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Clifton 9 GTX Review & Comparison to Clifton 9: Much more than a fine Gore-Tex upper. A New Ride!
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May 23, 2024
In the video, I review the Clifton 9 GTX comparing to the Clifton 9. 00:00 Details 07:05 A/B Run, Fit, and Ride, 11:54 Conclusions & Comparisons. The Clifton 9 GTX gets a really fine Gore-Tex Invisible Fit upper that improves hold over the regular but that is only part of the story. It gets noticeably more stable with its denser foam more responsive and more cushioned while the platform also returns to a more rigid rocker ride. A really fine daily trainer. $160 (only $15 more than the regular for Gore Tex) and available now including at our partners including Running Warehouse here: https://www.runningwarehouse.com/search-mens.html?from=rtr&searchtext=Clifton%209%20GTX&opt_perpage=20&opt_sort=relevance&opt_page=1 Samples were provided at no charge for testing purposes. The opinions herein are entirely the author's. 100's of Run Shoes and Gear Multi Tester written reviews at www.roadtrailrun.com SHOP Running Warehouse at the links below for the widest selection of run shoes and gear anywhere and help support our channel! USA https://tinyurl.com/RWRTRUS EUROPE https://tinyurl.com/RWRTREU EU Only: Use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products AUSTRALIA: https://www.runningwarehouse.com.au/?from=rtr EUROPE SHOP Top4Running https://tinyurl.com/bh9t3hpm Use Code RTRTOP4 for 5% off All Products, Even Sales
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hoka sent us there, Clifton 9 GTX
0:03
And usually when there's just an upper, invisible fit upper, there isn't much change underfoot
0:09
It's a super fine upper with a bit more room, a bit more volume, better hold
0:14
But the real story here is underfoot as I find the ride now significantly change in a positive manner
0:23
We're going to find out here in the video. Please stay tuned. There's also some scenery of the New Hampshire coast
0:30
Hello, everybody, Sam from Road Trail Run. Today we're going to take a look at the Hoka Clifton 9 GTX
0:36
and I'm also going to take it out on an AB run and compare it to the regular Clifton 9
0:42
So usually when you hear about GTX, that means Gortex, and in this case, it is an invisible fit Gortex
0:50
which means that the waterproof membrane is laminated to the upper. as you can see the white as opposed to a booty which just sort of fits inside and as the gtx is oriented
1:05
towards winter running and low light running every silver element is reflective the logos the small
1:13
front piece the gortex thing this but also the full eye stay the element that holds the laces is
1:22
reflective so you have a lot of reflective protection here to make you more visible in the dark to vehicles
1:36
So what is really interesting here, of course, is you do get that waterproof, breathable protection
1:43
but I am finding this is a significantly different riding shoe, quite significantly different riding shoe than the Clifton Nine
1:52
and I'm going to give you those impressions from the run. Immediately, one notices the foam is firmer here in the GTX than in the regular
2:06
and what that's translated to is a considerably more stable rear ride and more response
2:16
It also means the shoe is considerably stiffer, and I have several runs, no flex whatsoever here
2:24
whereas with our regular Clifton 9, you see some flex to go with the rocker
2:32
So what we've got is kind of a bit of a return to the more rocker-based Clifton
2:37
whereas the 9 and the 8 had the combination of flex and rocker
2:42
A few more details in terms of the stack height. It is 38, 33, still 5-millimeter drop
2:50
I am getting confirmation on Hoka if it is in fact maybe also a bit higher
2:57
I don't think so. But it ends up being more cushioned in the front
3:01
because we have a denser foam here, kind of a more stable front platform as well
3:07
So it's more responsive, more of a cushion feel, if firmer. It is $160, which for a Gortex is only $15 more
3:19
although there's some colors you can get for less, than the regular Clifton
3:23
In terms of weight, well, the regular Clifton 8 in my 9 in my U.S. 8.5 was 8.62 ounces or 244 grams
3:38
Whereas over here, with our GTX version, we are at very reasonable 9.51 ounces, 270 grams, so we're 31 grams heavier
3:48
What you kind of expect with Gortex. Hoka calls out some changes to the outsole as well
3:56
They've essentially filled in the pads. You can see here they hollow here they flat to the ground which is supposed to give more ground contact in wet conditions As far as the outsole itself it seems to be the same compound No change there
