Hoka One One Clifton 8 – A Combination Of Comfort And Lightness

Already the eighth version of the French brand’s road-going volumetrics has undergone minor modifications compared to the previous model and is even a hair lighter and more versatile than before. It doesn’t shy away from higher tempos either, and can safely handle any mileage you decide to put in as part of your volume training. Those who choose to use them for recovery runs will be surprised at how comfortable they will be. The shoes are easy to get into with the “Achilles fin” and the Meta Rocker will carry you to the next steps with ease.

The upper is made up of a very breathable mesh that allows the foot to breathe relatively well even at higher tempos. A new feature compared to the previous model is the rubberized part around the lacing (apparently the mesh was tearing when tightening the laces), which is a nice change, especially if you want to use the shoes for a long time. The tongue is sufficiently padded to avoid unpleasant blisters. Attached to the bottom of the shoe is a soft, stretchy fabric so it doesn’t come off anywhere and stays on the foot nicely.

Sufficient cushioning is provided by EVA foam along the entire length of the sole, as is traditional. Similarly, the Meta Rocker technology ensures a pleasant transition from tread to rebound. Hoka is one of the first brands to come up with so-called maximalism. Its midsoles are higher even on more nimble models. Cliftons are a shoe on the borderline between a faster pace shoe and a training shoe for racking up the miles. The 5mm drop pushes the cleat over the toe, so higher speed is not an issue. Although the midsole is quite high, we can see that the heel is recessed deeper. This increases the stability of the shoe and makes the Cliftons usable even on light paved terrain.

Hoka One One Clifton 8 shoes are my first experience with this brand. Although I was skeptical of the brand at first, especially due to the atypical design of the boots I have experienced so far. I can safely say that this is a very high quality and hilarious piece. For a runner not familiar with the Hoka brand, putting them on for the first time is a really different experience than usual. Although the drop of the shoe is only 5mm, the amount of cushioning made it feel like I was wearing a heel. However, with the first few kilometres this feeling fades and is replaced by a feeling of complete comfort even when swallowing longer volume distances. This type of comfort is easy to get used to, although I think it comes as a shock at first. I would say that for someone who is used to the response of the surface they are running on, this shoe is not the best choice, but someone who needs to rack up long miles in training or trot after a hard workout or race and not think about what they are running on will be supremely satisfied. Still, you can handle fartleks or shorter paces in the shoe. In size number 9, the manufacturer indicates a weight of 260 g. In my “boat” size (UK 12) the shoe is still only 302g which puts it in the top spot (in weight) of my volume shoes. So, from my point of view, a slightly upgraded, quality effort from a brand that has already won the hearts of many runners in its short lifetime.