3/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
35 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 1/5
- Value
- 4/5
HOKA Clifton 3
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.1 oz · 5mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Clifton 4 replaced it
How it ranks
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 is based on 37 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line.
Very good
92
Overall
92
Cushioning
98
Comfort
88
Durability
86
Value
81
Appearance
53
Confidence
99
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.
Confidence
99 Very high
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 sole is extremely thick without feeling bulky or clunky”
“The first week in these things is dreadful on your feet”
“Surprisingly durable with at least 550 miles and still good for shorter runs”
“Don't let the marshmallow-like midsole scare you—one can and will run fast in this shoe”
“Durability could have been better—exposed EVA got shredded quickly, about 200 miles before they stopped feeling good”
“A marvel—high levels of cushion in a package that is surprisingly fast”
“Can put 500+ miles on the shoe without it breaking down”
“At 80-110 mpw, over 1000 miles and still runs pretty comfortably”
“At 9 oz, handles tempos, long runs, and recovery runs with no problem trying to run fast”
“As light as racing flats yet provides just as much cushion as Adios boots minus the weight”
“Blown away with how comfortable it was—feet have never hurt after running in them”
“Held up incredibly well after a short break-in period—retired at 838 miles”
“Unless your foot is exceedingly narrow, you're going to have rubbing on the outside of your foot”
“At 5k pace and under, may feel a bit spongey compared to racing flats”
“As someone with flat feet, I wish they had a little bit more structure underfoot”
“The rubber outsole wears out a little bit quick in some spots”
“The Clifton has gotten heavier with each iteration”
“Only wish would be a wider toe box”
“They are super ugly”
“Toe box could be bigger”
“Just a little unresponsive”
Prefer this shoe over another
54% 34/63
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- 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
Better Shoes Rating
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
-
2026 · 4 reviews
89 Good
80 Confidence
-
2025 · 11 reviews
93 Excellent
86 Confidence
-
2023 · 130 reviews
98 Exceptional
100 Confidence
-
2021 · 57 reviews
90 Very good
98 Confidence
-
2020 · 8 reviews
81 Good
89 Confidence
-
2019 · 68 reviews
79 Decent
99 Confidence
-
2018 · 48 reviews
80 Good
99 Confidence
-
2017 · 51 reviews
65 Below average
99 Confidence
-
Clifton 3 This shoe
2016 · 37 reviews
92 Very good
99 Confidence
-
2015 · 5 reviews
85 Good
89 Confidence
-
2014 · 16 reviews
96 Excellent
95 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 9.1 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 9.6 oz · Women's 8.6 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $130
- Drop
- 5mm
Runner reviews
5/5
Overall
I’ve been using the Clifton 3 since 8th grade (I’m now a senior). I tried the Clifton 5’s when I couldn’t find them online anymore and hated them and got injured within a month. I managed to find them online again though and stocked up.
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Clifton 5
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Clifton 3's are a steal
5/5
Overall
The Clifton 3's are a freaking dream, a combination of cushion and lightness make it a good shoe for both Long Runs and short workouts. I got them on sale and they couldn't have been a better pick price-wise or fit wise. I'm very particular about the bottom shape of the shoe and Hoka hit it right on the head with the 3's. The only thing about the shoe is that they are super ugly, no offense to the creators but I got the blue/green ones because they were the cheapest option but they look very gaudy in person, not that it's a big deal because they feel so good.
Anonymous runner · Jul 21, 2018
35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ravenna 8
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 5/5
Hoka Clifton 3
5/5
Overall
I loved this shoe. I'm not a heavy runner but I used it predominantly in my marathon training for slower days and long runs. They've held up incredibly well after a short break-in period (retired them at 838 miles). The comfortable, cushioned ride went strong for me up to 500 miles.
InsertNameHere · Jul 9, 2018
50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Triumph ISO 2
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
Marshmallow Heaven
4/5
Overall
I bought these because I travel often to a city whose only running surface is miles and miles of flat ceramic tile, which feels way too hard on the joints in regular running shoes. The Hokas are great for this surface, and I can get in lots and lots of easy miles with no pounding. They are super comfortable, unexpectedly lightweight, and are wonderfully cushiony, though not so much as to inspire knee issues. On the down side, they are a bit bulky, and it’s hard to get up on your toes to do any real pick-ups or strides in these floaty boats. For the same reason, I don’t take them trail running; they are just a little unresponsive.
Anonymous runner · Apr 25, 2018
40 mpw came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 3/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from HOKA
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Current shoe
Choose a model
Best value rating
Lightest
/
Newest
Lowest price
/
Best overall
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Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.1 oz
9.0 oz
Lightest
9.9 oz
Stack
—
42/34mm
40/35mm
Drop
5mm
8mm
4mm
Release
2016 Q3
2026
Newest
2022 Q3
MSRP
$130
$155
$165
Best price
—
$149
$95
Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
92 Very good
89 Good
99 Exceptional
Best overall
Comfort
88 Good
93 Excellent
99 Exceptional
Best comfort
Cushioning
98 Exceptional
98 Exceptional
99 Exceptional
Best cushioning
Durability
86 Good
77 Decent
97 Exceptional
Best durability
Appearance
53 Bottom-tier
70 Decent
75 Decent
Best appearance
Value
81 Good
Best value rating
77 Decent
77 Decent
HOKA Clifton 3 In Context
More on the HOKA Clifton
- HOKA Clifton 11
- HOKA Clifton 10
- HOKA Clifton 9
- HOKA Clifton 8
- HOKA Clifton 7
- HOKA Clifton 6
- HOKA Clifton 4 next version
- HOKA Clifton 2 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33 3 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34 2 runners
- HOKA Challenger ATR 3 2 runners