Hoka Clifton Pro review: A premium daily trainer that outgrows its ‘nurse drip’ roots

Introduction to the Hoka Clifton Pro

MEAGHAN: The Hoka Clifton line needs no introduction. It’s been a cornerstone of the brand for years. Sure, it’s had its ups and downs (and one time they brought back the original version because we all complained about the updates), but the Clifton has always been a go-to for everything from daily training runs to casual wear. It hasn’t gone through any drastic changes over the years, and it didn’t need to. People love it exactly as it is.

So when Hoka dropped the Clifton 11 alongside a new sibling, the Clifton Pro, my curiosity was piqued. My first instinct was that a “Pro” label meant a carbon plate was hiding somewhere in the midsole, but that’s not the case. What you’re actually getting is a new midsole foam and a more performance-oriented build.

The Clifton Pro does share some DNA with the Clifton 11: a 42mm heel stack, 34mm forefoot stack for men (38mm / 30mm for women), an 8mm drop, and it’s built on the same Clifton 10 last. But that’s more or less where the family resemblance ends. The Pro steps things up with a more aggressive MetaRocker geometry and a new supercritical EVA foam called ProGlide+. Rounding out the package is a breathable engineered mesh upper, a gusseted tongue, and a durabrasion rubber outsole.

So the real question: did we actually need this shoe, and where does it fit in the Clifton universe? Let’s find out.

CHAD: In 2026, I don’t think there’s a combination of three letters in the English language that sends shivers down the spines of runners more than E, V, and A (except maybe M, R, and I). For those not well-versed in the running shoe market, there’s probably no brand that pushes ethylene-vinyl acetate out to the masses more than Hoka.

Being a glutton for punishment, I tend to spend more time than I should on running-related Reddit forums, and when news of the Hoka Clifton Pro dropped, I cannot count how many comments boiled down to “another shoe with EVA foam? No thanks.” I mean, in their defense, the sentiment is understandable, considering that, in step with the Clifton Pro, Hoka is also dropping the new Clifton 11 (which happened to show up on my doorstep in the same package as the Pro), which also features an EVA foam midsole. Heck, some might argue Hoka’s generic EVA midsole foams are so boring, they haven’t even bothered coming up with a proprietary name for them!

But the Clifton Pro is different: its midsole is a supercritical EVA called Proglide+. The weight of the shoe was similar to that of the Clifton 11 (actually a smidge heavier, which was concerning out of the box), with a similar fit and construction. So, the question is, why the Pro and the 11?

RYAN: I have a long, complicated history with the — who am I kidding, no, I don’t. I was going to claim that the Hoka Clifton and I go way back, but that would be a lie. I think I’ve run in one version, and that was the Clifton 9 GTX. It was fine, but a little warmer than the standard version, a little heavier, and, yes, waterproof thanks to Gore-Tex’s liner.

For a while, I didn’t even mind my lack of Clifton experience. I didn’t think Hoka had really changed much over the last few years, and I felt like the styling had actually gone backward since the days of the Clifton 8. However, when rumors of a Clifton Pro began floating around, I decided it was time to turn a little (seriously, only a little) attention back to the Hoka standard. After all, an updated, livelier midsole sounds like what I’ve been asking for over and over again in the face of an endless EVA tide.

So, now that the Clifton Pro is official, and is here, and is on my feet, what do I think? Well, I think I’m going to be the Debbie Downer of this review, that’s for sure.

What we like about the Hoka Clifton Pro

MEAGHAN: Let’s start with aesthetics, because this is where the Clifton Pro immediately sets itself apart. It’s unmistakably a Hoka shoe (that oversized logo on the sidewall isn’t exactly subtle), but there’s something about the overall design that reads more performance-ready than its siblings. Less “I’ve got a 12-hour shift ahead of me,” and more “I’m heading out for a run.”

The step-in feel is an instant win. The upper has that plush, max-stack trainer energy, with generous padding around the collar and tongue that makes you want to just… keep wearing it. The flat, stretchy laces do a solid job locking the foot down, and fit runs true to size. If the Clifton 10 worked for you, expect a very familiar experience here — same last, same comfortable fit.

