Article by Reed Breuer, Sam Winebaum, and Ben David
Hoka Clifton 10 ($150)
Editor’s Note: We are thrilled to welcome Reed Breuer to the RTR team. Reed is a running shore manager in the mountains of California and thus can help provide the perspective of having fitted thousands of runners.. He is a former college runner and is now an avid trail and road runner: any distance, any terrain He has PR’s of 15:28 5K and 2:28 for the marathon
Introduction
Reed: As a running store manager, popular shoe updates elicit both fear and excitement. Will they ruin one of our best-selling models? Will it be even better? And the answer always lies somewhere between with the Clifton 10. Some will like the improved fit, others will scoff at the new higher stack height and new 8mm drop. Were a change like this to have occurred several years ago, we’d only be complaining about the weight gain. But in today’s era, those looking for a protective lightweight trainer that can handle different paces may have already moved on from the Clifton to other light trainers like the Mach and Novablast or even to plated super-trainers.
So who wears Cliftons? A whole heck of a lot of people, that’s who! For all-day comfort, walking, however much running you want to do, or even some very chill gym exercises, the Clifton handles it all without breaking the bank. No fancy foams required.
The Clifton 10 will be a welcome update for most of its customer base within the retail run-specialty industry, but probably won’t inspire those looking for modern foams. As a runner with dozens of shoes in my rotation, I am personally fine with the Clifton 10 sticking with tried-and-true EVA midsole tech, as I don’t really need my daily trainers to be anything other than daily trainers.
Sam: The Clifton 10 sees big changes as it shifts from Hoka’s traditional 4-5mm drop to their first shoe with an 8mm drop. It does so by increasing its heel stack height by about 3 mm while keeping its forefoot about the same, gaining some weight in the process.
Now called out by Hoka as having some inherent stability due to its rear Active Foot Frame geometry and relatively dense compression molded EVA midsole along with its 8mm drop, by specs it leaves behind some of its heritage as a light daily trainer. It now joins the class of shoes I might call “workhorse” reliable higher drop daily trainers inhabited by shoes such as Saucony Ride 18, adidas Supernova Rise,and New Balance 880.
Ben: Hoka came storming onto the running scene with the original Clifton. The Clifton 1 was bright, bold and unique. We hadn’t seen anything like it. The large stack, the seriously cushioned ride, the bright colorways… all of it screamed, ‘new and fresh.’ Then, Hoka slowly came back down to earth, one year at a time. For me, after the Clifton 3, things became ever more tame and significantly less exciting. The Clifton’s ride mellowed out as we went from model to model and Hoka’s sense of innovation was largely caught by counterpart running brands. Aside from the moderate success of the Cielo X and Skyward X 1 and the recent Hoka Mach X line, Hoka has had a lot of misses of late (unfortunately). I was hoping that the Clifton 10 would capture some of the old magic, in a new design, with updated geometry. The good news: It does (kind of).
Pros:
Wider toe box: Reed
Inherent stability from geometry: Reed/Sam/Ben
Go-to daily trainer that seems to handle easy to medium paces (6:45 to 8:30/mi for Reed, 9:00-10:00 for Sam)
Feels snug enough for my very low-volume feet but not a narrow shoe: Reed/Sam
Cons:
Lacks responsiveness (better after a few runs): Reed/Sam/Ben
Uninspiring ride: midsole is a fine EVA but lacks the rebound and return of supercritical foams now increasingly found at its $150 price point: Sam
Over rigid rear of the shoe (better after a few runs while at the same time considerably more stable than prior Clifton: Sam
Weight gain: Reed/Sam
Increased stack height, drop, and weight may “confuse”. Clifton loyalists, head over to Mach 6: Sam
Felt the slightest looseness in the heel that disappeared while running (same in Clifton 9) Reed
Most comparable shoes
Hoka Clifton 9 (Reed)
Asics Novablast 4/5 (Reed)
Hoka Mach 6 (Reed)
Hoka Bondi 8 (Reed)
Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 (Reed)
New Balance 880 v15 (Sam)
2025 Salomon Aero Glide 3 (Sam)
Saucony Ride 18 (Sam)
Adidas Supernova Rise 2 (Sam)
Diadora Nucleo (Sam)
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.45 oz / 268g US9
Sample Weights: men’s 9.2 oz / 261g US8.5 (prior version: 8.62 oz / 244g US8.5
10.6 oz / 300g US11
Stack Heights:
42mm heel / 34mm forefoot US M10 ( prior version: 40mm heel / 35 mm forefoot
38mm heel / 30mm forefoot US W8,
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Reed: I tried going into this initial try-on as “cold” as possible. I’ve known for a while that the Clifton 10 would see a stack height increase in addition to the widening of the toebox, and both features are immediately noticed on foot. I’m not typically highly sensitive to upper material changes, and I notice nothing of note with the upper other than a roomier fit.
