18. March 2026

Hoka Clifton 10 Review

I really don’t know where to start with this review, I’m probably going to sound like a Hoka Clifton 10 fanboy, and for that I will not apologise! They look amazing, the new blue colour is perfect, loud, but not too loud, it is a trainer that will get noticed. The other colours in the range are also very bold, I’m loving the Orange/White, but they don’t come in a wide fitting just yet (come on Hoka, sort it out), I’m jealous of anyone that doesn’t have a wide foot right now.

I’ve been wearing Clifton 9’s for the last 18 months or so, I’ve been through 3 or 4 pairs, and they are my perfect shoe for everything, treadmill, long runs, fast runs, and interval sessions. Is the Clifton 10 a carbon copy of the 9, does it feel the same, yes and no. There are subtle differences in the Clifton 10 worth noting, the drop has changed from 5mm to 8mm, a slight increase, but not something you need to transition into, most of you won’t even know it has changed. Stack height is a common 42mm in the heal, and 34mm in the forefoot, nothing here that’s going to scare anyone. There are a few enhancements, the lace holes seem to have been slightly reinforced, and there’s now a slightly re-designed lace retainer on the tongue, nothing groundbreaking but adds to the charm.

The fit on the Clifton 10 is confidence inspiring, enough space to allow freedom of movement, but close enough to feel it is a secure fit. I’ve always preferred the Clifton fit to any other brand or model, but they seem to have improved on what I thought was near perfect. Even before I’d run in the shoe, I already wanted to buy another pair, but that’s just my obsessive traits showing through.

So how did I test the Hoka Clifton 10? Well, I didn’t want to cover old ground and just run 20 miles, I also didn’t want to do one short run and give you a limited review. I decided that I would use the shoes in several different environments and see if this is a running shoe, or a shoe that can be used for multiple purposes.

Day 1 – Treadmill Run

I wore my old Clifton 9’s for all types of runs, treadmill, road, and track. A treadmill run was something I thought would provide a great comparison to what I’m used to. The Clifton 10 did not disappoint, over a 60-minute steady run the shoe felt great, supportive and cushioned, without being too spongy, allowing me to feel in contact with the treadmill. I didn’t feel I needed a breaking in period, it felt like home from home, and I had no residual tightness from adaptation to the new shoe at all.

Day 2 -Treadmill Hill Hike Intervals

So, this is a running shoe, but there’s a chance you might use them for walking as well. I strapped a 10Kg pack to my back, set the treadmill to 15% gradient and hiked up the virtual hill. Unsurprisingly the Clifton 10 felt super comfortable, still supportive and no loss of the cushioned feel due to the heavier pack. Not much to report, just an easy trainer to fall in love with.

Day 3 – 10K Road Run

This was what the Hoka Clifton 10 was designed for, a nice warm and sunny day, the open road, and time to run. A comfortable 10k, no records being broken but it is always a privilege to be able to run. The shoes performed well; I would say that the Clifton 9 felt slightly faster and maybe a bit lighter, saying that I prefer the feel of the Clifton 10, it just fitted better, and more secure. Before I ran, I did add a lace lock like I would on any shoe, there was zero slip on my heel. As I said before, the Clifton 10 is not so different that it feels strange initially, but you know some things have been changed, and for the better.

Day 3 – Gym Leg Session

The Hoka Clifton 10 seems like a versatile trainer, not too much cushioning that would put you off using them for the gym, and although I’m not a Hyrox type of person, they may work for a hybrid athlete. I performed squats, Bulgarian split squats, box jumps, and step ups, no complaints from me and I’d consider using them for the gym (especially after they have been retired from running). I feel like the shoe will last the course, and my previous Clifton’s have hit as many as 500 miles before I’ve moved them to solely gym duty.

In summary, the Hoka Clifton 10 is a great upgrade to a shoe that I felt was already perfect. Hoka have managed to subtly change enough to know you are wearing a new model, but not enough that they feel like a new model. I wouldn’t pigeonhole the Clifton 10, put it in the frame for the gym, road hiking, and potentially even Hyrox or Crossfit (although I know CrossFitters like their specific brands). I can’t speak for everyone, but the fit feels like it’s been really dialled in, I won’t go as far as saying like custom shoe, but close enough for me. I will be buying another pair, hopefully they will release that orange/white in a wide, but I’d take a grey while I wait, and only if I can get permission. I do pay for the trainers I review and I’m not getting paid for it, so my independent opinion is that you should get down to MyRaceKit and demo a pair as soon as you can!

Happy running all and I hope you have an amazing Easter break and get in some great runs. If you can get in to the shop quick, those runs may even be in a Clifton 10!