Women's Clifton 8 Max Cushioned Road Running Shoe
Women's Clifton 8 Max Cushioned Road Running Shoe
Last updated at 11/30/2025 09:13:32
originally posted on REI
This shoe is so comfortable! I am a beginner runner and an REI rep recommended these shoes. I tried on my size in the store and they seemed a little narrow so ordered the wide. After running in them, I think I could have worn the regular. The bottom isn't as bulky as some of the other Hoka's, however you can feel the cushion on the heel and it feels great. I have speedgoats 5 and these and I prefer these to my in-city trail running. The color of these blue with orange is quite pretty compared to Hoka's god awful color choices :D These shoes did great for running and my feet had zero pain after, which is a change from any other shoe. They feel really good walking in them too. They are light and easy to put on. I do lace my laces through every hole so I don't ... MoreThis shoe is so comfortable! I am a beginner runner and an REI rep recommended these shoes. I tried on my size in the store and they seemed a little narrow so ordered the wide. After running in them, I think I could have worn the regular. The bottom isn't as bulky as some of the other Hoka's, however you can feel the cushion on the heel and it feels great. I have speedgoats 5 and these and I prefer these to my in-city trail running. The color of these blue with orange is quite pretty compared to Hoka's god awful color choices :D These shoes did great for running and my feet had zero pain after, which is a change from any other shoe. They feel really good walking in them too. They are light and easy to put on. I do lace my laces through every hole so I don't experience any foot shift. The toe box is roomy and toes were free to be toes. I would caution the toe area though. The top of the toe area is this nice fine mesh and I am somewhat concerned on how well this will hold up, like will holes develop. I wear cushy compfy PAKA shorty socks when I run so I am hoping the cushion on the sock prevents toe wear on the toe area of the shoe. I will definitely buy more of these, and may try out the regular as well. If you have truly wide feet, these may or may not work for you.
originally posted on REI
In 2021 I bought the Clifton 7 and LOVED every second I wore them (which was a lot). I'll let you read reviews of that shoe on your own time, because this one is for the Clifton 8, but I have to compare them. My Clifton 7 lasted a year of constant use, both running and everyday wear. When I finally had to admit they were done, I almost cried.To replace them, I got these, the Clifton 8, hoping they'd be an improvement on the 7. Wrong. The cushion and support of the 8 are nowhere near the quality of the 7, and though I've had the 8 for only two months, they are already wearing holes in the inside heel area, and part of the sole is detaching from the bottom.I suspect I will have to replace these in another couple of months, which after 12 solid months of a shoe I ... MoreIn 2021 I bought the Clifton 7 and LOVED every second I wore them (which was a lot). I'll let you read reviews of that shoe on your own time, because this one is for the Clifton 8, but I have to compare them. My Clifton 7 lasted a year of constant use, both running and everyday wear. When I finally had to admit they were done, I almost cried.To replace them, I got these, the Clifton 8, hoping they'd be an improvement on the 7. Wrong. The cushion and support of the 8 are nowhere near the quality of the 7, and though I've had the 8 for only two months, they are already wearing holes in the inside heel area, and part of the sole is detaching from the bottom.I suspect I will have to replace these in another couple of months, which after 12 solid months of a shoe I loved (the 7) is incredibly disappointing. Not to mention bad for my bank account. HOKA is my go-to brand (I have a pair of trail running shoes I still wear regularly that I've had for 14 months and counting--I don't wear them as often as I did the Clifton 7s), but if they are going to keep disappointing me like this I may have to find an alternative.If you're just looking for a pretty running shoe, though, you can't get much prettier than these Fiesta shoes. So at least there's that...
