The HOKA Clifton 5 ranks among the stronger daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. Most runners who came to it from another shoe preferred it. The rating rests on 48 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line.
Good
88/100
Overall
Good88
Cushioning
Exceptional99
Comfort
Exceptional97
Durability
Very good91
Value
Good82
Appearance
Decent72
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 describe soft, forgiving cushioning that suits long, easy mileage.
Many runners find it light for the amount of cushioning.
It rates well above the Clifton 4 it replaced, which scores 64 on fifty-one reviews.
Cons
Several reviewers report the thin outsole rubber wearing through quickly.
Toe box fit divides reviewers, with blisters a common complaint.
Appearance is its lowest-rated dimension, and reviewers call the look meh or clownish.
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 5 rates 88.
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've only logged 44 miles in these shoes after suffering an injury (not related to the shoe, at least I hope not). They are very comfortable, but seem kind of heavy and clunky. However, they have helped me dealing with previous plantar fasciitis problems. Although not good looking shoes, they are doing the trick.
I tested out the Clifton 5 on a 15 mile run and had no blisters or discomfort. I feel like the toe box is not as wide as the Clifton 3’s - which have been my favorite so far. Clifton’s generally get me around 500 miles which I love!
I started running in the Clifton 5 as I came back from a stress reaction in my upper tibia. I had been running in the Adidas Ultra Boost ST and the combination of the shoe's boost foam midsole and support structure just didn't work well for my body, and ultimately led to a stress reaction. The Clifton 5 on the other hand, supports my foot much more evenly. I love how light it is for the amount of cushion I get. I love the slight curve in the sole that makes my stride feel smoother. The cushioning is extremely soft and can take some time to get used to, but I don't expect to get another stress reaction anytime soon. Bottom line, the Clifton 5 looks great, feels great, and is a great value as it lasts me about 200 miles longer than any shoe I've had previous!
After having a strong interest in the brand for a while, I finally made the decision to purchase a pair of Cliftons after being unhappy with my last pair of running shoes. After trying them on in the store and doing a few runs, I was hooked. The cushioning is phenomenal and allows me to run more miles than ever all while allowing my legs to feel better than ever.
