HOKA Clayton 2

Name: HOKA Clayton 2
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.5 (13 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.3 oz · 4mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Clayton 1 replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Clayton 2 trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 14 runner reviews and 1 other rated shoe in the Clayton product line.

Below average

Overall

Below average 69

Cushioning

Good 82

Durability

Decent 73

Comfort

Below average 63

Appearance

Below average 61

Value

Below average 60

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 is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

88 High

High 88

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“The wide sole does feel like a bucket seat... a comfortable one at that”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Energy Boost 3

“The Clayton seems to have more of a natural rocker to it which I can really sense compared to the flatter Mach.”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the HOKA Clayton 1

“Light and cushioned, still surprisingly nimble.”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance 880 v5

“Better fatigue resistance than any other shoe because of the cushioning and the light weight.”

5/5 Full review 42 mpw training for a marathon

“It's a low-drop shoe with a snug upper and tight fit.”

5/5 Full review 95 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“I have 410 miles logged on these shoes and there's still only minimal damage.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ravenna 8

“This is a solid, lightweight trainer that is also beefy enough to hold up to quicker long runs.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 21

“700+ miles and still going as a rotation shoe.”

5/5 Full review 42 mpw training for a marathon

“The shoe has a good amount of cushioning for its weight.”

5/5 Full review 95 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“Wanted something with some cushioning, light weight, and not a ton of drop. Found it in the Clayton.”

5/5 Full review 90 mpw came from the Altra Instinct 4.0

“The sockliner it comes with is strangely shaped and rubbed the medial part of my arch/ball of foot creating a long blister”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance 880 v5

“Not recommended for serious overpronators, as these have little support.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 21

“It seems to land flat, with a 'thwap thwap thwap' that I can hear and feel”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the HOKA Clayton 1

“They can feel a little awkward at times, especially when running 8:00/mile or slower.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ravenna 8

“There is a seam where the upper meets the midsole that can cause blistering”

5/5 Full review 95 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“I would recommend if your shoes feel too clunky/restrictive when running tempo/slower intervals.”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“Very lightweight, supportive shoe.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the HOKA Clifton 3

Prefer this shoe over another

25% 3/12

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Averaging 7.2 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is lighter than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale, and reviewers find it cushioned enough for tempo runs and marathons.
Two reviewers report 410 and more than 700 miles with little wear.
One reviewer finds it has more of a natural rocker than the HOKA Mach, and rolls more smoothly.

Cons

Several reviewers blister from the stock sockliner or from the seam where the upper meets the midsole.
One reviewer finds it awkward at 8:00 per mile pace and slower.
Appearance is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.8 out of 5.

Clayton 2 rates 69. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the HOKA Clayton

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

Rating

40 60 80 100

70 2017 69 2017

Release year

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

Clayton 2 This shoe

2017 · 14 reviews

69 Below average

88 Confidence
Clayton 1

2017 · 3 reviews

70 Decent

58 Confidence

Runner Ratings

14 ratings

5/5 6

4/5 8

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: 7.3 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 7.3 oz · Women's 7.2 oz
Release: 2017 Q3
MSRP: $150
Drop: 4mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

5/5

Overall

Body was feeling more beat up after going to the zero drop altras. Wanted something with some cushioning, light weight, and not a ton of drop. Found it in the Clayton. Outside of the sock liner which I removed I don't have a bad thing to say about the shoe.

Anonymous runner · Feb 13, 2018

90 mpw came from the Altra Instinct 4.0

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

Bucket seat, low drop

4/5

Overall

Like they describe in the marketing, the wide sole does feel like a bucket seat... a comfortable one at that. I do everything from easy runs to tempos to track work to races in these. My favorite all around running shoe of the moment.

Anonymous runner · Feb 12, 2018

35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Energy Boost 3

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

Clayton 2

5/5

Overall

Very lightweight, supportive shoe. Having some issues with blisters, but it might be unrelated. Have pretty much made full-time switch to Hoka's after years of Mizunos.

runloma · Feb 7, 2018

30 mpw came from the HOKA Clifton 3

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

Solid shoe for uptempo runs

5/5

Overall

I use this shoe primary indoors (indoor tracks and treadmills) when going around 7 minute mile pace or faster. I have around 150 miles in these so I can't speak much on their durability, but I can say that there have been no problems at all so far. I would recommend if your shoes feel to clunky/restrictive when running tempo/slower intervals.

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

45 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

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

Great Lightweight Trainer with Cushioning

5/5

Overall

The shoe has a good amount of cushioning for its weight. It's a low-drop shoe with a snug upper and tight fit. Although it's not the most attractive shoe in terms of appearance, I haven't had many problems with it. There is a seam where the upper meets the midsole that can cause blistering, but that is my only concern. Otherwise it is a great shoe.

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

95 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3