The HOKA Skyflow’s main characteristic that sets it apart from other daily trainers is its midsole, specifically the supercritical EVA foam used to create it. Supercritical foams are composed of many little cells, so they offer more responsiveness at a lighter weight than traditional midsole compounds–just imagine running on millions of small air bubbles. This type of foam isn’t used in HOKA’s classic daily trainers like the Clifton 9 or the Bondi 8. However, it is used in the Mach 6, which you’ll likely find us mentioning a lot in this review.
The Skyflow has a higher stack height and a softer feel than the Mach, which is HOKA’s snappy, uptempo trainer, and reviewers agreed it feels firmer and more responsive than the Clifton. I like to think of this shoe as a hybrid between the two. However, I don’t think it excels in any one area, unlike how the Clifton excels at easy, recovery miles and the Mach performs at high speeds.
“I took the Skyflow out for a few easy miles and enjoyed my experience,” says Brandon, who’s ramping up his mileage to prepare for another marathon build. “It’s one of those shoes where I can just set it and forget it. It’s a reliable daily trainer with no fuss included. It's slightly faster than the Clifton and I can feel the extra pop and sensation from the supercritical foam. The Skyflow is fun and playful while still maintaining a very stable ride due to its wide base. And if you’re worried about traction, don’t be. The Skyflow has tons of rubber for extra grip.”