HOKA Clifton PRO Review: PROGLIDE or Flat Ride?

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.

The HOKA Clifton is Fleet Feet’s bestselling running shoe, and it’s easy to see why. With lightweight, soft cushioning, the Clifton serves up an easygoing and familiar ride for your daily miles. But what about those days when you want to push the pace?

Enter the Clifton PRO.

Using the same last, stack height and heel-to-toe drop as the Clifton, the PRO promises to deliver the same familiar fit with a peppier, uptempo feel. How can HOKA pull that off? Read on to find out.

The HOKA Clifton PRO isn’t just a brand-new model, it’s the brand’s first time introducing their rebranded midsole technology to the world. While the foams themselves may not be new, HOKA is defining their midsole platforms in a way they haven’t previously done with the goal of creating clear, recognizable sensations with each franchise.

The Clifton PRO has “PROGLIDE+” stamped boldly across the midsole, which is their smoothest running experience. According to HOKA, shoes with a PROGLIDE™ platform are meant to create a controlled, flowing ride that supports efficiency, stability and consistency. This is in contrast to their PROFLY™ platform, which you’ll find in their racing shoes and are meant to create a propulsive sensation. The “+” indicates that this shoe has next-level performance foams and tuned geometries, designed to further enhance the experience.

However, reviewers were mixed on whether the Clifton PRO truly delivered a gliding sensation.

“The HOKA Clifton PRO has a high stack of cushion that felt noticeable the moment I stepped into it,” says Kate. “It feels comfortable and supportive, but firm; not a marshmallow-like sensation at all. I personally prefer a shoe to be more firm than soft, as long as it has enough cushion to protect me from the impact of the road. So, the Clifton PRO checks a lot of boxes for me as a daily trainer. For my easy runs, it felt smooth and protective. I pretty much forgot it was there because it felt so natural to run in.”

I agree with Kate for the most part. While I don’t prefer my shoes to feel firm (I actually really enjoy a soft squish-monster), I’ve realized that softer shoes tend to aggravate my chronic foot injury. I wore the Clifton PRO for an easy 5-miler at the end of a long day. My legs were fatigued from squatting a new PR earlier that morning (humble brag), but my strides seemed to flow pretty effortlessly once I got warmed up. I really enjoy the rocker shape in this shoe, which HOKA calls their MetaRocker™. It works with my body’s momentum to help me transition quickly and efficiently from heel to toe, delivering a really smooth sensation.

However, Mason was not impressed.

“I was pretty hopeful about how the Clifton PRO’s ProGlide midsole was going to feel. When I first tried the shoe on, it felt relatively firm. The rocker shape was definitely noticeable, and I appreciated the bit of assistance it provided while walking around. But once I laced the Clifton PRO up for a few runs, the midsole really fell flat. It felt noticeably firmer on the run than it did while walking, which surprised me. The rocker became less noticeable, and the foam felt hard and unresponsive, especially when I picked up the pace for a few strides.”

I didn’t even attempt to pick up the pace during my test runs due to a nagging injury, but I am curious how this shoe would perform. It seems to be a mix between a daily trainer, something you’d reach for before a casual run when pace isn’t a concern, and a speed workout shoe, something you’d reach for when you have specific splits to hit. Its lack of a carbon or nylon plate, which seems to be the defining trait of a true speed shoe now, places it in somewhat ambiguous territory. Plus, it doesn’t have the lightweight profile one would expect from a speed-focused shoe.

“For my speed workout, it had the firmness that I like when it’s time to pick up the pace, but it doesn't stand shoulder to shoulder with a plated super shoe,” says Kate. “That said, I suppose it isn’t intended to. A lot of people avoid training in plated shoes for good reason, and this shoe is a good solution for people who want something that can handle a lot of miles without the potential impact of training on a plate all the time. I think it shines more as an everyday trainer.”

The Clifton PRO is topped off with an engineered mesh upper that feels more breathable and performance-oriented than its Clifton counterpart. It’s another piece of the shoe’s design that alerts us to the fact that this isn’t your mother’s Clifton – it’s a completely different model with a completely different use case (even though some of us were left wondering what, exactly, that use case is).

“The shoe fits true to size and the upper is smooth, lightweight and comfy,” says Kate. “It has a lightly padded tongue and heel collar. Just the right features to keep everything feeling good without overdoing it or adding too much weight.”

I found my pair to feel true to size as well, and really appreciated the tapered out heel collar. With the warmer, more humid weather, I’ve been struggling with blisters on the backs of my heels in what seems like every pair of running shoes lately. But not the Clifton PRO!

Mason agrees, noting, “The Clifton PRO delivers what we’ve come to expect from HOKA: a high stack of foam, a fairly breathable yet structured upper, and a generous fit around the foot. When I first put the shoe on, I liked the fit right away. It felt snug in the heel without being tight, had good padding around the ankle and offered plenty of room in the forefoot.”

If you’re curious about finding your perfect fit, 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. You can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there!

The biggest difference between the Clifton PRO and the Clifton 11 is the midsole foam and geometry. The Clifton 11 uses a compression-molded EVA foam, which is a lightweight, flexible material known for its shock absorbing properties. The Clifton PRO also uses EVA foam, but it’s supercritically formed instead of compression-molded. This means it’s infused with a supercritical gas, filling it with millions of tiny air bubbles as it reaches its final state. Theoretically, this should make the foam lighter and more responsive. But you’ll notice that the Clifton PRO is a tiny bit heavier than the Clifton 11, despite both shoes having the same stack height (the amount of material between your feet and the ground).

Both shoes have a rocker geometry to assist with heel-to-toe transitions, but the Clifton PRO’s is much more exaggerated for a more propulsive sensation.

Kate and I both agreed that the PRO definitely feels firmer than the Clifton 11, which many runners prefer for uptempo efforts as it feels more responsive. That, in combination with the aggressive rocker shape, give the PRO a springier ride.

We took a look at some comparable options to see how the Clifton PRO compares. Here’s what we found:

I mentioned above that the Clifton PRO seems to fall into a somewhat ambiguous category, with the performance-focused technology at odds with its weight and lack of plate. However, the Clifton PRO is part of an emerging category of shoes that are seemingly designed for uptempo running that’s not tied to a performance goal or outcome.

The Clifton PRO, Mizuno Neo Zen 2 and Saucony Endorphin Azura all use springy foams and propulsive geometries that feel fun to run fast in, but without the more premium technology — and accompanying price point — of true speed shoes.

The Clifton PRO is best for runners who like a firm platform and a pronounced rocker shape, whether they’re cruising or picking up the pace. This is a shoe that can feel comfortable for all types of runs and, while that makes it a bit harder to categorize, makes it a versatile option.

“I recommend the Clifton PRO for runners who like a tall, firm stack of cushion to support them on daily runs, recovery days and long runs. It can handle just about any road run you would want to use it for, including speed work,” says Kate.

For walkers who find the Clifton and Bondi to feel too soft underfoot, the Clifton PRO could be a nice option.