HOKA  Clifton 9 Road-Running Shoes - Men's

Comfortable but Terrible Quality

I loved the comfort of these shoes but am frankly shocked at how poorly they were constructed. I've had them for exactly one year and use them strictly for walking maybe once or twice a week, never exercise or running and never hikes or long distance walks, and they have started to completely fall apart. I noticed a small tear in one that I attributed to potential snagging on something but the opposite shoe is separating from the sole at the same location which indicates to me a much more significant structural problem in the construction. For the price and reputation of Hokas, I would have assumed these shoes would have lasted longer than one year.

Durability is subpar.

My first pair of Hoka’s were the Bondi 8 which I bought before the end of the outdoor running season for me in 2022. I put well over 600 miles on the Bondi 8’s with probably 400 from a treadmill. My feet and legs love the Bondi 8 for their plush cushioning and stable wide forefoot and heel. I picked up the Clifton 9 to add to the rotation with a new pair of Bondi 8’s. I wear a 10.5 2E US and the Clifton 9 runs true to fit. A majority of my outdoor runs are on concrete sidewalks around my neighborhood which I know is harder on the outsole of any shoe. That said, I put the Clifton 9’s into the rotation on July 3rd and as of the end of November I had about 280 miles on them. I have nearly 100 miles more on my second pair of Bondi 8’s and they definitely don’t feel the wear the Clifton shows. Additionally, the cushioning in the Clifton 9 has seemed to be breaking down at a faster rate. I would go as far as to say that my first pair of Bondi 8’s feel like they still have more cushioning than the Clifton’s do. They are a good shoe but have some shortcoming's, primarily the durability as noted in the title. I had not been tracking every mile on my first pair of Hoka’s but when I got my second pair of Bondi 8’s I started just to see what kind of mileage I was getting from my shoes given their cost. They are a decent shoe but have some shortcoming's, primarily the durability as noted in the title. You can see by the last photo what the Bondi 8 outsole wear is compared with the Clifton 9.

Good for easy long miles

These are my second pair of Hokas, first being the Mach 5, and I think I am now a Hoka fan boy. One of the things that first noticed was the fit on these were a bit more snug compared to the Mach 5. My right foot I guess is a tad wider, so I had a hot spot on the side of my big toe. The feel when running isn't like the Mach 5. The Clifton 9 felt more solid and less lively than I thought it would be. The cushion I felt came to play during my long runs. My feet felt less tired and when I land, the shoe's cushion it/absorb the landing. It does not have the pop or bounce back the Mach 5 have, so they kind of feel "boring" but my knees and feet thank me at the end of the week. Overall, I think these are great shoes for daily easy runs and long easy runs, but not for faster pace work. The toe box is not as spacious, but the cushion does work to absorb miles. Were these shoes really shine for me is in the durability. As of this writing, I have 178. 5 miles on the shoes in less than a month, and the sole still looks pretty new. So I will definitely be clocking over 300 miles on these.

Too soft for me and squeak

I've had these particular Clifton style shoes for about 2 years and generally they are too cushioning for me. But still I wear them sometimes. The main reason I'm posting this review though is because the right one squeaks so much that I basically just can't wear them anymore. It's annoying. I really should have returned these shoes after about 1 month. And by the way the next time you go to REI take a look at how many Hokas have been returned in the used shoe section. I honestly don't know how they stay in business.

Caution when you order 2E (wide)

I ordered Clifton 9 (2E), still very narrow. I checked size, seems not really wide version. Returned, and re-order the Bondi 8 (2E). Perfect in size.

Loved it!

Very nice, lightweight, very comfortable. too good for runners & everyday use.

Bad sole

First of all these are my third pair of Hoka’s and no shoes have been more comfortable for me. Now the bad. I’ve had these Clifton 9’s for 5 months and have worn them intermittently and now the tread is peeling off the sole. This is not acceptable for an expensive shoe. Furthermore my daughter has a pair that has the same issue. So to me that means this is a thing and a defect that is not limited to my shoe.

Great support and padding in a reasonably priced s

I had an older version of this shoe which was excellent, but the current version is even better. At age seventy eight, I am more likely to do long walks and short jogs than serious distance running. I do Orange Theory twice a week with some fairly tough challenges on a treadmill and these Hokas allow me to complete at least 2 or 2.5 miles of running without any issues. I’ve had knee and back surgery, and the great padding in the Clifton 9 allows me to stay competitive and continue getting meaningful exercise.

HOKAS ARE AWESOME !!

A very good shoe...but different

This is my first pair of Hokas. I've been a New Balance guy for 10 years; Adidas before that. I felt that I needed more padding, as my feet tended to feel a little bruised all the time. So...decided to try Hoka. After about 25 miles, I've decided that I like them a lot. But it took a while, as they simply feel different than any other shoe I've ever worn. Sort of "thick and spongy", but not heavy or slow. The back around the heel is downright weird...but it works. No slip, but easy to get into and no "bump" when you roll into that extended heel. I think my stride has changed a little bit because of the shoes...but my foot pain is almost gone. Glad I took the chance!