HOKA Clifton 11 vs HOKA Clifton Pro

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• A comfortable, reliable, smooth-riding daily trainer that's fine on its own merits but clearly the less lively and less modern-feeling of the two Cliftons this year.

  Ride:A smooth, firmer compression-molded EVA ride that leans on the rocker to drive transitions; comfortable and protective but absorbs energy rather than returning it, feeling less lively than the Clifton Pro, especially when legs are fresh.

  Fit:True to size with a snugger fit across the top of the toe box than the Clifton Pro; good midfoot lockdown and heel hold. Testers who sized up half a size found the extra length worked well.

  In their words: "cushions the body really nicely" · "sucks that energy in" · "not too soft and sinky"

  — The Run Testers , 31 mi tested , source

• FORDY RUNS says the Clifton 11 is basically the same shoe as v10 with marginal upper and comfort tweaks — stable and versatile, but not worth the premium over the much cheaper v10, and the Brooks Ghost Max 4 edges it out on running capability.

  Ride:Same 42/34mm stack and 8mm drop as v10 on the same compression-molded EVA; feels marginally lighter and more premium thanks to a new mesh upper and sock liner, but ride performance is essentially unchanged from v10.

  Fit:True to size in UK 10; wide-fitting like previous Clifton versions, with good stability.

  In their words: "left me a little bit on the fence" · "old and a bit boring" · "no reason to go out and buy"

  — FORDY RUNS , source

• An unchanged, dependable, Goldilocks-balanced daily trainer that works well for daily runs, walking, and all-day standing, but the reviewer finds it's grown a bit boring and slightly overpriced at $155 for a shoe nearly identical to the Clifton 10.

  Ride:Soft but not too soft, stable but not too stiff — an inoffensive, dependable ride identical to the Clifton 10.

  Fit:Not a generous fit — stick with your usual Hoka size, don't expect extra room.

  In their words: "a running industry Goldilocks" · "the shoe has gotten a bit boring" · "very inoffensive"

  — Kofuzi , source

• Won all five rounds of the Doctors of Running flagship-trainer bracket to take the title; the panel's consensus pick as the most improved, smoothest-transitioning Clifton in years despite durability concerns.

  Ride:Smooth transition praised repeatedly, attributed partly to a redesigned rear-foot frame/crash pad; foam has some spring but is tuned for easy days, not workouts.

  Fit:Upper and sock liner upgrades were called out specifically; foot doesn't slide around despite a slightly more spacious fit than the 10.

  In their words: "the Clifton's back, baby" · "such a strong transition"

  — Doctors of Running , 100 mi tested , source

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• The clear winner of the two Cliftons this year — a comfortable, fun, smoothly-rockered cushioned trainer with noticeably more energy return and versatility than the Clifton 11, worth the small price premium.

  Ride:A more modern, springier ride from the super-critical ProFlyte Plus foam — smooth and protective at slow paces, with noticeably more energy return and bounce than the Clifton 11 at steady efforts, though it can feel a touch slower to respond on tired legs.

  Fit:Slightly roomier, airier toe box than the Clifton 11 with similarly good midfoot lockdown and heel hold; true to size for most, though testers who sized up half a size found the extra length worked well.

  In their words: "one of the best cushioned shoes" · "more response, more bounce, more fun" · "the clear winner for me"

  — The Run Testers , 56 mi tested , source

• The host calls it his easy pick for best Clifton, since it's the only Clifton whose sidewalls don't bother his sensitive forefoot; Andrea likes the shoe but argues it doesn't ride like a true Clifton and shouldn't win the title on that basis.

  Ride:The supercritical EVA midsole and outsole rubber placement hold up better than HOKA's traditional EVA trainers; the host — who dislikes every other Clifton due to midfoot sidewall irritation — has no issues with this one.

  In their words: "one of the best outsole designs" · "genius"

  — Doctors of Running , source

• A bouncier, squishier take on the Clifton formula thanks to a supercritical-EVA midsole — the reviewer's preferred Clifton, though chunkier, heavier, and pricier than the standard model.

  Ride:Supercritical EVA gives a bouncier, squishier feel than the standard Clifton; slightly chunkier/puffier and heavier as a result.

  In their words: "bouncier and slightly squishier" · "this is the better Clifton"

  — Kofuzi , source

• The reviewer welcomes the updated foam as a step up in responsiveness for the Clifton line but is ultimately unconvinced given the shoe's heavy weight, cushioning tech he sees as dated versus rivals, and poor lockdown, and says he won't keep using it.

  Ride:More responsive and bouncier than the regular Clifton with a more aggressive rocker and firmer feel, though still heavy and bulky-feeling at most paces.

  Fit:True to size in his regular Hoka size (UK 12), but lockdown was poor with irritation caused by the tongue sliding down.

  In their words: "the tongue just kept sliding down" · "quite on the heavy side" · "a lot better than the execution"

  — Ben Parkes , source