Reviewed by Pete Johnson - Sportlink
What can I say? In over 30 years of running I have tried many types and brands of shoe, many of them claiming to be the next best thing.
The Hoka brand is a totally new “concept” shoe, they’ve been with us at Sportlink for about 5 years. They may look different, but boy do they work. The curved sole unit known as the Metarocker provides a smooth transition from heel strike to toe off, reducing initial impact and propelling the runner to the next step. The heel to toe drop is 5mm which may seem low but due to the rocking motion, it needs no extra strain on the Achilles as other low-offset shoes might. And don’t worry about the look of them; you’re not on a platform as the foot sits in the midsole rather than conventionally on it. As a neutral shoe the Clifton provides a surprising amount of stability and I have found this shoe works for me as well as some of the more supportive shoes in my collection. There are other shoes in the Hoka range, ask the staff at Sportlink if the Clifton isn’t for you.
On a run they are a dream. I don’t know I’m wearing them, and the miles fly by - they really do help you to run. My favourite thing to do in them is a recovery run, when you just need to get some easy miles in and not want to work hard or think about it too much. They are what I consider a high-mileage shoe with the aid of the Metarocker and the high level of cushioning, they are good for shorter runs and speed work due to their lightweight nature.