originally posted on roadrunnersports.com
I've had to start working standing up and walking -sitting and standing are uncomfortable due to back issues. I have a "walking pad" under my stand up desk and I just walk and work. It's a new thing for me and I needed good shoes to support all the walking time. Got these after hearing all the Hoka hype and seeing this version was on sale. At first I was amazed. They feel like no other shoe. I like the way they surround my foot, cushioning but not too soft, nice and supportive but not stiff. But now that I've worn them quite a bit, they have made my arches sore. My arches are not happy and I've started instinctively rolling my feet a little with each step to help lessen the ache. That's not good. One of my knees is starting to complain about it. I have high arches ... MoreI've had to start working standing up and walking -sitting and standing are uncomfortable due to back issues. I have a "walking pad" under my stand up desk and I just walk and work. It's a new thing for me and I needed good shoes to support all the walking time. Got these after hearing all the Hoka hype and seeing this version was on sale. At first I was amazed. They feel like no other shoe. I like the way they surround my foot, cushioning but not too soft, nice and supportive but not stiff. But now that I've worn them quite a bit, they have made my arches sore. My arches are not happy and I've started instinctively rolling my feet a little with each step to help lessen the ache. That's not good. One of my knees is starting to complain about it. I have high arches and neither wide nor narror feet. I wear between a 7.5 and an 8. Not knowing what to get but wanting to catch the sale price before they sold out, I got an 8, 7.5, and 7.5 wide. The 8 and 7.5 seem the best. The 7.5 fits my feet better but the 8 seems more comfotable initially. The 8 seems to bother my arch more but the 7.5 isn't perfect for my arch either. Sadly, these are not going to work for me long term. I'm going to have to go to a local store where I can try on and test shoes. No RoadRunner nearby :(
This shoe is so comfortable! I am a beginner runner and an REI rep recommended these shoes. I tried on my size in the store and they seemed a little narrow so ordered the wide. After running in them, I think I could have worn the regular. The bottom isn't as bulky as some of the other Hoka's, however you can feel the cushion on the heel and it feels great. I have speedgoats 5 and these and I prefer these to my in-city trail running. The color of these blue with orange is quite pretty compared to Hoka's god awful color choices :D These shoes did great for running and my feet had zero pain after, which is a change from any other shoe. They feel really good walking in them too. They are light and easy to put on. I do lace my laces through every hole so I don't ... MoreThis shoe is so comfortable! I am a beginner runner and an REI rep recommended these shoes. I tried on my size in the store and they seemed a little narrow so ordered the wide. After running in them, I think I could have worn the regular. The bottom isn't as bulky as some of the other Hoka's, however you can feel the cushion on the heel and it feels great. I have speedgoats 5 and these and I prefer these to my in-city trail running. The color of these blue with orange is quite pretty compared to Hoka's god awful color choices :D These shoes did great for running and my feet had zero pain after, which is a change from any other shoe. They feel really good walking in them too. They are light and easy to put on. I do lace my laces through every hole so I don't experience any foot shift. The toe box is roomy and toes were free to be toes. I would caution the toe area though. The top of the toe area is this nice fine mesh and I am somewhat concerned on how well this will hold up, like will holes develop. I wear cushy compfy PAKA shorty socks when I run so I am hoping the cushion on the sock prevents toe wear on the toe area of the shoe. I will definitely buy more of these, and may try out the regular as well. If you have truly wide feet, these may or may not work for you.
In 2021 I bought the Clifton 7 and LOVED every second I wore them (which was a lot). I'll let you read reviews of that shoe on your own time, because this one is for the Clifton 8, but I have to compare them. My Clifton 7 lasted a year of constant use, both running and everyday wear. When I finally had to admit they were done, I almost cried.To replace them, I got these, the Clifton 8, hoping they'd be an improvement on the 7. Wrong. The cushion and support of the 8 are nowhere near the quality of the 7, and though I've had the 8 for only two months, they are already wearing holes in the inside heel area, and part of the sole is detaching from the bottom.I suspect I will have to replace these in another couple of months, which after 12 solid months of a shoe I ... MoreIn 2021 I bought the Clifton 7 and LOVED every second I wore them (which was a lot). I'll let you read reviews of that shoe on your own time, because this one is for the Clifton 8, but I have to compare them. My Clifton 7 lasted a year of constant use, both running and everyday wear. When I finally had to admit they were done, I almost cried.To replace them, I got these, the Clifton 8, hoping they'd be an improvement on the 7. Wrong. The cushion and support of the 8 are nowhere near the quality of the 7, and though I've had the 8 for only two months, they are already wearing holes in the inside heel area, and part of the sole is detaching from the bottom.I suspect I will have to replace these in another couple of months, which after 12 solid months of a shoe I loved (the 7) is incredibly disappointing. Not to mention bad for my bank account. HOKA is my go-to brand (I have a pair of trail running shoes I still wear regularly that I've had for 14 months and counting--I don't wear them as often as I did the Clifton 7s), but if they are going to keep disappointing me like this I may have to find an alternative.If you're just looking for a pretty running shoe, though, you can't get much prettier than these Fiesta shoes. So at least there's that...
