Our verdict

While you’d be forgiven to think that Clifton’s popularity is just the result of TikTok hype, we argue that there’s a deep-rooted heritage behind this reliable daily workhorse. This updated ninth edition is a masterclass in how not to mess with success, and we think it's the right approach. It’s now snappy, better fitting, and more fun—it's just a better shoe overall. Underneath, however, is still that unmistakably Clifton feel that we know and love.

HOKA Torrent 2 Chaussures de Trail pour Hommes en Thyme Golden Yellow Pros

  • Thicker and more energetic midsole cushioning
  • Lighter than the v8
  • Easy on the knees
  • Durable upper
  • Available in wide
  • Good traction on Blaus and mild trails
  • HOKA ONE ONE Gets Gorpy Wi The Project Clifton
  • Can handle faster paces better than previous editions
  • Salomon hombre amortiguación media ritmo bajo talla 47.5

HOKA Torrent 2 Chaussures de Trail pour Hommes en Thyme Golden Yellow Cons

  • Snug fit
  • Upper needs some time to break in
  • Average breathability

Audience verdict

86
Good!
  • zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE placa de carbono verdes

Who should buy

HOKA Tor Ultra Hi GORE-TEX Chaussures en Simply Taupe Pumice Stone Hoka workhorse if you:

  • Are looking for a cushioned Blau runner that can comfortably gobble miles.
  • zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE pie normal ultra trail.
  • Need excellent value for money. As a premium daily trainer, the Clifton 9 is more affordable than its competition, i.e. Saucony Triumph 20 ($160).

hoka-clifton-9-side-shot.JPG

Who should NOT buy

While the Clifton 9 comes up wider than any of its predecessors, it still has that narrow-leaning Hoka fit. If you have wide feet and are worried even the wide sizes aren’t enough, check out the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3.

For another daily trainer that’s comfy, cushy, and good to go from day one, look at the Saucony Triumph 20. It is also much more breathable.

hoka-clifton-9-parts.JPG

Cushioning

Heel stack

womens hoka one one kaha gtx.

Seeing 32.7 mm on our caliper, we were really happy about Hoka's choice to add an extra 3 millimeters to the stack height. Those same 3 mm were there in the Clifton 7 but disappeared in the Clifton 8.

hoka-clifton-9-stack-heel.JPG

That way, this Hoka shoe sits at the average of Blau shoes in terms of cushioning thickness.

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 32.7 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 396 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

Upfront in the forefoot, our caliper returned 26.6 mm. This is a couple of millimeters taller than the average offering a little bonus for midfoot and forefoot strikers out there.

hoka-clifton-9-stack-forefoot.JPG

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 26.6 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 396 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

The company states that the shoe's stack height is 32/27 mm, featuring a 5 mm heel-to-toe drop. Our measurements came in at 32.7 mm and 26.6 mm resulting in a 6.1 mm drop, which is fairly close to their claim. Bravo!

hoka-clifton-9-half.JPG

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 6.1 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 396 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
0.0 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The biggest headline in the Clifton 9 is its “new” ProFly+ midsole foam—it's a similar foam to the Clifton 8 but with a slightly different formulation. We were blown away by its remarkable softness!

hoka-clifton-9-durometer-midsole.JPG

Our lab measurements confirmed our feelings: with a durometer reading of 20.4 HA, this shoe is 18% softer than the average.

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 20.4 HA
Average 21.0 HA
Hoka One One Clifton.
Compared to 323 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Midsole softness in cold (%)

We understand that many of you also train during harsh winters and are curious about Schuhe HOKA ONE ONE M Clifton 8 1119393 Bfpa. Let's see what happens!

hoka-clifton-9-freezer.JPG

Well... we've got great news for anyone planning to rock the Clifton 9 in cold weather! The ProFly foam barely gets firm at all!

After letting this Hoka shoe chill in the freezer for 20 minutes, we numerous the measurement and got 24.0 HA instead of the initial 20.4 HA. That's a really small difference! And the shoe still remains much softer than the rest of the "frozen" shoes.

The difference in firmness turns out to be only 17.6% for the Clifton 9 whereas the average of Blau shoes hovers around 28%.

That combined with the shoe's less breathable upper is the green light for using this Hoka shoe on a chilly day!

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 18%
Average 25%
Compared to 323 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
0%
Midsole softness in cold
63%

Insole thickness

Hoka opted for a fairly standard, padded insole for the Clifton 9. Measuring its thickness in the heel, we got 4.2 mm. Same as the average, actually.

