In July of 2017, Hoka ONE ONE will release its third update to the Clifton, the "crazy-light, oversized" tempo shoe. Built for runners who want increased cushioning, but not at the expense of speed, this shoe functions well in a range of capacities--from long runs to marathon racing.
Although the inaugural edition of the Clifton resonated well with the running community, the second version included some unpopular updates. The upper portion left some runners' feet feeling crunched in the toe box, and some deemed the cushioning firmer then its previous iteration.
Fortunately, the Clifton 3 not only addresses these complaints, but also shows some progression in Hoka's design capabilities.
Upper:
The material and overlay combination feel more uniform and balanced on the foot. It uses the same Speed Frame structural mapping pattern as the previous configuration. Deemed too supple in the first Clifton and too tight in the second one, this update should feel just right for most runners. In addition, the tongue is not as bulky, and the mesh has just enough flex.
Midsole:
Adding 2mm of width to the shoe provided a more accommodating fit. Now, 2mm is about the same as the width of two pennies, but it's surprisingly noticeable. The material build-out is nothing new--it's still the compression-molded, soft, and responsive EVA. Another proprietary mainstay, Hoka's meta rocker system allows the shoe to roll through toe-off and reduce the stress to the metatarsals.
Outsole:
The heel and toe cap are reinforced with rubber. Like all tempo shoes, the high-abrasion rubber supports areas that see excessive wear patterns. New to the outsole is the connection point between the modular exposed EVA in the forefoot for improved durability.
Overall:
The Clifton 3 is two shoes in one. It's perfect for slugging out long, slow miles, and doubles as a snappy, tempo shoe.
From professional athletes running this shoe at sub-4:50/mile tempo runs, to age-group athletes racing triathlon and marathons distances, this shoe has Swiss-Army-knife capabilities. A tempo shoe by design, this means it will provide a closer-to-foot fit that allows the runner to pick up the cadence without feeling sloppy. Because of its oversized cushioning, runners tend to over-rely on their expectations of responsiveness. According to the laws of physics, firm and soft are not two features that tend to share the same space. Now, with more performance shoes in Hoka's ever-expanding tool box, this shoe finds its place directly in the middle of classic, super-cushy footwear and firm, responsive racing shoes.