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 likely one of the quickest, most energetic pace trainers in the marketplace.
The Clifton shouldn’t be a type of merchandise. The Clifton is the equal of a peanut butter and jam sandwich for lunch- it is going to fulfill your starvation but it surely’s a boring meal that you just’ve had a whole lot of occasions earlier than. And that’s fully high quality. Hoka understands that it’s all about having a balanced product assortment.
In 2024, HOKA skilled outstanding 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 essential opponents, HOKA’s progress considerably outpaced the business. Nike noticed a modest income enhance of just one%. Adidas achieved a progress charge of 12%. Underneath Armour confronted a downturn, with its income dropping by 3% throughout the identical interval.
These figures underscore HOKA’s distinctive progress trajectory and its rising market share relative to its opponents. HOKA’s 2 essential 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 an excellent each day coach but it surely was extra suited to straightforward and restoration runs.
The large 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 all the time been a really narrow-fitting coach. I beneficial that runners get the vast model of the Clifton as a result of the common is just appropriate for very slim toes.
The Clifton 10 sees one more worth enhance to $150. It has now elevated by $20 over the past 2 variations. The Clifton 8’s worth was $130. Nowadays, the typical worth for a mid-range each 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 simple one and I used to be shocked how agency the trip felt. The Clifton has by no means been an excellent smooth 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 might decide up the tempo in case you wanted it to, like a textual content e-book each day coach and never a max-cushioned coach for under straightforward runs.
Hoka One One Clifton 10 Higher
That is probably 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’ve gotten very vast toes.
The Clifton 10’s jacquard knit higher is a bit softer and a bit smoother than its predecessor however breathability remains 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 shouldn’t be gusseted so there’s a little bit little bit of downward tongue slide throughout runs, despite the fact that it has 2 lace loops on the tongue. The Clifton 9’s tongue, which was hooked up on one aspect was a significantly 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 on daily basis for the previous week, typically even twice a day for my doubles. What I’ve discovered is that the midsole is just 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 current each day trainers just like the ASICS Novablast 5, Nike Vomero 18, Saucony Journey 18 and New Stability 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 remains to be fabricated from CMEVA (compression-molded EVA), identical to the 9 variations that got here earlier than it. It’s a really gentle, ethereal foam but it surely doesn’t provide a lot when it comes to power return or bounce. What the Clifton’s midsole does very nicely is that it supplies quite a lot of help. It’s a really steady trip as a result of the froth isn’t squishy.
Attributable to its firmer trip, the Clifton 10 now feels extra like a each day coach than a max-cushioned coach like its predecessor. It’s simpler to choose 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 remains 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 all the time been 5 mm. HOKA stated 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 lively foot body. Because of this the perimeters of the midsole on the rearfoot are raised up (like boundaries) to create steering as your heels strike the bottom.
Basically, the Clifton 10 is a lightweight stability coach. I don’t get pleasure from this steering characteristic as a result of the raised midsole edges create a stress level on the medial aspect of my rearfoot that overpronates. Throughout runs longer than 10 kilometres, the within of my rearfoot will get sore.
Outsole sturdiness shouldn’t be one of many Clifton 10’s strengths. The rubber (and uncovered midsole foam) are very smooth they usually put on down quicker than your common outsole. I’ve finished 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 shouldn’t be my form of each day coach. It’s comparatively light-weight (for its excessive stack top) but it surely’s not smooth or plush like HOKA advertises. I want my each day trainers to be squishier and extra energetic so it received’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 might be higher for you you probably have wider toes otherwise you want extra stability however I want the plusher, extra impartial Clifton 9. The Clifton 10 is nonetheless extra versatile since its firmer trip makes it simpler to choose 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 Journey, Brooks Ghost) are all cheaper and extra snug than the Clifton. In addition they present extra power return and have extra participating rides.
Most runners and walkers will want the HOKA Bondi 9 over the Clifton 10. The Bondi is $20 extra but it surely has an excellent critically foamed EVA midsole which feels plusher and has a extra full of life trip. It additionally has extra rockered transitions and an outsole with higher sturdiness.