I've had to start working standing up and walking -sitting and standing are uncomfortable due to back issues. I have a "walking pad" under my stand up desk and I just walk and work. It's a new thing for me and I needed good shoes to support all the walking time. Got these after hearing all the Hoka hype and seeing this version was on sale. At first I was amazed. They feel like no other shoe. I like the way they surround my foot, cushioning but not too soft, nice and supportive but not stiff. But now that I've worn them quite a bit, they have made my arches sore. My arches are not happy and I've started instinctively rolling my feet a little with each step to help lessen the ache. That's not good. One of my knees is starting to complain about it. I have high arches ... MoreI've had to start working standing up and walking -sitting and standing are uncomfortable due to back issues. I have a "walking pad" under my stand up desk and I just walk and work. It's a new thing for me and I needed good shoes to support all the walking time. Got these after hearing all the Hoka hype and seeing this version was on sale. At first I was amazed. They feel like no other shoe. I like the way they surround my foot, cushioning but not too soft, nice and supportive but not stiff. But now that I've worn them quite a bit, they have made my arches sore. My arches are not happy and I've started instinctively rolling my feet a little with each step to help lessen the ache. That's not good. One of my knees is starting to complain about it. I have high arches and neither wide nor narror feet. I wear between a 7.5 and an 8. Not knowing what to get but wanting to catch the sale price before they sold out, I got an 8, 7.5, and 7.5 wide. The 8 and 7.5 seem the best. The 7.5 fits my feet better but the 8 seems more comfotable initially. The 8 seems to bother my arch more but the 7.5 isn't perfect for my arch either. Sadly, these are not going to work for me long term. I'm going to have to go to a local store where I can try on and test shoes. No RoadRunner nearby :(
To be honest I bought these shoes because of the hype and I really liked the color options. Unfortunately, I had many issues with them:1. The shoes gave me some pretty nasty blisters on the inner sides of my feet. It's been over 2 weeks and they are stilled not healed, and it's unfortunately interfered with my current training schedule. I don't consider myself to have wide feet, and based on other reviews this actually seems like a common problem. The shoe shape might work for some folks, but just be cautious if you are giving these a try.2. This is probably expected due to the cushioning, but I wasn't prepared for just how slow these shoes felt. It felt like I had to exert 5x more energy just to get my foot off the ground!3. I'm going to assume this is due to ... MoreTo be honest I bought these shoes because of the hype and I really liked the color options. Unfortunately, I had many issues with them:1. The shoes gave me some pretty nasty blisters on the inner sides of my feet. It's been over 2 weeks and they are stilled not healed, and it's unfortunately interfered with my current training schedule. I don't consider myself to have wide feet, and based on other reviews this actually seems like a common problem. The shoe shape might work for some folks, but just be cautious if you are giving these a try.2. This is probably expected due to the cushioning, but I wasn't prepared for just how slow these shoes felt. It felt like I had to exert 5x more energy just to get my foot off the ground!3. I'm going to assume this is due to the relatively low drop of the shoe (compared to my other running shoes), but these also gave me some pain in my calf and achilles. The pain went away a few days later with lots of stretching and massage gunning, but again not an issue I've ever had before!Some people swear by these shoes, but I'm here to say that they are certainly not for everyone
I purchased the Clifton 8 on sale. I wasn't sure I would like it because I purchased it in the past and wasn't a big fan of that model. I thought for the sale price I could wear it for errand days. I love the bondi and have been wearing it for years. I put the Clifton 8 on and it has this weird hard piece between my heel and my midsole on the outside of my foot. I immediately thought this won't work as I noticed it every time I took a step. I do not like to send purchases back so I decided to give it a try for my 12 hour shift at the hospital. I took my bondi as a back up. For the first hour or two I felt that piece I mentioned but after several hours I didn't notice it at all. I am not a shoe expert but I assume it is a stabilizer to correct supination, that darn ... MoreI purchased the Clifton 8 on sale. I wasn't sure I would like it because I purchased it in the past and wasn't a big fan of that model. I thought for the sale price I could wear it for errand days. I love the bondi and have been wearing it for years. I put the Clifton 8 on and it has this weird hard piece between my heel and my midsole on the outside of my foot. I immediately thought this won't work as I noticed it every time I took a step. I do not like to send purchases back so I decided to give it a try for my 12 hour shift at the hospital. I took my bondi as a back up. For the first hour or two I felt that piece I mentioned but after several hours I didn't notice it at all. I am not a shoe expert but I assume it is a stabilizer to correct supination, that darn outward roll of my foot. I was pleasantly surprised that after a few more hours I didn't notice it at all. I purchased a wide width because I wanted the extra room which in reality is only like 1/8 of an inch but it definitely felt good to have that extra room. After 12 hours I didn't feel any fatigue in my foot other than the fact that I walk on them for 12 hours a day at work. I still love my bondi but the Clifton has a slimmer and nicer appearance compared to the bondi that is plush and has that heel height that you get with plush cushion. I like the plush cushion of bondi but the Clifton 8 appears to work just fine with the wider width even though the heel isn't as cushioned as the bondi. I would definitely recommend the Clifton 8 I don't know about whether the Clifton 9 is the exact same shoe as the 8 but it's worth trying. I have plantar fasciitis and I have supination on my right foot that is pronounced. I don't run but I do walk about 13-14 thousand steps a day at work. As a Respiratory Therapist who is on my feet the majority of my day I would say the Clifton is a good choice. I would like to try the Rocket but the price is a little out of my price range. Definitely a good purchase.