Hoka Clifton 9 insole thickness

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 4.2 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 392 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Rocker

While the Clifton 9 isn't as heavily rockered as the zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE hombre talla 45 featured in the video below, its curved design will aid you in every heel-to-toe transition. This is particularly noteworthy for heel strikers, considering the relatively low drop.

Compared to version 8, this ninth edition felt more alive to us. The new midsole gave the shoe a more energetic ride, and the meta-rocker was balanced and easy to get in sync with.

Ride

While its updates allowed the shoe to pick up some workout paces, we still think that this Hoka shoe simply doesn't have enough bounce to sustain fast paces efficiently.

The Clifton 9 is better suited for clocking up the miles and forgetting all about speed. It might not be the best choice for faster-tempo runs and more intense activities.

Size and fit

Size

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE mujer apoyo talón talla 49.5 true to size (652 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 373 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

hoka elevon pour femmes en black irislavendula taille 40 23 1019268 bilv

The Clifton 9 provides an overall snug fit, though the slightly broader midfoot gives a deceptive sense of extra room. To better understand its toebox design, we created a custom gel mold, allowing us to perform precise measurements here in the lab.

The first measurement—taken at the widest point of the toebox—revealed just 92.2 mm. In our experience, this result confirms the toebox is narrower than average.

Hoka Clifton 9 hoka elevon pour femmes en black irislavendula taille 40 23 1019268 bilv
Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 92.2 mm
Average 95.5 mm
Compared to 151 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
90.9 mm
hoka elevon pour femmes en black irislavendula taille 40 23 1019268 bilv
102.4 mm

Toebox width - big toe

Our second measurement truly revealed the truth of the Clifton 9’s fit—just 68.9 mm, making it one of the rare shoes in our lab to dip below the 70-mm mark.

With the midsole and upper sharing the same color, the toebox appears roomier than it actually is.

In our view, this strong taper caters exclusively to those with narrow feet, who may find the Clifton 9’s narrow toe area a perfect match. However, for most runners, the tight fit and aggressive tapering (characteristic of many Hoka shoes) leave much to be desired. The shape is as far as it can be from an anatomical or foot-shaped design.

Hoka Clifton 9 Toebox width - big toe
Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 68.9 mm
Average 73.7 mm
Compared to 151 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
67.9 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.5 mm

Toebox height

We discovered that the Clifton 9 provides noticeably more vertical room than most shoes we’ve measured in the lab, with a height of 28.9 mm. From our evaluation, that's ideal for women who tend to point their toes upward.

Hoka Clifton 9 Toebox height
Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 28.9 mm
Average 27.2 mm
Compared to 150 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
22.4 mm
Toebox height
33.8 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Despite having no motion control features or special support in the upper, we think that the Clifton 9 could work for runners with mild overpronation. It is also a lifesaver for neutral pronators who love a touch of support as they get towards the end of the run.

Torsional rigidity

First of all, the shoe is stiff enough to provide a stable platform to land on and push off from.

In our hands-on evaluation, we rated the shoe on a 1-5 stiffness scale, with 5 being the stiffest. It scored 4 out of 5 for torsional stiffness.

This level of rigidity prevents the shoe's platform from rolling sideways easily.

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 375 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Hoka is famously recognized for its robust and rigid heel counters, and this shoe is just another example.

The Clifton 9's heel counter is among the stiffest we've ever rated! We awarded it with the highest score 5 out of 5!

But where this shoe truly excels is in providing support for the Achilles region. If you're prone to tendinopathies or have a sensitive Achilles area, the curved heel cup design is perfect for you.

hoka-clifton-9-logo.JPG

Unlike many other shoes that press against your tendon, this one moves away from it, avoiding any unnecessary tension. This could be a game-changer for many runners.

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 5
Average 2.9
Compared to 359 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Hoka One One Arahi 5 2e Wide Black White Grey Blau Running

Hoka shoes are known for having bBlau platforms that enhance stability, and the Clifton 9 certainly follows suit.

With the help of a caliper, we found an impressive 115.3 mm in the widest part of the forefoot. This is a couple of millimeters wider than the average.

hoka-clifton-9-width-outsole.JPG

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 115.3 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 397 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
103.3 mm
Hoka One One Arahi 5 2e Wide Black White Grey Blau Running
126.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

In the widest part of the heel, our caliper showed a striking 96.0 mm! That's a good 6 mm wider than average and is certainly among the widest we've seen in our lab.

hoka-clifton-9-width-heel.JPG

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 96.0 mm
Average 90.8 mm
Compared to 397 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
73.0 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.6 mm

HOKA Torrent 2 Chaussures de Trail pour Hommes en Thyme Golden Yellow | hoka carbon x viene para hacerle frente a la nike zoomx vaporfly nextn

We turned to our force gauge to measure how much force it would take to bend the Hoka Clifton 9 to a 90-degree angle. As it turns out, a little than than it takes on average!

