The Hoka Clifton 11 Serves Up a Smoother, More Refined Ride
Hoka has subtly improved the maximally cushioned Clifton 11 everyday trainer.
Hoka has subtly improved the maximally cushioned Clifton 11 everyday trainer.
There’s no running shoe on earth with more users, more loyalty, and more conflicting opinions than the Hoka Clifton. It’s the cushy everyday trainer that launched an entire movement—namely the maximalist revolution of the early 2010s—and it’s been one of the best-selling running shoes at specialty retail stores for years on end.
That also means every new version carries the weight of a million expectations and at least as many opinions. The Clifton 10 took some big swings and divided the fanbase a bit, so what does the just-released Clifton 11 deliver? It’s the best and most comfortable Clifton upper ever, a shoe that feels softer, more pliable, and better-fitting from step one. But it’s a refinement, not a reinvention, and depending on what you thought of the 10, that’s either exactly what you needed or a reason to keep shopping.
The Clifton 11’s small changes on paper produce real differences on the run. Based on my 75 miles running in it, Hoka hasn’t reinvented the ride of the Clifton 11 (women’s/men’s), but it has refined it quite a bit.
The rocker geometry rolls the foot forward with the same smooth, efficient motion the Clifton has always delivered, particularly through toe-off. But the lighter, softer upper and the redesigned sockliner work together to take the edge off initial contact in a way that’s hard to isolate but impossible to miss. The net result is a shoe that feels more relaxed, more dialed-in, and more like it was built specifically for your foot from the very first mile.
There is also something for the Clifton 10 dissenters, too, but that will arrive on July 9 in a brand-new shoe known as the Clifton Pro ($165, women’s / men’s). It has the same last and stack height as the Clifton 11, but it features a more aggressive MetaRocker geometry and a livelier supercritical PROGLIDE+ foam.
Price: $155 (women’s/men’s)
Approximate Weights: 8.1 oz. (women’s size 8); 9.9 oz. (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 42mm heel, 34mm forefoot
What’s New: The Clifton 11 carries over the same full-length compression-molded EVA (CMEVA) midsole from the 10, the same 42mm heel stack, the same 8mm drop, and the same $155 price tag. What changed is everything above the foam: a re-engineered mesh upper built with 3D silicone print overlays that feels noticeably softer and more pliable out of the box, a redesigned sockliner that’s plusher underfoot and better at wicking sweat, and a double-lace lock system that actually keeps the tongue centered through an entire run.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Clifton 11 fits true to size in length with a roomy, accommodating forefoot that carries over from the version 10’s wider last, one of the better changes Hoka made in that revision. The new upper is the immediate standout: where the Clifton 10 felt structured and a touch stiff at the collar and saddle, the Clifton 11 wraps around the foot from step one like it’s already been broken in. The sockliner upgrade is subtle but real; there’s a touch more cushion right underfoot that takes the initial edge off the CMEVA midsole’s firmness before your foot settles in.
The overall ride feels smoother and more refined than the previous edition. The rocker geometry rolls the foot forward smoothly and efficiently, particularly through toe-off. What’s different from the 10 is subtle but worth noting: the lighter, softer upper and the improved sockliner work together to take some of the perceived stiffness off initial contact, and the net result is a ride that feels more relaxed and dialed-in from the first mile onward. It’s not bouncy or exceptionally lively, but it offers a smooth, protective, undemanding ride that makes you forget you’re working — which is exactly the point.
Why It’s Great: The Clifton 11 doesn’t change what it has been; it just becomes a more comfortable version of itself. The CMEVA midsole delivers the same protective, enveloping cushion that Clifton loyalists have always loved — soft without being mushy, stable without being stiff, and forgiving across a wide range of paces. The softer, more pliable engineered mesh with 3D silicone overlays feels broken-in from step one, a meaningful improvement over the structured feel of the version 10.
Why You’ll Love It: The Clifton 11 is built for the runner who wants a dependable, cushioned daily workhorse that never asks too much and handles whatever you throw at it: easy morning miles, long slow Sunday runs, recovery days, and commuter miles. The improved upper makes it more comfortable than any Clifton since version 8, and the wide forefoot fit accommodates a broader range of foot shapes than most competitors at this price point.
Why You Might Not Like It: The Clifton 11’s midsole feels a generation behind. It doesn’t have the lively, propulsive energy return of the ASICS Novablast 6’s FF Turbo Squared forefoot or the New Balance 1080’s nitrogen-infused midsole. Simply put, the Hoka Clifton 11 is not an energetic shoe; it won’t make you feel faster. And for runners who’ve been waiting for Hoka to bring the foam quality of the Mach 7 or the Skyflow down into the Clifton line, this version is another year of waiting.
Pro: The re-engineered mesh on the Clifton 11 is softer and more pliable than anything the series has worn before, wrapping around the foot from the first step like it’s already been broken in, with 3D silicone overlays adding just enough structure to keep everything locked down through a full run. There is no cinching, no pressure, no irritation points.
Con: The weight of the Clifton ticked up slightly from version 10, so runners who prioritize a lightweight daily trainer will likely want to consider other options.
Contributing editor Brian Metzler is the Content Director for UltraSignup.com, who has raced every distance from 5K to 100 miles. He has wear-tested more than 2,000 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2021). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado and riding trains to run trails in Chamonix, France.
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