HOKA Clifton 8 Running Shoes
HOKA Clifton 8 Running Shoes
Last updated at 01/31/2026 19:25:50
originally posted on backcountry.com
I've had Cliftons since version 3, 5, and 7. So far Clifton 3 is still the best I've had. I skipped buying the 4 since there were bad reviews (not sure if there was a 6?). I didn't check reviews for the 8 since it's relatively new but it is such a departure from the 7 in terms of the upper's material. The foam on the tongue is noticeably thicker than the 7 that it got me wearing thinner socks. If I wear the same "medium" padded socks that I used to wear with the 7, the width of my feet around where the toes start are so tight that it almost can't flex. To add, I feel that the shoe is also narrower than the 7. Thankfully I have a couple of thin socks for running, along with loosening the laces but since they're new, I haven't seen the effects on my foot so ... MoreI've had Cliftons since version 3, 5, and 7. So far Clifton 3 is still the best I've had. I skipped buying the 4 since there were bad reviews (not sure if there was a 6?). I didn't check reviews for the 8 since it's relatively new but it is such a departure from the 7 in terms of the upper's material. The foam on the tongue is noticeably thicker than the 7 that it got me wearing thinner socks. If I wear the same "medium" padded socks that I used to wear with the 7, the width of my feet around where the toes start are so tight that it almost can't flex. To add, I feel that the shoe is also narrower than the 7. Thankfully I have a couple of thin socks for running, along with loosening the laces but since they're new, I haven't seen the effects on my foot so far.Foam-wise it's almost the same lightweight cushioning that comes with the Clifton line.TL;DR I think it will take some getting used to fit-wise (width). I just hope Hoka didn't make changes so drastic.- Feels narrower- Tongue is drastically thicker- Heel seems to slip, had to find a sweet spot with lacing.
originally posted on dickssportinggoods.com
I don’t fit the Hoka demographic. I am not athletic. I am a 75 yo Grammy with sacroiliac, knee and foot problems. If it were not for discovering Hoka when I was 63, I would not be walking. At all. I have had 6 pairs in past 12 years. Most recent purchase was Clifton8 July 31,2022. Most comfortable ever. Gave my mobility a huge boost. I just wear them for every day. No rough treatment. Much to my shock, the footbed was completely flattened in 6 weeks. I still can’t believe itSo discouraged!! Restricts my life so much without my Hokas. I’m on a fixed income. I cannot indulge in new shoes every six weeks and especially not at Hokas price. I’m stymied 🤷‍♀️
originally posted on REI
Shoes are soft, spongy, and great. But I immediately can tell the arch blade bothers my archs right away. It feels uncomfortable and after about a few minutes of walking in the shoes, they start to bother me a lot. I've had these shoes for about 2 months. I thought I did enough research prior to buying, but from researching furthermore after purchasing these shoes, it turns out the Clifton series are known for this. These are the only Hoka model to have high arch blades. Many consumers thought Hoka would have fixed this when they came out with the Clifton 8s, but the problem still exists. I
| Stack Height | 29 – 24mm |
I've had Cliftons since version 3, 5, and 7. So far Clifton 3 is still the best I've had. I skipped buying the 4 since there were bad reviews (not sure if there was a 6?). I didn't check reviews for the 8 since it's relatively new but it is such a departure from the 7 in terms of the upper's material. The foam on the tongue is noticeably thicker than the 7 that it got me wearing thinner socks. If I wear the same "medium" padded socks that I used to wear with the 7, the width of my feet around where the toes start are so tight that it almost can't flex. To add, I feel that the shoe is also narrower than the 7. Thankfully I have a couple of thin socks for running, along with loosening the laces but since they're new, I haven't seen the effects on my foot so ... MoreI've had Cliftons since version 3, 5, and 7. So far Clifton 3 is still the best I've had. I skipped buying the 4 since there were bad reviews (not sure if there was a 6?). I didn't check reviews for the 8 since it's relatively new but it is such a departure from the 7 in terms of the upper's material. The foam on the tongue is noticeably thicker than the 7 that it got me wearing thinner socks. If I wear the same "medium" padded socks that I used to wear with the 7, the width of my feet around where the toes start are so tight that it almost can't flex. To add, I feel that the shoe is also narrower than the 7. Thankfully I have a couple of thin socks for running, along with loosening the laces but since they're new, I haven't seen the effects on my foot so far.Foam-wise it's almost the same lightweight cushioning that comes with the Clifton line.TL;DR I think it will take some getting used to fit-wise (width). I just hope Hoka didn't make changes so drastic.- Feels narrower- Tongue is drastically thicker- Heel seems to slip, had to find a sweet spot with lacing.