Bought in wide because my local stores didn't import enough in regular widths and the other colour options were meh. That's OK I bought them specifically for Recovery between long distance exercise days. I wanted something plush but not too plush that I couldn't find my feet and keel over. These shoes seemed perfect in support with lots of wiggle room for sore feet. At first I felt a bit of the arch poking but after maybe 6-8 uses the inner sole conformed to my comfort and I don't seem to feel it anymore. However the insole flattened out over time and barely a month use it isn't plush as the support appears to have collapsed. The foam is too soft. There should have been a firm stent or plate to prevent this issue. Surprisingly the outsole is not worn down despite ... MoreBought in wide because my local stores didn't import enough in regular widths and the other colour options were meh. That's OK I bought them specifically for Recovery between long distance exercise days. I wanted something plush but not too plush that I couldn't find my feet and keel over. These shoes seemed perfect in support with lots of wiggle room for sore feet. At first I felt a bit of the arch poking but after maybe 6-8 uses the inner sole conformed to my comfort and I don't seem to feel it anymore. However the insole flattened out over time and barely a month use it isn't plush as the support appears to have collapsed. The foam is too soft. There should have been a firm stent or plate to prevent this issue. Surprisingly the outsole is not worn down despite the very scanty use of rubber. I wish for some reinforcement of the toes because they look vulnerable there. I wouldn't buy this for my teen who is rough with shoes, the toe box will surely be the first to give.
After an injury and surgery to my hip and ankle, my orthopedic surgeon recommended Hoka athletic shoes. Considering the amount of pain and physical therapy I had experienced, I took his advice in order to expedite healing and prevent further injury and purchased the Hoka Clifton 8s. I love them! They give me stability but extreme comfort and my pain has resolved. I was also surprised at the number of compliments I got on the shoes, even from younger people who view them as being "in style". As I wear a size 11 for a woman, I avoid bright colors that would bring even more attention to my big feet. I purchased 2 pairs of the light blue. The only suggestion I would make to Hoka is to provide a few more subtle colors with discrete colors on the bottom rubber piece as ... MoreAfter an injury and surgery to my hip and ankle, my orthopedic surgeon recommended Hoka athletic shoes. Considering the amount of pain and physical therapy I had experienced, I took his advice in order to expedite healing and prevent further injury and purchased the Hoka Clifton 8s. I love them! They give me stability but extreme comfort and my pain has resolved. I was also surprised at the number of compliments I got on the shoes, even from younger people who view them as being "in style". As I wear a size 11 for a woman, I avoid bright colors that would bring even more attention to my big feet. I purchased 2 pairs of the light blue. The only suggestion I would make to Hoka is to provide a few more subtle colors with discrete colors on the bottom rubber piece as many of the people who wear these shoes are older and would prefer something more subtle. As for size, I wear a true size 11 medium width women's shoe but found the 10.5 Hoka Clifton 8 was perfect. The 11s slipped on the back of my heel.I would highly recommend these shoes for anyone, but especially if you have had injuries or pain.
I absolutely LOVE my Clifton 7s - best athletic shoe I've ever worn. I have problem feet/ankles/knees/hips due to rheumatoid arthritis and my 7s made walking for exercise SO much better. I loved them so much that I wore the soles down and the treads off, so I began looking for a replacement. My local running store did not have the Clifton 8s in stock in my size, so I tried the Bondi, but they didn't work for me. The store clerk suggested I order the Clifton 8s in my size directly from the Hoka website. I was super excited to get my new shoes, but SO disappointed when I tried wearing them. The 8s are SO different from the 7s!THE GOOD: The only positive change is that the laces of the 8s are shorter (I always had to double or triple tie the laces of my 7s so as not ... MoreI absolutely LOVE my Clifton 7s - best athletic shoe I've ever worn. I have problem feet/ankles/knees/hips due to rheumatoid arthritis and my 7s made walking for exercise SO much better. I loved them so much that I wore the soles down and the treads off, so I began looking for a replacement. My local running store did not have the Clifton 8s in stock in my size, so I tried the Bondi, but they didn't work for me. The store clerk suggested I order the Clifton 8s in my size directly from the Hoka website. I was super excited to get my new shoes, but SO disappointed when I tried wearing them. The 8s are SO different from the 7s!THE GOOD: The only positive change is that the laces of the 8s are shorter (I always had to double or triple tie the laces of my 7s so as not to trip on them). The outer sole still seems to offer good cushion.THE BAD: There's something about the heel that feels stiff, thick and irritating, and just doesn't fit comfortably for me like the old one. Also, the lining fabric is slick and sweaty/not breathable. The worst changes, though, are in the toe box. The toe box is too narrow - and I do not have a wide foot. When I stepped forward, I could feel the edges of the insole irritating the edges of my feet where the insole and shoe meet at the sides of my feet. Adding to this discomfort is the fact that the laces of the 8s start further toward the front end of the shoe than in the 7s, which caused the first lace to cut off my circulation at the base of my toes making the top of my foot tingle. I tried loosening the laces, but then my foot was too loose in the shoe. I've sent them back for a replacement and am going to try the same shoe in a wide, just to see if it's any better though the toe box, but I don't have my hopes up too high.I really hope the next version is improved!
