Meaghan: Now that I’m on my second pair of HOKA One One Clifton (both of which I purchased) and have run two marathons in them, I figured it was time to write a review. Here it is.
Meaghan: Based on that brief introduction, you can probably tell I’m a huge fan of this shoe. Despite their gargantuan looks, they’re super light; the cushion-to-weight ratio is insane. My W7.5 weighed in at 6.55 oz. The upper is constructed with minimal material and it’s extremely breathable. From the top of the arch to the toe, the mesh is basically see-through. Through the heel and collar is where HOKA added some padding for comfort and structure. The tongue is paper thin and the lacing allows you to tighten up the fit if needed. The shoes are pretty wide throughout, especially through the toebox. I personally love the fit. They’re comfortable for my wide feet and allow my toes to spread freely. Hopefully, you don’t need them, but ANY insole will fit in these shoes. The ride of this shoe is what I really fell in love with. So much soft, bouncy cushioning underfoot… from landing to toe-off. And on top of it all? They’re fast.
Meaghan: I wouldn’t change a thing about this shoe with the exception of the tongue. It’s too flimsy for me. I wish HOKA continued the padding they structured through the heel and collar, in the tongue. Rumor has it this happened in V2.
Meaghan: I remember the first time I saw a pair of HOKAS… I thought they looked ridiculous. Not much has changed there, other than my love for them. I know a lot of people hate on HOKAS and the max shoe movement in general. I get it. I was raving about minimal shoes not too long ago. I’ve run a marathon in a pair of race flats (New Balance 1400) and I’ve run a marathon in max-cushioned shoes (Hoka Clifton x2). My main concern with running shoes and long distances is weight. If you can slap an inch of cushioning on a shoe and still keep it under 7 oz, I am going to wear it. If you haven’t tried the HOKA Clifton, I suggest you give it a try. The Clifton 2’s will be available later this month.
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The new tongue is the reason I’m holding off until v2. The challenger ATR has the same flimsy tongue and I’m not a fan of it.
Good review. I love everything about this shoe as well. I’ve put a ton of miles on mine so far and they are wearing very well.
WELP. I need this. You guys are consistently convincing me to buy ridiculous things for my feet. I approve. 😉
I have not found a shoe that feels as good, nor performs as well as the Clifton, including the New Balance Zante. That being said, I wear an 11 1/2 in every training shoe and a 12 in the NB 1400 and 1600. I like my shoes to fit as a second skin or glove. I need to go down a half size in the Clifton to a size 11 in order to get that feel. Unfortunately, the length is is just a tad crampy. If I go up to an 11 1/2 Clifton, the length is perfect, but the glove-like fit is not there…just a bit roomy. In a nutshell, I would like to have the glove-like fit of the size 11, but with the length fit of the 11 1/2. Anyone else feel that way?