Customer Reviews Hoka Clifton 4

The shoe overall is great quality with great cushion in the sole of the shoe. The only issue which ended up being a major issue for me was the insole of the shoe was not a right fit for my foot. Because of the narrowness of the insole the inner part of the shoe rubbed up against the inside of my foot rather aggressively. I did two runs in the shoes totaling 12 miles and the inside of both of my feet were raw. I tried moving the insole around and also putting protective KT tape on the inside of my foot but the rubbing did not stop and made it impossible to run in. I did some research online and saw a youtube video and a few reviews about people having the same issue. The good news is it was fixable. Prior to purchasing these shoes I was running in Saucony Triumphs which gave me no foot problems. I took the insole out of those shoes and compared it to the ones in the Hokas and you can see where the Hokas had a cut out on the inner part of the insole that rubbed against my foot. So I took the saucony insole with the hoka shoe and went to go find an insole that would match. I had put 425 miles on my sauconys so I wanted a new shoe all together or else I would have just switched out the insoles. I do have a flat foot so that may have contributed to the rubbing as well. Someone with a higher arch may not experience the same issue. Either way this is the reason for my three star rating. I found a pair of $50 insoles that fit and I put them in my Hokas and have ran 40 miles with them with no rubbing on my foot. My complaint is if I buy such a high quality shoe I shouldn't need to go pay extra for an insole. And I did try the shoe on and walked around the store with the hokas before I purchased but I did not feel anything wrong with them until I had ran a couple miles. Positive: I have had really bad runners knee using the sauconys but since I started using the hokas the runners knee has subsided most likely do to the added support/cushioning of the hokas.

These are okay, but I chose neutral so that I had a little more feel for the road. It wad actually opposite. I will probably get the least plush ride if I get Hokas again.

I moved to the Clifton 4s after running two pairs of 3s to the ground, which I loved. Out of the box the 4s felt narrower in the toe box than the 3s but I thought I would give them some time to stretch out. After 60+ miles no luck with the stretching and I was getting rubs and foot cramping causing me to seek an alternative shoe. So I gave the wides a try and it did solve for the narrowness but I noticed a completely different feel in the sole softness versus my other pair. The wide was much firmer than the other pair of 4s and ever firmer than my 3s which were hammered with 400+ miles on them. Again, I gave them some time to break in, but after 20 miles or so, I couldn't take it any more. Really bummed that there isn't better quality control. I'm hoping I got a dud pair and this isn't a common problem with production. I guess I'll need to purchase another wide pair online to see if this is truly a dud or not since stores in the area don't carry the wides. Sort of annoying and hopefully not a result of Hoka's increased production / distribution because they have made a great shoe that is truly different from the other brands.

Definitely a step backwards from the 3s, I'm not sure how they believe that adding so much height to the heel would result in a smother more comfortable long distance shoe. My advice is skip this addition if you are looking for a marathon shoe.

Color is awesome...comfort could be a bit better on the inside of my foot...but overall a good jogging/walking shoe.

I am definitely a HUGE HOKA fan!! I own i think 9 pairs!!! However this is one of my list favorite pairs because like others have mentioned, the arch in the Clifton 4 is much greater than any of the other HOKA's I own. I really needed a white pair of shoes as i officate volleyball and white shoes are required. So i was so excited when i found a pair of white HOKA's. But they hurt my feet within just a short time of being in them... I really wish HOKA would come out with an all white in the Bondi 5!!!! Absolutely LOVE them!!!

I went through 3 pair of Clifton 3s over the last 9 months, so whine was time to buy my next pair and the 4s were available, I was a bit hesitant. So, I bought a new pair of the 4s and a new pair of 3s. I DO NOT like the 4s. It is a completely different shoe. Less cushion, completely different feel. Ive tried to like them. Developed a "hot spot" half way through a long run. NEVER had that problem w the 3s. I'm back to my new pair of 3s and ordered 2 other new pair to stash away for the future( on sale). Hopefully, HOKA will figure it out for the 5s. I'd rather have to buy a new pair earlier and go back to what they were.

I'm running 6 days a week with peaks of 50mi, been using all the Clifton models, as well as the Clayton and Bondi and was looking forward to Clifton 4.. however I'm a bit disappointed. This is a stark contrast with the Clifton 3. The ride is much firmer, it is ok for short runs (was great for the 5th avenue mile race), but for longer runs of 10+mi the impact takes its toll and makes my legs more tired and my knees not in a good spot. I ordered 2 pairs (one by accident as the paypal checkout failed but the order was still through) but going to return the 2nd one and try to stock on a few Clifton 3. Pondering returning the first one as well, I definitely won't run 500mi in those. The upper of the Clifton 4, tongue, lacing and toe box feels maybe slightly more comfortable than the Clifton 3, however the ride is just much harder and I cannot see myself using these this year, I will definitely not use them for my marathons.

Just picked up the Clifton 4 last night. I was actually a little hesitant to purchase them after trying them on. The fit was good and I didn't think the toe box was that much smaller than the 3's. However the cushioning was much different, stiffer. It doesn't feel like "clouds". It is more responsive, sort of like the difference in suspension between Lexus and Camry. It just was a shock compared to all the previous Clifton's (again another departure from the original). I just did a 6 mile this morning and I would say they shoes are not suite (for me) for marathon distance, especially after a 112 mile bike ride. I would wear these for a 10k race, but my old bone want more shock absorption. So in that regard, I am disappointed the changes Hoka made to this model. I can't understand why a company feels the need to "improve" a product that has gotten rave reviews from its users. Every model offers a slight variance to the original, thinking they are improving the product, when they actually moving away from what made it great to begin with. This was my fifth pair of Clifton's and unfortunately may be my last.