My husband and I took some much needed time off, and decided to go to one of our favorite US national parks, Death Valley. Long story short: our truck got stuck in a dried riverbed in a remote part of the park. The back tires were lifted as the bottom of the truck sat on some large rocks. We did not eat yet this day before getting stuck and only had a 24 pack of water with us. Nightfall came and we slept in the truck. Come morning, we tried again to get the truck unstuck but it was impossible as my husband and I are both relatively small, especially compared to a Ford F-150 that's wedged into a "U" shaped riverbed.We decided to start hiking our way to the highway. After hiking 20+ miles through Saline Valley and reaching some salt flats we realized we were at least ... MoreMy husband and I took some much needed time off, and decided to go to one of our favorite US national parks, Death Valley. Long story short: our truck got stuck in a dried riverbed in a remote part of the park. The back tires were lifted as the bottom of the truck sat on some large rocks. We did not eat yet this day before getting stuck and only had a 24 pack of water with us. Nightfall came and we slept in the truck. Come morning, we tried again to get the truck unstuck but it was impossible as my husband and I are both relatively small, especially compared to a Ford F-150 that's wedged into a "U" shaped riverbed.We decided to start hiking our way to the highway. After hiking 20+ miles through Saline Valley and reaching some salt flats we realized we were at least another 30-40 miles from the highway. We brought as much water as we could carry in our backpacks but realized we stand no chance with this desert sun with no shade and quickly ran out of water. We turned back around because we knew at least we knew we had more water in the truck.During the trek back (Dr. later explained) I fell ill with signs of heat stoke.. throwing up, passing out, urinating on myself. Once I was incoherent, my husband made the difficult decision to leave me by a bush with a few inches of shade, while he made the additional 15 or so miles solo. Suffering from heat exhaustion, he needed frequent breaks to find shade, falling asleep within seconds of sitting down.I was unconscious the majority of the time he was gone. I woke up to the sun setting as the wind picked up. I started walking again. On our separate journeys we both were subjected to drinking our own urine. I tried getting water out of plant roots (no cactus on valley floor). I accepted the fact that I was going to die out here. We were rescued two days after getting stuck.This was my first week wearing Hokas and I'm SO impressed with how well they kept me moving. Hokas for life ❤️
I will admit that I am new to Hoka but am loving their customer service reps and, more importantly, their shoes! I first started with Bondi 7 and loved them. My planters faucitis seemed manageable with them but I read that planters faucitis needs less plus (I have an insert that compensates) so I thought I would try the Clifton 8. I absolutely love these and can wear them without any insert and have no problems. I had bought the 9w and while they felt good I was used to the wider toe on the bondi so decided to try a half size larger. there did not seem to be a difference in the toe box width and I had too much toe space from my toe to the tip of the shoe so back they went. If I would make a suggestion to make these shoes even better is to give them a wider toe box ... MoreI will admit that I am new to Hoka but am loving their customer service reps and, more importantly, their shoes! I first started with Bondi 7 and loved them. My planters faucitis seemed manageable with them but I read that planters faucitis needs less plus (I have an insert that compensates) so I thought I would try the Clifton 8. I absolutely love these and can wear them without any insert and have no problems. I had bought the 9w and while they felt good I was used to the wider toe on the bondi so decided to try a half size larger. there did not seem to be a difference in the toe box width and I had too much toe space from my toe to the tip of the shoe so back they went. If I would make a suggestion to make these shoes even better is to give them a wider toe box for those with wider feet. While these are comfortable and my feet are not squished, I would love a smidgen more space in case I wanted to wear thicker socks . I am definitely a fan of the Cliftons! My dog walks are definitely more comfortable now!
