HOKA Clifton 8

Name: HOKA Clifton 8
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.5 (30 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.9 oz · 5mm drop · 37/32mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Clifton 9 replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Clifton 8 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 57 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line.

Excellent

95/100

Overall

Excellent 95

Cushioning

Exceptional 98

Comfort

Exceptional 97

Value

Good 88

Durability

Good 82

Appearance

Decent 80

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

“After about 100km, what was once plush began to feel like running on gummy bears—squishy and sluggish.”

3/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Odyssey React 2

“All-around trainer that lets you do everything from tempos to 15+ mile long runs without beating up knees, back, or legs.”

4/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a marathon

“After I lace them up and hit the road, I forget they're even on my feet.”

5/5 Full review 5 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 5

“Worn for 4 years and really have held up nicely.”

5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for 5K and 10K

“Feels so much springier and responsive without being a super shoe.”

5/5 Full review 100 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 25

“No drastic drop off when they hit high miles.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Brooks Ghost 12

“I was able to run without knee pain.”

5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for 5K and 10K

“300 miles in with no real tread wear or deterioration to note.”

5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon

“The extra cushioning allowed me to get back into running.”

5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 7

“The energy return died.”

3/5 Full review 20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Odyssey React 2

Prefer this shoe over another

42% 20/48

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers praise the soft cushioning for easy days and long runs.
It weighs 8.9 oz on a 37mm heel stack, light for a maximalist trainer.
Reviewers use it for everything from easy miles to tempos.

Cons

Reviewers rate durability 4.1 out of 5, its lowest dimension, and three say the outsole wears faster than other trainers.
Two reviewers find it hard to pick up the pace, one saying the cushioning goes flat after about 100km.
Two reviewers call the forefoot narrow, and one cannot find it in extra-wide.

Clifton 8 rates 95. 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 This shoe

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

2014 · 16 reviews

99 Exceptional

97 Confidence

Reader Ratings

57 ratings

5/5 32

4/5 22

3/5 3

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 8.9 oz
Release: 2021 Q2
MSRP: $140
Stack Height: 37mm heel - 32mm toe
Drop Height: 5mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Best Shoe I've Ever Worn, No More Knee Pain

5/5

Overall

I always purchased cheap shoes because I'm poor, lol. I will say this is the best money I've ever spent on apparel. I was able to run without knee pain. Yes, they are bulky...but that's why they are cushiony and durable. I have worn them for 4 years; which, is too long but they really have held up nicely considering they are my main pair either for running or work.

JJ · Feb 21, 2024

20 mpw training for 5K and 10K

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

Saved my life

5/5

Overall

I transitioned to the Clifton after tons of lower extremity issues while trying to up my mileage and have not been disappointed. They are my go to every day running shoe. Can routinely get 400+ miles on them and weigh 180+

Anonymous runner · Dec 12, 2023

35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 23

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

Most comfortable trainer I've been in

5/5

Overall

fabulous shoe for easy days and strides, although they don't feel very quick when I try to pick up the pace. They also ran out of mileage a bit early, but overall super solid trainer

AXEX · Dec 7, 2023

20 mpw training for middle distance came from the Saucony Triumph 20

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

Great Cushioning - but been getting blisters

4/5

Overall

Maybe, 20-30 miles in with the shoe, the first few runs I got some major blisters in my inside arch, since using them more that issue has lessened a good bit as I broke them in.

Anonymous runner · Nov 26, 2023

22 mpw training for 5K and 10K