Published June 11, 2021

Buy for men |  Buy for Women

SCORE: 8/10                                         

Weight:   8.7oz, 249g (M), 7.6oz, 215g (W) for size 9,

Heel Drop: 5mm

Shoe Type: Cushioned daily trainer

Surface: Excellent across all surfaces

Pros

• Comfortable and a premium upper with a secure fit.
• Well-cushioned and lightweight
• Versatile
• Stable
• Highly breathable
• Accommodating and Fits true to size
• Easy ride

Cons

• Energy return is moderate

Take Away

I will not consider HOKA ONE ONE CLIFTON 8 as a max-cushioned shoe because it sits there in the middle. It is neither too soft nor firm. It has an identical upper with the Clifton 7, yet it gained a bit of weight. Overall, with the compression EVA molded foam, the Clifton 8 has the typical HOKA feel; comfortable, lightweight, and easy ride.  

HOKA Clifton 8 Instant Impression

 The Clifton 7 had become one of my favorite training shoes. Still, it was limited to recovery runs and a bit of long-distance running. Nine months later, after the release of Clifton 7, HOKA launches its updated version, and I do not hesitate to lay my hands on it.

I went for my usual size 9 with a teal color. What impressed me first with the Clifton 8 was its aquarelle color (transparent watercolor) that gives a more than appealing demeanor. You look at it, and you feel re-energized.

When I wore it for the first time, I instantly noticed the plush upper. I felt soft under the foot. I also noticed the firmness in the midsole as I walked in Clifton 8. The base of the outsole seemed broad, and I experienced my foot somehow planted when I tried landing on my forefoot.

I took Clifton 8 out for a ride, and the first 5 miles did not ride well. It felt pretty uncomfortable. For the upper and midsole to give in, it took quite some time, and when it did, I felt the Clifton 8 bursting into life.

Still, it rode pretty firmer yet faster than the Clifton 7. I noticed how the extended heel crash pad combined well with the early meta-rocker to provide a long and seamless heel-to-toe transition. At 30 miles, I had attempted all running variations, and I was impressed with its performance. The Clifton 8 came out as a reliably versatile running shoe.

HOKA intended to make the Clifton 8 an all-around shoe, and it did not disappoint. It is comfortable, lightweight, ride easy, and works well in all types of running.

HOKA Clifton 8 Sole Component 

There was no way HOKA would ruin a good shoe. HOKA resolved to retain all the best qualities of Clifton 7 but did a bit of tweaking in the midsole composition to enhance performance. While the design is similar to the previous version, the Clifton 8 comes with updated EVA foam that is gently soft and firm to pamper the foot while giving a moderate kick of responsiveness.

Technically, while the Clifton 7 is generally soft, with the Clifton 8, the foam density has a perfect balance between firmness and softness.

I felt soft. At the same time, I experienced firmness in the forefoot and the heel. Such balance gave me a nice push-off and a consistent gait cycle.

Another visible update is the extended heel crash pad. It is not as exaggerated as in the Carbon X2 or HOKA Mach 4. In Clifton 8, HOKA designers added more foam to the extended heel crash pad, but just enough to provide a soft landing. Besides, it combines well with early-stage meta-rocker to provide a seamless transition to toe-off.

The heel has a stack height of 29mm, and the forefoot has a stack height of 24mm to give a 5mm Heel drop. 

Still, both Clifton 7 and Clifton 8 have similar midsole density. Somehow, the Clifton 8 gained weight, but I have never noticed it whenever I take it out for a run. The weight difference is negligible that you won’t notice.

I noticed the broad base of the Clifton 8 and the midsole extending upwards, allowing the foot to sit into the midsole at a neutral position. Therefore, running in Clifton 8 feels exceptionally stable and confident.

HOKA added more rubber on the outsole, but only on high abrasive zones like the heels. It is another update HOKA gave the Clifton 8. The rest of the EVA foam is uncovered to allow compression. The outsole rubber extends further into the midsole and the forefoot lugs positioning have been changed from horizontal to diagonal. For this reason, Clifton 8 rides pretty firmer than Clifton 7 but with a kick of responsiveness during toe-off.

I also noticed that the lugs are forgiving. They compress into the midsole to give a balance between firmness and softness. Generally, the added rubber at the outsole holds up pretty well to guarantee the shoe more life of not less than 500 miles. The shoe performs well on all terrain. There was no slippage.

Overall the modified midsole of Clifton 8, the solid rubber at the outsole, and the early meta-rocker have given the Clifton 8 a different feel. It rides like a daily trainer shoe than a cushioned recovery or easy run shoe.

HOKA Clifton 8 Upper Component 

HOKA Clifton 8 is an iteration of the Clifton 7 except for minor tweaks by HOKA to give this shoe an enhanced lockdown and fitting than in the previous version.

Just like in Clifton 7, the upper of Clifton 8 is made of engineered mesh. The mesh in the Clifton 7 was thick. In Clifton 8, Hoka made the mesh thinner, thus more breathable. The upper is comfortable, has a roomy toe box, and fits true to size. The toe box is a little bit roomier than in Clifton 7.

It also has a toe bumper to protect a runner from abrasion.

The tongue has a soft plush cushioning than in Clifton 8. It has also been made a little bit shorter than in the previous version. The tongue is not entirely gusseted. Instead, it has some knitting that holds it to the sides. Apart from the soft padding, the tongue is made of thin, soft fabric with no noticeable stitching to it, and it looks sleekly seamless. The tongue has the name ‘HOKA Clifton 8’ encrypted on it.

I did not have irritation issues with the tongue. It sat nicely on top of the foot. With the flat lacing system, I also did not feel compressions on top of the foot. I love the length of the laces. They were not too long but just enough size to allow a lovely runner’s loop. There is an additional eyelet for anyone who wants to enhance the snug fit. Hoka reinforced the eyelet chain in Hoka Clifton 8.

The heel has the same heel flare present in Hoka Clifton 7 that gives the shoe a ‘cool’ look and ensuring no irritation in the Achilles during running. The inner lining of the heel counter is incredibly soft.

The heel cup is pretty rigid but not restrictive. It is just solid enough to provide sufficient lockdown during running. The collar is moderately padded. It is soft and molds nicely around the foot to enhance lockdown. The removable orthotic sock liner adds another layer of extra comfort and cushioning to the shoe.  

My observation is that the Clifton 8 has a plush and comfortable upper with no pain points or hot spots. You are guaranteed a secure fit and a good lockdown.

Conclusion

HOKA Clifton 8 is meant to do more than just cushioning. It is not specialized for a specific type of running. Instead, it is an all-around shoe. It takes anything thrown at like moderate speeding, short marathon, tempo runs, cornering, and long runs, even on treadmills.

 However, this is not a shoe that will win you a marathon or a speed race because it is not as Carbon plated as the HOKA Carbon X2 and the FuelCell RC Elite 2. It is also not as cushioned as the Brooks Ghost 13, Asics Nimbus 23, Asics Kayano 27, Nike Invincible Run, and FuelCell Rebel 2. It means that it does not match many cushioned shoes in the market.

 It works perfectly as a daily trainer shoe, and the Meta-rocker makes long-distance running easy and peppy. It is well-cushioned, stable, and lightweight to keep the foot fresh over a long distance, making it a good option for recovery runs.

 It means that it an all-round running shoe. Considering that you will be getting a lot from the Clifton 8, the price tag is a fair deal. Moreover, HOKA Clifton 8 is a shoe that works for anyone.  

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HOKA Clifton 8 is reviewed by Peter Jones, who is a training coach and a passionate runner. He has thousands of miles under his feet.