**Disclaimer: I bought these shoes myself and these are my own thoughts and opinions. HOKA ONE ONE will neither preview nor vet this review and I do not receive any compensation from them or from any of the links contained in this post**
I feel like I’m both late to the party and unwittingly cliché in writing this, but I feel obligated to post a review of the HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 7. Originally my first shoe review was going to be of the Atreyu Running Company’s standard colorway because their mission and business model fascinate me. But between a winter slump in running and a tendency to gravitate towards the Clifton 7 (and a few other shoes in my rotation) I haven’t put enough miles into them to write a thorough review. That said, I’ve put about 107 miles on my Clifton’s at this point and it’s time to explain why they’ve recently become my favorite shoe.
The Bottom Line: HOKA ONE ONE has built its brand on max-cushioned running shoes and its flagship everyday trainer is no deviation from the norm. The Clifton 7 is a near flawless go-to shoe built for long miles and ultimate joint/tendon protection that can find itself at home in almost every runner’s closet.
Let’s get the basics out of the way.
Price: $129.95 at Running Warehouse
Designed Purpose: Everyday Trainer
Stack Height: 29mm (5mm drop)
Weight: 9.1 oz (size M9.5)
Fit: True to size
I ordered the Clifton 7’s a while back because of the hype from several running YouTubers and because I was looking to build out my rotation with a more cushioned shoe. This, of course, is HOKA’s forte. I was initially torn between the Clifton 7 and the Rincon 2, but the decision came down to the fact that I already had a pretty reliable everyday trainer in the Brooks Launch 6. Both the Clifton and the Rincon are categorized as everyday trainers, but the Rincon is a “light” everyday trainer while the Clifton is a regular everyday trainer. I usually prefer lighter shoes, but because my plan was for this pair to be a recovery/easy day shoe I went with the Clifton’s.
As an aside, HOKA ONE ONE also makes a cushioned everyday trainer, the Bondi, but as I mentioned before I prefer lighter, less structured shoes in general. If you need a lot of cushion (and I mean a LOT), the Bondi might be a better shoe for you.
I started off running in the Clifton 7’s on my recovery/easy days and found myself edging faster and faster on those runs. Not surprising, considering the shoe is an everyday trainer, but I swear HOKA ONE ONE engineered it to make you want to run faster. Part of this can be attributed to its unique slope on the bottom which gives you the feeling of rocking forward and propels each step forwards with minimal effort. That’s not to say you’ll automatically be faster in these shoes, but they certainly make it easier to work hard.
The 7 didn’t change much from its beloved predecessor, but most of the changes are for the better. After a few relatively poor attempts in the middle iterations, HOKA is just refining things now. The shoe is light. It comes in at just 9.1 oz in my size (M9.5) which is phenomenal considering the amount of cushion the Clifton brings to the table. In fact, I was in disbelief when I first picked it up after having only seen pictures online. The sole is made from EVA foam (ethylene-vinyl acetate for those who care), which creates the illusion of landing on a padded surface with every step.
The mesh-upper is perfect. It’s breathable and comfortable. The gusseted tongue (fastened to the insides of the shoe) doesn’t move at all, which means that once you’ve put your shoes on and tied them as tight as you want them the shoe won’t move around on you. In fact, I’ve never gotten a blister in the Clifton 7’s. While I’ve heard of some people’s laces becoming untied mid-run because of HOKA’s propensity to make them incredibly slick, this has never happened to me personally – although it’s worth noting my longest run in the shoe was only about an hour.
I can see these shoes going between 300-400 miles without a significant decline in performance. I’ve seen some people, however, taking them out for more than double that distance. One twitter user posted recently that he logged 950 miles on his pair before they became unwearable!
It’s hard to find much wrong with the Clifton 7’s. That said, probably my biggest complaint is the omission of the iconic pull-tab. Instead we’re left with a weird curl that doesn’t help at all when putting the shoe on. Not everyone likes pull-tabs – and maybe that’s where HOKA is shaving down weight – but personally I love having them. It looks cool and is legitimately useful.
Overall Ranking: 9.1/10
Should you drop everything and go buy the Clifton 7? If you’re already in the market for a new everyday trainer, and you aren’t 100% committed to minimalist shoes, I have to recommend giving it a try. I personally lean away from the max-cushion end of the spectrum, but the Clifton 7’s weight (or lack thereof) certainly makes up for it. This shoe is perfect for someone who is worried about impact on their joints, either from previous injury or the inescapable effects of aging. I often shift to my pair of Clifton’s as a prevention measure when I don’t feel like I’m at 100%. At about 130 dollars it’s not the cheapest pair of shoes, but it won’t break the bank as much as some other pairs will. If you’re worried about stretching your lunch money thin, consider buying the Clifton 6. It’s almost the same shoe and you can usually find the previous iteration of a running shoe at a reasonably discounted price. Plus, you get a pull-tab.
Have you run in the HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 7’s? If so, what’s your take on the shoe? Comment below to let us know what your go-to trainer is and which shoes we should review next!