The HOKA Clifton 11 is a classic daily trainer designed for runners seeking accessible comfort for daily mileage. It remains largely unchanged from the HOKA Clifton 10, keeping the same midsole foam, stack height, drop, and underfoot feel that have made the Clifton series beloved by many. The few changes are small but purposeful: the shoe is lighter and has a more flexible yet aggressive forefoot rocker to help it roll more smoothly through push-off. HOKA have also added a brand-new sockliner that makes the step-in comfort feel a bit more plush. Though it loses some stability from the previous version, it's still trustworthy underfoot and performs decently over longer efforts. It isn't a race shoe by any stretch, but it does an okay job across 5K-to-marathon efforts. However, its poor energy return and sub-par responsiveness mean it still isn't intended for speed. Ultimately, the Clifton 11 is a good daily trainer that's happiest soaking up impact across easy runs, longer efforts, and long days on your feet.
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.
The HOKA Clifton 11 has poor overall energy return. The forefoot gives back more than the heel, but the EVA 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 has sub-par responsiveness. Its good forefoot rocker geometry helps the shoe roll forward, but the poor energy return, compliant rocker, and flexible forefoot mean it lacks the propulsion and leverage needed for an intuitive ride underfoot.
Forefoot provides good roll-through.
Compliant rocker and flexible forefoot reduce leverage at toe-off.
Poor energy return provides a flat, non-propulsive ride.
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 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 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.
Performance Usages
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.
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, built for runners who want an easy shoe to lace up and get runs done. 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. The HOKA Mach 7 is the lighter, nimbler pick and the better choice for speed work.
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 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 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 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 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 deep cushioning of the HOKA for taller, deeper cushioned HOKA or the more stable and traditional ride of the Brooks.
We buy and test running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes so team members can log in miles. This real-world testing is conducted at various paces and conditions, across different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
The HOKA Clifton 11 uses standard flat laces with moderate stretch. They kept lockdown consistent during testing, so the midfoot stays secure without needing to overtighten the shoe.
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.
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.
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, feeling flat on toe-off, and lags well behind the more modern Saucony Ride 19.
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 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'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.
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 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.