But the real story is what’s happening underfoot. The ProGlide+ midsole is the headline act, and it delivers. This new supercritical EVA foam brings a noticeable bounce to the Clifton lineage that was overdue. It’s springier and more energetic than you might expect from a shoe wearing the Clifton name. Pair that with the more aggressive Metarocker geometry, and transitions feel smooth and propulsive. I caught myself clicking off faster splits than I intended more than once, and that’s always a good sign.

The outsole is heavily rubbered, but it doesn’t bog down the ride. Durability and traction are strong without deadening the bounce.

My W7.5 came in just over 8 oz, which is a respectable number for a daily trainer carrying this much stack. No complaints there.

CHAD: It’s going to be hard not to spend this review comparing the Clifton Pro to the Clifton 11, but since I got them at the same time and alternated running in them for two-plus weeks, it sort of has to be done. Aesthetically, I actually really enjoy the Clifton Pro. The neon accents on the white colorway, with the giant Hoka branding along the side of the shoe, were so out of character for the brand, specifically the Clifton line. In other lines like the Mach series and the Cielo, Hoka hasn’t been afraid to go bold; it’s nice to see that they did the same for the Clifton Pro. Definitely a lot more running chic vs. nurse drip.

I sent Meg a message on Instagram after 13 miles in this shoe across three runs, basically saying I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why, but I was really enjoying the Clifton Pro. If you asked me, I wouldn’t say the Proglide+ is soft, squishy, bouncy, resilient, firm, or responsive; it sort of threads this weird needle, with attributes of all of these characteristics. Hence why it’s hard to explain. Combined with a pretty noticeable rocker, which helps me mitigate the 8mm drop and its impact on my knees, the ride is just insanely smooth. Even after a 10-mile run in the shoe, where I was able to keep my pace super steady and consistent, just ticking off easy miles, I still can’t get a grasp on exactly what it is I like about this shoe. But I just do… it’s ineffable.

As I mentioned in the intro, the Clifton Pro is actually slightly heavier than the Clifton 11, but it didn’t feel so on the run. Once again, I attribute that to the MetaRocker and the smoothness of the ride, making turnover pretty easy. I also think Hoka has improved the fit of its shoes recently, the Clifton Pro being no exception. I used to find that Hoka shoes ran incredibly narrow, to the point where my normal-plus foot would spill over the platform of many offerings. I’m not sure if they’ve changed the last (they haven’t), but the comfort of the Clifton Pro was top-notch.

RYAN: From the minute I unboxed the Clifton Pro — which I did standing in the Believe office, having already run for the day — I had high hopes. It looked the part of a max-stacked trainer, and a squeeze of the ProGlide+ stack felt reassuringly squishy. It seemed to rebound nicely, and you can’t argue with the fact that the launch colorway is a good-looking shoe.

In fact, I remarked to Thomas that it looked and felt a whole lot like Mizuno’s brand-new Neo Vista 3, a bouncy supertrainer that I absolutely loved. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the two colorways are practically identical. So, all that was left was for me to lace up the Clifton Pro and see what kind of bounce it had waiting for me underfoot. I put it on, and I dare say I bounced the whole way home — all two blocks of my walk.

Each step felt light, each step felt bouncy, and the bright, pseudo-Orioles colorway looked ready for a walk over to Camden Yards. As it turned out, I’d get my chance to do just that a few days later, heading to a couple of games against the hated Blue Jays with a mountain of foam under my feet. The whole way, I couldn’t have been happier with my choice of footwear. The Clifton Pro fit well, it bounced nicely, and it drew questions and comments from runners and non-runners alike.

Then, it was time to run in the shoe, which means it’s time for us to move on.

