Hoka Clifton 6 Shoe Review

August 30, 2019 By Hollie in Gear Review, Running Tags: hoka, reviews, run, running, running shoes, shoes, training 1 Comment

I’ve run through most of the Hoka Clifton versions. In fact, way back when the shoe was first released, I got to try them in NYC. The Hoka Clifton is Hoka’s flagship shoe. It’s incredibly light but also extremely cushioned. It makes it a good shoe if you’ve never tried Hoka before.

I’ve put nearly 200 miles on my Hoka One One Clifton 6. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to write a Hoka Clifton 6 review.

Anyway, on to the review. Hoka streamlined the Clifton 6 to make it lighter and more durable than ever. Hoka’s words not mine, but I agree it’s more durable than previous versions. If you love the Clifton and previous models, you should still appreciate and like the Hoka Clifton 6.

Hoka One One Clifton 6 Quick Stats:

Weight: 7.4 ounces

Heel to Toe Drop: 5 mm

Hoka Clifton 6 Fit:

The updates from the Hoka Clifton 6 came primarily in the upper. It’s a much more simple design. The upper has been stripped of the printed overlays. It still has the engineered mesh upper (which makes it light and breathable). The shoe is lighter, but you still feel secure through the midfoot and heel. It’s become the perfect combination of soft and light material, but still durable.

The brand Hoka has generally run a bit big this year (the only brand that comes to mind doing so), that being said it’s not big enough I would go down a half size. I typically wear anything from a women’s size 10-11 wide. The 10.5 fits well and there is plenty of room in the toe box.

Hoka Clifton 6 Ride:

If you have never used the brand Hoka before, it’s a lot of cushion, but that is why they are popular. You can’t go wrong with “too much cushion,” but it also isn’t for everyone. All models of Hoka use a Metarocker, which makes you feel as though you are rolling forward.

The Hoka Clifton 6 uses “an early stage Meta-Rocker.” Hoka’s Early Stage Meta Roker shoes give the Clifton 6 shoe a quick transition from heel to forefoot. It allows the shoe to feel smooth but not clunky.

The Hoka Clifton 6 has a large stack height (I talked about that previously in the newsletter). That large stack height is made entirely of foam which compresses under your feet. This absorbs the shock and impact of running. It’s like a giant marshmallow under your foot.

For me personally, the Hoka Clifton 6 is a good recovery running shoe. I can run easy mileage in it without feeling weighed down. It’s not as bulky as the Hoka Bondi 6 but also not as responsive as the Hoka Rincon, Hoka Cavu 2, Hoka Carbon X, or Hoka Mach 2 (Can you tell I’ve been running in a lot of Hokas lately?).

One last note, that throughout the last few models Hoka has added more durability and traction to the bottom and high abrasion areas. It performs a lot better in bad weather, plus there is not exposed EVA that some other models like the Rincon or CarbonX have.

Hoka Clifton 6 Conclusion:

The Hoka Clifton 6 is a pleasant update and similar the previous version (The Hoka Clifton 5). It’s a great neutral trainer for recovery runs. If you are running in a higher cushioned shoe like the Hoka Bondi 6, it makes for a great lightweight workout or racing shoe.

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Hoka Bondi 6, Brooks Ghost 12

Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Hoka Rincon, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2

Long Runs: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Mizuno R2, Hoka Cavu 2

Races: Reebok Run fast Pro

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport.

Hoka One One Rincon Shoe Review

August 14, 2019 By Hollie in Gear Review, Running Tags: fitness, hoka, review, run, running, shoe, sports

The Hoka One One Rincon is a brand new shoe from Hoka this year. I’ve been curious about this shoe since it came out in June but needed to prioritize buying trainers (like the Hoka Bondi 6) I knew I could run miles in with no issues.

I knew I would probably like the Hoka Rincon, but also knew I needed to have at least one shoe in my rotation that was tried and true. Anyway, the long story short is it took me a little while to buy a pair.

The Rincon is designed to be a fast shoe from Hoka One One. It’s lighter than most (I believe just the Hoka Cavu 2 is lighter).

