HOKA Clifton 11.

The Gavler Review.

HOKA Clifton 11 Review: Lighter, Softer, and Still the Easy-Miles Standard

The HOKA Clifton 11 ranks tenth on our Best Running Shoes list with an 8.9 — the plush, comfort-first pick for runners whose priority is easy, all-day miles rather than range. At $155, RunRepeat's lab testing found real, measurable improvements over past versions, alongside a limitation the outlet has flagged for several generations running: the foam underneath hasn't changed.

What it actually is

The Clifton is one of the best-selling running shoes in the world, and the 11 doubles down on exactly what made it popular rather than reinventing it. RunRepeat's lab testers were "pleasantly surprised by its lighter build, excellent breathability, and improved flexibility" — three concrete, measured upgrades layered onto a shoe whose job has always been the same: make easy miles feel effortless.

The headline change is the upper. HOKA reworked it to be softer, roomier, and more accommodating for normal-width feet, and combined with the weight cut, the shoe feels noticeably nimbler underfoot than past Cliftons despite carrying a tall, protective stack. At 9.2 ounces (261 g) in a men's 9, with a 42mm heel / 34mm forefoot stack and an 8mm drop, it's built to disappear on the foot for hour after easy hour.

In use

Comfort is where the Clifton 11 earns its reputation, and RunRepeat's verdict on daily use is unambiguous: "The Clifton 11 works best as a comfort-first daily trainer for easy miles and all-day use." That's the shoe doing precisely its job — a soft landing, a roomy and breathable upper, and nothing about the ride that asks the runner to think about form or pace.

The honest limitation shows up the moment the pace picks up. RunRepeat's lab measurements found "the CMEVA midsole still delivers low energy return, which clearly holds the shoe back at faster paces" — a criticism the outlet has raised across several Clifton generations, because HOKA has kept the same compression-molded EVA foam rather than upgrading to a supercritical compound. There's no plate, and the ride is soft rather than propulsive, so tempo work and race-pace efforts feel noticeably flatter here than on shoes built for speed.

Strengths

• A genuinely lighter, more breathable shoe than past versions. RunRepeat's lab testing confirms this isn't marketing language — the weight cut and upper changes are measured, real improvements.
• Improved flexibility underfoot, which RunRepeat flags as a specific, noticeable upgrade over previous Cliftons.
• A softer, roomier, more accommodating upper fit, the standout update this generation for runners with normal-width feet.
• Tall, protective 42mm stack that still feels nimble, thanks to the lighter build offsetting what would otherwise be a heavier ride.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

RunRepeat's core reservation carries the most weight: the CMEVA midsole "still delivers low energy return, which clearly holds the shoe back at faster paces." That's not a one-off criticism — it's the same note RunRepeat has made across several Clifton versions, because the foam itself hasn't changed even as everything around it has. At $155, RunRepeat is candid that the "outdated foam tech makes its price difficult to justify for some runners," particularly with the HOKA Mach 7 offering more versatility for a comparable price.

Runners chasing tempo or race-day performance should look elsewhere on this list. And anyone who wants a plusher, bouncier ride than CMEVA foam delivers should also cross-shop before buying — the Clifton 11 is a specialist in easy comfort, not a do-everything trainer.

How it compares

One rank up, the Mizuno Wave Rider 30 is the shoe to buy instead if range matters to you — its Enerzy NXT supercritical foam gives it genuine tempo-day credibility that the Clifton's CMEVA midsole simply doesn't have, for a similar $150 price. Doctors of Running rated the Wave Rider 30 highly enough on value and versatility that it's the more complete option for a runner who splits time between easy days and faster efforts.

The HOKA Mach 7 is the more direct in-family alternative — RunRepeat describes it as a light, versatile trainer that "still won't suit runners seeking a plush ride or a roomy fit," which is precisely the trade the Clifton 11 makes in the opposite direction. Buyers choosing between HOKA's own two trainers should think of it as plush-and-roomy (Clifton 11) versus light-and-narrow-but-versatile (Mach 7).

For runners who want a livelier ride at a similar price point without a plate underfoot, the Brooks Ghost 18 — two ranks up — is another reasonable cross-shop, trading some of the Clifton's plushness for Brooks's long-running reputation as a dependable, no-surprises daily trainer.

Who should actually buy this

The Clifton 11 is the right call for a runner whose training is dominated by easy, conversational-pace miles and who values all-day wearability over range. It's an easy shoe to recommend for recovery days, long slow distance, and anyone who spends more time on their feet walking around than actually racing in the shoe. It is not the right call for a runner who wants one shoe to cover both easy days and a Tuesday tempo session — that runner will be better served, and get more for the same money, from the Wave Rider 30 or Mach 7.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.9, with an 86 expert consensus built on RunRepeat's lab-confirmed praise for the lighter build, breathability, and flexibility — set against a foam that RunRepeat has now flagged across multiple generations as the shoe's real ceiling. Buy the Clifton 11 for what it's built to be: a plush, breathable, all-day comfort shoe that's genuinely improved this generation. Buy the Mach 7 or Wave Rider 30 instead if you want range into faster paces from the same closet slot.

Common Questions

Is the HOKA Clifton 11 worth it in 2026?

Yes, if you want a plush, all-day comfort shoe for easy miles. It ranks tenth on Gavler's Best Running Shoes list with an 8.9, and RunRepeat's lab testing found genuine upgrades — a lighter build, excellent breathability, and improved flexibility. The catch: RunRepeat also found the CMEVA foam still returns low energy, so it isn't the shoe to buy for speed.

What's wrong with the HOKA Clifton 11?

The midsole. RunRepeat's lab testing found the CMEVA foam 'still delivers low energy return, which clearly holds the shoe back at faster paces,' and called the outdated foam tech hard to justify at $155 for some runners, especially with the more versatile Mach 7 available for less.

HOKA Clifton 11 or Mizuno Wave Rider 30 — which should I buy?

Buy the Clifton 11 if plush, easy-day comfort is the priority and you rarely push pace. Buy the Wave Rider 30 (one rank up on this list) if you want a single shoe that also holds up at tempo effort — its Enerzy NXT foam gives it real range the Clifton's CMEVA midsole doesn't have.

Is the HOKA Clifton 11 good for faster running?

Not really, and RunRepeat is direct about why: the CMEVA midsole returns low energy, which holds the shoe back at faster paces. Runners who want one shoe for both easy days and speed work should look at the HOKA Mach 7 or the Mizuno Wave Rider 30 instead.