HOKA Clifton 10 Review: More Cushion, Same Comfort

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

When you think of home, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a familiar smell, the sound of your mom’s favorite TV show playing or the slight creak in the hallway stairs. For many people, home evokes a sense of security and well-being, marking a safe haven from the rest of the world.

For me, the HOKA Clifton feels like home. That may sound like a dramatic and overemotional exaggeration, but something about the fit and ride just feels right. I’ve been wearing the Clifton for four years, so I was excited to try the latest iteration.

However, I was met with the familiar trepidation that comes along with your favorite shoe getting updated. Will the new changes mess up the familiar feel I’ve come to know and love? Read on to find out Kate’s, Heather’s and my thoughts on the new Clifton 10, available April 15.

Just like previous versions of the Clifton, the 10 uses a compression-molded EVA midsole foam underfoot to cushion every stride. Compression molded foams are shaped by applying pressure to a mold to shape ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA)–a lightweight, flexible foam known for its shock absorbing properties. The result? A midsole that offers the perfect blend between soft and firm.

What’s a midsole? Learn about the parts that make up a running shoe.

I’ve always loved this blend of foam in the Clifton. It’s decently soft, but it doesn’t sink all the way in. Rather, my foot starts to sink in a little bit but then is quickly met with a substantive feel that keeps me from sinking in completely. This allows me to pick my feet back up off the ground with ease rather than digging out of the cushioning. I wore these for a four mile recovery run, and was very pleased with the way they felt initially. After that initial impression, my mind forgot about my feet and focused on the miles ahead–which is exactly what I want for a daily trainer.

Heather agrees, saying “The cushion doesn’t feel overly soft, nor is it overly firm. The Clifton 10 is a great “Goldilocks” shoe.”

HOKA prides themselves on their Metarocker™ shape, a curved rocker placed close to the midfoot to ease you forward from heel to forefoot. While this rocker shape is the same as previous generations of the Clifton, the shoe’s geometry is slightly different.

In the past, the HOKA Clifton used a 5-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, which is the difference in height between your heel and forefoot. The Clifton 10 uses an 8-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, placing your heel even higher above your toes. None of our reviewers noticed this difference until we looked at the shoe’s tech specs, it offers the same smooth ride we’ve come to know and love.

“I took the Clifton for a few walks and easy runs,” Kate says. “It feels fairly firm when walking, and I think it feels slightly softer on the run. The shoe has a gentle curvature which helps keep me moving forward. But this shoe is made for comfort, and not speed. It’s lightweight and fairly nimble, so you can pick up the pace in it, but it’s not really giving any kind of speed advantage.”

The Clifton 10 uses a durabrasion rubber outsole placed only in the areas that see the most wear and tear, like the forefoot and edges of the heel, to ensure maximum durability with minimal weight.

Again, I am reiterating what I said previously–these shoes feel like home. They also feel familiar when it comes to sizing. The Clifton always runs a little bit big on me, so I always order a half size down from my normal 6.5. Kate also ordered a half size down, and Heather wished she had.

“The Clifton definitely runs large for me and felt a bit loose as I ran, but it was nothing that a little creative lacing couldn’t fix,” she says. “Even though I know I would likely want to wear a half-size smaller, I still feel confident saying that both the toe box and instep offer an appropriately generous amount of space.”

Despite the sizing discrepancies, reviewers enjoyed the plush feeling of the upper. A wide tongue uses ample padding to hold your feet in place, while a flared out heel collar reduces rubbing and friction. Extra eyelets on the sides allow you to tie the marathon loop for extra security.

The Clifton 10 is available in both wide (D for women, 2E for men) and extra-wide (2E for women, 4E for men) sizing, making it a great choice for those who need some extra space.

Not sure about the width of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

The HOKA Clifton 10 delivers the same easy comfort runners expect from the franchise, with a few updates. The 10 is a bit heavier than the Clifton 9, likely due to the increased cushioning. The Clifton 10 packs even more of that glorious EVA foam underfoot, and most of the increase is in the heel. This creates a higher heel-to-toe drop, bringing the drop from 5 millimeters to 8 millimeters.

Despite these tweaks, I thought the 10 felt remarkably similar to the 9, with just a bit of extra protection underfoot. If you enjoyed the Clifton 9, I think you’ll also like the 10.

“Since the HOKA Clifton is such a fan-favorite shoe–it’s one of our best-selling shoes at Fleet Feet– I’m glad to see that they didn’t fix something that wasn’t broken,” Kate says. “Honestly, if HOKA changed something about the Clifton, I can’t really tell!”

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the HOKA Clifton 10 stacks up. Here’s what we found.

The HOKA Clifton 10, New Balance 1080 v14 and Saucony Ride 18 all offer soft, well-cushioned rides with a little bit of responsiveness. I found the cushioning of all three shoes to feel remarkably similar, plush but with a bit of extra substance to keep me from sinking in.

All three shoes are similar in weight, stack height and heel-to-toe drop, too.

The Clifton 10 is a shoe just about anyone can enjoy, which is why it’s one of the most popular running shoes on the market. Not only is it a go-to for runners, but I also see my much cooler, non-running friends wearing them around town.

But let’s focus on running. This shoe is perfect for those who prioritize comfort and function above all else. Clifton loyalists will be happy to know that HOKA hasn’t made any major changes—it’s the same cushioned, smooth ride they love.

Whether you’re a runner looking for a reliable daily trainer, a walker who wants all-day comfort, or someone who just needs a go-to shoe for travel and everyday life, the Clifton 10 delivers. Plus, it’s available in wide and extra-wide sizing so it can accommodate a variety of foot shapes.