The HOKA Clifton 11 is a classic daily trainer designed for runners seeking an impressively comfortable shoe for everyday miles. Its high stack of foam provides great impact protection, though the ride isn't lively or bouncy. It's a reliable shoe for daily training distances or long days on your feet, but it isn't the shoe to lace up when competing for PBs. Runners new and old will find its good stability and plush platform a dependable option to soak up miles, but those looking for a dynamic shoe for intervals or speed work should note that that's never been the Clifton's brief.
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Our Verdict
The HOKA Clifton 11 is an okay choice for marathon racing. Its great cushioning, high stack, and decent long-run cushioning give it enough protection to cover the distance, while its good stability keeps the ride reasonably controlled. However, it's heavy for a marathon racer, and when combined with its sub-par responsiveness and poor energy return, it's not as quick or propulsive as dedicated racers, and it's better suited to finishing the distance than hitting personal bests.
Great cushioning holds up decently over longer efforts.
Good stability helps keep the ride controlled as fatigue builds.
Weight makes it less efficient than dedicated marathon shoes.
Lacks the propulsion needed for speed-focused marathon efforts.
The HOKA Clifton 11 is an unremarkable choice for 5K/10K racing. Its very firm forefoot and good rocker geometry give the shoe some structure through push-off, but the rest of the shoe isn't made for fast turnover. Its sub-par responsiveness, compliant rocker, and heft relative to more dedicated speed shoes make it a shoe you have to push hard to go fast.
Very firm forefoot gives the shoe structure through push-off.
Good forefoot rocker geometry helps the shoe roll forward at toe-off.
Sub-par responsiveness makes faster turnover hard work.
Heavy for a short-distance racer.
The HOKA Clifton 11 is a decent option for long runs. Its great cushioning provides ample impact protection from the road and holds up decently as the miles build. Its good stability also helps keep the ride comfortable and controlled as your form breaks down. However, it's not a lively shoe, and the EVA midsole doesn't give much back, which means it's more of a satisfactory long-run cruiser than a pace-chasing, progressive effort tool.
Great cushioning holds up decently over longer efforts.
Good stability helps keep the ride controlled as fatigue builds.
Dull midsole means holding quicker cadence is a chore.
Sub-par responsiveness makes it better for steady long runs than progressive efforts.
The HOKA Clifton 11 is a good daily trainer. Its great cushioning and good stability make it easy to trust for regular mileage, while its non-plated midsole and smooth rocker keep it accessible for easy runs and longer efforts. It isn't especially lively, though, and its sub-par responsiveness means runners wanting a more energetic daily trainer should look elsewhere.
Great cushioning helps protect the legs across daily miles.
Good stability makes the shoe easy to trust underfoot.
Lacks the liveliness of more modern offerings.
Changelog
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Updated Aug 04, 2026:
We've updated the Forefoot Compression Energy Return box to add a comparison to the newly reviewed Brooks Trace 4.
- Updated Jul 28, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.15, which replaces Responsiveness with three specific performance usages: Bounciness, Snappiness, and Roll. To read more about the changes, see the changelog.
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Updated Jul 23, 2026:
We've updated the Popular Comparisons section to add a link to the newly reviewed HOKA Clifton PRO.
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Updated Jul 21, 2026:
We've added a new table in the intro to help you quickly determine if this shoe matches your needs.
- Updated Jul 15, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Jul 13, 2026: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 08, 2026: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jul 02, 2026: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jun 30, 2026: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
We've bought and tested more than 250 running shoes. Every pair purchased with our own money, never supplied or sponsored by brands. Our data-driven tests are designed to go beyond marketing claims, and since every shoe goes through the exact same methodology, you can directly compare results to find the right pair for your needs.
Test Results
Energy Return
The HOKA Clifton 11 has poor overall energy return. The forefoot gives back more than the heel, but the midsole is a dull ride overall, absorbing impact well but adding very little bounce or rebound.
Poor overall rebound keeps the ride from feeling lively.
EVA midsole provides a very dull ride overall.
The HOKA Clifton 11 also returns very little energy through the forefoot, providing a very similar ride to the HOKA Clifton 10. It's similar to the Brooks Ghost 18 and Brooks Trace 4, feeling flat on toe-off, and lags well behind the more modern Saucony Ride 19.
The HOKA Clifton 11 returns very little energy through the heel, which is broadly in line with the HOKA Clifton 10, though it has dropped slightly. Most runners likely won't notice that difference, but it still lags far behind the Saucony Ride 19, which is much bouncier on landing.
Stability
The HOKA Clifton 11 has good stability overall. Its wide outsole, generous arch width, solid heel width-to-stack ratio, and very firm forefoot help keep the shoe controlled underfoot. However, the softer heel and non-gusseted tongue mean it's less stable than the HOKA Clifton 10 overall.
Generous outsole arch is confidence inspiring.
Very firm forefoot keeps the front of the shoe controlled.
