Hoka One One Clifton 10 Introduction
Generally HOKA can shock us with actually thrilling sneakers just like the wild-riding Cielo X1, or the explosive Mach X 2, which is among the quickest, most energetic velocity trainers available on the market.
The Clifton will not be a type of merchandise. The Clifton is the equal of a peanut butter and jam sandwich for lunch- it’ll fulfill your starvation nevertheless it’s a boring meal that you just’ve had tons of of instances earlier than. And that’s utterly tremendous. Hoka understands that it’s all about having a balanced product assortment.
In 2024, HOKA skilled exceptional monetary progress, with its income surging by a powerful 28%. This substantial enhance highlights HOKA’s continuance of robust efficiency within the operating footwear market.
When in comparison with its important opponents, HOKA’s progress considerably outpaced the trade. Nike noticed a modest income enhance of just one%. Adidas achieved a progress charge of 12%. Below Armour confronted a downturn, with its income dropping by 3% throughout the identical interval.
These figures underscore HOKA’s distinctive progress trajectory and its growing market share relative to its opponents. HOKA’s 2 important bestsellers are the Clifton and the Bondi.
Each of those trainers have new variations launched each 2 years. In 2025, we get new variations of each the Clifton and the Bondi. Once I reviewed the Clifton 9 in 2023, I felt that it was a great day by day coach nevertheless it was extra suited to simple and restoration runs.
The massive headline characteristic of the Clifton 10 is that it has a further 3 mm extra stack top within the heel. It’s additionally constructed on a wider final in comparison with earlier Cliftons. The Clifton has at all times been a really narrow-fitting coach. I beneficial that runners get the vast model of the Clifton as a result of the common is simply appropriate for very slim toes.
The Clifton 10 sees yet one more value enhance to $150. It has now elevated by $20 during the last 2 variations. The Clifton 8’s value was $130. Today, the typical value for a mid-range day by day coach is $140.
Hoka One One Clifton 10 First Impressions
The primary time I put the Clifton 10 on, I used to be impressed with the brand new final. I ordered the common model (not the vast) in my regular measurement, and the forefoot and toe field felt much more spacious than earlier variations.
My first run was a straightforward one and I used to be shocked how agency the trip felt. The Clifton has by no means been an excellent gentle trip however I used to be anticipating the tenth model to be plusher because it has extra stack top within the heel. It felt firmer than model 9 to me.
It felt much like the Clifton 8, which was a firmer, extra versatile iteration than the 9. The Clifton 10 felt prefer it may choose up the tempo for those who wanted it to, like a textual content e book day by day coach and never a max-cushioned coach for under simple runs.
Hoka One One Clifton 10 Higher
That is essentially the most snug Clifton higher so far due to its wider forefoot and toe field. You not want to purchase the vast model or purchase a half measurement up until you will have very vast toes.
The Clifton 10’s jacquard knit higher is a bit softer and a bit smoother than its predecessor however breathability continues to be not that nice. It additionally has a generously padded tongue and collar so it’s extra suited to chill climates than heat ones.
The tongue will not be gusseted so there’s a bit of little bit of downward tongue slide throughout runs, though it has 2 lace loops on the tongue. The Clifton 9’s tongue, which was hooked up on one facet was a a lot better design. Foot lockdown is nice and there’s no heel slippage when utilizing a runner’s knot.
Hoka One One Clifton 10 Sole Unit
I’ve been utilizing the Clifton 10 daily for the previous week, typically even twice a day for my doubles. What I’ve discovered is that the midsole is simply too agency for me. After some runs, I’ll discover that my toes damage due to the firmness.
The Clifton 10 is now considerably firmer than different latest day by day trainers just like the ASICS Novablast 5, Nike Vomero 18, Saucony Trip 18 and New Steadiness 1080 v14. It’s additionally value noting that the Bondi 9 is now softer than the Clifton 10. In earlier years, the Clifton was the softer of the two maximalist HOKA trainers.
The Clifton 10 midsole continues to be product of CMEVA (compression-molded EVA), similar to the 9 variations that got here earlier than it. It’s a really gentle, ethereal foam nevertheless it doesn’t supply a lot when it comes to vitality return or bounce. What the Clifton’s midsole does very nicely is that it offers loads of assist. It’s a really secure trip as a result of the froth isn’t squishy.
Attributable to its firmer trip, the Clifton 10 now feels extra like a day by day coach than a max-cushioned coach like its predecessor. It’s simpler to select up the tempo within the Clifton 10 so you are able to do regular runs and even brief, quick bursts in it.
The MetaRocker midsole form continues to be one of many Clifton’s signature options. It gently assists you thru transitions so it feels extra environment friendly and simpler to run within the Clifton than in different trainers with flat midsoles.
The Clifton 10 has an additional 3 mm stack top in its heel and it’s now an 8 mm drop for the primary time within the franchise history- it has at all times been 5 mm. HOKA mentioned that they did this as a result of over the lifetime of the shoe, the heel compresses and this makes the drop even decrease. With an 8 mm drop, the geometry holds up higher over time.
One other new characteristic is the rearfoot energetic foot body. Which means that the edges of the midsole on the rearfoot are raised up (like boundaries) to create steerage as your heels strike the bottom.
Basically, the Clifton 10 is a light-weight stability coach. I don’t take pleasure in this steerage characteristic as a result of the raised midsole edges create a strain level on the medial facet of my rearfoot that overpronates. Throughout runs longer than 10 kilometres, the within of my rearfoot will get sore.
Outsole sturdiness will not be one of many Clifton 10’s strengths. The rubber (and uncovered midsole foam) are very gentle and so they put on down quicker than your common outsole. I’ve accomplished over 110 km in my pair, and there’s important put on on the outer lateral heel areas.
Hoka One One Clifton 10 Conclusions
The Clifton 10 will not be my type of day by day coach. It’s comparatively light-weight (for its excessive stack top) nevertheless it’s not gentle or plush like HOKA advertises. I desire my day by day trainers to be squishier and extra energetic so it gained’t be staying in my rotation.
Model 10 is a disappointing replace for me and it’s a much less enjoyable model than 9. It has a firmer trip and it tries to information your rearfoot throughout transitions which brought about me some points throughout longer runs.
The ten can be higher for you in case you have wider toes otherwise you want extra stability however I desire the plusher, extra impartial Clifton 9. The Clifton 10 is nonetheless extra versatile since its firmer trip makes it simpler to select up the tempo.
At $150, the Clifton 10 is overpriced, particularly contemplating it solely has an EVA midsole that’s not even tremendous critically foamed. Its opponents (Adidas Supernova Rise, ASICS Novablast, Saucony Trip, Brooks Ghost) are all cheaper and extra snug than the Clifton. Additionally they present extra vitality return and have extra participating rides.
Most runners and walkers will desire the HOKA Bondi 9 over the Clifton 10. The Bondi is $20 extra nevertheless it has an excellent critically foamed EVA midsole which feels plusher and has a extra energetic trip. It additionally has extra rockered transitions and an outsole with higher sturdiness.