Reviewing the HOKA Clifton 9s After 1,746.6 kms & Counting

Updated: With just over 1000kms run in my HOKA Clifton 9s running shoes it is time to write up a review on my thoughts. So, here they are!

The HOKA Clifton 9 is a road shoe, and ideal for marathons and all races up to that distance. I regularly run distances up to half-marathon, and wanted to attempt a marathon and so was looking for a running shoe that would get me there.

First Impressions and Fit

I read lots of reviews beforehand, but it was when I was trying a range of running shoes in a local running shop, that I narrowed my search down to HOKA. They fit my feet perfectly, no rubbing, or blisters, from the get go. I didn’t feel that I had to break them in.

I live in Portugal, so I was looking for a running shoe that would keep my feet cool on hot days, and the fabric upper allows plenty of air movement and I never had the sensation of running with my feet cooking, even though I often ran on hot summer days.

Not only that, but I run a lot in the early mornings, partly because if i dont get an early run in, I miss out on the run that day. Secondly, there are less loose dogs out in the morning, compared to the evenings, and I've been bitten and chased by loose dogs here in Portugal a few times. And, thirdly, I was looking for a pair of bright shoes that would light up in the dark. When I found this colour was available, that kind of settled it for me.

Training Routine and Comparisons

So, in a good week, I aim to run 4-5 times, a couple of short ones, say 5kms, a 10kms, and then a long one on the weekend, about 16-17kms. That’s my regular training that I'm aiming to cover. All of that is usually on roads and pavement, not rough ground. The HOKA Clifton is perfect for that. Around the same time I bought the HOKA Clifton 9s, I bought a pair of HOKA Adventure 7s, for running offroad and through all the local vineyards. They were perfect for that. But, buying the two HOKAs helped make a comparison possible. The Challenger 7s had a huge amount of support, and plenty of cushion, as well as a larger footprint, ideal for rough ground. The HOKA Clifton by comparison was slimmer and narrower and more svelte looking. It is ideal for road running.

Durability and Longevity

After I ran through the 700kms mark, I kept running. I had plenty of life left in them, and despite notices popping up on Strava telling me that I should replace them, they felt like new, and looked good too. I kept running. I’ve now run about 1,700kms in them, and they are still going strong. There’s no tears, apart from a very small tear on the side of the shoe, which is hardly anything to speak of. The only other wear is on the sole, but that’s to be expected to be honest.

I would have thought that the sole would be tearing off by now, but it looks like I am only half way through their usable life. Which is another reason why I replaced these Clifton 9s with…Clifton 10s. Having had such great value and comfort, with no sore knees, feet or toes, I have no intention of moving away from HOKA. I found a brand that just seems to fit my feet well. The quality is also another reason, and I’ve bought other accessories including hats and shorts for the great quality and fit.

So here are the 5 x top reasons I keep running in these shoes:

• Comfort, they’re just so comfortable, and they were like this from day one. I didn’t have to break them in, or have issues with blisters or anything like that.
• Breathability, they keep my feet cool, even on hot days, where the temperature is in the 30s centigrade (100+Fahrenheit).
• Grip, I never once slipped in these shoes, not even when my run took me across rough ground in the park - the sole is plenty big enough to soak up the pebbles, sharp stones, and keep you upright at the same time. You can see in the pictures, the soles of the show are still in great condition, with what looks like plenty of life left in them. There are no chunks missing, or cuts, just an overal wear and tear.
• Reflectability or reflectiveness, you can be seen from miles away running in these shoes at night. Bright car headlights pick out the decals, which are all 3M style reflective strips, help your shoes stand out, more so because the shoes are moving rapidly. It makes these a safe pair of shoes to wear at night. Taking these photographs on a sunny day shows how reflective they are, as they are literally glowing. The camera had a hard time focusing and exposing these shoes correctly because they reflected so much light back at the camera.
• Laces. Honestly, yes, laces and these from HOKA are just great. I tie them and forget them. I don’t have to stop half way round on my run to tie them again, which i’ve had to do with other brands, even regular shoes, some brands are just rubbish at providing a decent lace with the shoe. The HOKA laces are just no problem.

Looking Ahead

The longest run I ran was the Lisbon marathon. I’ve not run one since. I moved house a couple of months later, and my best intentions to continue running stopped, and it’s been an effort to get back up there. However, I’m running now on a regular basis again, and looking to get to run a marathon before the end of the year.