4:17
I'll get to the fit on the run, give you my impressions from the run from the other day
4:22
but very similar. However, what I've noticed right away is a considerably more secure rear hold
4:33
Part of it's the midsole. But check this out. We also have, as you can see, a different, more kind of broader, more padded Achilles collar
4:46
Whereas here, it's swept back so far that it's almost, it's not loose, but comparatively it's a bit loose
4:53
So I like that. In terms of the front, and we'll look out of here, we'll also see it on the A-B run
5:00
What we've got is a pretty similar fit and last, but I think
5:06
This guy here is a bit higher. The mesh is a bit stiff or less pliable
5:13
A bit higher, towbox height volume and width. But it's very well held if a bit stiff and feel
5:23
So before we get out on the run, and we're going to also have a multi-tester review real soon
5:29
in written form on Road Trail Run. Let's talk a bit about the Mach X over here
5:36
So the Mach X is almost exactly the same stack height. It's one millimeter more front and back
5:46
And it weighs about 0.8 ounces less because it has PBA foam here
5:56
And then the same, I think it's the same EVA and firmness as we have the entire midsole here
6:02
And it has a PBAx plastic plate. I find it comparatively blocky in the heel compared to our Clifton 9 GTX
6:12
You can see how high these rise up, but it is clearly kind of a more faster up-tempo flavor of the mock
6:21
And even though with the Piba, which is nice and soft, it's a bit kind of overall, it may be a bit firmer even than our GTX
6:29
And it's certainly firmer than the regular Clifton. So I'm going to take them out for a run
6:35
You'll hear my impressions and then a few conclusions. But don't always think that just because they say GTX
6:44
the shoe isn't different elsewhere. It's clearly different here. And I think generally positive
6:51
I find this a bit, you know, it's maybe a bit kind of quicker
6:56
more flexible feeling. But this one here is more stable and it feels more cushioned in the front
7:02
So let's take them for a run. Beautiful little home there. Headed for the harbor
7:15
This is the town's farm. Wow. Definitely the GTX is a bit firmer
7:21
a bit kind of snappier in response. Whereas our orange regular clifton is a bit softer
7:32
bit bouncier and especially a bit less stable overall, including at the heel
7:40
So I'm thinking the Clifton 9 GTX, kind of in a big departure, is almost an inherently stable
7:51
neutral shoe, and that's quite a change. Hi, everybody. We're crossing over the marsh here
7:58
I're going to give you some thoughts about fit here. after several runs in the GTX version
8:05
and of course I've run in the regular version. The first thing that's noticed is much more
8:11
I would say, heel hold and heel stability. Part of this is because we have that firmer foam but it really noticeable The Clifton for me has often been a bit unstable at the rear The first version was super fast and very unstable but you can also see here we have a
8:31
different swept back. I think it's a bit more padded. It holds better. Now, in terms of the
8:41
front fit, we have the GTX in the mix here and the blue. It's a bit. It's a bit more padded. It's a
8:47
It's not quite as foot conforming, but it's a little more rigid, so it holds the midfoot
8:53
I think, a little better. I think also because it has a bit more height and volume up front, you can see, it
9:01
even looks wider. There's more kind of toe overhead room. The width is a little wider as well
9:11
But the negative is there's less flex feel here due to the upper
9:17
and that more, that firmer foam. Tongue is about the same, lace is the same
9:23
So there's more rear stability because of the firmer foam and I think changes here to the upper
9:30
Less front flexibility. In terms of the foam, we'll get to that
9:36
But definitely the GTX version is kind of more responsive, firmer, whereas we're a bit soft
9:42
or more flexible over here. So soon all the boats will be out of the water
9:47
and parked over here. Let's go over to the harbor. I'm moving along pretty good in our Clifton's
9:55
I think I'm surprised. I'm starting to prefer the GTX overall in terms of ride quite a bit more
10:04
kind of quick pop and I tend to like that. Of course I do wish they both had a super critical
10:10
foam but so be it. So this is Rye Harbor. The fishing boats are still here
10:17
summer may be still out there, but the pleasure boats are all in, or mostly all in, no sailboats now through the winter
10:28
