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I'm so old, I remember when the original Hoka Clifton came out. Debuting shortly after the minimalist running shoe craze, adding more cushion made it a revolutionary shoe. Since the debut, I have used the Hoka Clifton on occasion but I've always been a Hoka Bondi gal favoring even more cushion! Truthfully I preferred something firm, and occasionally the bucket seat arch in the Clifton would irritate my own arch. I haven't been the only person with that issue and many have stated: I like the Clifton but it irrites my arch. Well fear not because the arch has been updated and that should no longer be an issues.
The Hoka Clifton 9 is one of Hoka's more narrow-fitting trainers. This year features 3 mm more foam, making it more cushioned. How is that even possible? It also has a reformulated CMEVA midsole.
Weight: 8.7 oz
Heel to Toe Drop: 5 mm
Price: $145
When it came out, the Hoka Clifton used to be a very soft mushy shoe. It was like running on marshmallows. Slowly, Hoka has firmed it up. Last year, the Clifton 8 underwent upper, midsole, and outsole updates. The massive update caused the Clifton to lose a lot of followers but it also gained some too. The stiffer forefoot allowed you to pick up the pace without it feeling overly challenging.
What's new this year?
This year, the Clifton 9 also has 3 mm more foam, and Hoka updated the CMEVA midsole and outsole. And sadly yes, the Hoka Clifton 9 went up to $145. It's now one of the more expensive daily trainers out there.
If you're new to Hoka:
If you're new to Hoka, the shoes always looks like more shoe than they are. People look at Hoka and think: wow, that is a lot of shoe. But really, your feet sit relatively low in the bucket seat. You aren't that far up. And no, you probably won't trip and fall. Believe me, I've used the Hoka Clifton since it came out, and I've never fallen because of the shoe. You aren't as high as you think you are!
The upper of the Hoka Clifton 9 remains fairly similar. The tongue has been attached and is semi-guessed. It's attached on both sides, that way, you don't worry about it sliding around. Several models of Hoka have an unattached tongue which has been annoying and even cut through people's ankles. It was a problem in the Hoka Clifton Edge.
The Hoka Clifton 9 upper uses an engineered knit mesh. I was surprised when I read it was knit because it's not stretchy and feels like regular engineered mesh. It does breathe much better than previous versions of the Hoka Clifton. Plus the upper of the Clifton 9 uses recycled materials including content mesh and polyester laces. You don't notice either being "worse" because they are recycled.
The best uppers disappear off your feet, and the Hoka Clifton 9 does just that. You don't have to worry about anything bothering or hitting your foot. This is a huge change, especially in the arch of the foot. If you have higher arches, you'll be surprised with how comfortable the Clifton 9 feels.
I wear running shoes between a women's size 10-11 wide. In the Hoka Clifton 9, I wear a size 11. This is a half size bigger than I wear in most other Hoka shoes, but I've found the Hoka Clifton 9 runs slightly narrower than other Hoka models. If you have wider feet or are on the edge of a size, you definitely should go up.
Hoka uses the compression-molded EVA because it's light and allows them to add as much cushion as possible without being super heavy. The new formulation of CMEVA in the midsole of the Clifton 9 will enable it to be even softer and lighter, but you won't find a lot of responsiveness or energy return. The original Hoka Clifton was lighter and since then, the Clifton has only gotten heavier. Hoka is trying to get back to the roots of that lightweight running shoe.
If you've run in Hoka shoes before, you know they use "Meta-Rocker Geometry." The rounded heel is curved to make the shoe rock forward and smoothly transition from heel to toe. Like the Clifton 8, the Clifton 9 has diagonal flex grooves, causing the forefoot to be more responsive and the rocker to move well from heel to toe.
Stability: The Hoka Clifton 9 does not have a stability piece, but you'll find some inherent stability because the base is wide. You won't find the traditional "stability piece" that many pure stable shoes have but it's more stable than narrow brands. If you are someone who "needs a lot of arch support" this won't be the shoe for you, but it does provide comfort in you occasionally need stability when your ankles are tired.
Traction and Durability: The durability of the Hoka Clifton has greatly varied throughout the years. That's because the Hoka goes back and forth with how much rubber they'll add to the bottom. That rubber can increase durability by twice as much, but it also makes the shoe much heavier. They walked a fine line between lightweight shoes and durable shoes.
The Clifton 8 had a redesigned outsole with diagonal flex grooves in the forefoot instead of lateral flex grooves, so the Clifton 8’s forefoot was stiffer than the previous Clifton. The Clifton 9 has more blown rubber than earlier versions (the downside of the rubber is it's heavier!).
I've used the Clifton 9 for over 100 miles and expect it to get around 400 miles. The first few versions of the Clifton were not durable, but as the Clifton has aged, it's gotten more durable. Some people wish we could go back to the lightweight Clifton, but I want a shoe that lasts. With the rise of heavier carbon plated footwear, weight isn't the sole focus of racing shoes so it's doubtful we will ever get back to a similar version to the original Clifton.
As far as running in inclement weather, you should not have a problem. The blown rubber keeps you from sliding around. My first run was in inclement weather and with super-deep desert sand, and I didn't have to worry about falling or sliding around. I got a ton of deep mud stuck to my shoe, but the water drained quickly and I was able to stomp the mud off.
Immediately when I put on the Hoka Clifton 9, I felt the lack of a bucket seat arch. The arch that has bothered many people is now gone (truly, this was a big reason the Clifton didn't work for so many...they felt like there was an annoying thing in the arch). It was a big reason I gravitated toward almost every other Hoka shoe in the lineup before the Hoka Clifton 9. You'll feel it's a bit firmer than previous versions.
I was sure it would be an easy run/daily run trainer, which is what it was. It's great for the days after a workout or hard run. Earlier versions of the Clifton were easier to pick up the pace in. While you can run moderately fast in the Clifton, it's best designed as a daily/recovery run shoe. If you have always wanted to try the Clifton but the bucket seat arch never worked for you, this is the year for you! I personally have found the Clifton 9 to be the most comfortable Clifton to date.
If you are looking for a highly cushioned and daily trainer, the Hoka Clifton 9 is a great option. There is a reason it usually wins "best running shoe of the year." If you've disliked previous versions because they are too soft or the arch hits your foot weirdly, you might appreciate the Clifton 9. I am a huge fan of the update and while it fits and feels different, previous users of the Clifton will feel right at home.
Who should buy the Hoka Clifton 9?
If you're a runner looking for a high-cushioned daily trainer, the Hoka Clifton 9 is a great option. This shoe can benefit a large portion of the running crowd!
Who should not buy the Hoka Clifton 9?
If you prefer something that you can feel the ground more or a firm ride, then Clifton 9 is not for you. It can be a racing or faster shoe, but it's not designed to be that. Consider the Hoka Mach 5 if you're looking for something even firmer or faster. If you want to stay in the Hoka family for a racing shoe, consider the Hoka Rocket X2 which is their carbon plated shoe. For even more cushion than the Clifton (hard to believe that exists) than consider the Hoka Bondi.
Was paid to write an honest review
Mike Murphy I’m planning on trying some new brands in ‘24, and I knew right where to start for a review of the Clifton 9! Excellent info as always.
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