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HK
★ Our top pick
Hoka Clifton 9
8.4
The Clifton 9 is Hoka's flagship daily trainer: a tall stack of soft foam, a rockered shape that rolls you through each step, and a surprisingly light build for how much shoe is under you. It shines on easy runs, recovery days, long walks, and all-day standing, where the cushioning takes the edge off pavement. The honest knock is that it is not a speed shoe - the soft midsole gives little back when you push the pace, and high-mileage users report the foam losing its bounce before the outsole wears out. The chunky look is also polarizing. Buy it for comfort-first miles; skip it if your training is tempo-heavy or you like feeling the ground.
Why we rate it
- Plush, protective cushioning that flatters easy and long runs
- Light for a max-cushion shoe, so it never feels like a brick
- Rockered geometry gives a smooth, rolling transition
Keep in mind
- Soft midsole feels mushy and unresponsive at faster paces
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