Non-gusseted tongue means lockdown isn't the most secure.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has a much softer heel than the HOKA Clifton 10 overall. This makes the rear of the shoe less firm under landing, which helps keep the Clifton's comfort-first character but also explains why it loses some stability compared to the previous version. It's also softer than the Saucony Ride 19 and much softer than the Brooks Ghost 18.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has a very firm forefoot. It's only slightly firmer than the HOKA Clifton 10 and Saucony Ride 19, which gives the front of the shoe enough structure under load without making toe-off as harsh as the incredibly firm Brooks Ghost 18.
The HOKA Clifton 11 forgoes the semi-gusseted tongue of the HOKA Clifton 10, which helps it drop weight, but contributes to the shoe being a bit less stable overall.
Cushioning
The HOKA Clifton 11 has great cushioning overall. The heel provides excellent impact protection, while the forefoot is well cushioned at lighter and moderate forces. However, forefoot protection drops at higher forces, so runners who load the front of the shoe heavily may find it less forgiving.
Excellent rearfoot cushioning protects heel landings.
Forefoot cushioning is very protective at light and moderate forces.
Forefoot protection drops significantly under higher forces.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has excellent heel cushioning overall, with outstanding protection at lighter forces, amazing protection at moderate forces, and very good protection under higher forces, and is broadly in line with the HOKA Clifton 10.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has decent forefoot cushioning overall. Similar to the HOKA Clifton 10, it's very protective at lighter forces and remains good at moderate forces; however, protection drops significantly under higher forces, so those who load the forefoot hard may find it less forgiving than the previous version.
The HOKA Clifton 11's forefoot cushioning holds up decently as the miles build, marking a significant improvement over the HOKA Clifton 10. It's also pretty much on par with the Saucony Ride 19 and far ahead of the Brooks Ghost 18, making the Clifton 11 a daily trainer that can comfortably handle longer efforts.
Bounciness
The HOKA Clifton 11 has disappointing bounce. Though the heel compresses reasonably well, the midsole lacks the energy return to turn that softness into bounce underfoot. As a result, the ride is flat.
Poor overall energy return stop the shoe from feeling springy.
Forefoot has poor compression.
Snappiness
The HOKA Clifton 11 is unremarkably snappy. Though its forefoot is stiff, it's much too soft and flexible when bent, so it delivers little bite through toe-off. Combined with the gentle rocker, this means it's not set up for aggressive efforts.
Stiff forefoot provides a bit of snap.
Forefoot is too soft when bent to translate its stiffness into bite.
Rocker too gentle for true propulsion.
The HOKA Clifton 11 returns little energy when the forefoot bends, much in line with the HOKA Clifton 10. This means it loses more energy through toe-off, and runners will have to work harder to keep the same pace.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has a compliant forefoot that bends more easily than the HOKA Clifton 10, Saucony Ride 19, and Brooks Ghost 18. This makes the shoe less rigid under toe-off, but it also means the forefoot provides less leverage when you push through the front of the shoe.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has a more aggressive forefoot rocker than the HOKA Clifton 10, with a higher toe spring and an earlier rocker start. This gives the front of the shoe more assistance through push-off, helping it roll forward more smoothly than the previous version. It's also more assistive than the Saucony Ride 19 and Brooks Ghost 18, especially through the toe.
Roll
The HOKA Clifton 11 rolls adequately. The forefoot geometry of this shoe provides a good amount of assistance through push-off, helping it roll forward smoothly enough. That said, the rocker is very compliant, which, combined with the soft forefoot, stops the shoe from rolling as smoothly as it could.
Very assistive forefoot geometry.
Forefoot is too soft to influence a smooth roll.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has a soft rocker, taking the same force to flatten as the HOKA Clifton 10. This means the rocker shape doesn't stay especially rigid under load, so while the shoe rolls smoothly, it won't provide as much guided mechanical assistance as stiffer-rockered shoes like the Saucony Ride 19.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has almost the same stack height as the HOKA Clifton 10, with a slightly larger measured heel-to-toe drop, though that difference likely won't be noticeable for most runners. Like the previous version, HOKA advertises an 8 mm drop, but our measurements show a drop just over 10 mm.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has a very effective heel rocker. It has a high heel spring, an early heel apex, and a steep rocker angle, so the rear of the shoe helps guide heel strikers from landing into midstance very well. It's slightly less aggressive than the HOKA Clifton 10 and Saucony Ride 19, but much more assistive than the Brooks Ghost 18.
True To Size
The HOKA Clifton 11 fits true to size. Its length, forefoot width, arch fit, and forefoot height sit close to our reference fit, so most runners can feel confident getting their usual size.
Length fits true to size.
Forefoot width and arch fit closely match our reference fit.
The HOKA Clifton 11 fixes the low forefoot height of the HOKA Clifton 10. There's now ample room over the toes, so even runners with taller toes should find the toe box comfortable.
