Hoka Clifton Vs Bondi and Different Fashions: Hoka Working Footwear Assessment

Since I began carrying HOKA’s ceaselessly through the years, lots of you’ve got requested “what do you suppose?” or “I’ve been contemplating them, ought to I?” “Are you able to clarify the distinction in Hoka Bondi vs Clifton??” Having run in TONS of various fashions since 2012, I’ve a lot to say about how these sneakers match and really feel!

Annually, I check out their new fashions and put in sufficient miles to have strong suggestions on really feel, match and whether or not I’ll be shelling out cash for an additional pair.

Initially this was a straight assessment of the Hoka Clifton as a result of that was the one shoe. However as they’ve expanded through the years, so have the fashions I’ve examined.

Right here I hope to assist breakdown the variations and show you how to discover the appropriate choice for working. Particularly, we’re going to concentrate on a HOKA Clifton vs Bondi in match, really feel and performance. Theses are two of their hottest sneakers and for good motive!

Hoka Working Footwear Overview

Switching trainers is a TERRIFYING prospect, however I used to be in want of a change. My knees had been aching for months and my chiropractor had began to level out how my foot was rolling in fairly arduous on my outdated sneakers.

Sooo the concept of some further midfoot cushion and slightly extra help appeared like a great factor for long-distance working, however would I actually like them?

They had been so massive!! They had been so totally different!

Maximal trainers vs minimalist sneakers is a complete matter that required a particular publish, so learn that to determine if it’s best for you. All HOKA sneakers are maximal, that means they’ve a excessive stack peak. Which isn’t the identical as a giant heel to toe drop.

Right here we’re exploring among the totally different fashions of Hoka trainers. What are the perfect HOKA trainers? That’s going to rely in your preferences, so let’s evaluate that will help you determine.

I’ve performed a deep dive in one other article on all HOKA Working shoe fashions, however right here’s a fast define.

• Hoka Clifton (impartial cushion)
• Hoka Bondi (impartial plush cushion)
• Hoka Mach (impartial responsive cushion)
• Hoka Speedgoat (impartial path)
• Hoka Challenger ATR (responsive path shoe)
• Hoka Arahi (cushioned stability shoe) – not a shoe I’ll check as I don’t want stability
• Hoka BondiX (impartial plush cushion with carbon fiber)
• Hoka Rocket X (impartial carbon fiber racing shoe)

Bonus: I’ve performed a separate publish on Greatest Hoka Footwear for Strolling and Standing at Work>>

Following are some things that I’d say throughout every shoe, so saving time right here by saying it as soon as.

Stability

Whereas I DO NOT advocate stability sneakers for many runners, the Hoka is designed to supply some base degree stability due to the broader platform of the midsole. This can be a nice strategy to get the advantages with out altering your stride or hiding the truth that you’ve got weak muscle tissues.

That is going to use to all of their sneakers and my choice over selecting a regular stability shoe for overpronation.

Maximal Shoe

Stack peak is how we confer with the dimensions of the outsole and what’s subsequently outlined as a maximal shoe of 30mm to 50mm.

I did separate detailed publish evaluating maximal and minimal, however for now here’s what HOKA has to say about their sneakers:

“most cushioning materials is designed for wonderful shock absorption and an inherently steady experience.”

Prolonged Heel

You could discover that lots of the HOKA’s have an exaggerated heel of the soles…some actually massive and a few simply barely noticeable. Having examined out among the largest and a few on the extra regular facet, I can say that I don’t LOVE the actually massive heels.

However they do have a function.

By way of testing they discovered that extension helped with getting the foot to roll ahead extra rapidly.

It reduces points from heel placing and accelerates the motion of the foot. You’ll usually see this known as an early-stage meta-rocker.

Alternative

The usual saying is exchange your sneakers each 500 miles and these sneakers are the identical. The sturdiness has been actually nice, as famous I’ve been by means of a variety of pairs and by no means had one which I felt wanted to be tossed early on account of something coming aside or feeling worn out.

No matter you’ve got discovered to be your candy spot prior to now will probably be roughly the identical right here. I.e. bigger runners, massive males, and many others usually discover they should exchange sneakers faster on account of breakdown, others  discover that extra treadmill runs means possibly their sneakers are good for 800 miles.

Hoka Clifton Assessment

Like most runners upon seeing the dimensions of the Clifton I assumed it will be heavy or clunky.

In actual fact, they had been so gentle I used to be completely shocked.

And once I tried to return to my outdated sneakers they felt like rocks. I’ve now run within the Hoka Clifton 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

The Clifton Edge with the bigger heel did nothing for me and the shoe merely didn’t really feel as cushioned. The two went slightly off monitor as did 7, however 5, 8  and 9 are winners once more.

