Hoka One One Clifton 10 Introduction
Generally HOKA can shock us with actually thrilling footwear just like the wild-riding Sky x1or the explosive Mach X 2which is without doubt one of the quickest, most energetic velocity trainers available on the market.
The Clifton just isn’t a type of merchandise. The Clifton is the equal of a peanut butter and jam sandwich for lunch- it can fulfill your starvation but it surely’s a boring meal that you simply’ve had tons of of occasions earlier than. And that’s utterly tremendous. 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 sturdy efficiency within the working footwear market.
When in comparison with its fundamental opponents, HOKA’s progress considerably outpaced the trade. Nike noticed a modest income enhance of just one%. Adidas achieved a progress charge of 12%. Beneath 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 fundamental 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 superb each day coach but it surely was extra suited to simple and restoration runs.
The massive headline characteristic of the Clifton 10 is that it has an extra 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 really helpful that runners get the large model of the Clifton as a result of the common is simply appropriate for very slender ft.
The Clifton 10 sees 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 common value 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 large) 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 stunned how agency the trip felt. The Clifton has by no means been a brilliant tender 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 if you happen to wanted it to, like a textual content guide each day coach and never a max-cushioned coach for less than simple runs.
Hoka One One Clifton 10 Higher
That is essentially the most comfy Clifton higher up to now due to its wider forefoot and toe field. You not want to purchase the large model or purchase a half measurement up except you could have very large ft.
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 just isn’t gusseted so there’s a 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 connected on one aspect was a a lot better design. Foot lockdown is sweet 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 each day for the previous week, generally 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 ft harm due to the firmness.
The Clifton 10 is now considerably firmer than different latest each day trainers just like the ASICS Novablast 5, Nike vomero 18, Saucony Journey 18 and New Stability 1080 v14. It’s additionally price 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 product of CMEVA (compression-molded EVA), identical to the 9 variations that got here earlier than it. It’s a really mild, ethereal foam but it surely doesn’t supply a lot when it comes to vitality return or bounce. What the Clifton’s midsole does very effectively is that it supplies lots of assist. It’s a really secure trip as a result of the froth isn’t squishy.
Because of 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 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 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 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 lively foot body. Which means the edges of the midsole on the rearfoot are raised up (like obstacles) to create steerage as your heels strike the bottom.
Primarily, the Clifton 10 is a lightweight stability coach. I don’t take pleasure in this steerage 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 just isn’t one of many Clifton 10’s strengths. The rubber (and uncovered midsole foam) are very tender and so they put on down sooner than your common outsole. I’ve completed 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 just isn’t my form of each day coach. It’s comparatively light-weight (for its excessive stack top) but it surely’s not tender or plush like HOKA advertises. I choose my each 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 triggered me some points throughout longer runs.
The ten will likely be higher for you when you have wider ft otherwise you want extra stability however I choose 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 Journey, Brooks Ghost) are all cheaper and extra comfy than the Clifton. Additionally they present extra vitality return and have extra partaking rides.
Most runners and walkers will choose the HOKA Bondi 9 over the Clifton 10. The Bondi is $20 extra but it surely has a brilliant critically foamed EVA midsole which feels plusher and has a extra vigorous trip. It additionally has extra rockered transitions and an outsole with higher sturdiness.