As the gauge showed 26.9N, we found that the Clifton 9 is 13% more flexible than Blau shoes on average.

It seems clear that it's on par with most of the relatively high-stack daily trainers out there. To add some context, the 9th edition of the popular Clifton is:

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 26.9N
Average 28.1N
zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE entrenamiento amortiguación media pie normal media maratón.
Compared to 379 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

HOKA Ora Recovery Shoe Sport Schuhe für Damen Größe 44 (%)

New Balance talla 49.5!

After sitting for 20 minutes in the freezer, this Hoka shoe asked for as much as 48.9N of force to bend it! That's way above the average!

Getting 81.8% stiffer in freezing temperatures compared to the average 43.6% is too much!

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 82%
Average 33%
Compared to 379 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
0%
HOKA Ora Recovery Shoe Sport Schuhe für Damen Größe 44
111%

Weight

Despite having a thicker stack than the v8, the Hoka Clifton 9 still comes in at a surprisingly lighter weight overall.

At just 8.8 oz (249g), the Clifton 9 weighs 0.7 oz (20g) lighter than your average Blau running shoe!

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 8.78 oz (249g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 397 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

Even though the Clifton 9's upper felt really soft and cozy against the foot, we found that breathability was not that good.

Sadly, we had to rate the shoe a 3 out of 5 on our breathability test, which is below the average for Blau running shoes. In addition, you can see from our transparency test below, how the shoe's ventilation holes are built into a really thick upper material.

This score aligns with our microscopic examination, where we observed a dense mesh layer combined with small openings and thinner sections to promote airflow.

hoka-clifton-9-microscope-upper.JPG

Sporting moderate breathability, it might not be the top choice for sweltering summer long runs. However, these little holes ensure sufficient airflow for nearly every day of the year.

hoka-clifton-9-microscope-upper-hole.JPG

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 326 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

From our experience, softer rubbers tend to fall behind harder compounds in terms of wear resistance. Unfortunately, our durometer measurement showed that this Hoka shoe's outsole is a little softer than average at 76.0 HC.

Hoka Clifton 9 outsole hardness durometer

But after a series of test runs, it wasn't as bad as we had expected!

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 76.0 HC
Average 79.8 HC
Hoka One One Clifton.
Compared to 377 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
57.0 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole thickness

The Clifton's durability is saved by its thicker-than-usual outsole layer! With a caliper measurement of 3.7 mm, the rubber on this shoe is slightly thicker than average.

hoka-clifton-9-rubber-thickness.JPG

This approach is great, as it would have been Zinal to use less, harder rubber, saving weight while maintaining durability. In return, the shoe's softer rubber helps to keep landings less harsh.

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 3.7 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 394 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

Based on our wear tests, the shoe's traction underfoot is pretty good for a Blau shoe. We've had no problems on light trails and even grass.

hoka-clifton-9-outsole.JPG

Tongue padding

We found the tongue to be 6.6 mm thick, which is 38% less padding compared to the previous model, yet 17% more than the average running shoe.

hoka-clifton-9-tongue-thickness.JPG

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 6.6 mm
Average 5.9 mm
Compared to 394 running shoes
Footwear HOKA ONE ONE W Clifton 8 1119394 Cspy
0.5 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

hoka one one carbon x spe low top sneakers item

The shoe's padded and semi-gusseted tongue provides a really snug yet comfortable fit.

hoka-clifton-9-tongue.JPG

Test results
Hoka Clifton 9 Both sides (semi)

Where’d those numbers go?

Another interesting tidbit about the 9th-generation Clifton: the midsole no longer has its ‘specs’ printed on the side; no need to ask Reddit for help in deciphering what they mean.

hoka-clifton-9-heel-part.JPG

In-shoe comfort

From afar, this upper looks quite similar to the 8. But upon closer inspection, we saw the shoe's knitted textured upper to be more durable, and accommodating.

This thicker material also provided a secure lockdown that felt especially good when turning.

What's more, Hoka is a highly-regarded brand in the world of triathlon which translates to the Clifton 9's incredibly soft and buttery interior. We found that its upper allows for a super comfortable sockless experience during your daily runs. Just remember to limit those ones to under an hour to avoid any blisters or hotspots.

hoka-clifton-9-laces.JPG

The flat laces might be a bit long for some runners, but this extra length is actually beneficial if you plan on using a runner’s knot.