I’d think about the Clifton a Hoka impartial working shoe, balanced cushion, with a great padded collar and tongue.

The Clifton isn’t their softest shoe (that’s the Bondi), however it’s completely a cushioned shoe with their commonplace eva foam midsole. However with every mannequin the Clifton is getting nearer to the Bondi and now it’s additionally categorised as their most cushioned kind of shoe.

As we become older that extra cushion may simply really feel higher as a result of we really lose from the fats pads in our toes.

Checkout the most recent Clifton >>

Utilization

So far I’ve worn the totally different fashions for all the things from a velocity day to a half marathon. In reality, they aren’t your best option for velocity, however they felt good.

Match

Match is the one factor that bothered slightly in early fashions, as I’ve a extra slim foot and so generally my foot felt a bit prefer it was too small for the shoe. Nonetheless, I’ve learn many different opinions that state it’s a really common match, so this you’ll want to check out for your self.

In newer fashions I’ve not had this identical expertise, so it feels extra dialed in and I do love the toebox offering loads of room for the foot to maneuver.

• I put on the identical measurement 11 as in all different trainers
• Matches a wider foot (I do have a extra slim foot and don’t discover that my foot strikes round an excessive amount of)
• Toebox isn’t as large as an Altra, however wider than many different manufacturers

The Clifton 8 doesn’t really feel as massive because of the quantity of cushion across the tongue and reminiscence foam collar.

Specs

Clifton 9

• 8.7 oz males’s, 7.3 oz ladies’s
• 5mm drop
• 8 colours
• Some obtainable in large
• $145

Should you’ve been carrying a shoe with a bigger heel drop you could discover extra of a distinction within the muscle tissues which are activated in your ankles and toes.

My private choice is in the direction of much less of a heel drop as I feel it will get our foot in higher alignment, it additionally mimics the concept of a minimal shoe, however with the cushion!
Clifton unique in pink and Clifton 2 in purple.

Hoka One One Bondi Assessment

I swear I had tried this shoe beforehand with out a lot love, however this time the primary run and I knew we had been going to be long run buddies.

It goes to shoe generally a shoe replace is for the higher.

Checkout the present mannequin >>

Perhaps it’s as a result of they went again to their 2011 mannequin and began from there (noting that the unique Clifton was additionally my fav). I’ve now loved the final couple of fashions of the Bondi.

This can be a PLUSH cushioned shoe, which has each professional’s and con’s for the runner.

One other occasion the place seems to be are deceiving. They aren’t a heavy shoe.

A brilliant cushioned shoe FEELS superb. However runners have to be conscious that on very lengthy runs with an excellent plush shoe, it’s not unusual to start out having decrease again ache whereas working.

It is because we begin to sink slightly in to the shoe.

I LOVE these sneakers for a restoration run.

Match

These sneakers felt fabulous due to the massive quantity of cushion and but not too heavy for a pleasant long term both.

Whereas they’re additionally listed as a impartial shoe, I used to be thrilled to see my foot didn’t drop in a single bit once I put them on which is widespread in different sneakers. One other instance of how their sneakers have some pure help because of the larger platform.

• True to measurement
• Similar to Clifton, simply the extra cushioning
• Good room within the toebox

Specs

Bondi has a bunch of kinds! However all will share the overall identical specs. Apart from the BondiX which is their carbon fiber plate model and I’ll element testing that beneath.

Bondi 8

• Max-cushioned impartial shoe
• 10.8 oz males’s, 8.90 oz ladies’s
• 4 mm drop
• 15 colours
• Accessible in large and additional large
• $165

Making it a barely heavier shoe than the Clifton, however once more completely superb for these straightforward days.

Lifespan will probably be identical because the Clifton, although if the cushion begins to breakdown you’ll discover it extra rapidly in your kind.

Hoka Clifton vs Bondi

Attempting to determine between these two fashions? There are a just a few massive methods by which they’re totally different, so it’s going to depend upon what you favor in a shoe.

Hopefully the preliminary particulars above gave you some issues to consider with these street sneakers. However for a straight facet by facet comparability of Bondi vs Clifton, right here’s what I’ve discovered over testing many fashions.

• Each are a impartial working shoe.
• In each the boys’s has the next stack peak.
• Bondi has the next stack peak than the Clifton,
• Clifton is the lighter shoe by a few oz, which can be a think about longer runs
• The Bondi is a MUCH plusher really feel. You received’t query if it’s a cushioned shoe.
• Having run in each, I like each. As famous above, I take advantage of them in a different way.
• Bondi is nice for restoration runs or if you find yourself beginning to run and the joints want slightly further cushion as they alter.
• Clifton is nice for lengthy runs, straightforward runs. It’s slightly bit extra versatile shoe.
• BondiX is a surprisingly good shoe for these lengthy race days!

