Hoka Clifton 9 vs 8 Comparison Running Shoe Review
The difference between the Hoka One One Clifton 9 running shoes and the Hoka One One Clifton 8 running shoes is that the Hoka Clifton 9 has a re-engineered midsole geometry – pairing a higher stack height with firmer foam for a balance of stability and softness.
Sportitude Running shoe expert Ethan Hamdorf discusses the key changes and similarities – from a more breathable and accommodating upper to a slightly broader outsole platform to cater smoothly to heel strikers.
The Hoka Clifton 9 stays honest to the protective feel of the Hoka Clifton franchise – providing ever-reliable cushioning for your daily training and longer runs, and enough snap to shift the pace up a gear without having to switch up your running shoes.
With a lighter weight and a content of recycled materials to run lighter on the environment, the Hoka Clifton 9 is on the radar of runners of all abilities.
Check out the review with full transcript below.
Hey guys, welcome back to another running shoe review here at Sportitude. My name's Ethan and I'm really excited to talk to you about all things Hoka One One Clifton 9 today.
We've been lucky enough to have a few samples of this running shoe floating around ready for it to release on February 15th when it will be live on our website and in store. The Sportitude team have tried it on and we're really excited about this update.
What Foot Type Is The Hoka Clifton 9 For?
Alike with its predecessors, the Hoka Clifton 9 is really good for that slightly pronated to neutral to supinated foot type. This year we found it to be more stable, so if you are someone who tends to pronate, we find it works really well for you. It also has enough lateral firmness to keep you on the right track if you are a slight supinator.
If you're a neutral foot type you'll get along with most running shoes quite well and you’ll work really well in the Hoka Clifton 9.
Where Does The Hoka Clifton 9 Fit In Your Shoe Rotation?
For my shoe rotation I'd work this running shoe into my daily jogging, anything from a 30 minute jog up to my long runs on Sunday. I love getting in this running shoe for those runs.
It's cushioned so it keeps you protected for long runs on your feet and because it is a little bit firmer, it is snappier through toe-off. Therefore, if you're doing a long run where you pick up the pace or you just want to feel a bit quicker when you're running, it's another really good option.
Upper
It's time to jump into the nitty-gritty details of the Hoka Clifton 9. What's different, what stayed the same and what features are we really excited about in this new update? As always, we'll start at the upper and work our way through the running shoe.
It still has that same engineered knit but it's slightly more breathable in the upper this year. We found it has slightly more voluminous fit and is more roomy in the toe box, so if you have a wider or higher foot it will accommodate you a bit better.
Hoka One One have gone for a longer Achilles flare which we haven't noticed impacting performance. The softer ankle collar provides a snug and tight but still comfortable lockdown around the ankle.
They've changed the gusset in the tongue so it's only gusseted on one side. In our testing we haven't found that to adjust our lockdown at all. It’s still really secure across the saddle of the foot, even when you're going around corners.
Outsole
Getting into the outsole we still have the same Durabrasion rubber starting at the heel. We have a slightly wider base so if you're a heel striker it'll keep you nice and stable. There’s slightly more coverage in the rubber in the outsole as well and a deeper and longer guidance line.
By firming up the midsole they're able to do wider and deeper guidance line and flex grooves through the forefoot. It’s slightly deeper and wider, and because it's firmer it allows it to give that slight more flex through the forefoot through your toe-off phase.
Midsole
Diving into the midsole, we have a few slight tweaks but we still have the same compression moulded EVA. We have a bit more stack height with 3mm extra in the men's model for a 32mm heel and 27mm forefoot. There’s 2mm extra stack in the women's model for a 29mm heel and 24mm forefoot.
When we add stack height, we need to find a way to keep the running shoe more stable. Hoka One One have made the same foam slightly denser which keeps you feeling more stable as you move through your gait but still keeps it feeling like the Hoka Clifton that we know and love, being nice and soft. They've tweaked the geometry of the midsole to give you that soft yet stable feeling.
