Latest revision as of 13:13, 13 August 2017

The previous versions of the Hoka Clifton have always achieved my "Best of the Best" rating for their amazing cushioning combined with light weight in a nicely functional shoe. Sadly, it seems that with the Clifton 4, Hoka of shot themselves in the foot a little. This version still has great cushioning and low weight, though other manufacturers have not only copied this, but bettered Hoka. Both the Saucony Kinvara 8 and the Altra Escalante are superior Maximalist shoes. Like other Hoka shoes, the Clifton has a horrible toe box that needs to be cut open to allow your foot to move, but I don't consider that a fatal flaw given it can be fixed with a pair of scissors. Unfortunately, with the fourth version of the Clifton, Hoka introduce to problems that really kill issue for me, and I suspect many other fans of the marque. The first is the drop, which I measured at 10 mm when worn, vastly more than other Hoka's, and enough to screw with my biomechanics. The other fatal flaw is that the arch is high and quite far back, which is enough to irritate my plantar fascia and limit how far I can run in the shoe. So, if you're a big fan of the Hoka Clifton 3, you could look at the Hoka Clayton 2, but many runners a reporting that shoe causes blisters on the arch (I didn't have a problem.) So right now, I'd say the best Maximalist shoe is the Altra Escalante. I've rated the Clifton 4 as "worth considering", and it's come close to being "not recommended". How the mighty have fallen. (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

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  Hoka Clifton 4 top

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  Hoka Clifton 4 bottom

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  Hoka Clifton 4 inside

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  Hoka Clifton 4 outside

1 Characteristics

• Cushioning . The Clifton 4 has a high level of cushioning when compared with many running shoes, but it's quite a bit less than its predecessor, the Hoka Clifton 3. It's now less cushioned (and heavier) than the Saucony Kinvara 8, or the Altra Escalante. While this is far from a fatal flaw, it's a move in the wrong direction for Hoka.
• Drop. Hoka shoes are normally low drop, typically coming in at 3-4mm, but this version of the Clifton is 10mm when worn. I believe that's way too much of a high heel shoe, and is enough that it makes it awkward for me to run in. I see this is one of two fatal flaws, though of course if you like running in high heels, this may make the Clifton 4 a better option for you.
• Structure. This shoe is made of a single type of foam, but the arch has a large bulge that presses on the plantar fascia. I suspect this is aiming to provide stability in a similar way to a medial post, but I found it extremely intrusive. I found this arch intrusion enough to start triggering plantar fascia, which limits how far you can run in the shoe.
• Flexibility. The Clifton is reasonably flexible for shoe of this thickness, and is rather more flexible than the Hoka Bondi.
• Outsole. The Clifton has some exposed midsole, with some durable rubber in high friction areas. The rubber is well placed for extending the life of the shoe, though in practice I've always found that the compression of the midsole foam is the limiting factor on the shoe life, not abrasion. (The only exception is under extreme heat, which can soften the materials.)
• Shape. The Clifton has the typical Hoka shape, which includes a horribly constricted toe box. I've noticed at Ultras the Hoka toe box causes a distinctive pattern of blisters, so it's critical to cut open the toe box of any Hokas. This is a shame, as I find that other than the toe box the Clifton fits me perfectly. The Clifton 4 is actually available in white fittings, but this doesn't provide any more toe box room, just a better fit if your foot is relatively wider and shorter. (I recommend cutting open the toe box of virtually all running shoes, with the exception of a few shoes like some Altra shoes. When you have some worn out shoes, you should try cutting open the toe box. I've found that it's a big improvement, allowing my toes to move naturally and engage for toe off, as well as reducing the possibility of blisters.)
• Upper. The upper is reasonably thin, breathable, and inflexible, with good padding around the ankle opening.
  
  

  The upper backlit to show breathability.
• Tongue. The Clifton has a classic tongue rather than a tongue-less sock style of upper. The tongue has plenty of soft padding.
• Lacing. The Clifton uses thin flat laces which stay tied. The laces have a slight bit of elasticity in them, improving the overall comfort of the shoe.
• Heel Counter. The Clifton has only a modest Heel Counter that is both useless and harmless.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Hoka Clifton 4 at Zappos Buy Hoka Clifton 4 at Road Runner Sports Buy Hoka Clifton 4 at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Hoka Clifton 4 at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review, Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review, Asics 33-DFA Review, Hoka Conquest Review, Saucony Cortana Review, Puma Faas 100 R Review, Saucony Fastwitch Review, Nike Free Review, Asics Gel Lyte 33 Review, Skechers GOmeb Speed Review, Skechers GOrun Ultra Road Review, Nike LunaRacer Review, Altra Paradigm Review.