Quick Stats:
Weight: 6.3 oz
Drop 5 mm

Fit:

Like most of their shoes now, Hoka uses a single layer of engineered mesh for the upper. It’s thin and lightweight, plus it breathes well. If you’ve run in the Hoka One One Carbon X, it fits very similar. The single layer of mesh allows wider feet or someone with bunions to feel more comfortable. I’m usually a women’s size 10-11 wide, and I find the 10.5 to fit well (they aren’t made in wide…yet).

One thing to keep in mind is that there isn’t much structure in the upper of the shoe. The feet can splay out. Like the newer models of Hoka, there is a pull tab at the heel counter to get it up. There is a lack of plastic in the heel which keeps it from pinching the Achilles. The pull tab allows it to slide up without damaging it.

Ride:

The Hoka One One Rincon has a unique ride to it (even from Hoka). It has as much cushion as the Hoka Clifton, however, weighs about an ounce less. It’s much more responsive than the Clifton and feels like a shoe I want to run fast in (like the Mach and Cavu). The Hoka Rincon uses the early stage Meta-Rocker to allow for quicker turnover. It’s designed for true speed or as a race shoe. (You can read more about Hoka’s technology and “Meta-Rockers” here).

If you’ve never run in Hoka before, this is a great model to start. It’s responsive enough that you won’t feel too disconnected from the ground. For me, it fits best as a fast-paced, long run shoe, or even a race day shoe. I like more amount of cushion for a daily trainer.

One last thing to add is there is a lack of traction on the bottom of the shoe. I do wish added rubber on the bottom. There is rubber on the outsole in strategic spots but it’s not a shoe that would perform well in rainy/icy conditions.

Hoka Rincon Conclusion:

Sometimes brand new running shoe models miss their mark, but the Hoka Rincon has quickly become one of my favorite Hoka One One models (my favorite for heavy training is the Hoka Bondi and for speed, work is the Hoka Cavu).

If you’re looking to try out the brand Hoka, the Hoka Rincon is a great place to start. If you are familiar with Hoka and looking for a lightweight racer or trainer, the Hoka Rincon would be a great shoe for your rotation.

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A beautiful day and easy run to start the week. I appreciate each runs, knowing they are every bit as important as workouts, races, and hard runs.

A post shared by Hollie (@fueledbylolz) on Aug 12, 2019 at 8:13am PDT

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Hoka Bondi 6, Brooks Ghost 12

Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Hoka Rincon

Long Runs: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Mizuno R2, Hoka Cavu 2

Races: Reebok Run fast Pro

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. This week is all about carbon plate shoes,

Questions for you:

Have you tried a new shoe lately?

What is your favorite running shoe?

Hoka One One Bondi 6 Shoe Review

May 22, 2019 By Hollie in Running, Training Tags: fitness, hoka, hoka one one, running, shoe, sports, workouts 3 Comments

Like the Clifton, the Bondi was one of Hoka’s first shoes. When you think of Hoka, you think of maximum cushion and something like the Bondi.

If you’ve never run in Hoka before, the Bondi is a lot of shoe. In fact, the Hoka Bondi is probably the most shoe in the industry. The 6^th version doesn’t bring a lot of changes like previous versions. Throughout the last few versions, Hoka has made the Bondi much firmer. There is a big difference in feel of the cushioning. If you like a softer, marshmallow type of shoe: go with the Clifton, if you like a firmer cushioning go with Bondi.

I am team Bondi, as well as Mach, and Cavu, which all are much firmer. (I still like the Clifton, I would just choose the others before).

Fit:

Hoka has started to fit big throughout the last year. Not big enough I would go down a size, but big enough that you will have more space. You can’t go wrong with a bigger shoe. You can have plenty of problems when the shoe is too small.

I usually wear between a 10-11 wide in running shoes, and 10.5 regular width is fine. (The Bondi does come in wides which is awesome!).

The major update in the Bondi 6 is a better upper. The mesh has been redesigned to allow more breathability as well durability. (so hopefully your toes don’t poke through the top). Plus as your feet sweat, they will be able to breathe.

Ride:

Explaining how a Hoka feels before someone has tried it on is next to impossible. If you’ve never worn Hoka before, they use Meta-rocker technology which allows you to roll forward.

