The HOKA Clifton 3 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 37 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line.
Exceptional
98/100
Overall
Exceptional98
Cushioning
Exceptional99
Comfort
Very good93
Durability
Very good91
Value
Good86
Appearance
Bottom-tier50
Confidence
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.
Reviewers get cushioned long-run miles from a 9.6 oz build.
Many reviewers report 500 to 1000 miles before it breaks down.
Four reviewers coming back from injury describe comfortable, easy training in it.
Cons
Three reviewers want a wider toe box, though three others call it comfortable.
Two reviewers find it spongy and hard to turn over faster than 5K pace.
It lists at $130, and four reviewers call it expensive at full price.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how
much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both
well rated and well established.
Confidence
5060708090100255075100
Better Shoes Rating
Clifton 3 rates 98.
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.
I haven't worn that many pairs of shoes, but in my opinion, the Clifton 3 and the Asics GT-1000 (could be a nostalgia thing, I did my first marathon in the GT) have been my two favorites. The Clifton 3 has a very smooth feel when you get used to it. While there is a lot of support, the zero drop still leaves you feeling with a fairly natural stride (obviously not as good as a flat, but still quite good). The shoes are surprisingly durable. I have at least 550 miles on them and I still use them for shorter runs (
hershey890 · Feb 1, 2018
40 mpw·training for a marathon
Comfort
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5
Hoka One One Clifton 3 Review
4/5
Overall
Was a little worried about trying out this shoe with so much cushioning. I was worried that it would require too much effort to run faster but that just isn't the case. Weighing in at around 9 oz. I've run everything from longer tempos, long runs, and recovery runs in them with no problem trying to run fast. The cushioning is great and can definitely be felt on downhills. At first look the sole looks like it won't hold up that great, but it is the complete opposite. Overall it is has become one of my favorite shoes. They may be a little pricey but if you can find them on sale, they're a shoe I would recommend 100%
I am training for sprints, and for a guy like me who has undisplined foot strike and heel strike and little bit over weight and is a hobby jogger. The Clifton 3 takes all the injuries away when I just want to do a 30 minutes recover run. Not only does it provides maximum cushion, but it stay around 9oz for my size 10. In comparison Nike Pegasus shows less cushion yet is an oz heavier. This is the best shoes for hobby joggers period.
Anonymous runner · Jan 20, 2018
5 mpw·training for sprints
Comfort
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5
Stands up to anything
5/5
Overall
I bought these to help me as I put on more mileage about 80-110 mpw and they have gotten over 1000 miles and I can still run in them pretty comfortably today
The Hoka Clifton was the first Hoka shoe I tried after a long stretch with the Asics GT-2000. I ran a half marathon in 2015 that trashed my lower calfs, and I needed a change in footwear because it wasn't getting better with the GT2Ks. I really like the Hokas for being lightweight and encouraging more of a midfoot strike than the previous shoes I was in. I do the majority of my training on gravel carriage roads. As someone with flat feet, I wish they had a little bit more structure underfoot. Gotta try the Hoka Arahis. They could be a good middle ground. Either way, I'd recommend these shoes. Oh yeah, here's my background: I was a serious runner in college who quit for about 7 years after graduating. I rediscovered my love of running about 6 years ago, and I've been running in a capacity that's one step up from recreational since then.
