4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 5/5
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
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.
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.
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
The softest shoe in the game
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Hoka One One Clifton 3 Review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 17
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Hoka One One Clifton 3 Review
4/5
Overall
bhornig91 · Feb 6, 2018
70 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the HOKA Challenger ATR 2
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Clifton 3: Surprisingly fast shoe with some fit issues
4/5
Overall
jpsaltakis · Feb 6, 2018
70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Zealot ISO 2
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from HOKA
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
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