So our harbor is quite well known, of course, for lobsters, and there's a lobster boat over there
10:35
but also fishing for big tuna, which are auctioned off and shipped off to Japan almost immediately
10:43
So if you watch that tuna show on TV, a lot of the fishermen are right from here
10:50
Big fish. Moving towards the breakwater. Tell you what I'm really appreciating is the rocker here
10:56
Going back a few versions of the Clifton, the rocker, I didn't find very effective
11:02
Didn't really get you going early enough and made the shoe kind of hard to transition
11:10
Not so here. whereas our non-Gortex is the more flexible kind of platform with some rocker that we've seen the last couple
11:26
I think this new firmer foam up front and maybe a bit more stack I do, though Hoka says it the same
11:34
It sure feels that there's more cushion up front, more response, better risk
11:41
rocker and we're not even talking about Gortex upper still liking the hole better than the
11:49
Gortex version. I'm going to keep going. Okay everybody so after another run this time with two
11:56
Clifton 9 GtX one on each foot no AB I've reached some conclusions first let's talk about the
12:05
upper it is not only roomier but I think more secure than the regular version
12:11
Our laminate of Gortex on the inside with its recycled materials, I think it provides a shoe more support
12:19
Not sure how they got more towbox room and width, but it is clear
12:24
And you will only pay more 160 for the Gortex version so a very small premium Now it is about 31 grams heavier at 9 ounces
12:40
but that's due to the Gortex, but also I think we have a very different ride here
12:47
And I don't use that word lightly. This new, definitely somewhat denser or firmer compression molded EVA
12:59
makes the shoe not only more stable, all around, particularly at the rear
13:05
gives it back the traditional Clifton rocker. And you can see there is no flex versus, as we saw earlier, the regular Clifton
13:16
So this is a different makeup, a different geometry underfoot. And what does that do
13:22
Well, it makes it more stable. This foam is either denser, definitely denser
13:29
but also has, as you pick up the pace, some kind of nice rebound
13:33
So it's very, very pleasant to run. Not a soft, super bouncy, super critical foam
13:39
but about as nice an EVA-type blend is out there right now
13:46
So that foam reminds me of a slightly more energetic power run from Sockney
13:53
for example, a definitely more energetic feel than, say, Nike's, traditional React. So when you get that broad platform, as you can see here, our 3833 stack height
14:08
you have and about 9.7 ounces in a US 9, what you have now is a, I would call it, a very solid
14:18
daily trainer type shoe. Now, many, many, including me, used the other Clifton's, the earlier ones as
14:26
daily trainers, but they were on the kind of light side in terms of support and stability
14:33
And I personally had problems with the earliest Clifton with the rear stability in particular
14:39
This is rock solid. You could almost, almost say that this is Hoka's inherently stable shoe in the lineup
14:49
So in terms of the stability, it's called a neutral shoe, that's for sure
14:56
But it is very, very stable and steady. So what does it remind me of
15:01
Well, it reminds me of a more energetic rocker-based Sockney ride, a less blocky, if a little somewhat less stacked up Nimbus 25
15:16
and the Nimbus 25 I found had a blocky heel. In terms of the MachX, that's your speedier shoe
15:22
But it actually, for me, has a kind of more rigid heel
15:26
feel. We do have a 5 millimeter drop, but because of this denser foam, and believe me, there's
15:33
plenty of cushioning here, the rocker is now very effective. In other words, in prior, a lot of prior
15:41
Clifton's, it was kind of hard to find at slower paces here. It is very easy to find and roll
15:46
through. What would I like to see? Well, I'd like this to be the platform for the Clifton 10
15:53
I would appreciate a touch more flexibility at tow off. There are ways to do that
16:01
Maybe something like what Ultra does with their interflex or some modifications to the outsole design
16:09
As far as the outsole on wet, well, it's pouring now, but I haven't really run them on the wet
16:14
I imagine a little grip just fine. Not sure filling in the pods
16:21
as they've done, will make a huge, huge difference. So, an outstanding all-around daily trainer from Hoka here in the Clifton 9 GTX
16:33
We're going to have a full multi-tester written review real soon. Maybe I should go for another run because it is now pouring
16:42
Thank you very much for watching. Have a great run