HOKA Clifton 11 review: A trusted trainer gets a little more support
- 2 minutes ago
- 5 min read
By Henry Howard
The HOKA Clifton has been the shoe I traditionally reach for when I want an easy training run on the roads, and the Clifton 11 keeps that streak alive. After 50-plus miles in them, my verdict is simple: if you loved the 10s, you’re going to love these too, with one upgrade that matters more than it looks on paper.
I’ve run in every HOKA Clifton generation for years, and the new version doesn’t reinvent anything. It refines. HOKA kept the geometry, the stack, and the drop from the 10 and focused almost entirely on the upper and the sockliner.
For a shoe that’s been the keystone of HOKA’s cushioned lineup for over a decade, that’s the right call. You don’t mess with a daily trainer that already works.
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What’s actually new in the HOKA Clifton 11
For those who wear the HOKA Clifton 11, arguably the brand’s most popular road model, the only significant change is the sockliner.
HOKA moved to a new open-cell design that’s softer and more premium than what shipped in the Clifton 10, and it’s paired with an elevated engineered mesh upper. On the run, that translates to noticeably better arch support underfoot.
I have high arches, and it’s usually the first thing I notice — or don’t — in a new pair of shoes. The 11’s sockliner cradles the arch in a way the 10 never quite did, and over 50 miles that made a real difference in how my feet felt at the end of a run. For a runner who has personally experienced lower-leg injuries due to the wrong shoe on the high arches, this is great news.
The rest of the shoe carries over from the 10: the same CMEVA midsole, the same 38mm/30mm women’s and 42mm/34mm men’s stack, the same 8mm drop, and the same Durabrasion rubber outsole in the high-wear zones.
HOKA also added 3D printed touchpoints, refined reflective details, and a double-lace lock at the tongue that keeps the midfoot locked in without over-cinching.
How the HOKA Clifton 11 feels on the run
This is still a Clifton, which means the ride is smooth and forgiving rather than snappy. The Smooth MetaRocker does its usual job of rolling you through the stride, and the rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame keeps things stable at the heel without making the shoe feel like a stability model.
The HOKA Clifton 11 is a shoe built for daily maintenance miles, not workouts, and that’s exactly how I’ve used it — easy runs, recovery days, and the occasional long run when I want cushioning over speed. The shoes will work fine for minimum speed bursts — like fartleks or 4x20 seconds fast — but for your real speedwork sessions, there are better options.
Where the upgrade shows up most is on longer efforts.
The improved arch support means less fatigue through the midfoot late in a run, which for a high-arch runner like me is the difference between a comfortable last few miles and feeling like an injury is coming on. Fit is true to size, with a touch more volume in the toe box thanks to the refreshed mesh upper, and the double-lace lock keeps the foot secure without needing to crank the laces down.
Who should consider the HOKA Clifton 11
If you’re already a Clifton loyalist, this is an easy upgrade, especially if you deal with arch fatigue on longer runs.
The Clifton 11 is also a great entry point if you’re new to HOKA and want a do-everything daily trainer before you start exploring the rest of the lineup. Beginners will appreciate the forgiving cushioning and the wide range of standard, wide, and extra-wide sizing.
If you’re chasing a livelier, more energetic ride, look at the new Clifton Pro instead, which trades the Clifton 11’s CMEVA foam for a supercritical ProGlide+ midsole and a more aggressive rocker for about $10 more. The Clifton 11 stays in its lane as the calm, reliable option and that’s exactly why it’s stuck around since 2014.
HOKA Clifton 11 review: The verdict
The HOKA Clifton 11 doesn’t change what makes the Clifton line special, it just quietly improves the parts that needed it.
The new sockliner and arch support are a real upgrade for anyone who’s felt the 10 come up a little short underfoot late in a run, and everything else that made the Clifton a go-to daily trainer is still here. After 50-plus miles, this one’s earned a permanent spot in my rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions: HOKA Clifton 11
Question: What’s different between the HOKA Clifton 10 and Clifton 11?
Answer: The Clifton 11’s changes are focused on the upper and sockliner rather than the midsole or geometry. It uses a new elevated engineered mesh upper along with a softer, more premium open-cell sockliner that provides noticeably better arch support. It also adds 3D printed touchpoints, updated reflective details and a double-lace lock. The stack height, 8mm drop, CMEVA midsole, and outsole rubber carry over unchanged from the Clifton 10.
Question: Is the HOKA Clifton 11 good for runners with high arches?
Answer: Yes. The new open-cell sockliner in the Clifton 11 provides meaningfully better arch support than the Clifton 10, which is a real improvement for high-arch runners. After 50-plus miles, the difference showed up most on longer runs, where the improved sockliner reduced midfoot fatigue.
Question: How much does the HOKA Clifton 11 weigh?
Answer: The Clifton 11 weighs 8.18 ounces in a women’s size 8 and 9.87 ounces in a men’s size 10.
Question: What is the stack height and drop on the Clifton 11?
Answer: The Clifton 11 has a 38mm/30mm stack (heel/forefoot) in women’s sizing and 42mm/34mm in men’s sizing, with an 8mm heel-to-toe drop.
Question: What’s the difference between the Clifton 11 and the Clifton Pro?
Answer: Both launched in July 2026 and share the same last and drop. The Clifton 11 uses a CMEVA midsole for a calm, protective, everyday ride and costs $150. The Clifton Pro uses a supercritical ProGlide+ EVA midsole with a more aggressive MetaRocker for a livelier, more performance-oriented feel, and costs about $10 more.
Question: What types of runs is the Clifton 11 best for?
Answer: It’s built for daily training and easy miles, not speedwork or racing. I’ve used it for easy runs, recovery days and longer efforts where cushioning and comfort matter more than a fast turnover.
Question: Does the HOKA Clifton 11 come in wide sizes?
Answer: Yes. Women’s sizes are available in B (standard), D (wide), and 2E (extra-wide); men’s sizes come in D (standard), 2E (wide), and 4E (extra-wide).
Question: Is the HOKA Clifton 11 vegan?
Answer: Yes, the Clifton 11 is made without animal-derived materials.
Question: How much does the HOKA Clifton 11 cost?
Answer: The Clifton 11 retails for $150, the same price as the Clifton 10.
