HOKA Clifton PRO review

We tested the HOKA Clifton PRO and found it ideal for:

• Runners who wanted the Clifton 11 to offer a bit more energy return but were pleased with everything else.
• Anyone looking for a max-stack, comfort-focused shoe for easy miles.
• Midfoot or heel strikers who need a high-drop shoe that also works well for everyday use.
• Those who live in hot climates and need a shoe with excellent breathability.

While the new PROGLIDE+ foam is a real improvement over the old CMEVA foam, energy return remains limited and well below what we expect from a modern running shoe. If bounce worries you, take a look at the PUMA Magnify Nitro 3 or the Nike Vomero Plus.

We also think the ultra-high stack of the Clifton PRO won't suit very light runners or those who simply prefer a closer-to-the-ground feel. Instead, the HOKA Mach 7 is the obvious pick.

The HOKA Clifton PRO sounds like it should have notably more shock absorption than the Clifton 11, but that's not the case. It actually delivers 2% less shock absorption in the heel, with a respectable 143 SA score, while the forefoot does offer a real improvement, reaching 128 SA compared to 117 SA in the regular Clifton.

These numbers are well aligned with the maximalist midsole of the Clifton PRO, and we think they provide enough cushioning for any runner.

HOKA has long avoided naming its foams, but that's finally changing. The Clifton PRO comes with PROGLIDE+, a supercritical EVA foam that's a real step up from the old, rusty CMEVA foam used in the Clifton 11. However, its energy return results are a bit bittersweet for a shoe with PRO in the name.

We tested its bounce and recorded 53.6% in the heel and 58.5% in the forefoot. That's more than the Clifton 11, but still below the current lab average and notably lower than the shoe's main competitors. In fact, for a shoe called PRO, this is probably more bitter than sweet.

The midsole of the HOKA Clifton PRO is slightly thicker than the regular Clifton 11, although the difference is minimal. We measured 43.2 mm at the heel, confirming its true max-stack design.

For this shoe to work for you, you really need to love this type of highly-cushioned platform. If you prefer a moderate stack with some ground feel, this is probably not the shoe for you.

The forefoot also rises well above the 30 mm threshold, reaching 32.8 mm. Therefore, our recommendation remains the same for midfoot and forefoot strikers: go for the Clifton PRO only if you love a maximalist design with as much foam underfoot as possible.

We usually measure HOKA shoes with a higher drop than the one stated by the brand, and the Clifton PRO is no exception. 

We measured 10.4 mm, making it a very heel-striker-friendly setup, slightly higher than the 8 mm stated by HOKA and far removed from the 5 mm drop that defined the Clifton for years.

HOKA promotes this shoe as delivering a plush ride, but during our runs, we found it offered a more balanced feel without leaning toward either extreme. Interestingly, we think this is probably the most effective approach for the Clifton PRO if HOKA wants it to work for as many runners as possible.

In our lab, we checked its softness with our Asker C durometer, and the result correlated well with our experience: 37.0 AC, only slightly different from the current lab average.

After that, we put the Clifton PRO in the freezer for 20 minutes and found that it became 22% firmer. That's not the best result, but it's expected from an EVA foam.

The Clifton PRO comes with HOKA's usual MetaRocker design, although in this case, it's moderate in the forefoot yet very aggressive in the heel area. That's not a surprise, as HOKA probably expects some extreme heel strikers to go for this shoe, and that aggressive heel bevel works wonders for them.

One of the usual traits of HOKA shoes is their snug fit, and we were curious to see if that's also the case with the Clifton PRO.

Our first measurement surprised us with a generous 97.1 mm, which is not very common for HOKA shoes. Therefore, the Clifton PRO offers a somewhat roomier fit than we're used to from the brand.

However, that roomy feel doesn't extend to the toebox, where we found the usual pointy HOKA shape with just 70.3 mm of width. That's not much room for natural toe splay.

A result of 26.5 mm in this test suggests that HOKA wanted to play it safe.

Too much room can make the fit feel sloppy, while too little can feel overwhelming around the toes. This sits right in between.

One area where HOKA lags behind some of its main competitors in the road running category is traction, and the Clifton PRO proves it once again.

A result of 0.52 indicates decent grip, especially on dry surfaces, but it's far below the 0.70+ scores many rivals are achieving today. Therefore, if traction is a priority or you live in a rainy area, this may not be the best pick.

