Good Unpopular Shoe
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 14, 2019
72 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Skechers GOrun Ride 7
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
HOKA Clifton 4
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.1 oz · 5mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The HOKA Clifton 5 replaced it
How it ranks
The HOKA Clifton 4 trails most 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 51 runner reviews and 10 other rated shoes in the Clifton product line.
Below average
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
“Every time I run for more than 1:20, I get a blister on top of second toe”
“Amazing feel, super light, nice roll off toe, plenty of cushioning”
“After 6 weeks, plantar fasciitis almost gone, training mileage way up”
“The height of toe box was shallow, rubbed blister on top of two toes”
“Stretch the mileage out to 700–800 miles without feeling much besides quads a little more sore”
“Sustained major upper calf injury after five runs”
“Extremely cushioned, stable, and quick to run in”
“Achilles pain went away within two weeks”
“Added bulk and rocker design make stride feel awkward at pace”
“Cushioning helped prevent shin splints during long runs”
“Doesn't typically last beyond 250 miles”
“No longer experience foot pain (corrected from earlier model)”
“Needs shoe goo on outer heel every 50–100 miles”
“No achilles issues (previously perpetual problem)”
“Only shoe I can run in after plantar fasciitis”
“The side of previous pair ripped making it difficult to keep foot in place during runs”
“Unique meta rocker function limits stress on big toe joint”
“Plush feeling gone by mile 200”
“High arch and insole edge rubs blister one inch long in arch”
“Rips far faster than upper on previous models”
“Not good for intervals, feels like cloud”
“Toebox narrower, midsole firmer”
“Firm cushioning, heavier than previous Cliftons”
“Just as much bulk as older Bondi”
“More narrow than Clifton 3”
“The toe box is somewhat narrow”
Prefer this shoe over another
40% 29/73
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Five reviewers call it light for the amount of cushioning it carries.
- Four reviewers say their legs feel fresher after long runs.
- Ten reviewers with foot, achilles or big-toe joint problems say it works for them.
Cons
- Seven reviewers find the toe box narrow, and five get blisters on the toes or the arch.
- Nine reviewers report the outsole or upper wearing out early, several of them by 200 to 300 miles.
- Five reviewers find it awkward or flat at faster paces.
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
-
Clifton 4 This shoe
2017 · 51 reviews
65 Below average
99 Confidence
-
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
- 2017 Q3
- MSRP
- $130
- Drop
- 5mm
Runner reviews
Hoka Clifton 4
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 9, 2019
35 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Hoka Clifton 4
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 28, 2019
12 mpw came from the Under Armour Threadborne Shift
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Hokas are the best hands down
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 26, 2019
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Love my hokas
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 23, 2019
20 mpw came from the On Cloudswift
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- 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 4 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 5 next version
- HOKA Clifton 3 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- HOKA Clifton 3 12 runners
- Brooks Ghost 10 3 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34 2 runners