For the last month, I’ve been using the Hoka Clifton 3 to run in. After my ankle fracture, I wanted to find shoes with more cushion. Even though I was training in the high cushion Saucony Triumph, I opted for something softer and with more cushion. Lucky for me (eh), the Hoka Clifton 3 was released around the same time I began running more than a quarter of a mile. Interestingly enough, the Hoka Clifton was one of the first shoes I reviewed on LOLZ blog nearly 2 years ago.
Keep in mind, there is no “best” running shoe. What works for me, might not work for you. (See: Why Running Shoe Reviews are Mostly Worthless). Hoka isn’t paying me to promote their shoe.
Fit:
The biggest change for the Hoka Clifton 3 came to the fit. As many people realized, the Hoka Clifton 2 sized both narrow and short. For a shoe that was supposedly a wide toe box, it wasn’t. That was a big reason I chose never to run in the Hoka Clifton 2. My toenails are important to me and I need a wider shoe.
The Clifton 3 has a similar to fit as the original Clifton and is much wider. I normally wear a size 9.5 wide or size 10. The size 10 fits well.
Ride:
The Hoka Clifton is an extremely soft, marshmallow cushioned shoe. That’s a huge reason I chose to run in the shoe after my ankle fracture. I already prefer a high cushioned shoe, but I also wanted a shoe that was soft and felt as if I was running on pillows. The Hoka Clifton feels that way.
The Hoka Clifton is not a heavy shoe, but the third model feels as if it’s heavier in the forefront. I like that feeling because it means more metatarsal cushioning.
Pros:
- Wider than the Hoka Clifton 2 (a common complaint).
- Inexpensive for the amount of cushion ($130)
- Lightweight
Negative:
- Could use extra width or a wide model.
- The cushion does not last the traditional 400 miles. If you are training in them, you will be replacing them sooner than 400 miles.
Overall thoughts:
I like the Hoka Clifton 3. I’ll continue to run in the shoe until the cushion is gone. I can appreciate the shoe is much wider. However, it is still not as wide as the original model. I do hope they either continue to widen it or release a wide version as well.
Similar models: Saucony Triumph, Asics Nimbus, Altra Paradigm and Brooks Glycerin
Questions for you:
Have you ever run in Hokas?
What is your current favorite running shoe?