I don’t fit the Hoka demographic. I am not athletic. I am a 75 yo Grammy with sacroiliac, knee and foot problems. If it were not for discovering Hoka when I was 63, I would not be walking. At all. I have had 6 pairs in past 12 years. Most recent purchase was Clifton8 July 31,2022. Most comfortable ever. Gave my mobility a huge boost. I just wear them for every day. No rough treatment. Much to my shock, the footbed was completely flattened in 6 weeks. I still can’t believe itSo discouraged!! Restricts my life so much without my Hokas. I’m on a fixed income. I cannot indulge in new shoes every six weeks and especially not at Hokas price. I’m stymied 🤷‍♀️
Shoes are soft, spongy, and great. But I immediately can tell the arch blade bothers my archs right away. It feels uncomfortable and after about a few minutes of walking in the shoes, they start to bother me a lot. I've had these shoes for about 2 months. I thought I did enough research prior to buying, but from researching furthermore after purchasing these shoes, it turns out the Clifton series are known for this. These are the only Hoka model to have high arch blades. Many consumers thought Hoka would have fixed this when they came out with the Clifton 8s, but the problem still exists. I
I've had these for quite some time now. The upper is very comfortable and the sole highly cushioned. However I find that running in them is like running in quicksand. I tend to end up with sore legs after runs as they require so much effort to get moving. As stated earlier, they are highly cushioned but it's a squishy cushioning with little to zero responsiveness. I bought these initially because I have a compressed nerve in my back and I wanted something to absorb impact. In that way they were probably good for me and it's why I haven't scored them lower than 3, but I've moved onto other far superior shoes now that also absorb impact, but also allow me to move, which is fairly important for running.They would probably be suitable walking shoes for some, but I'm ... MoreI've had these for quite some time now. The upper is very comfortable and the sole highly cushioned. However I find that running in them is like running in quicksand. I tend to end up with sore legs after runs as they require so much effort to get moving. As stated earlier, they are highly cushioned but it's a squishy cushioning with little to zero responsiveness. I bought these initially because I have a compressed nerve in my back and I wanted something to absorb impact. In that way they were probably good for me and it's why I haven't scored them lower than 3, but I've moved onto other far superior shoes now that also absorb impact, but also allow me to move, which is fairly important for running.They would probably be suitable walking shoes for some, but I'm not sure that they feel like the most stable shoes out there and the heel can heavily compress underfoot.
Good shoes. Lightweight, soft and bouncy. More medial support than I wanted - ie a little stiff in the arch area. I eventually returned them because I got toe pain mid-run in my smaller toes. Podiatrist labeled it Neuroma. Put me out of commission for 3 weeks. It could have been caused by something other than the shoes. I’m still not the biggest fan of the tread design that felt like it at times would “stab” through the soft cushion and impact my toes from the areas with rubberized outsole. Also, not a fan of the narrow toe box that squeezed my feet which aren’t that wide. Next time will look into wide. The length was true to size.
I recently transitioned from HOKA Gaviota 4 to the HOKA Clifton 8 Running Shoe, as they were recently on sale at a much lower price than the Gaviota 4. Since I retired, I now have time to walk 3-5 miles a day and often jog for about 1/2 mile of each walk. While the Gaviota 4 provides more support and cushioning, the Clifton 8 is much lighter, trimmer, and the cushioning and support is sufficient for me. Both the Gaviota 4 and Clifton 8 are excellent running shoes and I recommend them both. I suggest ordering one half size larger if this is your first pair of Hoka running shoes. For example, I wear size 11 shoes, size 11 1/2 Nike, and size 12 Hoka.
I do love these shoes. And I do use them for their intended purpose at least three days a week. They soak up the miles on a soft-but-not-to-soft cushy sole, with a form fitting comfy upper. No pinch point, no discomfort and ready to rock right out of the box, even for an old salt with orthotics like me. I also use them, slightly less effectively, at a circuit training gym at least twice a week. They are admittedly a little soft and not as supportive as I would like for this application, but i give them grace, as this is not their intended use by design. Being from Portland Oregon, the home of Nike and a lifetime Mike runner, it took a lot and long time for me to try new things, but boy an i grad I did. I converted to Hoka One One about three years ago, and it took ... MoreI do love these shoes. And I do use them for their intended purpose at least three days a week. They soak up the miles on a soft-but-not-to-soft cushy sole, with a form fitting comfy upper. No pinch point, no discomfort and ready to rock right out of the box, even for an old salt with orthotics like me. I also use them, slightly less effectively, at a circuit training gym at least twice a week. They are admittedly a little soft and not as supportive as I would like for this application, but i give them grace, as this is not their intended use by design. Being from Portland Oregon, the home of Nike and a lifetime Mike runner, it took a lot and long time for me to try new things, but boy an i grad I did. I converted to Hoka One One about three years ago, and it took me a minute and a little adjustment in my stride to figure out the different foot bed configuration, but now it just feels really smooth and natural, and I (maybe placebo) knees and feet appreciate the smoother running form. Highly recommend these shoes and Hoka as a brand in general, they really focus on doing one thing and doing it well.