The additional room is primarily in the forefoot and toebox.
In my previous Cliftons my big toe would be in contact with the medial corner of the toebox, with some rubbing on longer runs. I’m pretty confident that will be solved with this update and even removed the sockliners from a Clifton 9 and my 10 and set one on top of the other (see photo).
The additional width is even more substantial than I would have guessed. The addition of the extra-wide option plus a moderate widening of the toebox should really broaden the audience for the Clifton 10.
Sam: Hoka clearly “splurged” on the upper and not the midsole (see Midsole section).
The upper is a double Jacquard mesh. The fit is precise and flawless although I note that they are a bit long in length, slightly more than a thumb at my true to size. Wides will also be available.
The rear construction of the upper clearly contributes to the new inherent stability of the Clifton with its rigid heel counter and high stiff swept back achilles collar.
Comfortable, true to size, and quite stylish with its raised embroidery, the fit a touch is more relaxed than Hoka’s more speed focused trainers the Mach 6 and Skyflow and more secure than the comfort stretch knit fit of the new Bondi 9.
Ben: One thing has remained true throughout the years with the Clifton: It’s a very comfortable shoe. Upon step-in, it right away feels VERY comfortable (though not mushy). My size 9 fit just right. I found the toe box to be more than adequate, even generous. As Sam notes above, it’s probably even too generous and roomy. The elevated heel counter helps keep the foot very secure. I also found the width to be more than adequate, certainly wider than Hoka’s recent race models, which is to be expected. The Jacquard mesh upper is breathable yet provides good coverage and perhaps adds to the sense of stability garnered by the encompassing and extremely sturdy heel collar.
Midsole & Platform
Reed: A good upper isn’t worth much without a midsole to support it - so I went into my first few runs with a hopeful outlook. Walking around, the additional stack is noticed but not shocking. On the run, my pair felt a bit stiffer than expected. I did a 5 mile recovery run and didn’t quite feel the soft bounce of the Clifton 9. The good news is that on my next couple test runs the initial stiffness disappeared and they felt smoother with a bit more bounce. Not a lot of bounce, but about what you’d expect for a supportive neutral daily trainer.
The wider platform definitely adds to the medial stability without meandering into a stability-shoe feel for me.
A final note for trailrunners - when the Clifton 9 came out some folks talked about the trail potential of the Clifton as an option for groomed trails. The eventual outlook for the 9 seemed to be that the midsole was a bit too mushy to retain stability on mixed surfaces. More diverse miles are probably needed in testing, but the 10 should feel a little more stability on light trails, although as a racing option it has increased in weight (half an ounce in my US M11) which is worth noting.
Sam: The Clifton 10 goes up in stack height to 42mm heel 34mm forefoot moving in the process to an 8mm drop shoe, All previous Hoka including Cliftons have been 5mm or less. This higher drop is a big change and I think a smart one given the stack height and relatively stiff profile of the 10. The increased stack height helps the shoe roll forward to toe off and this is especially felt at slower paces where such big stack shoes (for example Hoka’s Skyflow) can feel ponderous and rigid.
The 90mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot platform is wide, contributing, along with the rear Active Foot Frame of rising midsole side walls and stout heel counter, to making this Clifton clearly more stable than prior, and is even a bit too stable and rigid at the rear for me.
