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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Hoka Clifton 4 Review}} The previous versions of the Hoka Clifton have always achieved my "Best of the Best" rating for their amazing cushioning combined with l..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Hoka Clifton 4 Review}}
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. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center">
File:Hoka Clifton 4-top.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 top
File:Hoka Clifton 4-bottom.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 bottom
File:Hoka Clifton 4-inside.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 inside
File:Hoka Clifton 4-outside.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 outside
</gallery>
=Characteristics=
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The Clifton is reasonably flexible for shoe of this thickness, and is rather more flexible than the [[Hoka Bondi]].
* {{H: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.)
* {{H: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 [[Shoe Dissection| 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. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is reasonably thin, breathable, and inflexible, with good padding around the ankle opening.<br/>[[File:Hoka Clifton 4 Upper.jpg|center|thumb|300px|The upper backlit to show breathability.]]
* {{H:tongue}}. The Clifton has a classic tongue rather than a tongue-less sock style of upper. The tongue has plenty of soft padding.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Clifton has only a modest [[Heel Counter]] that is both useless and harmless.
{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/clifton-2-1062|1062|Hoka Clifton 4}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
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. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
<gallery widths=300px heights=300px class="center">
File:Hoka Clifton 4-top.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 top
File:Hoka Clifton 4-bottom.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 bottom
File:Hoka Clifton 4-inside.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 inside
File:Hoka Clifton 4-outside.jpg|Hoka Clifton 4 outside
</gallery>
=Characteristics=
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The Clifton is reasonably flexible for shoe of this thickness, and is rather more flexible than the [[Hoka Bondi]].
* {{H: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.)
* {{H: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 [[Shoe Dissection| 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. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is reasonably thin, breathable, and inflexible, with good padding around the ankle opening.<br/>[[File:Hoka Clifton 4 Upper.jpg|center|thumb|300px|The upper backlit to show breathability.]]
* {{H:tongue}}. The Clifton has a classic tongue rather than a tongue-less sock style of upper. The tongue has plenty of soft padding.
* {{H: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.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Clifton has only a modest [[Heel Counter]] that is both useless and harmless.
{{FastBlr|hoka-one-one/clifton-2-1062|1062|Hoka Clifton 4}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}