Hoka Clifton 11: Specs, Fit and What Has Changed

The Hoka Clifton 11 is the eleventh version of the shoe that built the brand, and it arrives as a refinement rather than a reset. Hoka carried the midsole, stack height and rocker geometry straight over from the Clifton 10, then spent the entire update on everything sitting above the foam. If you already know the Clifton, this is the same ride in a considerably better upper. If you are new to it, the Clifton 11 is still the most sensible place to start with the brand. Here is exactly what is in the shoe, what changed, and how the men's and women's versions differ.

What has changed in the Clifton 11

The Clifton 10 was the biggest shake-up the line had seen in a decade. It added 3mm of heel stack, changed the drop and widened the last. Plenty of long-standing Clifton wearers welcomed it; a fair number did not. The Clifton 11 leaves all of that alone and concentrates on the parts of the shoe your foot actually touches.

The jacquard knit upper of the Clifton 10 has been replaced with a softer, more pliable engineered mesh. The sockliner has been reworked to sit plusher underfoot and wick sweat more effectively. There is additional padding through the tongue and the heel collar, and the heel flare has been shortened so it curves away from the Achilles rather than into it. Hoka has added 3D silicone print touchpoints across the saddle for a little structure, refreshed the reflective detailing, and kept the double-lace lock system that stops the tongue drifting mid-run. The only cost is weight: the Clifton 11 is about three grams heavier than its predecessor, which is not a difference anyone will feel.

The midsole, stack height and drop

Underfoot, the Clifton 11 runs a full-length compression moulded EVA midsole, referred to by Hoka as CMEVA. It is the same foam, at the same density, as the Clifton 10. Hoka lists the men's stack height at 42mm in the heel and 34mm in the forefoot. The women's sits lower, at 38mm and 30mm. Both give an 8mm heel-to-toe drop.

That platform is shaped by Hoka's early-stage MetaRocker geometry, the curved sole profile that rolls the foot forward from landing to toe-off without asking much from the calf or ankle. The curve also softens the perception of the 8mm offset, so the shoe does not feel as heel-biased as the numbers suggest, though it does suit heel strikers well.

The rearfoot Active Foot Frame carries over too. Rather than sitting the foot on top of the cushioning, sidewalls cradle the heel and midfoot into the shoe. It adds a planted, guided feel on tired legs without crossing into genuine pronation control. The Clifton 11 remains a neutral shoe.

The upper, fit and sizing

The engineered mesh is the headline change and the one you notice on the first wear. It is softer against the foot, more breathable and pliable enough to pull in around the midfoot for a more personalised fit. There is slightly more width and volume through the forefoot than the Clifton 10 offered, though it is worth being clear that this does not turn the Clifton into a wide-fitting shoe. If you currently need a wide fit in Hoka or in another running brand, you will still need one here.

Sizing is true to size in length, and the last is unchanged from the Clifton 10. Lockdown through the midfoot is secure without pressure, and the padded, flexible heel counter is easy to step into. The reflective details are a genuine addition rather than a cosmetic one if you run before work or after it through the winter.

The Clifton 11 also carries the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, awarded to products a panel of podiatrists has reviewed as beneficial to foot health.

Outsole and durability

Hoka has kept the same rubber strategy as the Clifton 10: Durabrasion rubber placed in the high-impact heel and forefoot zones, with exposed foam left through the midfoot. This is the trade that keeps a 42mm stack shoe under 285 grams. The consequence is that a shuffle-heavy gait, or a lot of rough tarmac, will show wear on the exposed midfoot sections before it shows anywhere else. On well-surfaced roads and light gravel it holds up across a full training block.

Clifton 11 specifications

Who the Clifton 11 suits

This is a cushioned neutral daily trainer, and it is honest about it. The Clifton 11 is at its best on easy miles, recovery runs, steady mileage and the long, unhurried efforts that make up most of a training week. The foam is protective rather than lively, so it is not the shoe for intervals or track sessions. Runners who want a quicker, more responsive ride, or a plusher maximum-cushion option, are better served elsewhere in the Hoka range.

It is also worth saying plainly that a large share of Clifton wearers do not run in them at all. The rocker profile, the deep cushioning and the roomy forefoot make it one of the better shoes on the market for long days standing, walking or commuting, and the softer upper of the Clifton 11 means there is effectively no break-in period.

The Clifton 11 is available now in men's and women's fits. You can browse the full running shoe range, or narrow it down to men's running shoes and women's running shoes.

Order online for free Click & Collect, or free home delivery over €100 across Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, usually 1 to 2 working days with DPD.