Hoka Clifton Vs Bondi and Different Fashions: Hoka Operating Sneakers Overview

Since I began sporting HOKA’s continuously over time, lots of you may have 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 lots to say about how these footwear match and really feel!

Every year, I take a look at 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 evaluate of the Hoka Clifton as a result of that was the one shoe. However as they’ve expanded over time, so have the fashions I’ve examined.

Right here I hope to assist breakdown the variations and aid you discover the precise possibility for operating. Specifically, we’re going to deal with a HOKA Clifton vs Bondi in match, really feel and performance. Theses are two of their hottest footwear and for good cause!

Hoka Operating Sneakers 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had been aching for months and my chiropractor had began to level out how my foot was rolling in fairly laborious on my outdated footwear.

Sooo the concept of some further midfoot cushion and a bit extra help gave the impression of a very good factor for long-distance operating, however would I actually like them?

They had been so huge!! They had been so completely different!

Maximal trainers vs minimalist footwear is an entire matter that required a selected put up, so learn that to determine if it’s best for you. All HOKA footwear are maximal, that means they’ve a excessive stack top. Which isn’t the identical as an enormous heel to toe drop.

Right here we’re exploring among the completely different fashions of Hoka trainers. What are the perfect HOKA trainers? That’s going to rely in your preferences, so let’s examine that can assist you resolve.

I’ve carried out a deep dive in one other article on all HOKA Operating 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 take a look at 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 carried out a separate put up on Greatest Hoka Sneakers for Strolling and Standing at Work>>

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

Stability

Whereas I DO NOT suggest stability footwear for many runners, the Hoka is designed to offer some base degree stability because of the broader platform of the midsole. It is a nice technique to get the advantages with out altering your stride or hiding the truth that you may have weak muscle mass.

That is going to use to all of their footwear and my desire over choosing an ordinary stability shoe for overpronation.

Maximal Shoe

Stack top is how we check with the dimensions of the outsole and what’s due to this fact outlined as a maximal shoe of 30mm to 50mm.

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

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

Prolonged Heel

It’s possible you’ll discover that lots of the HOKA’s have an exaggerated heel of the soles…some actually huge and a few simply barely noticeable. Having examined out among the largest and a few on the extra regular aspect, I can say that I don’t LOVE the actually huge heels.

However they do have a function.

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

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

Substitute

The usual saying is exchange your footwear each 500 miles and these footwear are the identical. The sturdiness has been actually nice, as famous I’ve been by various 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 may have discovered to be your candy spot prior to now can be roughly the identical right here. I.e. bigger runners, huge males, and so on usually discover they should exchange footwear faster on account of breakdown, others  discover that extra treadmill runs means possibly their footwear are good for 800 miles.

Hoka Clifton Overview

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

The truth is, they had been so gentle I used to be completely shocked.

And after I tried to return to my outdated footwear 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 a bit off observe as did 7, however 5, 8  and 9 are winners once more.

I might take into account the Clifton a Hoka impartial operating shoe, balanced cushion, with a very good 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 grow old that further cushion may simply really feel higher as a result of we really lose from the fats pads in our ft.

Checkout the most recent Clifton >>

Utilization

To this point I’ve worn the completely different fashions for every part from a pace day to a half marathon. In fact, they aren’t the only option for pace, however they felt good.

Match

Match is the one factor that bothered a bit 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 critiques 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 similar 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 dimension 11 as in all different trainers
• Suits 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 extensive as an Altra, however wider than many different manufacturers

The Clifton 8 doesn’t really feel as huge 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 extensive
• $145

Should you’ve been sporting a shoe with a bigger heel drop it’s possible you’ll discover extra of a distinction within the muscle mass which might be activated in your ankles and ft.

My private desire is in the direction of much less of a heel drop as I believe it will get our foot in higher alignment, it additionally mimics the concept of a minimal shoe, however with the cushion!

Clifton authentic in pink and Clifton 2 in purple.

Hoka One One Bondi Overview

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 >>

Possibly 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.

It is a PLUSH cushioned shoe, which has each professional’s and con’s for the runner.

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

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

It’s because we begin to sink a bit in to the shoe.

I LOVE these footwear for a restoration run.

Match

These footwear felt fabulous because of the large quantity of cushion and but not too heavy for a pleasant future 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 after I put them on which is widespread in different footwear. One other instance of how their footwear have some pure help because of the greater platform.

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

Specs

Bondi has a bunch of kinds! However all will share the final similar specs. Aside 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 extensive and additional extensive
• $165

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

Lifespan can be similar 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 resolve between these two fashions? There are a just a few huge methods during which they’re completely different, so it’s going to rely on what you like in a shoe.

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

• Each are a impartial operating shoe.
• In each the boys’s has a better stack top.
• Bondi has a better stack top than the Clifton,
• Clifton is the lighter shoe by a few oz, which can be a consider longer runs
• The Bondi is a MUCH plusher really feel. You gained’t query if it’s a cushioned shoe.
• Having run in each, I like each. As famous above, I exploit them otherwise.
• Bondi is nice for restoration runs or when you find yourself beginning to run and the joints want a bit further cushion as they modify.
• Clifton is nice for lengthy runs, straightforward runs. It’s a bit bit extra versatile shoe.
• BondiX is an incredibly good shoe for these lengthy race days!

Hoka BondiX

***They appear to have briefly 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 concept of the 2 mixed, however then I went for a run. I totally loved this shoe as did plenty of 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 by some means 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 nearly assured PR.
• That is the quick shoe for the on a regular basis runner.
• Carbon Fiber footwear have a shorter lifespan and these aren’t 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 technique 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 searching for a carbon fiber operating shoe and you’re keen on your Hoka trainers then in fact the subsequent query is do I need the Rocket X2 or Bondi X?!

Neither one appears 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 pace to that carbon plated operating shoe. Nonetheless, that can also be an issue for some runners with achilles or different decrease leg points.

• Rocket X2 goes to be a bouncy cushion, not an opulent cushion
• BondiX isn’t as a lot of a quick shoe as a shoe that feels good and would supply good help for those who’ll be racing for a very long time
• Each are a impartial operating shoe
• BondiX maintains the cushion you count on of a Bondi
• RocketX2 is 8.3 oz, BondiX is 9oz
• Each footwear 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 shortage of any heel padding created huge rubbing points.

Usually, for those who’re wanting a HOKA Carbon plate shoe I say checkout the wild new Cielo X1 if you would like a very quick possibility 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 highway footwear, time to speak a bit path.

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

Hoka Velocity Goat Overview

Contemplate this your Clifton for path operating. If you need even softer then the Challenger is perhaps your winner.

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

The lots 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 various lugs I would like to take care of traction on the paths.

You may inform mine are effectively liked because of the layer of dust and dirt overlaying each inch of the shoe. I do know many extremely runners who will use them on any terrain, whereas I’m most likely searching for one thing with a tad extra grip after I get to essentially technical stuff.

Specs

• Impartial path shoe
• 10.3 oz males’s, 8.5 oz ladies’s
• 4mm drop
• Accessible in Broad
• $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 operating.

Checkout present colours and pricing right here >>

Hoka Informal Sneakers

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

The truth is, 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 footwear right here: Greatest Hoka Strolling and All Day Sneakers

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 blissful! And in reality, that’s precisely the necessity they had been making an attempt to fill with this shoe!

Questioning how HOKA stacks up in opposition to different conventional trainers?

Checkout these match ups:

In search of extra critiques to seek out the perfect issues in your run?

Checkout our full web page of my should have operating gear critiques and guides to avoid wasting you time looking 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 put up, although I’ve obtained Hoka’s free over time for testing.