HOKA Clifton 2

Name: HOKA Clifton 2
Brand: HOKA

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.7 oz · 5mm drop · 29/24mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Clifton 3 replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Clifton 2 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 5 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line. Another 7 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

Exceptional

97/100

Overall

Exceptional 97

Cushioning

Exceptional 99

Comfort

Excellent 95

Value

Good 88

Durability

Decent 80

Appearance

Below average 63

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

90/100

High 90

What runners say

“Extremely cushioned with low heel-toe drop that reduces shin strain.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the ASICS GT-2000 6

“Sometimes you just don't want to sink into the ground.”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30

“Outsole wears out quite fast for cross country runners.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the ASICS GT-2000 6

“Sometimes wish the shoe was a bit more responsive.”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30

“For such a big shoe, they're not too heavy.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the ASICS GT-2000 6

“The bottoms are getting pretty worn.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Mafate 3

“Much lighter and seems to last a long time.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Mafate 3

Prefer this shoe over another

50% 5/10

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Four of five reviewers rate cushioning 5 out of 5.
At 8.7 oz, two reviewers note it stays light for such a big shoe.
One reviewer uses it for tempo runs, intervals and long runs alike, and another for easy days.

Cons

Durability averages 4.0 out of 5, and two reviewers report the outsole wearing through quickly.
One reviewer wants more response and dislikes sinking into the ground.

Clifton 2 rates 97. This shoe has 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 This shoe

2015 · 5 reviews

97 Exceptional

90 Confidence
Clifton 1

2014 · 16 reviews

99 Exceptional

97 Confidence

Reader Ratings

5 ratings

5/5 4

4/5 1

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: 8.7 oz
Release: 2015
MSRP: $1
Stack Height: 29mm heel - 24mm toe
Drop Height: 5mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Goodbye Shin Splints

5/5

Overall

If you struggle with shin splints as I had for over four years, then Hokas are definitely for you. The Hoka Clifton 2 is extremely cushioned and the low heel to toe drop allows your legs to use more of your calf muscle and less of the muscles around your shin. Basically, it puts less strain on your shins. For such a big shoe, they're not too heavy. However, the durability is a bit of an issue for cross country runners as the outsole wears out quite fast.

Anonymous runner · Aug 10, 2019

30 mpw came from the ASICS GT-2000 6

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

Clifton 2 review

5/5

Overall

I bought this shoe on runnerswarehouse to replace my Hoka Mafate 3. Not as soft but still an excellent shoe for daily running. I use it for everything I do. Tempo runs, Intervals and long runs. Much lighter and seems to last a long time but the bottoms are getting pretty worn. I run about 30 mpw. Should of bought more while on clearnace.

Anonymous runner · Jul 12, 2018

30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Mafate 3

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

GOAT discount shoe

5/5

Overall

I buy it off the Hoka website on sale, i've owned 4 or 5 pairs now, i can't keep track. I have had no injuries while wearing the Hoka CLifton 2's.

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 3/5
Value: 5/5

Nice cushioning, wish was more responsive

4/5

Overall

This was my first experience with a Hoka shoe and I bought it on discount from Running Warehouse. I like the look and feel of the shoe. Overall it's a decent shoe for most of my easy runs but sometimes I feel I wish the shoe was a bit more responsive. Maybe I'm asking for too much as it is supposed to have cushion but sometimes I just don't want to sink into the ground.

Anonymous runner · Jan 10, 2018

30 mpw came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30

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

Top Rankings

By Category

Best Deals

Explore

Start Here

Analyses

HOKA Clifton 2

Exceptional