HOKA goes Pro: A look inside the Clifton PRO

Looking back, the HOKA Clifton might be one of the most impactful shoes in modern running. I mean, it single-handedly gave Meg her title as the Queen of Cush (sorry, Bondi, the Clifton was here first). But, on a much bigger scale, we tend to look at the Clifton as the daily trainer that really started the swing towards max-cushioned running shoes. It went big at a time when so many shoes were going flat, and it has stayed there ever since.

That’s its story, though: Reliability. HOKA stayed true to the features that made the Clifton a hit, trusting its style refreshes to mesh well with the base that so many runners loved. Its compression-molded EVA foam stayed as sure-fire as ever, and the constant stream of colorways kept the Clifton right at home on the feet of everyone from runners to nurses to nurses who run (the kings and queens of time on feet).

Then, we began to hear whispers of a new member of the family, the Clifton PRO. It promised quicker paces, a more exciting ride, and a new term, ProGlide+™, that we’d never heard, so we had to know more. We reached out to Annie Kawasaki, the Senior Manager for Performance Road Product at HOKA, and here’s what we learned.

How did HOKA make room for another Clifton?

The first thing we wanted to know from Annie was simply, “Why?” I mean, we already know what the Clifton is and where it excels, so we were incredibly curious where a PRO version might fit into the lineup. As she explained it, “The Clifton PRO’s positioning, ‘HOKA’s smoothest Clifton yet,’ built for pace-pushing daily training, expands the franchise upward into premium performance territory while the Clifton 11 continues to serve our Clifton loyalists with everyday versatility.”

And while that seems like challenging ground for a single shoe to cover, it makes perfect sense. When we introduced Karl via the podcast and videos, we didn’t treat it like a one-in, one-out program. He didn’t suddenly slot into Robbe’s small shoes and weak ankles, just like HOKA isn’t going to swap the classic Clifton for the Clifton PRO. Instead, it opens the door for those who want more from their performance trainer while staying true to the Clifton reliability they love.

But, with that established, we still wanted to know, well, “Why?” This time, though, we were asking about what made the Clifton PRO different from the Clifton 11 we’d just begun to lace up. Annie explained to us that the answer is as simple as just about everything going on under your feet. The new supercritical (SCF) EVA compound is livelier and more resilient than the tried-and-true compression-molded mix, and the updated MetaRocker™ creates a smoother transition when it’s time to pick up the pace.

As Annie sees it, that updated ride positions the Clifton PRO to benefit the runner focused on high-volume training and pushing their performance further. To us, that sounds like there’s room for both shoes in a HOKA-fueled rotation.

What makes the Clifton PRO, well, a PRO?

The thing about giving a shoe the Pro moniker is that it comes with a certain set of expectations. So we asked Annie specifically about the choice of name. She explained, “The Clifton PRO signals the start of a new franchise extension strategy for HOKA. The ‘Pro’ moniker represents a more progressive version of the Clifton that pushes performance to the next level.”

To us, that means the Clifton PRO isn’t necessarily a shoe for the professionals, or it doesn’t have to be. The design signifies progress for a daily trainer that we’ve loved for a long time. That doesn’t, however, explain where the new ProGlide+ midsole comes from, but Annie was able to break it down for us:

“ProGlide+ is a next-generation system of performance foams and natural geometries that delivers a progressive performance extension of the franchise family. In the Clifton PRO’s case, ProGlide+ pairs resilient SCF EVA foam with a more aggressive MetaRocker to create a fluid rolling sensation underfoot. The system is designed to absorb impact while actively guiding runners forward, supporting steadier cadence across daily miles.”

The way we’d translate for you is as follows: ProGlide+ isn’t a foam. It isn’t a plate, and it’s not a geometry, either. It’s the name of the new midsole system, combining foam and geometry to create a single, comprehensive ride. It’s kind of like the ProFly system that we saw on previous generations of the HOKA Mach, but tuned for quick cruising instead of the pace-driven turnover you might chase in one of HOKA’s race-day offerings.

How did HOKA pick its technologies?

With all of this, though, came one question: the EVA foam itself. We frequently see foams like PEBA, including on the race-ready Cielo X1 3.0, so we were very curious to find out how HOKA decided which compound to use on its performance-ready trainer.

As Annie explained, “We carefully considered our choice of compound with a focus on creating a smooth, resilient ride that has the durability to stand up to high-volume daily mileage. For us, SCF EVA was the best choice for a daily trainer, as the Supercritical Foaming process utilizes nitrogen as a blowing agent that gives more resilience and energy return with a higher compression rate.”

Essentially, that means HOKA chose its SCF EVA foam for its mix of durability and energy return. That’s not too surprising, as the Clifton PRO looks and feels like a trainer that’s meant to rack up the miles. Had HOKA chosen a softer, less durable compound, it would have likely shortened the shoe’s lifespan, but it didn’t, so get ready to load up the mileage without fear.

That thread of durability carried through the rest of the Clifton PRO design, too, with a few careful choices to balance the ride. Although the Clifton PRO is a touch heavier than the Clifton 11, it’s a matter of only a few grams, and it comes with the benefit of excellent rubber coverage on the outsole.

Annie explained to us that there were features that the team tested that didn’t ultimately make the final design, too. She spoke of an even more aggressive MetaRocker and Active Foot Frame, which would have raised the sidewalls to better cradle a runner’s foot. Ultimately, though, the team wanted to preserve as much of the original Clifton’s DNA as possible, which we’d say it more than achieved with the final design.

With a pretty good understanding of just about everything surrounding the Clifton PRO, we only had one question left: What do you want runners to feel when they lace up this shoe?

Annie replied, “We hope that when runners put on the Clifton PRO, they recognize it as the Clifton fit with an enhanced performance feel underfoot. We are excited that through all our wear tests and comparison tests, runners were choosing the Clifton PRO for progress-focused performance runs.”

We probably couldn’t have put it better ourselves, and it sounds like this is only the beginning of a new era of expansion for HOKA. We just might see a few more PRO models on shelves and on feet before the year is out, which sounds like music to our ears, especially for our resident Queen of Cush.

You can learn even more about the HOKA Clifton PRO and pick up a pair for yourself using the button below.