Hoka says the 10 now has some inherent stability and I would agree with that. This is quite a contrast from prior Clifton which clearly were neutral, not particularly stable and in my view more uptempo focused than this latest edition which is also 11g heavier.
The foam remains CMEVA (compression molded EVA), a type of foam used by Hoka for many years. This foam is reliable, has a touch of bounce and contributes to the new stability of the Clifton.
Over the last year or so many trainers in the Clifton’s price category have moved to supercritical foams as they are lighter and return more energy. For example, at Hoka the Skyflow, Bondi 9 and Mach 6 now have supercritical EVA. I have tested them and they clearly are more energetic and fun to run midsoles. At $150, I think Hoka should have considered such a foam as, while fine for a 2023 trainer, the feel is dull and dense compared to many 2024-2025 trainers, including Hoka’s own.
Bottom Line: The conventional midsole foam, increased stack height and broader platform matches the new reliable, more stable everyday training focus for the Clifton which was formerly a more uptempo focused trainer.
Ben: As Reed and Sam note, the primary difference between this Clifton and last year’s model is the stack height.
In a lot of ways, it feels like and looks like a Bondi, yet somehow still runs like a Clifton. It is certainly not cushy like Bondi; the foam is actually pretty firm. Like the others, I found that it softened up a bit after 25 miles or so and became a little more responsive and lively.
This shoe has nothing but ‘daily trainer’ vibes and does not want to go fast. I’ve only taken it out on easy days and have learned to like it the more I use it.
Thus, a lot of this shoe comes down to expectations. If you’re looking for a cruiser or easy recovery day option, this will work.
Perhaps, as is suggested above, this is one of the few Hoka shoes designed purely for easy days, unlike the Mach 6 or Skyflow, and certainly Cielo X1, which are more than ready to pick up the pace due to far more lively foams and more streamlined fit.
Outsole
Reed:My feedback will be a bit limited here as I don’t encounter much rain/ice/snow in my region of Northern California, but the outsole doesn’t feel or look substantially different from competitor models or previous editions of the Clifton. I did one run on a paved bike trail with some icy patches and I slipped less than my partner wearing Asics Kayano 31s, but as a sole data point I wouldn’t read into it too much. Myself and many others have run a lot of miles in Cliftons on dry groomed singletrack without issue, and I would continue to take these on dry trails unless you plan on descending grades steeper than 15% or so, where any road shoe would struggle due to a lack of foothold.
Sam: The outsole has a podular design, to lighten and to provide some flexibility with plenty of coverage. Grip on dry and wet roads was just fine.
Ben: Not too much to add other than the fact that I’ve been testing these in the dead of winter here in suburban Philadelphia. The roads have been wet, icy, snowy, you name it. I found the tread did well, not superb. Then again, this shoe wasn’t designed to be rugged or all terrain. There’s ample grip and coverage and certainly a wide platform to enhance a sense of stability.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Reed: A very easy shoe to rack up miles In, the Clifton 10 is a mellow-riding shoe that stays out of your way but always has your back. This shoe isn’t deserving of any essays about its ride or energy return, but it gets the job done for what it needs to do, which is to keep your legs feeling alright for walking, recovery runs, easy runs, or even 3+ hour long runs.
A shoe I could pull for any run of any distance, the Clifton’s gentle nature makes it an easy choice. The early-stage meta-rocker assists enough to keep a smooth stride, and although some may fear the addition of a bit more rear-foot stability, I don’t think it’s egregious enough to complain about.
The Clifton is a great shoe in the rotation, and though it may not be a good faster workouts trainer there’s always a spot in my entryway for a Clifton. Neutral runners to light pronators should consider it for their max cushion option, with the caveat which applies to many Hokas that there is the potential for the medial arch to rub the sidewall (primarily for those with flatter feet).
Reed’s Score: 8.51
Ride (50%): 8.0 (uninspiring but does what it needs to!)