Hoka BondiX

***They appear to have quickly stopped this mannequin, we’re ready to see if it returns.

A cushioned shoe with a carbon fiber plate?! I couldn’t wrap my head across the thought of the 2 mixed, however then I went for a run. I completely loved this shoe as did numerous you who’re center and again of the pack runners.

9.00 oz, 5mm drop make it not their most light-weight shoe and but one way or the other one of many quickest!

• You don’t really feel the meta-rocker, a lot as you discover it in your tempo.
• If I had a race with a slight downhill and popped these one, I’d say virtually assured PR.
• That is the quick shoe for the on a regular basis runner.
• Carbon Fiber sneakers have a shorter lifespan and these are not any exception.

“We requested ourselves why each carbon-plated shoe in the marketplace needed to be created with a watch on solely the elite runner. Everybody deserves to fly and everybody can degree up.

What higher strategy to pose the concept than on an excellent plush HOKA platform with forgiving geometry plus a carbon plate? The Bondi X was born!”

Snag a pair of the BondiX right here >>

Match

Match is just about the identical because the Bondi. The sensation is firmer, which is because of the carbon fiber plate, however nonetheless a cushioned shoe!

Hoka Rocket X vs Bondi X

Should you’re in search of a carbon fiber working shoe and you’re keen on your Hoka trainers then in fact the following query is do I need the Rocket X2 or Bondi X?!

Neither one seems like a Clifton, so we’ll begin there. The Rocket X2 goes to be a lot bouncier and that’s a part of what brings extra velocity to that carbon plated working shoe. Nonetheless, that can be an issue for some runners with achilles or different decrease leg points.

• Rocket X2 goes to be a bouncy cushion, not a luxurious cushion
• BondiX isn’t as a lot of a quick shoe as a shoe that feels good and would supply good help in case you’ll be racing for a very long time
• Each are a impartial working shoe
• BondiX maintains the cushion you count on of a Bondi
• RocketX2 is 8.3 oz, BondiX is 9oz
• Each sneakers are 5mm heel drop
• Bondi has extra padding across the heel, the Rocket gave me blisters

Rocket X2 Match

I ran in to some match points with the Rocket X2 which made me actually unhappy. Whereas the shoe feels gentle and quick, the dearth of any heel padding created huge rubbing points.

Normally, in case you’re wanting a HOKA Carbon plate shoe I say checkout the wild new Cielo X1 if you need a very quick choice or snag a BondiX whereas obtainable for an extended marathon day.

All proper now that I’ve given you a deep dive on their hottest street sneakers, time to speak slightly path.

Should you just like the Clifton or Bondi, then the Velocity Goat goes to be your straightforward transition to path working.

Hoka Velocity Goat Assessment

Take into account this your Clifton for path working. If you’d like even softer then the Challenger is likely to be your winner.

After asking for opinions on the finest path working shoe, this one got here up a lot that I’ve now run within the final 4 fashions.

The plenty had been proper, I like it.

The Speedgoat has the entire cushion that I’ve come to like from my Hoka Cliftons and has all of the grip and diversified lugs I want to keep up traction on the paths.

You possibly can inform mine are effectively cherished because of the layer of filth and dirt masking each inch of the shoe. I do know many extremely runners who will use them on any terrain, whereas I’m most likely in search of one thing with a tad extra grip once I get to essentially technical stuff.

Specs

• Impartial path shoe
• 10.3 oz males’s, 8.5 oz ladies’s
• 4mm drop
• Accessible in Huge
• $155

Utilization

I’ve now run straightforward trails, technical trails and as much as 18 miles within the Speedgoat.

Loving how this impartial shoe feels on my foot and with a barely wider toe field than many it’s meant no points with blisters from downhill working.

Checkout present colours and pricing right here >>

Hoka Informal Footwear

David examined of their extra informal slip on shoe, Solimar, and it’s completely love at first slip!!

In actual fact, David needed a pair and now we each sport them collectively…aren’t we cute.

Once more I dive deeper in to all of their strolling sneakers right here: Greatest Hoka Strolling and All Day Footwear

These are good sufficient to put on on these lengthy walks we tackle trip and but I additionally know I might most likely run a pair miles in them, which simply makes me joyful! And in reality, that’s precisely the necessity they had been attempting to fill with this shoe!

Questioning how HOKA stacks up towards different conventional trainers?

Checkout these match ups:

Searching for extra opinions to seek out the perfect issues on your run?

Checkout our full web page of my should have working gear opinions and guides to avoid wasting you time looking out and cash! I share what’s labored for me and fellow runners, together with what wasn’t definitely worth the price ticket.

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This isn’t a sponsored publish, although I’ve acquired Hoka’s free through the years for testing.