Products
HOKA Clifton 9
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26
Tested using Methodology v0.8.2
Updated Oct 20, 2025 08:04 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Tested using Methodology v0.8.2
Updated Oct 22, 2025 05:12 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Weight
257.5 g (9.08 oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.3 mm
Plate
None
Weight
301.9 g (10.65 oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.9 mm
Plate
None
Our Verdict
HOKA Clifton 9
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26
The ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26 and the HOKA Clifton 9 are both popular, well-cushioned daily trainers, but each has its own advantages. The HOKA is lighter and offers better energy return, making it a bit more versatile. The ASICS, meanwhile, has a wider base and offers better lateral stability, making it a somewhat smoother ride for easy miles.
Variants
- Clifton 9 (Black/Black - (Women - US 7))
- Clifton 9 (Black/Rose Gold - (Women - US 7))
- Clifton 9 (Evening Sky Coral - (Women - US 7))
- Clifton 9 (Frost/Gold - (Men - US 9))
- Clifton 9 (Lettuce/Solar Flare - (Women - US 7))
- Clifton 9 (Nimbuscloud/Steel Wool - (Men - US 9))
- Clifton 9 (Oat Milk/Barley - (Men - US 9))
- Clifton 9 (Olive Haze/Mercury - (Women - US 7))
- Clifton 9 (Sandstone/Cream - (Women - US 7))
- Clifton 9 (Solar Flare/Lettuce - (Men - US 9))
- Clifton 9 (Stardust/Electric Cobalt - (Men - US 9))
- Clifton 9 (Sunlit Ocean/Lilac Mist - (Women - US 7))
- Clifton 9 (Vanilla/Astral - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Cool Matcha - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Dusty Purple - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Graphite Grey - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Soothing Sea - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Aurora Green - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Bold Magenta - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Champagne - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Rose Gold - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Bright Cyan/Bold Magenta - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Celadon/Light Celadon - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Concrete/Pure Silver - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Cool Grey/Bright Cyan - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Cool Grey/Safety Yellow - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Cool Grey/Safety Yellow - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Evening Teal/Light Mustard - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Feather Grey/Black - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (French Blue/Electric Lime - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Light Celadon/Safety Yellow - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Lite-show/Illuminate Green - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Lite-show/Sea Glass - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Mint Tint/Pale Mint - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Nature Bathing/Pearl Pink - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Nature Bathing/Red Snapper - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Oatmeal/Faded Orange - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Piedmont Grey/Grey Blue - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Piedmont Grey/Safety Yellow - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Rich Navy/Faded Orange - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Sheet Rock/Thunder Blue - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Thunder Blue/Sapphire - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Waterscape/Black - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Watershed Rose/White - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (White/Fresh Air - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (White/Soothing Sea - (Women - US 7))
Main Differences for
Marathon Racing
Marathon Racing
Threshold
Marathon Racing
5.9
5.5
Weight
6.1
4.3
Full Comparison
Design
Weight
6.1
4.3
Right Shoe Weight Photo
Left Shoe Weight Photo
Weight
257.5 g (9.08 oz)
301.9 g (10.65 oz)
Stack Heights
Stack Height Photo
Heel Stack Height
39.2 mm
42.1 mm
Forefoot Stack Height
30.9 mm
33.2 mm
Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.3 mm
8.9 mm
Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop
5.0 mm
8.0 mm
External Shape
3D Model Full Shoe
Outsole Heel Width
89 mm (3.5")
93 mm (3.6")
Outsole Arch Width
84 mm (3.3")
84 mm (3.3")
Outsole Forefoot Width
107 mm (4.2")
115 mm (4.5")
Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio
2.27
2.21
Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio
3.47
3.46
Internal Shape
3D Model Internal
Internal Length
274 mm (10.8")
278 mm (10.9")
Internal Heel Width
58 mm (2.3")
64 mm (2.5")
Internal Forefoot Width
87 mm (3.4")
96 mm (3.8")
Wide Sizing Available
Yes
Yes
Other Features
Other Features Photo
Tongue Gusset Type
Non-gusseted
Fully-gusseted
Plate
None
None
Performance
Heel Energy Return
2.2
1.4
Heel Compression Video
Heel Energy Return
Heel Energy Return
68.1%
66.3%
Forefoot Energy Return
2.4
2.3
Forefoot Compression Video
Forefoot Energy Return
Forefoot Energy Return
68.6%
68.4%
Heel Cushioning
7.6
7.6
Heel Cushioning Picture
Heel Cushioning
Energy Absorbed At 550N
3.11 J
3.24 J
Energy Absorbed At 1100N
9.51 J
9.26 J
Energy Absorbed At 1900N
16.72 J
16.55 J
Forefoot Cushioning
7.9
7.8
Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Forefoot Cushioning
Energy Absorbed At 800N
4.51 J
4.68 J
Energy Absorbed At 1300N
8.58 J
8.39 J
Energy Absorbed At 2050N
13.19 J
12.49 J
Heel Firmness
5.2
5.3
Heel Firmness
Firmness At 550N
51.9 N/mm
53.2 N/mm
Firmness At 1100N
104.0 N/mm
105.6 N/mm
Firmness At 1900N
214.1 N/mm
212.8 N/mm
Forefoot Firmness
7.1
7.7
Forefoot Firmness
Firmness At 800N
92.3 N/mm
98.2 N/mm
Firmness At 1300N
178.8 N/mm
199.3 N/mm
Firmness At 2050N
334.6 N/mm
383.0 N/mm
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HOKA Clifton 9
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26
Comments
HOKA Clifton 9 vs ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26: Main Discussion
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