These shoes are fantastic - comfortable and light, yet springy and can pick up the pace. I'm 5' 9 1/2" and 155 and have run for decades on Asics, Mizuno, New Balance and most recently Brooks (Ghost and Revel 4). My slightly wider feet love the shape of New Balance and Brooks, and I stayed away from Hoka for that reason - they tend to be a bit more narrow. I tried these on in a wide and they are lovely - supremely comfortable and soft for the step-in and an easy heel lock (surprisingly more locked down than my New Balance). After the first run (short 6 miles), my knees and feet felt so much better than they had with my Brooks. I attribute this in part to the midsole as well as the rocker shape of the outsole. Both cushion my landings and propel me forward, making my ... MoreThese shoes are fantastic - comfortable and light, yet springy and can pick up the pace. I'm 5' 9 1/2" and 155 and have run for decades on Asics, Mizuno, New Balance and most recently Brooks (Ghost and Revel 4). My slightly wider feet love the shape of New Balance and Brooks, and I stayed away from Hoka for that reason - they tend to be a bit more narrow. I tried these on in a wide and they are lovely - supremely comfortable and soft for the step-in and an easy heel lock (surprisingly more locked down than my New Balance). After the first run (short 6 miles), my knees and feet felt so much better than they had with my Brooks. I attribute this in part to the midsole as well as the rocker shape of the outsole. Both cushion my landings and propel me forward, making my running gait feel easy. I haven't really pushed the pace with these shoes - they're not really for that anyway - but I've felt just fine running anything from 7:15 to 9:00 pace in these. I also love the Achilles flare (elf ear) on the shoes - while I haven't had these for long, they caress my Achilles rather than grate (this is usually an issue over about 200 miles with Brooks shoes). Highly recommended!
This was not the 1st Hoka I had tried on but this was the first I ended up buying and loving. When I ordered this shoe, it was after becoming more serious about increasing my weekly mileage and starting to train for a half marathon. After finding out that my real shoe size was a size down but in a wide, my options were limited. I wanted minimal drop coming from NoBull trainers and Altras. I had never purchased a shoe with this much cushioning thinking that I didn't need that but when I started to add to the weekly distance, I really started to feel it. The Clifton's were an immediate positive change. From the first day running in them, I have no more foot pain. The amount of cushion took a few miles to get accustomed to.Upper: light an breathable. No weird rubbing ... MoreThis was not the 1st Hoka I had tried on but this was the first I ended up buying and loving. When I ordered this shoe, it was after becoming more serious about increasing my weekly mileage and starting to train for a half marathon. After finding out that my real shoe size was a size down but in a wide, my options were limited. I wanted minimal drop coming from NoBull trainers and Altras. I had never purchased a shoe with this much cushioning thinking that I didn't need that but when I started to add to the weekly distance, I really started to feel it. The Clifton's were an immediate positive change. From the first day running in them, I have no more foot pain. The amount of cushion took a few miles to get accustomed to.Upper: light an breathable. No weird rubbing or pressure points on my 9.5 2E. Heal counter kept me in the shoe with a runners knot. I appreciate the gusseted tongue. I did not experience any weird or unwanted foot movement inside of the shoe.Midsole: I do like the cushion for those high millage weeks or those slow steady runs. I would not recommend this shoe for speed work only because there are so many lighter options. I would not term the shoe as "heavy" though. I do also like how full contact the sole is. To be clear, this is not a "bouncy" sole which I prefer on long runs. I want something to shield me from the abuse and that is exactly what the Clifton has been able to do for me.Overall: Great workhorse of a shoe that can take the mileage. The Clifton renewed my interest in the brand so much that I purchased a pair of Rincon 3's as well. With my overall pleasure in the purchase, my wife has also make a Hoka purchase.
This is definitely a nice running shoe- a slight departure from my usual Brooks Ghost (the context for my review/comparison). The Clifton offers a very cushy ride, the signature of Hoka. It is a bulky shoe, but unbelievably light; however, I definitely feel the bulky nature when running (in comparison to more streamlined running shoes like Ghost). Sizing: to me, I wear about a half size smaller than my Brooks, but definitely need the wide (EE). I do have flat feet, but generally wear medium size (not wide) shoes. I have tried both Hoka Clifton and Hoka Arahi, and definitely need the wide. I typically wear my own inserts in shoes, but cannot use them in Clifton because my foot sits too high with it in (and slips out of the shoe). The standard inserts that come with ... MoreThis is definitely a nice running shoe- a slight departure from my usual Brooks Ghost (the context for my review/comparison). The Clifton offers a very cushy ride, the signature of Hoka. It is a bulky shoe, but unbelievably light; however, I definitely feel the bulky nature when running (in comparison to more streamlined running shoes like Ghost). Sizing: to me, I wear about a half size smaller than my Brooks, but definitely need the wide (EE). I do have flat feet, but generally wear medium size (not wide) shoes. I have tried both Hoka Clifton and Hoka Arahi, and definitely need the wide. I typically wear my own inserts in shoes, but cannot use them in Clifton because my foot sits too high with it in (and slips out of the shoe). The standard inserts that come with the shoe are fine, though, because the shoe has a lot of support with the side rails. There is enough toe box room, especially with the flexible upper mesh material and the awesome tongue design. The Meta Rocker is a nice feature that apparently helps for a balanced ride despite where your foot lands- I need to run in these more to determine the helpfulness of the feature. Overall I am happy with the Clifton and excited to have it in my rotation. I still think that Brooks Ghost will remain my primary and favorite runner.
| Stack Height | 29 – 24mm |
