Feel: The Hoka Clifton 8 is a great workhorse shoe. It's heavy, cushioned, and protective. While they feel bouncy out of the box, I've noticed that the Hoka Clifton 7s lose their bounce after a couple of hundred miles.
Sizing: Whenever I order this shoe, I order a whole size down from what I usually wear in other brands of shoes (VJ, Saucony, Salomon, etc.). While I have read about folks with flat feet having a difficult time with this shoe due to its arch support, this has yet to be my experience (I have narrow, long, and flat feet). I do have to tie these shoes rather tight due to my foot shape, so if you have a narrow foot, I'd suggest cutting the ends of your laces!
Tread: I've only run wet roads in these shoes, and I have yet to be disappointed by the grip! They do get quite heavy from precipitation though--I suspect the foam and cushioning aren't easily drained/dried.
When I'm running road, I've continuously run in Hoka Cliftons. I had a few pairs of Clifton 7s and as they have worn out, I realized that I couldn't depart from my loyalty to this model or brand. The Clifton 8 has a slightly lighter midsole and the tab on the back of the shoe over the Achilles seems to be a different shape than the 7? I've run a total of 22 miles in the Clifton 8s and I'm pleasantly surprised by the comfort they offer right out of the box. No break-in period is necessary! Like all Hokas, the cushioning protects the feet nicely--even on long road runs. I love that this shoe is such a dependable trainer. It may not be fast, flashy, or sleek, but it's a dependable workhorse that gets the essential, yet unsexy miles done.
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