Starting at the heel they've added these deep horizontal cutaways which will compress as you enter your gait. In the Hoka Clifton 8 it was a diagonal cut out whereas in the Hoka Clifton 9 we have a horizontal cut which will help compress a little bit more to give you that soft feeling.
Moving forward to the forefoot, they've added a concave cut out in the blue foam whereas it was convex previously in the Hoka Clifton 8. By being concave, it adds a little bit more compression to give you a nice soft yet responsive feeling as you move through your gait.
Whereas the softness came from the density of foam in the Hoka Clifton 8, they've added some geometry tricks in the Hoka Clifton 9 to keep it feeling nice, soft and cushioned. To firm it up a little bit you're adding stability while still giving that responsive feeling through toe-off.
We also have this Early Stage Meta Rocker which we know and love from Hoka which helps propel you through your gait.
Similar Running Shoes To The Hoka Clifton 9
If you're thinking of giving the Hoka Clifton 9 a shot, there's a few other running shoes on the market that are quite similar that you may or may not be familiar with that are worth giving a try.
The Saucony Triumph 20 (above) is quite similar as a max stack, max cushion neutral road running shoe. It’s something that is soft and cushioned but responsive when you're out running.
The other running shoe that is similar would be the Asics Gel Cumulus 25. It's not out yet, we're expecting it later this year but we've been lucky enough at the store to have a sample that we've been able to try on and go for a run in. These two running shoes are going to be quite similar. They’re soft, cushioned and responsive so it's a really a good opportunity to give them a try.
Ethan’s Subjective Opinion On The Hoka Clifton 9
For the people in the store and for myself, we have been really enjoying getting out and running in the Hoka Clifton 9. With that upper that is slightly more accommodating it's going to fit more people better. It's really comfortable and it gives a great lockdown.
Through the medial side in the arch you don't feel the midsole as much. In Hoka One One running shoes you feel that midsole more and people have previously felt like you can feel that arch digging in a little bit. We've noticed it a lot less in the Hoka Clifton 9 which is a big tick.
If you felt that previously in the Hoka Clifton 8 or in other running shoes, the Hoka Clifton 9 is definitely worth giving a shot. With a firmer midsole we're feeling more stable than ever in the Hoka Clifton while still being cushioned and responsive. It's really great for getting out for that long run when you want to pick the pace up. In the last 20 minutes you're still feeling responsive but cushioned and protected from the ground.
The Wrap Up
There you have it, the Hoka Clifton 9. We can’t wait to bring you this running shoe in store. With the slightly re-engineered upper, it's more breathable and it's going to accommodate a few more feet better.
It's also going to be more stable while still feeling like a Clifton with that retooled midsole geometry. You're going to be comfortable and it's going to be great for your daily jogs and long runs.
If you have any questions, comments or theories about this running shoe feel free to contact our Sportitude shoe experts and make sure to subscribe to the Sportitude YouTube channel to stay notified.
Thanks for watching and we'll see you on the road.
FEATURES
- Support: Neutral
- Upper: Engineered Knit
- Midsole: Hoka One One CMEVA
Men
- Heel Height: 32mm
- Forefoot Height: 27mm
- Offset / Drop: 5mm
- Weight: 248g / 8.7oz
- Width: D (standard), 2E (wide)
Women
- Heel Height: 29mm
- Forefoot Height: 24mm
- Offset / Drop: 5mm
- Weight: 205g / 7.3oz
- Width: B (standard), D (wide)
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Hoka Clifton 9 - Mens Running Shoes -
Hoka Clifton 9 - Mens Running Shoes
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Hoka Clifton 9 - Mens Running Shoes
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Hoka Clifton 9 - Womens Running Shoes
For a more in-depth shoe fitting experience, you can book a free 15 minute video chat in a Live Fit session or make an appointment to discover your RunDNA at Sportitude Running@Hindmarsh.
Happy running!
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