Fit (30%): 9.2 (gotta give credit for adding extra-wide for men and women)
Value (15%): 9.0 (never goes on sale…because it’s worth it at full price)
Style (5%): 8.0 (seems like Hoka is going for solid midsole colors here instead of blending into the upper. I don’t mind but I know the general public will think they look bulky)
Sam: Up in stack height, drop and stability, the Clifton 10 is no longer the cult favorite wild and fast child of its origins. Positioned closer to competitors such as the Ride 18, Supernova Rise, and Glycerin 22 with its 8mm drop and stable platform it is now a mainstream daily trainer. It should appeal to a wider audience of those who seek a bit more shoe underfoot. Its EVA midsole provides a reliable ride but lacks the lighter weights, excitement and energy of the newer supercritical foams increasingly common in competing daily trainers and at its $150 or so price point. Once you experience these newer foams even sophisticated EVA’s as we have here start to pale in comparison.
All of this said, it remains a reliable well cushioned option for everyday running at a fairly broad range of mid range paces with Hoka’s Mach 6 for faster training and the Bondi 9 for more mellow runs,
Sam’s Score: 8.75 /10
Deductions for relatively dated (Ride) feel at its price point (Value)
Ben: As was noted extensively above, the Clifton has mellowed over the years. While once entirely novel and cutting-edge, it’s now very much an accessible daily trainer.
It will likely appeal well beyond the serious runner cohort and speak to everyone from walkers to hobby joggers. Its higher stack, lack of EVA and less responsive ride put it pretty squarely in the easy day camp, which is fine.
I for one will miss the day when the Clifton really could do it all. (I once PR’d a half marathon in the Hoka Clifton 3, i.e.) All of that said, this is a reliable daily trainer which, after a slight adjustment period, seems to get a lot right.
Ben’s score: 9/10 with deductions for lack of responsiveness and inherent excitement
😊😊😊😊
10 Comparisons
Hoka Clifton 9 (RTR Review)
Reed: Some additional stack height and a broader platform takes the shoe to a larger audience at the expense of some die-hards wanting the Clifton to stay light and soft. Neither is very flexible but the 10 will be stiffer and hopefully more resilient.
Sam: Agree with Reed.
Ben: It’s hard to watch the Clifton 10 get away from its roots but I think that, when coupled with other shoes in the Hoka line-up, the Clifton 10 will emerge as a solid and well-liked daily trainer. It is owning that identity in ways that the 9 resisted. I agree with Sam and Reed that it will also be more resilient and thus greater longevity. I’ll take the 10.
Asics Novablast 4 (RTR Review)
Reed: The Asics has more bounce but less stability. The Asics upper stretched out more with time, which should be fixed in the 5 but I haven’t tested it. The Clifton is more suitable to light trails and both are great for walking and easy running.
Sam: Again I agree with Reed on the ride. Definitely more energetic in the Novablast. I tested both and the 5 has a lighter and less supportive upper than the Clifton and overall is lighter, softer, bouncier and less stable. In some senses the Novablast is the new “old” Clifton.
Hoka Mach 6 (RTR Review)
Reed: The Mach has taken over Hoka’s lightweight/fast non-plated category while the Clifton has moved from a lighter daily trainer into the max cushion category with less overlap than in the past. The Mach fits snugger and the ride is considerably more responsive.
Sam: Again concur with Reed. The Mach 6 has a more responsive supercritical EVA and its stack height is closer to the Clifton 9 and is a better value at $140. Call it the new Clifton of old chez Hoka.
Ben: I didn’t love the Mach 6 but certainly find it more versatile than the Clifton 10. It’s lighter and more capable of picking up the pace. I also found the fit to be a bit more dialed in. I’d take the Mach 6.
