Hoka Clifton 11 Review

Name: Hoka Clifton 11
Brand: Hoka

A comfortable shoe that'll feel nice for long days on pavement, but the middling support and traction won't keep you stable

The Hoka Clifton 11 is a comfortable shoe with a stability problem.

Credit: Arthur McMahon

Price: $155 List

Manufacturer: Hoka

By Arthur McMahon ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 10, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#10 of 15

Comfort - 30% 8.5
Support - 25% 5.0
Durability - 20% 7.0
Traction - 15% 7.0
Weight - 10% 7.2

Length Sizing

Runs Small

Runs Large

Width Sizing

Runs Narrow

Runs Wide

RELATED: The Best Walking Shoes for Men

List Price: $155

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Our Verdict

The Hoka Clifton 11 puts comfort above all else. Unfortunately, that comes at the expense of stability and support. We walked thousands of steps across a wide variety of surfaces in this shoe, and while the cushioned comfort was long-lasting, we never felt like our footing was ever secure atop its high stack height. Do you remember those bouncy Moon Shoes that were advertised as toy footwear for kids? Comparing the Clifton to those is definitely harsher criticism than this shoe deserves, but it certainly helps to illustrate the general sensation we experienced. It's not a bad shoe, per se — but its squishy-soft sole is a one-note standout in an otherwise mediocre walker.

REASONS TO BUY

Plush cushion comfort

Breathable and soft uppers

Multiple width options

REASONS TO AVOID

Tall platform

Midfoot and forefoot lack stability

Traction longevity questionable

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product Hoka Clifton 11	Altra Experience Flow 3	Asics Gel-Kayano 33	Under Armour Charged+ Assert 11	Asics Gel-Contend 10
Awards		Most Comfortable Shoe	Most Supportive Shoe	Best Under $100	Best Bang for Your Buck
Price	$155 List Check Price at REI	$145 List Check Price at REI	$170 List Check Price at REI	$75 List Check Amazon (on sale!)	$70 List Check Price at Amazon
Overall Score	70	85	82	70	65
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	A thick cushion stack may be comfortable, but the lack of support also makes it a rather unstable shoe	A grounded, lightweight walking shoe offering excellent ventilation and supreme comfort that'll keep your feet happy over long days	A stable and comfortable shoe that does support right - it guides your steps and keeps you upright without overcorrection	At a wallet-friendly price point, this shoe is surprisingly comfortable for all-day wear across various uses	A basic, inexpensive walking shoe that's surprisingly capable but far from premium
Rating Categories	Hoka Clifton 11	Altra Experience Flow 3	Asics Gel-Kayano 33	Under Armour Charged...	Asics Gel-Contend 10
Comfort (30%)	8.5	9.5	8.5	7.0	6.0
Support (25%)	5.0	8.5	9.5	6.0	7.0
Durability (20%)	7.0	8.0	8.0	8.5	6.5
Traction (15%)	7.0	8.0	6.5	7.0	6.5
Weight (10%)	7.2	7.6	6.7	6.6	6.7
Specifications	Hoka Clifton 11	Altra Experience Flow 3	Asics Gel-Kayano 33	Under Armour Charged...	Asics Gel-Contend 10
Best For	Athletic walking	Athletic walking, everyday casual	Athletic walking, everyday casual	Athletic walking	Athletic walking
Width Options	Regular, wide, x-wide	Regular	Narrow, regular, wide, x-wide	Regular	Regular, wide
Support Design	Neutral	Neutral	Structured stability: neutral, overpronation	Neutral	Neutral
Measured Weight	9.89	8.99	11	11.28	10.99
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop	11 mm	5 mm	8 mm	10 mm	10 mm
Closure Type	Lace	Lace	Lace	Lace	Lace
Upper Material	Engineered mesh	Engineered mesh	Engineered mesh	Mesh, leather overlays	Engineered mesh vamp
Midsole Material	Compression-molded EVA foam	Altra EGO™ P35	FF BLAST MAX + FF BLAST PLUS; rearfoot PureGEL	Charged+ Cushioning	AMPLIFOAM PLUS with rearfoot GEL
Ousole Material	Abrasion-resistant rubber	Rubber	Hybrid ASICSGRIP + AHARPLUS rubber	Rubber	Durable rubber with flex grooves
Heel Tab Type	Heel tab	Heel tab	Finger loop	Finger loop	None
Measured Heel Stack	42 mm	32 mm	40 mm	37 mm	36 mm
Measured Width	4.9 in.	4.9 in.	5.0 in.	4.7 in.	4.9 in.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Comfort sells. That's part of why the Hoka Clifton has been such a popular shoe across its iterations. When you first slip it on and walk a few steps around a shoe store, it feels delightfully plush. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer much more beyond a good first impression.

The Hoka Clifton 11 looks sharp and has a soft midsole that your feet sink into. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Comfort

This is the reason to purchase a pair of Hoka Clifton 11 shoes for walking, if you're interested. The incredibly tall 42 mm heel stack height is loaded with soft EVA foam that'll have you feeling like you're standing on Cloud 9.

