Reader review
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
3/5
Overall
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 1/5
- Value
- 4/5
HOKA
Clifton 3
Daily trainer
· Neutral
· Road
Excellent
(94/100)
- Weight
- 9.6 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $130
- Drop Height
- 5mm
Excellent
(94/100)
overall
Shoe details
- Weight
- 9.6 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $130
- Drop Height
- 5mm
Ratings & Reviews
Excellent (94/100)
Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
?
Scores better than 93% of all shoes.
Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.
Rating breakdown
Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
?
Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.
The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.
Overall
Excellent (94/100)
Overall rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Excellent (94/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 93% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Cushioning
Exceptional (99/100)
Cushioning rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Exceptional (99/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 99% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Comfort
Excellent (92/100)
Comfort rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Excellent (92/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 91% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Durability
Excellent (92/100)
Durability rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Excellent (92/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 91% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Value
Very good (86/100)
Value rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Very good (86/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 82% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Appearance
Bottom-tier (50/100)
Appearance rating
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Better Shoes Rating
Bottom-tier (50/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 1% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
54%
34/63
Prefer this shoe over another.
Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.
Comparison set
Rating
All Running Shoes
Scores better than 93% of 2,617 running shoes.
Excellent
Daily Trainers
Scores better than 92% of 1,872 daily trainers.
92%
Clifton Family
Scores better than 45% of 10 clifton family.
45%
HOKA
Scores better than 80% of 137 HOKA shoes.
80%
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Most reviewers like this shoe more than their last shoe.
- A majority of reviewers recovering from an injury said their injury improved in this shoe.
- Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
- Rated above average overall.
- Rated among the top 25% of shoes on comfort.
Cons
- Reviewers rate this shoe worse than the Clifton 1.
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Current shoe
Lightest
Newest
/
Lowest price
Best overall
/
Best comfort
/
Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.6 oz M
Lightest
9.8 oz M
—
Stack
—
38/30mm
—
Drop
5mm
8mm
7mm
Release
2016 Q3
2025 Q1
Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$130
$155
$200
Best price
—
$123.96
Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Excellent (93%)
Excellent (95%)
Exceptional (>99%)
Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (91%)
Exceptional (98%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best comfort
Cushioning
Exceptional (99%)
Exceptional (99%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best cushioning
Durability
Excellent (91%)
Below average (37%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best durability
Appearance
Bottom tier (1%)
Bottom tier (21%)
Exceptional (98%)
Best appearance
Value
Very good (82%)
Very good (81%)
Very good (86%)
Best value
Where to buy
No offers available
Better alternatives
Higher-rated shoes similar to this one
Clifton 9
Daily trainer
$131.97
Top 1%
Ranks higher than this shoe
Mach 6
Daily trainer
$139.99
Top 1%
Ranks higher than this shoe
Novablast 5
Daily trainer
$110.47
Top 2%
Ranks higher than this shoe
Triumph 22
Daily trainer
$159.99
Top 2%
Ranks higher than this shoe
Escalante 4
Daily trainer
$94.88
Top 2%
Ranks higher than this shoe
Ghost 16
Daily trainer
$169.99
Top 3%
Ranks higher than this shoe
More from HOKA
Reader Ratings
37 reader ratings
Showing 1–5 of 37 written reviews
Reader review
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
5/5
Overall
I’ve been using the Clifton 3 since 8th grade (I’m now a senior). I tried the Clifton 5’s when I couldn’t find them online anymore and hated them and got injured within a month. I managed to find them online again though and stocked up.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Clifton 3's are a steal
Anonymous runner · Jul 21, 2018
5/5
Overall
The Clifton 3's are a freaking dream, a combination of cushion and lightness make it a good shoe for both Long Runs and short workouts. I got them on sale and they couldn't have been a better pick price-wise or fit wise. I'm very particular about the bottom shape of the shoe and Hoka hit it right on the head with the 3's. The only thing about the shoe is that they are super ugly, no offense to the creators but I got the blue/green ones because they were the cheapest option but they look very gaudy in person, not that it's a big deal because they feel so good.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 5/5
Hoka Clifton 3
InsertNameHere · Jul 9, 2018
5/5
Overall
I loved this shoe. I'm not a heavy runner but I used it predominantly in my marathon training for slower days and long runs. They've held up incredibly well after a short break-in period (retired them at 838 miles). The comfortable, cushioned ride went strong for me up to 500 miles.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
Marshmallow Heaven
Anonymous runner · Apr 25, 2018
4/5
Overall
I bought these because I travel often to a city whose only running surface is miles and miles of flat ceramic tile, which feels way too hard on the joints in regular running shoes. The Hokas are great for this surface, and I can get in lots and lots of easy miles with no pounding. They are super comfortable, unexpectedly lightweight, and are wonderfully cushiony, though not so much as to inspire knee issues. On the down side, they are a bit bulky, and it’s hard to get up on your toes to do any real pick-ups or strides in these floaty boats. For the same reason, I don’t take them trail running; they are just a little unresponsive.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 3/5