Customer Reviews Hoka Clifton 9 GTX®

I was hoping this shoe would be comfortable for standing but it was not because it hurt the bottoms of my feet. I ordered a size 11 which is my regular size but it pinched my toes.

I loved my previous Clifton shoe and purchased the Clifton 9. The third time I wore them, I felt something strange on the sole. A piece had come loose and was catching every time I took a step. It quickly broke off making my shoe uneven. Not what I expect at all for a shoe at this price point. I have tried contact for the warranty with no response. I'm also not able to reach anyone through the live chat, I have tried several days and times. I had liked Hoka shoes for running and I am currently training for a half marathon, but I don't have money for shoes that fall apart so quickly.

1

This was my first purchase of a pair of Hoka's and the fit of the bottom of the shoe felt really weird. I find it super hard to even describe what exactly felt weird. It was like the heel part of the shoe had a mound of soft material and then the ball of my foot was on a regular inner sole. It was not at all like the arch support that I have felt in other shoes. At first I thought "maybe I just need to get used to this type of shoe." But, at these prices, I couldn't risk not finding the shoe comfortable after a few days/weeks wearing it and I decided to return them.

Wish I never bought these shoes

The toe box if the GTX is significantly more narrow than the normal Clifton. I bought the clifton for its toe box because I have wide feet. I assumed the GTX would be the same shape and I wanted the waterproof version so I tried the GTX. The GTX are unwearable for me, they caused nothing but pain in my bunions. I would not recommend these shoes.

Use for work. On my feet indoors. Walking on carpet approximately 10 hours daily. Thought would be comfortable due to me owning a similar Hoka style. I was wrong. These caused severe back pain as where other Hoka (Cliftons)pair do not. Could be due to the waterproof style? Not sure why. I really love this color yet the pain is just too intense.

So uncomfortable I returned

I have two other pairs of Hokas which are great. But the last pair I purchased were not as good as the other ones.

This was my 4th pair of Hokas. After 8 or 9 months the tread started peeling dramatically, making them a tripping hazard. This had never happened to any of my other pairs, even after 2 years. Dealing with Hokas customer service was a headache, ending in them telling me this was normal wear and tear. I will be looking elsewhere for shoes from now on. (This was the only pair of shoes I had bought directly from the Hoka website)

I placed 2 orders and both arrived on 11/20/25 in used condition. I will be returning both orders tomorrow on 11/21/25 to UPS.

Tested these on a really extreme trip to Universal Studios for 3 days to put it to the real test and the first day was just horrible and it was horrible. Good luck standing on them all day and walking would not recommend feet swollen up.

I received a pair that had clearly been worn for more than just a try-on. There were creases in the upper, they had a musty smell, and the outsole had particles in the grooves as well as dirt, indicating that they were obviously worn outdoors. The midsole was also dusty and this was disappointing coming from Zappos. I did NOT try these on and file a return immediately.

I was excited to try out these HOKA shoes due to a recommendation from a friend but after my recent experience with the Clifton 9 GTX, I'm left feeling pretty disappointed. After just 10 months of moderate use, the outsole on one of the shoes started peeling off. For context, I don't use these shoes for anything extrememostly indoor walking around a medical clinic and a bit of outdoor walking. No running, hiking, or heavy activity. At first, I was impressed with the comfort and support the Clifton 9 GTX offered, especially with the GORE-TEX lining that helped keep my feet dry during outdoor walks in unpredictable weather. The cushioning was great, and they provided the usual soft, responsive feel that HOKA is known for. But that's where the positives end. The shoe's durability did not meet my expectations. After less than a year of fairly light, everyday use, the sole started to separate. It's frustrating to see such a critical issue with a brand I thought I could trust. So, I reached out to HOKA for a warranty claim, hoping for some resolution, but was met with disappointment. They returned the shoes with the note that the damage was deemed "accidental," and therefore not covered under warranty. For a shoe that costs this much, I was expecting better quality control and customer service. It's incredibly frustrating to feel like I'm being dismissed when I'm clearly not using the shoes in extreme conditions. I understand that wear and tear can happen, but peeling outsoles after 10 months of light use shouldn't be considered "accidental damage." Back to my Brooks and ASICS.

After one month of wear

I bought my Clifton 9 Hokas in April and by June the tread was separating from the sole. Not only that but it wasn't coming all the way off so I usually found out about it by getting it caught on something and nearly falling on my face. Their warranty program is klunky and means I have to end my shoes back and be without them for 1-3 weeks before they let me know if they'll give me a credit to buy more?!?! No thanks. I'll just never buy them again. Lesson learned, this is apparently a problem with their soles that's well known. Not gonna spend another hundred or more dollars to find out if they fixed it.

My daughter wore these for a month (no running). The sole delaminated. Hoka says this is normal wear and tear, with an exclamation. Ha! I've put over 2,000 miles on 4 pairs of Hoka. No more.

I thought it was soft inside. I have RA I'm on my feet 16 hours daily I'm a nurse this tennis shoes are not good for my feet

Long time Hoka lover and purchased these on 3/15/25. The tread is coming apart after 2 months! I wore the for my last half marathon and was severely disappointed when I saw the tread coming off. This is also dangerous for runners! Will have to throw them away.

I never write reviews but i had to on this one. While the shoes are comfortable and my feet dont hurt at the end of the day, i had to give them 1 star. The tread on the bottom started peeling off after only two months. And i don't even use these shoes to run around and exercise. I wear them at work where i stand in one place all day. So how could the tread come off you say? No clue. Needless to say I'm very disappointed in my first pair of hokas and may never get another pair due to this.

My feet hurt MUCH WORSE when I wear these shoes that ever before

I much prefer the Bondi. The fit of the Bondi is more true to size and secure to my foot providing more support and cushion. I am a nurse and do not get the proper support from the Clifton. I would like to return/exchange them for a pair of Bondi 9's.

I finally made a full price purchase for nice Gore-tex shoes and it hurts more than just my wallet. The tongue applies so much pressure to the top of my foot I kept feeling like I have to adjust it or the laces but it turns out it's how they sew the tongue to the rest of the shoe. I unfortunately threw away the shoebox and am stuck with these painful cushioned shoes.