Summary
These shoes were not for me. Between the constant heel slipping, uncomfortably tight upper and lace area, and smaller than usual toe box, these shoes provided me with a less-than-pleasant running experience.
TLDR: This shoe is just… not for me😖. I put about 35 miles on these shoes and the issues with the heel slipping and tight upper midfoot area never resolved🤷♀️.
PROS
- Color selection: There’s something for everybody - neutrals, neons, muted colors - whatever you like, it’s there.
- Smooth ride: The heel to toe transition and push off felt so smooth in these.
- True to size: Hoka seems to be the one brand I can actually wear my usual street shoe size in instead having to size up a half to a whole size. This takes some of the guesswork out of buying the Clifton online.
CONS
- The whole heel area needs work: The heel counter didn’t form to my foot and the heel tab stuck up way too high to be comfortable. My heel slipped in the shoe unless I tied the laces super tight.
- Lace area and most of the top of the foot area were WAY too tight. I have long, skinny feet and have never had this problem in any other shoe. Even when tied very loosely my feet felt totally strangled.
- Toe box could be wider: My bunions don’t approve of these shoes. Between a narrower-than-I’m-used-to toe box and the overall tight feeling on the top of my foot, my bunions were screaming for relief by the end of runs in the Clifton.
