Hoka Clifton 3 Review

The Clifton 3 is a great shoe for the runner in need of a good, solid stability shoe, especially if they are tired of wearing the bricks that make up the industry standard. The Clifton 3 brings a new approach to cushioned running shoes by essentially placing a gel pillow beneath your feet and daring you not to have a good time.

Performance Comparison

Responsiveness

The responsiveness of the Clifton 3 was not outstanding in the lineup, but the thick EVA midsole was firm when compressed and rigid when flexed, which added to its responsiveness.

Because the midsole's thickness continues to the forefoot (unlike most shoes), we did not experience the loss of responsiveness that in models like the Mizuno Wave Prophecy 5, which have to spend more on heavy reinforcement or additional embedded and appended features to improve responsiveness. If responsiveness is your primary concern, we suggest giving the Altra Torin 2.5 your attention.

Landing Comfort

Alongside the Brooks PureFlow 6, our Editors' Choice winner, we gave the Clifton 3 the highest score for landing comfort. Both shoes are extremely comfortable landers, but for rather different reasons. Whereas the PureFlow 6 has a low profile and a natural landing best suited to speed, the Clifton 3 has an extremely cushy landing that dampens every bit of percussion, which is likely why marathoners and ultramarathoners are so drawn to it.

This shoe would also be a great shoe for heavier runners who experience percussion in their running much more intimately than a bantamweight runner. With Hoka's Early Stage Meta-Rocker guidance system and 29mm of heel stack and 24mm at the forefoot, there is adequate padding and structure for any style of gait at any distance. The best way to explain the Clifton 3 is that it is like running barefoot on a football field laid on top of carpet foam.

Upper Comfort

This shoe has one of the more comfortable uppers in our lineup. Whereas the Brooks Glycerin had more uniform padding and silky covers for the heel padding, the Clifton 3 features a rougher, cloth-like cover over a well-padded heel collar that tapers off near the bottom of the heel counter and footbed and thick, padded tongue covering the laces. While the Clifton is certainly a very nicely-fitting, light shoe, we feel that the Saucony Kinvara 8 has a more natural fit, which is why we rated it as a top scoring upper alongside the Glycerin.

The Clifton does have a second skin feel with its fine inner mesh layer, but the Kinvara 8 really feels like a padded extension of the foot. We can't suggest a more comfortable shoe that will give you both the broad stability and the great compression cushioning of the Clifton 3, but there are certainly more inviting uppers.

Breathability

Mesh uppers tend to be the most breathable, but some of them, including the Clifton 3, had multiple mesh layers and at least one with very fine (read: less permeable) inner layers. While these inner layers cut down on the discomfort and chafing that comes with miles and moisture, they tend to keep in moisture over the miles. Furthermore, the Hoka has a well-padded heel collar and tongue, both of which make for moisture stage units and can get very hot on a long run. If breathability is important to you, we suggest looking at our Best Bang for the Buck pick, the Saucony Kinvara 8, whose lower padding and thin build give it superior breathability.

Weight

Despite its volume, the Clifton 3 has very little mass. The shoe is a relatively large shoe, but It is only 20.3 ounces for a pair of men's 11, making it one of our lightest running shoes. Only the Vibram V-Run, Saucony Kinvara 8, and Nike Flex Fury 2 were lighter.

Durability

The downfall of ligthweight shoes is usually their durability, and the Clifton 3 is no exception. We noticed a degree of wear to the outsole comparable to the Saucony Kinvara 8, which also received the same durability rating. There are more durable stability running shoes like the Pearl Izumi E:MOTION Road N3 and Asics Gel-Nimbus 19, or the most durable shoe in our lineup, the Mizuno Wave Prophecy 5, but the Clifton 3's extra cushioning may be enough to justify its lower durability for some runners.

Best Applications

The Clifton 3 is a great stability road shoe for training and even racing. This model has been particularly popular both with marathon and ultramarathon runners. The Clifton 3 could prove well on low to moderate trails, but its bulk, though light, could create difficulties on more technical terrain.

Value

The Clifton 3 comes in around $130 and we think the price fits. Remember to research and consider if this type of shoe is right for you before buying. Head over to our running shoe Buying Advice article for more help.

Conclusion