What we don’t like about the Hoka Clifton Pro

MEAGHAN: Scroll through the comments on any Hoka Clifton Pro post on Instagram, and you’ll find the same question popping up over and over: why is Hoka still using EVA? While other brands are pushing into PEBA, TPEE, ATPU, and beyond — foams that generally deliver a noticeably snappier, more energetic ride — Hoka went with a supercritical EVA here. That’s not a dealbreaker, and the ProGlide+ midsole genuinely works out on the run. But it’s hard not to play the “what if” game. What does this shoe feel like with a next-gen foam underneath? The potential is right there.

Which brings me to my second gripe, and it’s related: the “Pro” in the name is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Whether it’s fair or not, that label carries expectations. When I see Pro, my brain immediately goes to race day — or at the very least, race-day foam. The Clifton Pro is a great uptempo trainer, but it’s not quite playing in that arena, and the name might be writing checks the shoe can’t fully cash.

CHAD: I agree with Meg, the naming convention here is… suspect. Go with Clifton Plus, Max, or even Speed… not that this is exactly a speedy shoe, despite its looks. “Pro” has a connotation that this shoe doesn’t meet — no plate, no elite foam, etc.

I also agree with Meg that, with a foam similar to what we find in Hoka shoes like the Cielo X1 or the Skyward X line, this shoe could really be something special. Would it mean that it comes with a higher price tag? Probably, but the comfort and geometry of this shoe, with better foam, could have the Clifton Pro competing with the likes of the Superblast 3, the Hyperboost Edge, the Neo Vista 3, and other high-level super trainers.

RYAN: With a smile still on my face from several days spent walking in the Hoka Clifton Pro, I decided it was finally time to run in the shoe. I once again laced up and headed out the door, this time to catch up with a few friends at a local run club. At first, everything felt good. I was enjoying the squish of the ProGlide+ as the miles breezed by.

Then, it felt like everything stopped. I couldn’t find any more bounce in the supercritical foam, and the shoe itself began to feel heavy. Sure, it was an 80-degree day, so most shoes would probably feel heavy, but I had the same experience on subsequent runs to the point where I was kind of over the whole experience. Any bounce that I’d previously counted on seemed to be replaced by a simple squish.

And yeah, maybe that’s my fault. After all, I know that the Clifton line has historically been one of well-cushioned cruising. There’s no need to expect lively bounce or the capacity for uptempo work. However, when you put Pro in the name, you begin to expect, well, something. Meg and Chad have hit the nail on the head pretty reliably, but I can’t shake the feeling that the Clifton Pro should really be the Clifton 11, because I don’t need to put it on to tell you that shoe feels no different than its predecessor.

Final thoughts on the Hoka Clifton Pro

MEAGHAN: The Hoka Clifton Pro is a welcome addition to the family. It takes everything people have loved about the line for years and turns the dial up just enough to feel fresh without abandoning what made it a staple in the first place. It’s comfortable, versatile, looks great, and at $165, the price tag is hard to argue with. If you’ve always been a Clifton loyalist but wanted a little more pep in the family recipe, the Pro is exactly that — same familiar DNA, just with a little more bounce.

CHAD: While there isn’t really anything “Pro” about the Clifton Pro, it certainly has a lot of… pros. One of the best things that I’ve yet to mention is the price tag of $165, which I think is firmly in that “premium daily trainer” price range, exactly what I would classify this shoe as. All told, I think the release of this shoe may have completely relegated the plain ole’ Clifton to the walking, vacation, and I-work-a-job-on-my-feet-all-day category. While I still can’t comprehend the how or the why, I really love this new offering from Hoka.

RYAN: I can give Hoka a little credit — at least this shoe is well-priced. You’re getting a lot of foam for your money, and the Clifton Pro is a genuinely good-looking shoe. Pricing it at $165 makes it an enticing alternative to the standard Clifton 11, much as Brooks did with the Ghost Max series.

Personally, though, I don’t think I’ll get too many more miles out of this one. It doesn’t have the same bounce or fun factor as some of the other ~$150 daily trainers, nor does it have the fun of the more expensive supertrainers. I think it could be a bright future for the Clifton series, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call this Pro a must-have.

You can pick up the Hoka Clifton Pro for $165 on July 9 from Hoka by using the buttons below.