I still vividly remember running in the very first Clifton. It was pink, outrageously huge compared to other shoes and I was stunned to really love it. Now we’ve made it to a Hoka Clifton 10 review and I’m hoping to be able to say the same.
Hoka has had some big hits and some misses for me over the years, unfortunately one of the misses the last few was the Clifton. Apparently, their team heard the feedback because this model has undergone some significant changes.
Who is This For?
It’s long been in our lest of best shoes for standing or walking all day and these updates will keep it firmly a top that list. But who else is the Hoka Clifton 10 good for?
- Wide Feet: More room in the forefoot, but not in the midfoot. Opt for the wide version.
- Heavier Runners: These updates should make the Clifton more durable for our taller and heavier runners.
- Long Runs: Certainly holds up for longer miles.
- Front of the Pack: Unlikely you’ll be racing in it, but light enough for some tempo work.
With the expansion of their line to the HOKA Skyflow (which we love for long runs), the Clifton seems to be moving more towards a casual runner shoe or an incredible option for those who are on their feet all day.
But now….
The Clifton 10 is a go to neutral running shoe that’s going to be durable and handle easy runs and long mileage.
Hoka Clifton 10 Overview
I never ended up putting many miles in the Clifton 9 because it just felt too firm for my taste and well too firm for what I expected from a Hoka. My first step in to the 10 felt like a sigh of relief because this is more of the shoe I remembered!
That’s right, I still remember the original Hoka and how it too was a shock to the system. Despite being at the time a wildly big shoe, it was comfy and stable. Now I feel like it’s coming back to it’s roots.
It’s not plush, but it’s a cushion that just feels really nice underfoot (particularly under the heel for us heel strikers). In part, this is due to more foam! You guessed it, the stack height increased to 42mm and yet the shoe continues to feel extremely stable.
It’s the same EVA foam from the 9, just more of it placed a little differently.
The more comfortable fit is the result of a couple changes, the biggest being an entirely new last. Imagine the form around which shoes are built and then that after 9 models they decided to with something totally new, that’s a last!
With the new last you’ll find more room in the forefoot and instep, which will appeal to wider feet, but again being on your feet all day they swell so this will increase comfort.
David has narrow, but flat feet and found that the lacing still allowed him to feel entirely locked in despite the slightly wider fit now.
Over the past 3 months, he’s rocked this shoe on a wide variety of treadmill runs, paved paths, some gravel paths through the cold and the warm spring. Honestly, the fact that he kept reaching for the shoe told me a lot before I even asked for his feedback.
It’s a go to.
It’s a reliable trusty shoe that doesn’t feel overly cushioned or overly soft. And the big stack height really seems to disappear as you run (we do know our brains adapt very quickly to these things).
No major surprises with this road shoe outsole. It’s got plenty of rubber to give you confident grip event on wet roads, but nothing to make you plan for the trails. David loves that rocks aren’t getting stuck in any groves when hitting the gravel paths.
Having that rubber Durabrasion coverage over the majority of the outsole will also ensure this shoe has a longer lifespan.
Specifications
This is the first ever Hoka with an 8mm heel to toe drop. In the past, they’ve really tried to stick to the 5mm drop and personally I’ve always loved that. However, with the increase in foam to help with overall stability they found the slightly higher drop was critical.
Walkers aren’t going to notice this, but if you’ve done a lot of distance in your past Cliftons you may in fact notice this change.
- Heel Drop: 8 mm
- Stack: 42 mm
- Weight: 9.8 oz men’s
- Available in Wide (and extra wide in men’s)
- $150
- Available April 15, 2025
Read our current comparison of the Clifton Vs Bondi >>
We have so much to say about these two top shoes that we don’t want to muddy up this article! But they are two of the most requested shoes so we definitely want to ensure the testing team has giving you what you need to decide!
Clifton 10 Fit
In general, the testing crew has always found Hoka to run true to size in length.
When it comes to the midfoot, there are variations in models. The speedgoat and Mach for example can feel just a bit more narrow where the Bondi and Skyflow feel more roomy. The Clifton 10 falls more in line with the Bondi in having a bit more space throughout the toes and midfoot.
The back heel collar is designed to be more rigid, which adds to the feeling of stability. But some of you are not going to like how high it comes up. We didn’t run into issues in testing, but that’s absolutely a potential rubbing spot we’ve found on other shoes.
The upper is as breathable as you’d expect and we know there is a bunch of new added technology there, but really what do most of us care about?
There were no hot spots. It felt like we could make room for the foot. It never feels overly hot. It’s worn really well and not had any holes appear.
Tada, a good upper.
Similar Shoes to Hoka Clifton
While the Clifton is 100% a neutrals shoe it does such a good job of feeling stable at a high stack height. That’s not always been then case with many of the other shoes coming out in the last year.
Looking for a similar neutral daily trainer? Here are a few to consider:
- Asics Novablast 5 – Similar cushion level, slightly lower price point
- New Balance 880v15 – Maybe slightly less cushion, but very popular neutral shoe
- Saucony Ride 18 – Again that moderate cushioned feel, similar through mid foot
All right there you have it. After a few months of testing, our first thoughts on the Hoka Clifton 10.
Check it out on Hoka.com now >>
Would love to hear if you’ve used past Cliftons or this one, what do you think?
Other questions, let us know!
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