The Clifton 4 is a good shoe. the toe box seems more roomy but has a wired layer in side the shoe that hurts my toes on long runs also I don't understand why a arch was added now I get blisters in my arch which I have never got with any other models. Overall good shoe still needs some improvement.

Was super pumped to try my first pair of Hokas. Will say that I do think the shoe is an overall comfortable shoe. Toe box is a little on narrow side but worked for me. Where I'm super disappointed is in how stiff the shoe is. All the advertisements make it look amazing, but man I thought it was a stiff ride and was look for something with a little more cushion to it for my longer days of running. If you don't mind a stiff run this isn't a bad shoe but for what I thought I was getting, I wouldn't recommend it.

Wanted to love the shoe but I just think there are going to be hot spots and too narrow. Just now to shoot for me.

I know we're not supposed to live in the past, but the Clifton 1 was a one of a kind shoe. It was light, very soft, and ran fast! The Clifton 4 is just a shadow of the 1. While the upper is nice on the 4, it's not really worth the extra weight, and it runs a lot firmer. Wish we could have the Clifton 1 back. :(

I am not sure what changed, but this is definitely a different shoe than the Clifton 3s I have. It felt a little harder right out of the box, but after a short 2 miles to break them in, I could REALLY tell. I wore my Clifton 3s around the house afterwards as my "recovery" shoe and ooooh that felt nice. I am 5'7", 160 lbs. It may seem like a small difference, but multiplied by a few thousand steps, the firmness adds up. You may really like them. I hope so. I will try to find some more Clifton 3s before they are gone. If not, I guess the Bondis are the other option (?), but they are bigger and heavier. The Cliftons were SO AWESOME! I am so disappointed they changed materials. The new one might be "better" or more durable, but it really changed the Clifton experience. Now we'll get more miles out of shoes that don't feel as nice. Why do I want more of that? I could buy any major brand and get that experience. Ugh. HOKA PLEASE figure out a way to get the softness back with whatever materials you're using. I am picking "not recommend" below, but it's not a bad shoe. It's a very nice shoe. If you never had a Clifton 3 you may never notice. Try it out for yourself. But for someone looking for that signature cushioned ride, I would feel bad saying this shoe was it. And that is really hard to admit from a huge Hoka fan.

Instead of reinventing what was a much loved shoe in Version 1, just bring back Version 1 and you will make a lot of people happy. Shoe continues to get heavier and less flexible . Getting farther and farther away from the shoe that made people fall in love with the Clifton line. The wide version is not as wide as the regular width Version 1 or 3 . It fits, but was expecting the wide version to actually be wider than the previous versions, not for the regular width for version 4 to get narrower.

I am big, huge fan of Hoka's tried several shoes but nothing came close to Clifton 3. why this shoe is not available any longer? Clifton 4, 5 or 6 are not even close to 3. For running on the asphalt pavements Clifton 3 is the best. i still have my last pair but it needs to be retaierd soon.PLEASE start making Clifton 3 and people will be bying it! thanks,

Make some notes about how the width is more narrow

I have run in the Clifton 1 and Challenger ATR 1, Bondi 3-4-5, and Hoka Clayton. This is by far the worst version of the Clifton series yet. The arch is firm and so far back that it creates a feeling that my feet are pushed out laterally. The ride is so firm and uncomfortable that I feel that I am fighting the shoes to run in it. Awful update.

I am a masters +50 sprinter with foot problems and the Hoka Clifton essentially saved my feet. I train nearly exclusively on the track, (except for occasional hills and stadium stairs) and it's a big part of my life. (I have won 5 USATF 400m Masters National Titles and one World Masters Championship in my age group). The Clifton 1 was a revelation, it had the incredible combination of flexibility, light weight, and cushion. Each successive version of the Clifton has gotten progressively worse. The Clifton 4 is the worst. Stiff, heavy, even more narrow than the Clifton 3. I thought the new Napali would be a good option but it's actually 2mm narrower than the Clifton 3, so I sent back both the Clifton 4 and the Napali, and I just purchased my 4th! pair of Clifton 3s while I still could. I don't understand why the entire world is screaming at Hoka to reissue the Clifton 1... but apparently they broke the mould. Their new Elevon... same deal, stiff, not as light, etc... i've even heard some reviewers compare the Clifton 1 to the high tech Nike Vapor 4% ($250 !). What is Hoka's problem? Why don't they give their customers what they want? They keep searching for a magic bullet with new designs when they struck gold years ago with the Clifton 1. The Clifton 3 is the best Clifton you can still get, but it's still no Clifton 1.

I've trained and ran multiple races in Clifton's for the last 2 years, I just bought some 4's to break in for Ironman Texas and they are NOT the same shoe as previous Clifton models. They feel heavy on my feet, they are not as soft/cushioned, they are narrower and they actually caused me foot and knee pain. I hope that Hoka returns to the previous models for the next Clifton reboot.

I run about 20 miles per week, plus races. I bought Hoka Clifton 3, reccomended by a friend. I got huge blisters in a half marathon, for the first time, and can only run 5-10 miles in them so they don't have many miles on them (100-150), plus I mostly use my Brooks. Today the soles are falling off after just over 5 months. Definitely sticking with Brooks.

I was hoping to replace my existing Clifton 3 pair with the Clifton 4. However, I was disappointed to find that the wide toe box in the Clifton 3 is not found in the Clifton 4.