Hoka Bondi 9 (RTR Review)
Sam: Sitting at about the same heel height of 43mm but with more forefoot cushion at 38mm, the Bondi weighs about 1 oz more than the Clifton but.. 1 oz less than its predecessor. It features a softer supercritical EVA midsole and an effective comfort focused knit upper. It is more flexible, has clearly more energy return and is more fun to run than the denser Clifton. I would pick it over the Clifton for all easier running with the Mach 6 for faster days, It is $20 more than the Clfton at $170 but I think well worth it,
Altra Experience Flow/FWD Experience (RTR Review)
Reed: Even with extra toe room in the Clifton 10, the Experience Flow or FWD Experience still has a wider toebox with comparable volume elsewhere. The Altras are firmer and slightly more responsive but fare worse on mellow or slower runs.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v15 (RTR Review soon)
Sam: Almost identical in focus, the 880 is slightly lower at 40.5 mm heel ( a big increase over its v14) but has the same forefoot stack height as the Clifton as it is a 6mm drop shoe. At 9.8 oz / 280g it is 0.4 oz / 19g heavier. Its Fresh Foam X non supercritical foam midsole has a similar dense stable feel. Its upper is slightly higher volume and also true to size for me with wides available. I could flip a coin here noting that the 880 at $140 is $10 less.
Saucony Ride 18 (RTR Review)
Sam: Another close competitor, the Ride 18 has an expanded TPU beads midsole. It is bouncier and more fun to run but I find it less stable than the Clifton at the rear. As with 880 a very similar upper here and a true to size fit. At $140 it has a $10 price advantage over the Clifton
Diadora Nucleo 2 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Nucelo is also inherently stable taking the support up a notch above the Clifton, but does not go too far for me as a neutral shoe runner.
At 9.6 oz / 272g US8.5 it is slightly heavier. With a stack Height of 40 mm heel / 35 mm forefoot it has 3mm less at the heel and 1mm more at the forefoot. Its DD Anima foam (an EVA blend) has more rebound and shock vibration reduction than the Clifton’s midsole,. Its geometry, even with a lower drop, is smoother flowing. Both true to size with the Clifton’s upper somewhat roomier and more comfortable.
Brooks Glycerin 22 (RTR Video Review)
Sam: Yet again as with the Clifton an inherently stable makeover for the latest Glycerin, and this even without the available GTS version. The Glycerin has a supercritical foam midsole that is quite dense but with somewhat more rebound and shock attenuation than the Clifton’s. It has a lower 38mm heel / 28mm forefoot stack and weighs about 1 oz more than the Clifton. It is a somewhat more ponderous running shoe if more stable and with both more flexibility and a yet higher 10mm drop. Both have very supportive uppers with the Glycerin heavier and yet more supportive and both are true to size with wides available.
Adidas Supernova Rise 2 (RTR Review)
Sam: Also an inherently stable shoe, the Rise 2 has an all supercritical foam midsole, I believe an EVA/PEBA blend. Its support comes from its elaborate underfoot hardened EVA foam Support Rods and its outsole. All a bit too much of both for my tastes in comparison to the simpler Clifton approach of Active Foot Frame and one that adds weight. Its stack height is considerably lower and more traditional at 35.5mm heel / 25.5mm and its weight about the same. The Supernova upper is simpler, lighter and for me somewhat roomier as a result, even if volumes are about the same. I find the lower stack Supernova snappier and more responsive while the Clifton is more cushioned and not quite as agile. At $140 again we see the Clifton at $10 more than a direct competitor
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The Clifton 10 will be available April 2025
Tester Profiles
Reed Breuer, 32 years old from Auburn, CA. Reed began running at age 18 and did the classic track/cross country route through college. After college he ran a couple road marathons and started racing on trails in 2017. He moved from Sacramento to Auburn in 2023 to live closer to the historic Western States 100 course and he primarily trains and races on trails from 50k to 100mi. He has run a 15:28 5k and 2:28 marathon and is locally competitive in races of any surface or distance. He manages a local running shoe store and is starting a coaching business on the side (capital-endurance.com). He is a closeted heel-striker and over-pronator with a very low-volume foot.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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3 comments:
Welcome Reed! And thank you for addressing the midfoot width. Hokas always tear up my medial midfoot, and I'm on the lookout for one that won't. I guess this isn't it!
I don't get why consumers and reviewers are so accepting of brands making their shoes non-compliant to World Athletics standards. First it was limited to super max shoes, then it hit max cushioned shoes, and now it's trickling into standard daily trainers? Ridiculous.
Shoe looks good ,been using hoka clifton for years starting off with the clifton 1 up to the current v 9, but with the higher drop of 8mm my clifton days are over, 4 to 5mm is my sweet spot
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