The HOKA Clifton 11 drops a significant amount of weight compared to the HOKA Clifton 10, bringing it closer to the middle of the pack for a classic daily trainer.
Much like the HOKA Clifton 10, the HOKA Clifton 11 uses a single slab of compression-molded EVA. This gives the shoe deep cushioning and plenty of impact protection, but it also means it lacks the pep, bounce, and liveliness of more modern midsoles found in shoes like the Saucony Ride 19.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The HOKA Clifton 11 is a classic daily trainer that keeps runners coming back for a reason: it's dependable, comfortable, and easy to trust day to day. It sits alongside shoes like the Saucony Ride 19 and Brooks Ghost 18, and, of the three, the Saucony is the liveliest and most responsive, making it the best pick if you want a daily shoe with more pep and bounce. The Brooks is the most stable and traditional, sitting lower to the ground with a heavier build. The HOKA is the most cushioned and plush, with the deepest protection underfoot, though it gives up liveliness in return. The Clifton 11 is the pick if comfort and cushioning matter most; the Ride 19 if you want a more modern, energetic ride; and the Ghost 18 if you prefer a low-stack and stability above all else.
If you're looking for other HOKA shoes, the HOKA Bondi 9 is the heavier, max-cushion option, with deeper protection underfoot, though it gives up some stability compared to the Clifton 11. If you want a ride somewhere between the Bondi 9 and Clifton 11, the HOKA Clifton PRO is an impressive pick.
For more options from HOKA, check out our picks for the best HOKA shoes. If you're just getting started and need a trustworthy companion underfoot, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes for beginners.
The HOKA Clifton 11 and HOKA Bondi 9 are both cushioned daily trainers, but the Bondi is the more protective shoe. It has deeper cushioning, better long-run protection, and a more energetic ride, making it the better option for runners who want maximum comfort over easy miles and longer efforts. The Clifton is lighter, more stable, and much firmer through the forefoot, with less bulk and more control underfoot. The Bondi makes the most sense if you want the plusher, more cushioned ride. The Clifton is the better pick if you want a lighter daily trainer that still gives you plenty of impact protection without as much shoe underfoot.
The HOKA Clifton PRO is a better shoe than the HOKA Clifton 11. It's much more cushioned and a touch more stable, and it performs better across daily miles and longer efforts, with more bounce underfoot, too. The Clifton 11 is a little lighter with a lower stack and retails for much less, so if you're on a budget, it's still a good daily trainer; otherwise, the Clifton PRO is the shoe to get.
The HOKA Clifton 11 and HOKA Clifton 10 are extremely similar daily trainers. The Clifton 11 is lighter but slightly less stable; however, it performs better on longer runs and has more step-in comfort. The Clifton 10 is still just as cushioned overall, a bit more stable, and performs almost identically across most use cases. Neither shoe is lively or built for speed, and both are best suited to easy daily mileage. The Clifton 11 makes sense if you want the newer upper and better forefoot protection over longer efforts, but if you can find the Clifton 10 on sale, it’s the better pick.
The HOKA Clifton 11 and Brooks Ghost 18 are both classic daily trainers, but they suit different preferences. The HOKA is much more cushioned and performs better over longer runs, making it the best pick if you want deeper protection underfoot. The Brooks is heavier and sits lower to the ground, but it’s the more stable shoe and offers more groundfeel underfoot. Neither shoe is especially lively, so this mostly comes down to what you want from a shoe: the taller and more deeply cushioned HOKA or the more stable and traditional ride of the Brooks.
The HOKA Clifton 11 is a better running shoe than the HOKA Rincon 5. Though the Rincon 5 is much more stable, the Clifton 11 is far more cushioned and better suited to everything from easy miles to long runs. If you're going to be running more than walking, get the Clifton 11; if you're going to be walking more than running and want the feel of the Clifton 11 without the price tag, get the Rincon 5.
The HOKA Clifton 11 and Saucony Ride 19 are both dependable daily trainers, but the Saucony is the livelier shoe. It’s much more responsive, returns much heaps more energy, and is more fun across all daily miles. The HOKA is the more cushioned option, with deeper impact protection, but it doesn’t give much back when you pick up the pace. Go with the Saucony if you want a more modern, energetic shoe; go with the HOKA if cushioning and comfort are your number one priority.
The ANTA PG7 3 could work as a budget alternative to the HOKA Clifton 11. Their cushioning is similar (both are great), the energy return is similar (both are bad), and they have almost identical stack heights. The HOKA shoe is lighter, though, and it has a broader arch platform, so if you want a nimbler daily trainer or are worried about midfoot stability, the HOKA might be worth the higher price tag.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the HOKA Clifton 11 in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label of our unit. The colorway shown here is Black/White. HOKA offers Regular, Wide, and Extra-Wide sizing for men and women, with multiple color options available across regions. The design section applies specifically to the version we tested, but we expect other sizes and gender variants to perform similarly.
