The HOKA Clifton Pro Is Better Than the Clifton 11. Here’s Why.

Where the Hoka Clifton has started to fall a little flat compared to the upgrades other brands are making to daily trainers, the Hoka Clifton Pro swoops in to say “hold my foam”. Is this the update we’ve been waiting for?

A few months ago I received both the Clifton 11 and Clifton Pro to test at the same time. My full review of the Hoka Clifton 11 is out for you to read, but TDLR it’s fine. It’s a Clifton that feels largely unchanged with the underfoot feel in comparison to what we’re testing from everyone else. If you liked the past version, you’re golden.

It’s a firmer daily trainer with a big stack, that’s super comfortable for long days on your feet.

The Clifton Pro is here to give you that updated experience. As they’ll say it’s not a replacement because no one is letting go of the behemoth that Clifton has become in the casual world. But this feels like the daily run shoe trainer that we want.

Don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t a race shoe, this is still a daily trainer. The Clifton Pro is a well cushioned daily trainer that can pick up the pace a little bit from the original and is more enjoyable for those wanting a little bounce and roll over long miles.

Hoka Clifton Pro Overview

What is the Hoka Clifton Pro?

It’s an improved cushioned to a beloved daily trainer. The Supercritical EVA ProGlide+ foam has a much more premium feel than the standard compressed EVA. It’s basically what most run shoe reviewers have been expecting them to do in the Clifton for awhile.

The trend for brands in recent years is to create product silos. In other words, Nike knew runners loved the Pegasus and so they created the Pegasus, Pegasus Plus and Pegasus Premium. Which are all entirely different shoes, but part of the same faster line up than say the super cushioned Vomero line up.

Hoka made massive changes to the Clifton 10 dropping the heel to toe, going to an entirely new shoe last and that’s now they standard going forward for the shoe. But what they didn’t change was the foam, the overall experience and hence we have the Clifton Pro.

We agree it’s both useful and very confusing. They didn’t help things by releasing them in nearly identical colorways.

Now you’re looking at two shoes that seem very similar and trying to decide which one is right for you. If I were to give someone the elevator pitch I’d say the Clifton Pro is for runners, the Clifton is for runners who like a slightly firmer ride and everyone who wants a shoe to stand on their feet all day.

With that being said, let’s get in to the specs and how it actually feels to run in!

I kind of wish this was in some bolder brighter colors. That’s a rare thing for me to say, but I just want this shoe to stand out from the existing Clifton more. But again I think this is maybe a naming issue…it’s not a fast race shoe.

It’s more like the Clifton+.

That’s accurate. It’s not Pro.

Hoka Clifton Pro Fit

The Clifton Pro fit is the same as the Clifton. I have both shoes on right now to try and find a difference; it’s clearly the same shoe last (or foot mold). The heel collar padding and tongue padding are the same.

I was fine with the original Clifton last as a more narrow footed person, but the new last implemented in the 10 is way better for runners with flat feet, wider feet or seeking more room in the toebox. That being said I have zero issues with tightening it up and getting a great locked in feel.

I wear my normal women’s size 11 as I do in other Hoka models and brands.

Haven’t had any issues with the heel collar rubbing or going too far up the Achilles. The heel cup feels locked in and no extreme movement.

Laces are a struggle to get to heel lock lacing. I’d probably replace them if I needed to lock in to this shoe.

Hoka Clifton Pro Feel

For awhile I was thinking is this their replacement of the Hoka Skyflow? I repeatedly mentioned that I thought it was a better running shoe than the Clifton, which is entirely due to the upgraded technology.

So as any good tester does, I went for a run wearing the Skyflow on one foot, the Pro on the other and then I swapped to the Clifton 11 on one foot. In the end, the Skyflow is very similar to the Clifton 11 and the Pro feels like more shoe underfoot. It’s a max cushioned shoe through and through.

It’s softer than the Clifton 11 with a bit more rocker to it, allowing you to roll forward more. But it’s not faster, it’s a little heavier in fact. Maybe due to having more rubber coverage on the outsole which should provide really great durability for the shoe.

I’m still struggling to find the right words to say the Pro is just a more enjoyable running experience for longer miles than the 11, but it’s not a wildly different experience. This is another shoe that’s technically getting labeled as a super trainer, but we disagree.

It’s a daily trainer. Period.

A lot like the new Saucony Paramount Max calling itself a super trainer, but it’s just a big max cushioned shoe. Yes, those feel great on the legs, but they don’t allow for picking up the pace and they aren’t nearly as versatile as something like the Hoka Mach X3.

Should You Upgrade to the Hoka Clifton Pro?

Yes if you’re a runner. Of course for all the runners who have put in miles and miles on very happy legs in the Clifton keep going, but for anyone who has thought I like this but want just a little more, the Pro delivers at a great price point.

No if you’re buying them as walking shoes, long days on your feet, casual shoes. I actually think the slightly firmer and less bulky feel of the Clifton 11 is more desirable in those cases.

Hoka Running Shoe Line Up

Not sure where all the different models fit in to their line up, here’s a quick breakdown.

• Hoka Clifton 11 – Base daily trainer for neutral running
• Clifton Pro – Upgraded daily trainer with softer, slightly faster feel
• Hoka Mach 7 – Absolutely adore the Mach for being that lower drop with cushion, very light and faster shoe.
• Hoka Mach X3 – Super trainer version that’s plated and a little faster, great for tempo
• Hoka Skyflow – This is going to be your super cushioned long run trainer that gets their tech updates (we’ve been told)
• Hoka Bondi – Plush recovery run shoe, recently we’ve preferred to Clifton. Ideal on your feet all day shoe
• Hoka Skyward X2 – This is their carbon plated shoe for the masses and boy is it fun!

All right there you have it, our take on the Hoka Clifton Pro.

Have you tried it? Are you excited for this shoe?

What to read next?

• See all of our current daily trainer reviews
• Best Max Cushioned Running Shoes
• AmazFit Cheetah Pro 2 Review (1/2 the price of a Fenix all the features)

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