Hoka One One Clifton 10 Introduction
Typically HOKA can shock us with actually thrilling footwear 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 just isn’t a type of merchandise. The Clifton is the equal of a peanut butter and jam sandwich for lunch- it should fulfill your starvation but it surely’s a boring meal that you simply’ve had a whole lot of instances earlier than. And that’s fully fantastic. 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 operating footwear market.
When in comparison with its principal opponents, HOKA’s progress considerably outpaced the trade. Nike noticed a modest income enhance of just one%. Adidas achieved a progress price 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 principal 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. After I reviewed the Clifton 9 in 2023, I felt that it was a very good every 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 at all times been a really narrow-fitting coach. I really helpful that runners get the broad model of the Clifton as a result of the common is barely appropriate for very slender ft.
The Clifton 10 sees yet one more value enhance to $150. It has now elevated by $20 over the past 2 variations. The Clifton 8’s value was $130. Today, the typical value for a mid-range every 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 broad) 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 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 just like the Clifton 8, which was a firmer, extra versatile iteration than the 9. The Clifton 10 felt prefer it might choose up the tempo should you wanted it to, like a textual content e book every 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 to this point due to its wider forefoot and toe field. You not want to purchase the broad model or purchase a half measurement up except you’ve gotten very broad ft.
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 just isn’t gusseted so there’s slightly little bit of downward tongue slide throughout runs, regardless that it has 2 lace loops on the tongue. The Clifton 9’s tongue, which was hooked up on one aspect 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 each day 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 ft damage due to the firmness.
The Clifton 10 is now considerably firmer than different current every day trainers just like the ASICS Novablast 5, Nike Vomero 18, Saucony Journey 18 and New Steadiness 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 continues 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 power return or bounce. What the Clifton’s midsole does very nicely is that it supplies a variety of help. It’s a really steady trip as a result of the froth isn’t squishy.
As a result of its firmer trip, the Clifton 10 now feels extra like a every 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 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 lively foot body. Because of this the edges of the midsole on the rearfoot are raised up (like obstacles) to create steerage as your heels strike the bottom.
Basically, 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 strain 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 smooth and so they put on down quicker 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 type of every 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 every 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 prompted me some points throughout longer runs.
The ten can be higher for you you probably have wider ft 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 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.