HOKA Clifton 9 vs On Cloudmonster 2

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

HOKA Clifton 9
On Cloudmonster 2

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Oct 20, 2025 08:04 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Oct 22, 2025 07:54 PM

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Amazon.com

Our Verdict

HOKA Clifton 9

On Cloudmonster 2

The HOKA Clifton 9 and On Cloudmonster 2 are popular daily trainers, which are perfect if you run mostly for Strava kudos. The On is more stable, while the HOKA is lighter and better cushioned, offering a smooth ride on casual daily runs. Neither is particularly bouncy, but the HOKA has the edge in energy return.

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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))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Asphalt/Iron - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Asphalt/Iron - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Asphalt/Lima - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Asphalt/Lima - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Black/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Black/Eclipse - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Black/Frost - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Cream/Horizon - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Cream/Ice - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Cream/Ice - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Ivory/Red - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Ivory/Silver - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Mineral/Aloe - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (Tempest/Horizon - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (White/Flame - (Women - US 7))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (White/Flame - (Men - US 9))
  • Cloudmonster 2 (White/Frost - (Women - US 7))

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 

5.9
5.9

Plate 
 

None
Plastic

Weight  

6.1
4.6

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

6.1
4.6

Right Shoe Weight Photo  

Left Shoe Weight Photo  

Weight 
 

257.5 g (9.08 oz)
295.8 g (10.43 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo  

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.2 mm
40.5 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

30.9 mm
33.0 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.3 mm
7.5 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

5.0 mm
6.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Outsole Heel Width 
 

89 mm (3.5")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
78 mm (3.1")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

107 mm (4.2")
113 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.27
2.07

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.47
3.42
Show Text 

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Internal Length 
 

274 mm (10.8")
277 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

58 mm (2.3")
66 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

87 mm (3.4")
93 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
No

Other Features  

Other Features Photo  

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
Plastic
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

2.2
1.5

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

See details
See details

Heel Energy Return 
 

68.1%
66.5%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.4
2.2

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

See details
See details

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

68.6%
68.3%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.6
7.2

Heel Cushioning Picture  

Heel Cushioning  

See details
See details

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.11 J
3.37 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.51 J
9.11 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

16.72 J
14.60 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.9
7.3

Forefoot Cushioning Picture  

Forefoot Cushioning  

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See details

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.51 J
4.20 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.58 J
7.85 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

13.19 J
11.81 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.2
5.8

Heel Firmness  

See details
See details

Firmness At 550N 
 

51.9 N/mm
48.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

104.0 N/mm
130.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

214.1 N/mm
271.6 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.1
7.8

Forefoot Firmness  

See details
See details

Firmness At 800N 
 

92.3 N/mm
100.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

178.8 N/mm
207.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

334.6 N/mm
379.0 N/mm
Show Text 

HOKA Clifton 9

On Cloudmonster 2

Comments

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HOKA Clifton 9 vs On Cloudmonster 2: Main Discussion

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