and helped absorb impact with each step, leaving legs and feet feeling fresh and less fatigued, even after longer mileage.
In true HOKA fashion, their innovative Meta-Rocker design and Active Foot Frame kept us feeling stable and more efficient with each stride. The new and improved upper also proved that it could hold up after any type of run. Once we were in motion, the snug upper fit and double-lock lace system prevented any excess movement so we didn’t have to think about what was on our feet and could focus on crushing runs and workouts.
While there was a lot to love about this shoe, there are also a few areas our reviewers felt could use improvement.
The extra cushioning shined on long runs, but gave the shoe a slightly bulkier, heavier feeling than previous Clifton iterations. In a time where brands are leaning into lightweight, more minimal designs, the newest version of the Clifton actually went up in weight. The Clifton 10 weighs 9.8 oz for men’s shoes and 8 oz for women’s, up from 8.7 and 7.3 oz respectively in the Clifton 9.
While the jury is still out on how the 8 mm drop impacts the wear and compression of the shoe over hundreds and hundreds of miles, it did have a slight impact on how the shoe feels over the course of a training run. Loyal HOKA fans accustomed to a lower, 5 mm drop may find the raised heel unnatural throughout their runs. However, if you tend to heel strike on runs, you may appreciate this extra cushioning and protection with each landing.
Pros and Cons
As popular and well-loved as the Clifton is, no shoe is without its downsides. Here are a few pros and cons to consider if you’re debating if the Clifton 10 is right for you.
Pros:
- Great, reliable option for a neutral daily trainer with plenty of plush yet responsive cushioning to support you through everyday runs or long runs
- Meta-rocker geometry creates smooth and effortless heel-to-toe transitions for more efficiency and reduced pressure on the feet and legs
- Updated knit upper with double lock system offers a secure fit and feels soft and supportive around the foot
- 8mm offset and durabrasion outsole is designed to increase the longevity of the shoe and reduce early wear and compression
Cons:
- While the 8 mm drop doesn’t feel like a drastic difference from previous versions, this raised heel may feel uncomfortable or unnatural on longer runs for runners accustomed to lower drops
- Weight increased from previous iterations, making it bulkier and less versatile for uptempo runs or track workouts
- Priced at $149.95 – a $5 increase from previous iterations and slightly more expensive than other comparable shoes
How Does the Clifton 10 Compare to the Competition?
With the running shoe market being so saturated today, it’s crucial to look at how the updated Clifton stacks up compared to similar running shoes.
If the Clifton 10 isn’t quite right for you but you’re looking to stick with HOKA running shoes, you fortunately have plenty of other options. Those who want even more cushioning and softness underfoot may want to consider the Bondi 9. While this shoe is slightly heavier than the Clifton, it also offers even more plush cushioning and shock absorption to help prevent impact-related injuries and create one-of-a-kind comfort on runs.
Runners who miss the lightness, versatility, and lower offset of the Clifton 9 are also in luck.The HOKA Mach 6 is a versatile, lightweight option from HOKA that can truly do it all. While the Mach isn’t as soft and plush as the Clifton, the lightweight design and high stack of responsive, energetic foam make it an adaptable choice that you can easily carry over from speed days to long runs.
Runners who have liked the Clifton in the past but want to try something new may want to take a look at the ON Cloudsurfer 2. Like the Clifton 10, this neutral trainer has plenty of soft cushioning and a unique geometry and design for softer landings and smooth transitions. While the Cloudsurfer 2 does have less cushioning than the Clifton 10 ( a 32/23 mm stack height), the lightweight construction and bouncy, energetic cushioning make this a fantastic, versatile alternative to the Clifton.
HOKA Clifton 10: Final Thoughts and Recommendations
HOKA was founded with the goal of inspiring people to move and helping them fly down mountains. In fact, HOKA even means “to fly” or “to soar” in the Māori language, and all of their shoes were designed with this goal in mind. And with the updated Clifton 10, HOKA is continuing to work towards this goal with a comfortable and efficient shoe for everyday runs, tough long runs, daily workouts, walks, and so much more.
When our reviewers took the Clifton 10 to the roads, trails, and beyond, we found so many features to love about one of HOKA’s most popular shoes. From the stable and smooth geometry to the soft yet balanced cushion, these shoes kept us happy and comfortable for mile after mile.
However, no shoe is without its flaws, and even with HOKA’s reputation and popularity, the Clifton 10 is no exception. The shoe is heavier than its predecessors, making it less versatile and giving it a bulkier feel on shorter, uptempo runs. And while an 8 mm drop is pretty standard in most running shoes, loyal HOKA fans or anyone who prefers a low drop may want to look elsewhere when they’re updating their running shoe.
We could talk about all the specs, features, and our road run findings all day – but we also know that every runner is unique, and has their own distinct needs and preferences when it comes to the perfect running shoe. That’s why the best way to determine if the Clifton 10 is right for you is to stop by your nearest Marathon Sports and try it on for yourself.
Whether you land on the Clifton 10 or any of the other top brands in running, the dedicated Marathon Sports staff will be there with you every step of the way to help you narrow down your options and determine which running shoe is the perfect choice for you.
Stop in today to find the right pair of shoes and all the running gear, nutrition, and recovery tools you could need to continue your running journey. With the perfect pair of shoes, you’ll be ready to tackle your next run in style and comfort!
