I Ran, Walked, & Worked Out In The Hoka Clifton 9 Sneakers — My Honest Review

When I’m not training for a marathon, I run about 20 miles per week, strength training, and walk +12,000 steps. Ergo, I’m very particular about my footwear.

Yet somehow it took me years to test out the Hoka Clifton 9 sneakers, a shoe that podiatrists, running experts, and fitness-loving friends have been recommending to me on repeat.

After our team dubbed these sneakers one of the best shoes for walking, standing, running, and working out at the gym, I decided to put them to the test for all of the above.

This rocker bottom shoe is light and plush, with neutral stability—meaning it provides support but does not have the additional prescriptive technologies you’d want if you overpronate. 

Although the Clifton 9 is designed primarily for everyday runs or walking, many people love it as a gym shoe (my thoughts on that in a few).

First things first: This shoe has the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, meaning it has been reviewed by a group of podiatrists to ensure it is beneficial to foot health.

The Clifton 9 has a breathable, engineered knit upper with a gusseted tongue, a compression molded responsive EVA foam midsole, and a durable rubber outsole. 

The hefty cushioning spreads across the entire length of the shoe, with a stack height of up to 29 millimeters (depending on the size)—which is slightly thicker than the brand’s previous model, the Clifton 8.

The shoe is 4 grams lighter than its predecessor, weighing in at just 7.30 ounces. It also as a spacious toe box that’s great for people with bunions (it’s me, hi) or wide feet.

Over the past two weeks I wore the Clifton 9 sneakers on five runs, ranging from 3 to 8 miles each. I also wore them on about a dozen walks and during two strength training workouts. 

Many Clifton 9 reviews focus on its rocker design and thick cushioning, but what I found most unique when testing these sneakers was the plush padding around the collar and heel. I noticed it before I even laced up the shoes. 

I’ve tested plenty of shoes that give the feeling of running on clouds—but when I run in the Hoka Clifton 9, I genuinely feel like my foot is enveloped in a cloud.

While aesthetically I love the Clifton’s chunky design, it’s actually what kept me from testing them for so long. I don't like the feeling of a heavy shoe while I run, and I thought the thick cushioning must be heavy. 

Before I tested the Hoka Clifton 9 sneakers, I had never run in a shoe with such evenly spread out cushioning. I wasn’t even sure what brands meant when they'd say the rocker bottom design propels your foot forward—but that’s exactly what the Clifton does.

At times when I’m running or walking, I feel like the shoe is doing the work for me. And the best part is that the thick cushioning gives a soft, seamless landing with minimal impact on my joints.

Other thick-cushioned running sneakers I’ve tested gave the feeling of floating, and it made me feel a little disconnected. While it may sound strange, I actually love that (even with the plush cushioning) I can still feel the ground beneath my feet in these shoes. 

To address the elephant in the room, why do all Hokas run so large?! This is definitely my biggest qualm with the Hoka Clifton 9 sneakers. Thankfully, it’s an easy fix, but I’d recommend going down a half or full size.

Considering the naturally wide heel and toe box and the fact that these run large, I wish the brand offered narrow sizing in addition to the regular and wide options. I have standard to narrow feet and bunions, so I gravitate toward sneakers that have a spacious toe and a regular or narrow width—but even the regular felt quite wide on my foot.

It’s also worth mentioning that, while there are other reviewers who love the Clifton 9 sneakers for gym workouts, I don’t think they’re a great shoe for any gym workout besides running on the treadmill or using an elliptical. If you’re weightlifting I’d recommend a shoe that’s designed for weightlifting (like the Nobull Lifters); and if you’re doing some sort of HIIT or cross training I’d suggest a more versatile shoe like the Nike Metcon 9.

The love for Hoka shoes runs deep, and the Clifton is one of the brand’s most popular shoes. 

Before testing them myself, I parsed through countless rave reviews from runners, walkers, gym enthusiasts, medical workers, and people recovering from joint pain or surgery—and most focus on a few key areas: pillowy comfort, joint pain relief, and their lightweight design.

The Hoka Clifton 9 sneakers were recommended to mindbodygreen by podiatrists Anne Sharkey, DPM, Robert Kornfeld, DPM, and Hillary Brenner, DPM. 

"Hokas are good for long-distance running because they're maximalist shoes (meaning they have a high heel stack) and are made of EVA, which is a foam that helps with shock absorption,” says Brenner.

Kornfeld adds that the Clifton 9 is a great pick if walking and standing tend to put stress on your feet. “Its midfoot rocker bottom eases stress on the achilles as well as eases weight-bearing load in the forefoot.”