The Meta-Rocker is designed with a lower heel to toe drop to create a fulcrum effect. Think of it like a rocking chair.

If you’ve worn the Bondi before, the update in the ride is minimal. If you ran well in the 5, you should run well in the 6. Since the 4 to 5, was a more significant jump, Hoka kept this version very similar.

The Bondi 6 is one of my favorite shoes for recovery and easy days. Days I don’t care about pace. Since there is so much cushion to them if you are looking for an easy day, recovery day, walking shoe, these are going to keep your legs and feet happy. While the shoe isn’t a stable shoe, it’s got a wide base, so it is going to provide some stability. You feel like you are well cushioned from the start, middle, and end of the run. Sometimes after a run in the Bondi, I think…did I even run?

Conclusion:

The Bondi is an excellent choice for recovery or easy days. It’s also a great choice if you work somewhere where you are standing all day long. I feel like out of any shoe I’ve ever reviewed (Yes, any), if I needed a shoe I could be in for hours or days, it would be this shoe. If for some reason I was running for 10 hours, I would choose this shoe. It’s not the fastest shoe out there, but not designed to be either.

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Hoka, Bondi 6, Hoka Mach 2, Brooks Glycerin 17,

Speed Work: Reebok Float Ride Runfast Pro, Nike Streak Lt,

Long Runs: Hoka Cavu 2

Races: Nike Fly, Reebok Run fast Pro

You can see all current shoe reviews here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. This week I talked about the differences between social media runners and running specialty. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. There are often giveaways as well as discount codes.

Questions for you:

Have you tried a Hoka shoe?

What is your favorite recovery shoe?

Hoka One One Cavu 2 Shoe Review

March 7, 2019 By Hollie in Gear Review, Running, Training Tags: fitness, hoka, run, running, shoe reviews, sports 7 Comments

The original Hoka One One Cavu was one of my favorite shoes of 2018. It was simple, light, and relatively inexpensive. If you’re subscribed to the newsletter, then you know I firmly believe the Hoka One One Cavu 2 is even better and one of the most underrated shoes out there. It’s part of the Hoka Fly Collection with more responsive shies,

The Hoka Cavu 2 simple and a solid trainer. As you can see from photos, I’ve gotten plenty of mileage out of the shoe. I’m well over 100 miles and the shoe feels great.

Similar to the Mach, the Hoka Cavu 2 uses the “Profly” sole. The significant difference between the Mach and the Cavu is the Cavu is lighter. It’s a little better for racing, workouts, and faster runs. The Mach is better for easy runs. The Mach is less pounding on your body, but you trade a slightly more substantial shoe.

Hoka One One Cavu 2 Fit:

The fit and upper of the Cavu 2 has been redesigned. It’s a simple open engineered mesh which works for it. It’s seamless with a wide toe box which gives the toes plenty of room.

Like the Mach 2, the Cavu 2 runs larger but not large enough I would go down a half size. It offers a comfortable fit and optimal breathability. Typically I wear a women’s 10-11 wide and a 10.5 is perfect. The Hoka One One Cavu 2 isn’t made in wide, but even if it was, I think I would stick with a regular width. The embroidered Hoka One One logo keeps the design simple.

Hoke One One Cavu 2 Ride:

In my opinion, the Hoka Cavu 2 is the least “Hoka shoe” out there. When you think of Hoka, you think of maximum cushion and a soft pillowy mattress under your foot. For some people, all of that cushion is intimidating! The Hoka Cavu is much lighter and lower to the ground.

If you’re new to wearing Hokas, the Cavu is a good start because of how many characteristics it shares with a traditional brand. If you ever wore the Clayton, Tracer, or the original Clifton, you’ll appreciate the ride of the Cavu 2 as well. It’s a versatile running shoe that you can use for long runs, workouts, or easy runs. Due to how flat they are, they are even good gym training shoes.

The shoe performs well in weather too. If it’s rainy or icy, I would use the Hoka One One Cavu 2 over many other lighter shoes. I don’t feel as though Hoka sacrificed tread and grip to reduce the weight. The rubberized foam outsole allows you traction when running in the rain. It’s a shoe I would be me more likely to choose for a rainy half or full marathon versus other flats of about the same weight.

