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The [http://www.zappos.com/hoka-clifton Clifton] is a remarkable achievement for [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka]], giving the soft cushioning of the [[Hoka Bondi]] at a much lighter weight. In fact, the Clifton and Bondi feel remarkably similar, and I've even run with one on each foot (not something I'd recommend you trying.) The difference in thickness of the 2 shoes is dramatically different, but beyond that the cushioning, overlaid, and overall feel were almost identical. Like all of the Hoka range, the Clifton has a horribly small toe box, but once its cut open the shoe works quite well. The Clifton will be available as a trail version, called the "Challenger ATR" in the summer of 2014. However, like many softly cushioned shoes it should work pretty well on most trails, though it lacks the lugs for slick, muddy tails.
=Characteristics=
* '''Midsole'''. The Clifton midsole is made of a lightweight EVA foam. There are a number of reports that the Clifton would use the much firmer RMAT foam used in the [[Hoka Conquest]] and Huaka, but this does not appear to be the case. There is no mention of RMAT on the Hoka website page, nor is the RMAT logo on the shoe.
** '''Cushioning'''. The Clifton has a high level of cushioning, with the soft ride that Hoka of famous for. It's not thick or soft as the [[Hoka Stinson]] or [[Hoka Mafate]], but it's on a par with the Bondi and Olympus.
** '''Drop & Shape'''. Like other Hoka shoes, the Clifton is not a zero drop shoe, and the rear is about 6 mm thicker than the front. That's about half the drop of a traditional running shoe and I typically don't have any issues moving between the Hokas and a zero drop shoe like the Altra. The Clifton has a less abrupt taper at the very front of the shoe than the Bondi, but not as gentle as the Altra Olympus. While I prefer the Olympus taper, the Clifton is better than the Bondi. The very rear of the shoe is cut away slightly, creating a little bit of a rocker shape that's almost identical to the Bondi. The midsole wraps around the lower part of the foot to create additional stability. This helps overcome some of the problems you get with a thick sole creating a stilt like instability.
* '''Upper'''. The upper is a thin, breathable, and inflexible, with good padding around the ankle opening.
* '''Tongue'''. The Clifton has a classic tongue rather than a tongue-less sock style of upper. The tongue has no padding, but I didn't find this a problem.
* '''Lacing'''. The Clifton uses thin around round laces which I found tended to come undone. It's amazing that in the 21<sup>st</sup> century shoe manufacturers can't use laces that work. Unlike many shoes in the Hoka range, there are no elastic straps that pull the sides together even if the laces are loose. (I always cut the elastic straps off.)
* '''Heel counter'''. The Clifton has a slightly firmer heel counter than the Bondi that extends around the foot to the level of the top of the laces.
=Compared with Altra Olympus=