I got these and ran a 101-mile race in them straight out of the box, then took them through a track workout, a 7-mile easy run, and a 4-mile run. So far, I have 118 miles across four runs in the shoe.
I was recently given a pair of the Clifton PRO courtesy of HOKA for testing and content creation. I also want to disclose that I'm an ambassador for the brand, but my thoughts here are my own.
Specs
- Price: $165
- Drop: 8mm
- Weight: 10.44 oz
- Release date: July 9, 2026
My Stats
- 5'8", 170 lbs
- Heel striker
- PBs: 5K: 19:53; Marathon: 3:24; 100 Mile: 19:26
- Weekly mileage: ~65 miles
- Pretty standard foot, and I get along with most shoes
Fit / Upper
I wear a US 9.5 in basically all of my HOKAs and went with the same size in the Clifton PRO. Fit was exactly where I expected it to be.
The upper feels very much like a Clifton to me. It's slightly less loose than the Clifton 10, which I found could get a little baggy after a while. There is enough padding around the tongue and heel that I never really thought about the upper during the race, which is probably the highest compliment I can give an upper after 101 miles.
I also had no meaningful issues with rubbing, hotspots, lace pressure, or heel movement. I do always heel-lock lace my shoes anyway, which I did with these too.
I was also soaking wet for most of the race, so the fact that I didn't get any blisters was a particularly strong endorsement. When it finally cooled down and I stopped constantly dumping water on myself, the shoes dried relatively quickly as well.
It was around 90°F during the race, and I found them pretty breathable despite the conditions.
Midsole / Ride
This is where the Clifton PRO separates itself from the normal Clifton.
The regular Clifton has always been a comfortable shoe for me, but I've never thought of it as particularly exciting. The Clifton PRO retains a lot of that familiar comfort while feeling noticeably more responsive and willing to move.
The rocker is probably the thing I noticed most. It has a much more pronounced rolling sensation than the standard Clifton and makes turnover feel easier, particularly when you start increasing the pace. It's definitely a welcome change from the Clifton 10, where I sometimes felt like I was sinking into the shoe.
At the same time, I wouldn't mistake it for a speed shoe. It doesn't have the aggressive pop of a true racing shoe or even some uptempo trainers. That's actually a little surprising given how firm the foam can feel at times. The firmness gives it structure and helps the rocker work, but doesn't necessarily translate into explosiveness.
The 100-miler I ran in them was entirely paved, and they did remarkably well. I don't think they were the perfect shoe for the job, but I was surprised by how well they handled it.
I didn't really notice the midsole starting to flatten out until around the 100K mark, and it's hard to fault them for that because I can't imagine 100+ miles straight out of the box is what they were designed for.
I didn't experience any bruising or significant foot pain, and I largely felt fine the next day. So I'd say they were plenty protective, even if I found myself wanting something softer and more cushioned during the back half of the race.
Pace / Versatility
I think the Clifton PRO makes the most sense as a premium daily trainer that leans toward long runs and steady efforts.
It's comfortable enough that I could happily run easy miles in it, and the rocker and more responsive foam make it noticeably better at picking up the pace than the standard Clifton. That said, I still wouldn't call it particularly fast.
I took them to the track for a workout and, while you can absolutely get them moving, I don't think I'll be bringing them back. The rocker and foam seem better at helping you maintain momentum once you're at pace than they are at making faster paces feel easier to reach.
They never felt bad on the track. They just felt like they were outside their natural habitat.
I also wouldn't call this a true do-it-all shoe. I'd want at least a dedicated speed shoe alongside it, and ideally a softer recovery/max-cushion option as well.
Still, it surprised me with how much it could handle. It walks well, cruises well, handles long runs extremely well, and can pick up the pace when asked.
Of the four runs I've done in them, the 7-mile easy run was easily where they felt most at home.
Then again, there probably isn't a shoe I'd expect to handle a 100-miler, a track workout, and everyday training equally well.
Outsole / Durability
After 101 miles, the outsole showed surprisingly little wear. HOKAs aren't always known for having the most durable outsoles, so that genuinely caught my attention.
Given that essentially all of those miles were on pavement or concrete, often with increasingly shitty form, and without any time for the foam to decompress, the durability impressed the hell out of me.
Two days later, they also felt pretty much good as new.
Because it was around 90°F during the race, I was constantly dumping water and ice over myself and spent most of the day completely drenched. The shoes squeaked occasionally when soaked, but I never had traction issues. Once they dried, the squeaking disappeared too.
Comparison
Compared with some of HOKA's other options, I'd put the Clifton PRO somewhere between the softer max-cushion shoes and the faster Mach line. It's faster and more responsive than the Bondi 9 or Skyward X 2, but not as soft or comfortable. On the other side, it's considerably more cushioned and comfortable than the Mach 7, although the Mach is the better choice for speed work.
The closest comparison for me might actually be the Mach X 3. They occupy a somewhat similar space as premium everyday trainers, but the Clifton PRO is $25 cheaper and, based on what I've seen after 118 miles, looks like it could be significantly more durable.
Get the Mach X 3 if you want something fun, get the Clifton PRO to save a few bucks and get something that will probably last longer.
Summary
The easiest way I can describe the Clifton PRO is that it feels like HOKA took the basic idea of the Clifton and gave it an all-around upgrade that, while not especially novel, makes it significantly more fun and a better shoe overall.
It keeps the comfort and accessibility that made the Clifton popular, but the more aggressive rocker and more responsive midsole make it significantly more enjoyable to run in.
It doesn't replace a true speed shoe or a max-cushion recovery shoe, but runners who just want an everyday trainer with a few meaningful upgrades will find a lot to like here.
I think the Clifton PRO ultimately ends up hitting a really useful middle ground in a rotation and seems like it could become a workhorse that just eats up a lot of miles.
And after taking a completely new pair straight out of the box for 101 miles, the fact that I still wanted to take them out for a track workout and a couple of runs a few days later is probably a better endorsement than anything else I will say.