Hoka Challenger vs Hoka Clifton
Comparing the current Challenger 8 and Clifton 11. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
These two land within 0.3 oz and 1 mm of each other on paper, so the spec sheet will not decide it. Fit and foam feel will. They are built for different jobs: the Challenger 8 is a trail, the Clifton 11 a daily trainer. Both list at $155.
- Hoka Challenger 8Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Hoka Clifton 11Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Challenger 8 | Clifton 11 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.5 oz | 9.2 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E | D, 2E, 4E |
| Upper | Recycled jacquard mesh | Softer engineered mesh with 3D print overlays and a 3D-printed open-cell sockliner |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 42 mm | 42 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 34 mm | 34 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | CMEVA | Compression-molded EVA foam with a MetaRocker profile |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $155 | $155 |
Which line changes its ride more often?
Both lines rework the ride about as often: the Challenger has done it once in 3 versions, most recently with the Challenger 8 in 2025, and the Clifton has done it once in 5 versions, most recently with the Clifton 10 in 2025. Neither is the safer long-term rebuy on this record.
Buy the Challenger 8
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Buy the Clifton 11
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Hoka Challenger lineage and the Hoka Clifton lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Hoka Challenger or the Hoka Clifton lighter?
- The Clifton 11, by 0.3 oz in a men's US 9 (9.2 oz against 9.5 oz).
- Can I switch from the Hoka Challenger to the Hoka Clifton?
- The drop matches at 8 mm, which is the spec that usually forces an adjustment, so most runners move across without one. Check the width and toebox instead.
- Which is more cushioned, the Hoka Challenger or the Hoka Clifton?
- They are close: 42 mm of heel stack on the Challenger 8 against 42 mm on the Clifton 11. Foam matters more than the millimeters here (CMEVA against Compression-molded EVA foam with a MetaRocker profile).
- Which comes in more widths?
- The Clifton 11. The Challenger 8 runs in D, 2E for men's sizes; the Clifton 11 runs in D, 2E, 4E.
- Which costs more, the Hoka Challenger or the Hoka Clifton?
- Neither. Both launched at $155 list. Street prices move independently, and whichever is further into its release cycle usually discounts first.
Updated September 10, 2026.