HOKA Clifton 1

Name: HOKA Clifton 1
Brand: HOKA
Rating: 4.9 (15 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.3 oz · 6mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Clifton 2 replaced it

How it ranks

The HOKA Clifton 1 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 16 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line.

Excellent

Overall

Excellent 96

Cushioning

Exceptional 99

Comfort

Exceptional 98

Value

Very good 92

Durability

Good 89

Appearance

Decent 73

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

95 Very high

Very high 95

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.

Brand rating
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“Lightweight, very well cushioned, while feeling fast and smooth.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

“Enough cushioning for long runs, light enough for faster work.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“Great cushioning, minimal weight, roomy toe box.”

5/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a half marathon

“1,100+ miles and still going, though upper needed sewing at flex points after 800 miles.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

“Super smooth ride with lots of cushion and bounce.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

“Size 12 weighs about 9.4 oz each.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

“Looks like a pillow, feels like it too.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“Versatile for long runs, tempos, and anything in between.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Napali

“500+ miles and still going strong.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas adizero Boston 7

“Clifton 4 too firm, lacks response, not as cushioned.”

5/5 Full review came from the Saucony Breakthru 2

“Very light and cushioned compared to recent Clifton versions.”

5/5 Full review 32 mpw training for a marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 5

“Don't overheat, very durable, super lightweight.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 4

“Smooth, well-cushioned ride with good responsiveness.”

5/5 Full review came from the Saucony Breakthru 2

“Later versions got progressively heavier and that took away from the magic.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

“Upper and tongue are mediocre but don't negatively affect experience.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

“Can have hotspots and blisters.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“Wide feet? Upsized a half size.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Huaka

Prefer this shoe over another

64% 14/22

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Light at 7.8 oz, and reviewers call the cushioning generous.
Runners use it for long runs, easy days and tempo work.
Two reviewers report over 500 and over 1,100 miles from a pair.

Cons

Appearance is its lowest-rated dimension at 4.1 out of 5, and one reviewer calls the upper and tongue unremarkable.
One reviewer at over 1,100 miles has had to sew the upper back together.

Clifton 1 rates 96. This shoe has very high confidence. 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

96 2014 85 2015 92 2016 65 2017 80 2018 79 2019 81 2020 90 2021 98 2023 93 2025 89 2026

Release year

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

Clifton 11

2026 · 4 reviews

89 Good

80 Confidence
Clifton 10

2025 · 11 reviews

93 Excellent

86 Confidence
Clifton 9

2023 · 130 reviews

98 Exceptional

100 Confidence
Clifton 8

2021 · 57 reviews

90 Very good

98 Confidence
Clifton 7

2020 · 8 reviews

81 Good

89 Confidence
Clifton 6

2019 · 68 reviews

79 Decent

99 Confidence
Clifton 5

2018 · 48 reviews

80 Good

99 Confidence
Clifton 4

2017 · 51 reviews

65 Below average

99 Confidence
Clifton 3

2016 · 37 reviews

92 Very good

99 Confidence
Clifton 2

2015 · 5 reviews

85 Good

89 Confidence
Clifton 1 This shoe

2014 · 16 reviews

96 Excellent

95 Confidence

Runner Ratings

16 ratings

5/5 14

4/5 2

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 7.8 oz · Women's 6.8 oz
Release: 2014
MSRP: $130
Drop: 6mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

I wish these were still available

5/5

Overall

This was the first pair of running shoes that I absolutely beat up so I caution that some of this might be based on nostalgia but good lord these shoes have been good to me. I wore them for everything from track work to long runs to 10k road races. I absolutely loved everything about them and they saved my legs from stupid mileage increases. My pair has well over 500 miles in then and I still pull them out for special occasions. I really hope hoka makes these available again because compared to the clifton 6 which I use now this shoe was phenomenal.

DoItForHim91 · Nov 24, 2020

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas adizero Boston 7

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

Hoka Clifton 1

4/5

Overall

This is my go to trainer for everyday running. It has a super smooth ride with a lot of cushion and bounce. Long runs, easy days, this is the shoe. The upper and tongue are meh but don't negatively affect my experience with the shoe.

Anonymous runner · Jan 27, 2020

45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

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

Perfect everything shoe

5/5

Overall

I am a high school cross country and track athlete who runs about 50 mi per week. I have tried many Hoka, New Balance, and Nike shoes, and the Clifton 1 is my favorite daily trainer. I love the versatility of this shoe from long runs to tempos, and anything in between, this shoe can handle it all. Please Hoka just keep making this shoe!

Anonymous runner · Jan 27, 2020

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Napali

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

Everyday Day Training Masterpiece

5/5

Overall

This shoe is the best everyday training shoe for the everyday to the higher status athlete!! Prefect for all runs (long/short/tempo/workout) . Very propulsive and can even double as a racing flat - especially in the longer distances!!

justlouden · Jan 18, 2020

65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Bondi 5

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

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Aug 16, 2019

20 mpw

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

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HOKA Clifton 1

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