HOKA Clifton 1

Name: HOKA Clifton 1
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.9 (15 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.8 oz · 6mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Clifton 2 replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Clifton 1 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 16 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line.

Exceptional

99/100

Overall

Exceptional 99

Cushioning

Exceptional 99

Comfort

Exceptional 99

Value

Exceptional 97

Durability

Excellent 95

Appearance

Decent 75

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

97/100

Very high 97

What runners say

“Lightweight, very well cushioned, while feeling fast and smooth.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

“Enough cushioning for long runs, light enough for faster work.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“Great cushioning, minimal weight, roomy toe box.”

5/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a half marathon

“1,100+ miles and still going, though upper needed sewing at flex points after 800 miles.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

“Super smooth ride with lots of cushion and bounce.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

“Size 12 weighs about 9.4 oz each.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

“Looks like a pillow, feels like it too.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“Versatile for long runs, tempos, and anything in between.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Napali

“500+ miles and still going strong.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas adizero Boston 7

“Later versions got progressively heavier and that took away from the magic.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

Prefer this shoe over another

64% 14/22

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Light at 7.8 oz, and reviewers call the cushioning generous.
Runners use it for long runs, easy days and tempo work.
Two reviewers report over 500 and over 1,100 miles from a pair.

Cons

Appearance is its lowest-rated dimension at 4.1 out of 5, and one reviewer calls the upper and tongue unremarkable.
One reviewer at over 1,100 miles has had to sew the upper back together.

Clifton 1 rates 99. This shoe has very high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Clifton

Each dot is one version of the Clifton, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

99 2014 97 2015 98 2016 64 2017 88 2018 87 2019 81 2020 95 2021 99 2023 95 2025 86 2026

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Clifton 11

2026 · 3 reviews

86 Good

70 Confidence
Clifton 10

2025 · 11 reviews

95 Excellent

87 Confidence
Clifton 9

2023 · 130 reviews

99 Exceptional

100 Confidence
Clifton 8

2021 · 57 reviews

95 Excellent

97 Confidence
Clifton 7

2020 · 8 reviews

81 Good

83 Confidence
Clifton 6

2019 · 68 reviews

87 Good

97 Confidence
Clifton 5

2018 · 48 reviews

88 Good

97 Confidence
Clifton 4

2017 · 51 reviews

64 Below average

98 Confidence
Clifton 3

2016 · 37 reviews

98 Exceptional

98 Confidence
Clifton 2

2015 · 5 reviews

97 Exceptional

90 Confidence
Clifton 1 This shoe

2014 · 16 reviews

99 Exceptional

97 Confidence

Reader Ratings

16 ratings

5/5 14

4/5 2

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.8 oz
Release: 2014
MSRP: $130
Drop Height: 6mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Clifton 1 Rerelease

5/5

Overall

Very light and cushioned compared to recent Clifton versions

Anonymous runner · Jul 10, 2019

32 mpw training for a marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 5

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Hoka Clifton OG

5/5

Overall

I started wearing the Hoka Clifton after being injury prone in minimalist shoes. While I have gotten injured since, I still love the Clifton. I've had at least one pair of every version (expect the 5 or 6), but the OG is the best so far. I love how light yet cushioned they are. They don't inhibit my stride whatsoever. I plant in the midfoot, and these provide plenty of cushion there. They don't overheat, are very durable (although I am very slight of frame), and are super lightweight. I've never had a problem with them.

Anonymous runner · Jul 9, 2019

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Great support

5/5

Overall

Tried this shoe to help heal from plantar fasciitis. It provides great support. I believe it has helped in my healing process. It also is lightweight in spite of the support and cushioning which is a great feature since I typically like a lighter shoe.

Anonymous runner · Jul 9, 2019

40 mpw training for a marathon came from the adidas adizero Boston 7

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Great shoe great price

5/5

Overall

I've been a Hoka user for several years and after taking some time off I ordered the remake of the Clifton 1. I tried it on when it came out originally but never bought it. I knew it was going to be a good shoe for me then so when I had the opportunity to get it at a lesser price I was all over it. Thanks Hoka.

Anonymous runner · Jul 4, 2019

25 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the HOKA Stinson ATR

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Maybe the best trainer ever

5/5

Overall

This is a great all around shoe that probably was responsible for bringing Hoka One One to the masses. Running Warehouse said it was their best seller the year it came out. It's lightweight, very well cushioned, while feeling fast and smooth. My size 12 Cliftons weighed 268 g and 263 g, or about 9.4 oz each. The later versions (2, 3, and 4) got progressively heavier and that took away from the magic and desirability. I have wide feet, so I upsized a half size (from 11.5 to 12 in US men's) and used it without a sockliner. I was lucky to find this on a sale table when the Clifton 3 was the current shoe. I have over 1,100 miles in it so far and still going, though I've had to sew up the upper at the flex points several times since about 800 miles. That's still excellent durability considering how thin the uppers are.

zzzz · Feb 6, 2018

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Alternatives

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99/100 rating

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Analyses

HOKA Clifton 1

Exceptional