HOKA Clifton Pro: First Look

A brand-new shoe launches as part of the Clifton family, with HOKA giving their iconic daily trainer a modern twist.

With the same fit and stack height as the Clifton 11, the Clifton Pro introduces new materials and a softer ride to give you a brand-new daily running option.

It is still built from the Clifton recipe: deep cushioning, a smooth rolling feel and everyday comfort. The difference is that the Clifton Pro feels like the more lively option in the family, made for runners who want the familiar Clifton base with a bit more pace in it.

Key Info

Price: £150
Weight: Men's 296g, Women's 242g
Stack height: Men's 42-34mm, Women's 38-30mm
Heel offset: 8mm
Primary use: Pace-pushing daily trainer

What is the HOKA Clifton Pro?

The Clifton Pro is a new daily running shoe in the Clifton family, built for runners who want a softer, faster-feeling take on the Clifton.

The Clifton revolutionised running 11 years ago with its lightweight but deep cushioning and smooth MetaRocker at the forefoot. It gave runners daily miles that felt comparatively effortless, especially for a shoe with that much cushioning underfoot.

Now, as time moves onwards and the market for even faster and more lively shoes grows, the Clifton Pro comes along promising extra speed from the same daily training recipe.

How is the Clifton Pro different to the Clifton 11?

Although the Clifton Pro shares a name with the Clifton 11, and despite both being daily trainers, apart from stack height and last, the shoes do not have that much in common.

The Clifton 11 is the more traditional everyday trainer in the family. Soft, smooth, comfortable and easy to use for the bulk of your weekly road miles. The Clifton Pro takes that same Clifton fit and stack height, then adds a more exaggerated MetaRocker, a different midsole foam and a different upper with a bold aesthetic that looks fantastic.

In plain running terms, the Clifton 11 is the calm daily option. The Clifton Pro is the one with a bit more life in it.

What has changed on the Clifton Pro?

The biggest change is the midsole foam.

The midsole foam used is a supercritical EVA foam, and in an age of new “super foams” seemingly being launched each week, that might not seem like much. But as with the Clifton 11, or the Mach 6, HOKA have a supreme knack of getting the most out of foams.

The feeling it gives is softer than the Clifton and faster too, especially when combined with the more aggressive MetaRocker. That gives the Clifton Pro a lively and fun ride that feels the equal of other, newer foams in the daily trainer space.

The upper also moves away from the standard Clifton feel, with a bolder, more modern look. It helps make the Clifton Pro feel less like a small update and more like a separate shoe within the same family.

How does the Clifton Pro feel?

Expect the Clifton Pro to feel softer, faster and more willing than the Clifton 11.

The more exaggerated MetaRocker, which is the shape of the curve from the forefoot up towards the toes away from the ground, helps the shoe roll you through each stride. Combined with the supercritical EVA foam, it gives the Clifton Pro a more energetic feel underfoot.

It is not a full race shoe, and it is not trying to be. It still sits in daily trainer territory, but it gives you more pace when you want to push on. That makes it useful for easy runs that turn into steady runs, longer efforts where you still want protection, and everyday miles where you want the shoe to feel a bit more fun.

Who is the HOKA Clifton Pro best for?

The Clifton Pro is best for runners who like the Clifton idea, but want something softer, livelier and more pace-friendly.

If you want a simple, smooth and reliable daily trainer, the Clifton 11 still makes the most sense. If you want the same Clifton family feel with more energy, the Clifton Pro is the more exciting option.

It should suit runners who want one shoe for a mix of daily miles, steady runs and longer efforts. It could also sit comfortably in a rotation as the lively daily mile muncher, especially if your current easy shoe feels a little too traditional when the pace starts moving.

Where does the Clifton Pro sit now?

The Clifton has always been a fast and lightweight daily trainer, but with new shoes like the soft, stable and fun Mizuno Neo Zen 2, the squirrely but fast adidas Evo SL, the bouncy ASICS Novablast 6 and more recently the Saucony Endorphin Azura all hitting a sweet spot of looks, speed and affordability, the HOKA Clifton is looking more traditional.

That does not make the Clifton 11 weaker. It just gives the Clifton Pro a clear job. It kicks in the doors to the new shoe club and sits proudly amongst them, bringing everything you love about the Clifton with a lively, fun new ride.

First look verdict

The HOKA Clifton Pro gives the Clifton family a softer, faster and more modern daily running option.

With a bold aesthetic that is as suited to running errands as long runs, the Clifton Pro could be your one shoe for everything, or it could sit comfortably in a rotation as your lively daily mile muncher.

The Clifton 11 remains the steadier everyday choice. The Clifton Pro is the one for runners who still want the Clifton comfort story, but with more bounce, more roll and more reason to pick the pace up.

FAQ

What is the HOKA Clifton Pro best for?

The HOKA Clifton Pro is best for daily road running, steady miles, longer efforts and pace-pushing training runs where you want cushioning with a more lively ride.

Is the HOKA Clifton Pro replacing the Clifton 11?

No. The Clifton Pro sits alongside the Clifton 11. The Clifton 11 is the smoother everyday option, while the Clifton Pro gives runners a softer, faster-feeling alternative in the same Clifton family.

Is the HOKA Clifton Pro fast?

It is faster-feeling than the Clifton 11 thanks to its supercritical EVA foam and more exaggerated MetaRocker. It is still a daily trainer, not a full race shoe.

Is the HOKA Clifton Pro good for beginners?

It can work for newer runners who want a cushioned shoe with a smooth ride, but the Clifton 11 may be the simpler starting point if comfort and easy miles are the main priority.

What is the difference between the Clifton Pro and Clifton 11?

The Clifton Pro has a softer, livelier ride, a more pronounced MetaRocker and a bolder upper. The Clifton 11 is steadier, more traditional and better suited to easy everyday mileage.