The midsole isn't saggy plush, either. It has a nice bit of bounce to it. Though it molds well to your feet, it provides enough energy return that'll keep you wanting to move forward. The high 11 mm heel drop we measured also encourages you to keep your forward march going. In our experience, we found the foam to be nice for standing still or walking for long stretches.

hoka clifton 11 - the high heel stack provides a large separation between your foot... — The high heel stack provides a large separation between your foot and the ground, making way for ample shock absorption. Credit: Arthur McMahon

The fit, while unique for each person, felt appropriately snug all around the foot for us. The uppers wrap around the foot nicely without any areas that felt too tight or like they would pinch in our regular-width tester pair. But what's nice is that Hoka offers wide and extra-wide versions of the Clifton 11 as well.

hoka clifton 11 - the uppers provide a good deal of ventilation and hold snugly to the... — The uppers provide a good deal of ventilation and hold snugly to the top of your foot. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Putting the shoe on and taking it off is fairly straightforward. The pronounced heel tab is a good grab point for helping slide your heel in. The tongue does droop into the empty shoe, though, so you'll have to lift it when you slide the shoe on.

It's a fairly easy shoe to put on and take off, though a fully gusseted tongue would be a welcome improvement. Credit: Arthur McMahon

And with this latest version, Hoka further improved the comfort of the Clifton 11 over its predecessors by adding more padding to the collar and adjusting its shape to have more of an outward-curving flare to it. This makes the on/off process just a little bit easier and improves heel comfort, especially for when you wear this shoe all day long.

Hoka really dialed the comfort to 11 on the newest Clifton. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Support

This is where the Hoka Clifton 11 falls flat, or more appropriately — falls over. It's a neutral, high-stack shoe that straight up feels wobbly when conditions aren't perfect.

That's not to say there is zero support in this shoe. The Clifton 11 does utilize a rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame that does decently well at locking your heel into place and making heel strike feel stable and secure on impact.

On perfectly flat surfaces and straight walks, support isn't a big issue. Credit: Arthur McMahon

But once the ground becomes uneven, or you make a sudden stop or sharp turn, that's when the instability is immediately felt. The high stack height of the Clifton 11 paired with its soft midsole foam and lack of structural midfoot or forefoot support, can easily lead to rolled ankles and unstable footing.

During torsion and flex testing, we could feel how much more solid the heel is compared to the rest of the shoe. Credit: Arthur McMahon

The Hoka Clifton 11 does have a fairly wide base that measures nearly 5 inches across at its widest point. That does help keep you grounded. But it's like a drag racer with wide tires — great on flat surfaces in a straight line, just don't expect it to make tight turns very well.

hoka clifton 11 - if your walks don't take you far from the office or grocery store... — If your walks don't take you far from the office or grocery store, the Clifton 11 makes sense. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Durability

After our testing period was said and done, we found some minor wear present on the outsole portions of foam that are not protected by rubber. The damage wasn't anything substantial, though.

The upper engineered mesh is moderately abrasion-resistant, but only small slivers of it (like the Hoka logo) are adorned with tougher materials. Likewise, the upper lacing eyelets are more thoroughly reinforced than the lower eyelets.

hoka clifton 11 - long-term durability shouldn't be a concern, but no major efforts... — Long-term durability shouldn't be a concern, but no major efforts were made to make this an especially durable shoe. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Traction

The Hoka Clifton 11 has all-around ok traction. There are no glaring weaknesses or strengths, though we do have some concerns regarding the tread over the long term.

Rubber is used strategically across the forefoot and heel at high-impact areas of the sole. Between the gaps, the soft midsole foam is exposed. That midsole foam is soft and can easily be damaged, but if you stick to smooth, flat surfaces, like office tile, then you won't have to worry about it.

The Hoka Clifton 11 is at its best on smooth surfaces like hard carpet or linoleum floors. Credit: Arthur McMahon

The rubber tread pattern doesn't have much depth to it. And overall, the rubber layer is fairly thin. With extended use, we expect the rubber to smooth out and become bald fairly quickly at the heel, ball of the foot, and/or the toes — wherever you tend to make the most contact with the ground. That means over time, the traction will slowly become less grippy and more slippy.

hoka clifton 11 - grip is decent when rubber meets the road, but that soft eva foam... — Grip is decent when rubber meets the road, but that soft EVA foam won't be doing you any favors. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Weight

Weighing just under 10 ounces per shoe, the Hoka Clifton 11 isn't light enough to appreciate or heavy enough to really be concerned about. The huge amount of midsole cushion is where a lot of the weight is coming from, so it's a sacrifice of a couple of ounces in the name of comfort.

It's certainly a bottom-heavy shoe. The single-layered uppers are fairly light, and there isn't a lot of stiff structure adding to the scale. The weight's really just not all that noticeable, in a good or bad way.

The weight of these shoes certainly won't cross your mind while your making your way to the mall or the movies. Credit: Arthur McMahon

Should You Buy the Hoka Clifton 11?

If you're a Hoka fan and squishy underfoot comfort is what you're after, this shoe might just be your cup of tea. It can be good for casual walks in flat, urban environments. That said, anyone in need of stability assistance should seek out a shoe that offers more structural support.

What Other Men's Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

Comfort seekers should give the Altra Experience Flow 3 some serious consideration. It also has a comfortable midsole, but offers more energy return and a wider toebox that makes it an even more comfortable shoe for all-day wear. If you're a Hoka fan who's on your feet all day at work, the Hoka Bondi SR offers parallel comfort, but with much more grip and stability.