For the first time in quite some time, I feel dialed into my running. When I’m in the garage—because I’m squeezing in a run between meetings or because it’s Oregon and I’m not tough enough to brave it outside—and even when I’m on the pavement, my newfound running strength has me constantly wanting to push the pace.
We review a lot of shoes at Run Oregon, and while I’ve got options across every stack height, style, and use case, I can tell you I’m currently gravitating toward the speedier end of the spectrum. It sounds great on paper, but I also know I should probably take my own advice and slow down sometimes. For that, I probably need a shoe built for it—something like the Clifton 11.
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From High Stacks to Higher Drops: The Story of the Hoka Clifton 10
The Clifton line tends to get a bit of a bad rap—or at least a snarky one—as the “dad shoe.” The kind you see on plenty of 45+ year olds doing daily life rather than structured runs. And that reputation isn’t totally unfair, because for a few iterations now it’s leaned heavily into comfort-first design.
That’s not to say it isn’t a running shoe, because it absolutely is. It’s just a straightforward daily trainer rather than something pushing the boundaries of modern super-foam construction. And honestly, there’s still a very real place for that in running if you’re so inclined.
Construction & Fit:
We said in our review of the previous model that the Clifton 10 was one of the most significant updates in the line to date, moving from a 5mm drop to 8mm and increasing stack height considerably.
The Clifton 11 doesn’t really change that formula. It’s more of a refinement than a redesign. Same stack, same drop, slightly reduced weight. And like I said in the previous review—and still feel applies here—that can be both good or bad depending on how you look at it. It’s not an especially energetic ride, but if you’re not trying to push the pace and just want a comfortable daily trainer, it absolutely gets the job done.
Looks:
The Clifton line is popular enough that there will likely be dozens of colorways available (and there’s already 8 on initial launch) so I won’t spend too much time here. It looks like a Clifton. The review pair was clean and solid—probably the boldest of the current colorways, but not obnoxiously so.
Specs
- Stack Height: 42mm/34mm
- Drop: 8mm
- Weight: ~9.97 oz (M10)
Upper:
The upper sees a nice refinement with an engineered mesh replacing the knit used in the 10. It feels softer, more breathable, and generally more dialed in around the foot. The toe box remains roomier (though not truly wide), and the midfoot lockdown is secure thanks to a double-lace setup. This is probably the most meaningful update in the shoe overall.
Midsole:
The midsole construction hasn’t really been altered—it’s still the same CMEVA setup. In the Clifton 10 I felt like the ride was pretty firm out of the box, though it did soften a bit over time once you got some miles in.
With the 11 there isn’t really a major update here, but it does feel maybe a touch softer right away. I’d probably chalk that up more to the sockliner than anything structural. Again, this isn’t a ride that’s going to feel the most energetic or exciting—it’s not trying to be that shoe—but it is very solid in its lane.
And I think that’s kind of the bigger point with the Clifton overall. If you’re looking for something to go out and click off easy miles without thinking too much about it, it does exactly that. It’s not going to push you, it’s not going to really pull you forward, but it also doesn’t get in the way. And depending on the day, that’s exactly what you want.
Outsole:
There’s not much to call out here. The outsole is straightforward and functional. Daily trainers like this don’t need aggressive traction, and this does the job well enough. What matters more is overall durability, and the Clifton continues to be a shoe you can comfortably wear both for running and everyday use. There is still some exposed midsole foam, so long-term wear will eventually show there, but that’s unchanged from previous versions.
Overall
If you were happy with the Clifton 10, my guess is you’ll be happy with these refinements. Nothing here is trying to reinvent the wheel, which honestly makes sense—big changes back-to-back rarely work in this category.
It’s an accessible, dependable shoe. I’ve been shifting my mindset that I should only use it for easy paces, and I’ve been very happy with that approach so far.