The outsole design is a classic from HOKA using modular pods and lots of flex grooves. It also uses a new Super Abrasion Rubber compound that, to be honest, wasn't very impressive in our traction test.

We'll see later whether it at least improves durability, something the shoe badly needs given the quite limited rubber coverage.

One positive aspect of the outsole design becomes clear here, as HOKA managed to make the Clifton PRO reasonably flexible despite its super-sized midsole. In our 30-degree bend test, it scored below average at just 14.8N, making it more compliant and comfortable for everyday use and even walking.

Anyone expecting a weight reduction from the Clifton 11 will be disappointed, as this shoe weighs virtually the same at 9.3 oz (264g). It's a respectable result for such a big shoe, but we certainly hoped that the switch from CMEVA to supercritical EVA foam would pay some dividends here.

A score of 106 BR in our breathability test puts the Clifton PRO straight into the top performers here.

This is especially useful in hot weather or for runners who sweat more than average, as the excellent breathability helps keep your feet drier and more comfortable throughout the run.

We recorded an impressive 63% of liquid evaporation during the same 3-hour test, showing that the shoe does an excellent job of releasing moisture over time.

As a result, the Clifton PRO help prevent humidity from building up in the shoe and making it heavier, especially during longer efforts.

The HOKA Clifton PRO has the brand's usual broad midfoot design, which takes away some agility but provides a clear boost in stability. Combined with the snug toebox and mild sidewalls, it creates a stable ride for neutral runners despite the high stack height.

However, we don't think it's the best choice for runners who usually need a stability shoe, as its support may not be enough for them.

Due to its broad midfoot and high stack height, we found that the HOKA Clifton PRO is quite difficult to twist. Its rigid construction required 17.1 Nm of torque in our torsional rigidity test.

The heel counter never felt overly stiff or uncomfortable, even for runners with sensitive heels, and our 3/5 rating confirms its balanced level of stiffness.

The midsole is slightly broader than the average shoe, but 117.8 mm is nothing extreme when you consider the over-40-mm midsole height.

In our view, this is an interesting choice because it provides a good balance of support without making the shoe feel too clunky, ultimately making it more versatile.

The heel follows the same design language, even dipping slightly below average in a somewhat rare move for a max-stack shoe. We measured 90.1 mm here.

The upper delivers impressive comfort and feels excellent against the foot, but that comes at the cost of durability. In our first Dremel test, it scored just 1/5.

Fortunately, the heel padding performs much better against abrasion, earning a more reassuring 4/5 in our test.

We were also very pleased with the outsole durability. After using the Dremel, we measured the resulting indentation with a tyre tread gauge, and the 0.7 mm dent is a very good result.

We also found enough outsole thickness to keep durability concerns at bay with 2.9 mm.

Both this test and the outsole durability test were particularly important for the Clifton PRO, as its rubber coverage isn't the most generous. Therefore, the existing rubber needs to be both durable and thick enough for a daily trainer.

The insole doesn't deviate from what we usually find in daily running shoes, with a thickness of 4.8 mm.

If you need to use a custom orthotic, you can easily do so because the stock insole is removable.

HOKA is one of the few brands that adds reflective elements to almost every shoe it makes, and we’ve always appreciated that. The Clifton PRO is no exception.

The lacing system is slightly different from the regular version, but it still uses the usual HOKA setup with punched eyelets and flat laces. Therefore, there are no big surprises here, as HOKA is simply sticking to what works.

The tongue feels very similar in terms of comfort, which isn't surprising considering its thickness is only 1 mm different. At 7.1 mm, it's just as comfortable and well-padded as we'd expect from the Clifton line.

One change we really liked is the addition of a semi-gusseted tongue in the PRO version, and we hope this upgrade eventually makes its way to the Clifton 12 as well.

And yes, it's hard to see in our photo because of the dark gusset's colour, but trust us (or zoom in!), it's definitely there!

There's no finger-loop heel tab, and HOKA has also ditched the extended heel collar design found on some of its other models.

The HOKA Clifton PRO's pricing is an interesting topic. Going for this version instead of the Clifton 11 is a no-brainer considering the small price bump and the clear upgrade in specs. However, we also think the shoe is a bit overpriced considering its tech, so getting it at a good discount is key to making it a better-value purchase.