It reminds me of shoes such as the Saucony Kinvara, New Balance 1400, or even Brooks Launch. It has the ability to run fast and be responsive. It’s a shoe, Hoka was missing from their line until recently.

The Cavu 2 is nearly an ounce lighter than the original Cavu. There is no telling; you’ll feel fast in this shoe. I’ve run longer tempo runs as well as easy days. For me, I find it’s the best place to be with longer and faster runs. It’s my go-to long run shoe.

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Controlled and successful 14 miler averaging just under 8 minute pace. Didn’t feel effortless but kept it conversational.

A post shared by Hollie (@fueledbylolz) on Feb 10, 2019 at 8:33am PST

Hoke One One Cavu 2 Summary:

I think the Hoka Cavu 2 is one of the most underrated shoe out there. If you’re already running in Hoka and want a lighter shoe, it’s a great option. If you’ve never tried Hoka but are thinking of trying, it’s also a great option.

Current Shoe Rotation:

Easy Runs: Brooks Glycerin, Hoka Mach 2, New Balance 1080,

Long Runs/Tempos: Hoka Cavu 2

Speed Work/Racing: Nike Fly, Nike LT Streak

If you want more running and industry news, subscribe to the newsletter.

Questions for you:

What is your favorite long run shoe? What is your current favorite shoe?

Hoka Clifton 5 Shoe Review

August 15, 2018 By Hollie in Gear Review, Running, Training Tags: fitness, health, hoka, review, run, running, shoe, sports 4 Comments

I’ve run in most of the versions of the Hoka Clifton. Since the Clifton 1, I’ve found the Clifton itself to become more and more durable. One complaint I’ve heard over the years is the Hoka Clifton has gotten heavier. That is accurate but with the few ounces in weight, has come a lot more rubber on the bottom as well as durability. From a specialty standpoint, it’s definitely one of the most popular Hoka models. For some runners it’s their racer, for others it’s their easy and recovery day. For me, it’ a daily trainer and I prefer a heavier model such as the Bondi for recovery days.

Fit:

The upper of Hoka Clifton 4 saw the most significant change from the 3. It became a seamless engineered mesh. The Clifton 5 removes even more seams, and it also fits true to size. I wear between a women’s size 10-11 wide, and in the Hoka Clifton 5, I wear a 10.5

The Clifton 5 uses fine engineered mesh in the upper which gives it more structure. Your feet don’t feel as though they are “free floating” around like in some seamless uppers.

Ride:

If you have never worn Hoka before, know it feels very different from any other brand you’ve worn. You either like Hoka, or you don’t, and there is no shame in either. Your feet sit lower to the ground than you think.

Many people ask: “will I fall because I’m higher” and the answer is no. What people don’t realize is most Hoka models are actually flatter, and it takes time to get used too. A lot of cushioning, especially in the Clifton is more visual, and your feet sit much lower than you think. Most models are between a 4-5 mm drop versus 8-11 like many traditional brands.

Personally, I find the cushioning in the Hoka Clifton 5 is much better. It’s a bit firmer. I’ve heard from several people who got arch pain in the Hoka Clifton 4, just because of how soft the shoe was. If you have ever imagined running on marshmallows, the Clifton 4 was the closest thing.

The Hoka Clifton 5 is much firmer (not as firm as the Mach or Bondi). I prefer the Clifton 5 much more than the 4 regarding ride.

Conclusion:

In all, the Hoka Clifton 5 is a great update, and if you like the 4, you’re fairly certain to like the 5 too. If you had issues with the arch of the 4, the 5 is worth your while to revisit because Hoka has firmed it up.

Like the Clintons before it, the ride I still very smooth and soft. If you’re looking for a more responsive shoe, you’ll want to go with the Mach. It’s a great shoe in the rotation for both recovery or daily runs.

Other Shoes I’m Currently Running In:

Daily Runs: Brooks Glycerin 16, Hoka Clifton 5, Saucony Ride ISO, New Balance 1080

Workouts: Underarmour Sonic, New Balance 1400

Races: Nike LT Racer, Nike Zoom Fly

Questions for you:

Have you tried Hoka?

What is one shoe you’ve run in most model of?

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Running and Laughing through the Garden State

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