Hoka Clifton vs New Balance 1080
Comparing the current Clifton 11 and 1080 v15. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Drop is the real difference: 6 mm on the 1080 v15 against 8 mm on the Clifton 11. Coming off the Clifton 11, the 1080 v15 loads your calves and Achilles harder for the first couple of weeks. They are built for different jobs: the Clifton 11 is a daily trainer, the 1080 v15 a max cushion. The Clifton 11 lists $15 lower.
- Hoka Clifton 11Men's at AmazonWomen's
- New Balance 1080 v15Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Jul 30, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Clifton 11 | 1080 v15 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.2 oz | 9 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E, 4E | B, D, 2E, 4E |
| Upper | Softer engineered mesh with 3D print overlays and a 3D-printed open-cell sockliner | Jacquard mesh with molded contours and a higher-volume fit |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 42 mm | 40 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 34 mm | 34 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Compression-molded EVA foam with a MetaRocker profile | Infinion supercritical foam, replacing Fresh Foam X |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $155 | $170 |
Which line changes its ride more often?
The Clifton has done it once in 5 versions, most recently with the Clifton 10 in 2025, and the 1080 has done it 2 times in 6 versions, most recently with the 1080 v15 in 2026. If you want a shoe you can rebuy without reading a review first, the Clifton has the steadier record.
Buy the Clifton 11
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 30, 2026.
Buy the 1080 v15
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 30, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Hoka Clifton lineage and the New Balance 1080 lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Hoka Clifton or the New Balance 1080 lighter?
- The 1080 v15, by 0.2 oz in a men's US 9 (9 oz against 9.2 oz).
- Can I switch from the Hoka Clifton to the New Balance 1080?
- Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 2 mm (8 mm on the Clifton 11, 6 mm on the 1080 v15), which changes where your foot loads at landing. Give it two weeks of easy running before a hard session.
- Which is more cushioned, the Hoka Clifton or the New Balance 1080?
- The Clifton 11, on stack height: 42 mm under the heel against 40 mm. Stack is not the whole story, though; the foams differ too.
- Which comes in more widths?
- The 1080 v15. The Clifton 11 runs in D, 2E, 4E for men's sizes; the 1080 v15 runs in B, D, 2E, 4E.
- Which costs more, the Hoka Clifton or the New Balance 1080?
- The 1080 v15, by $15 at list ($155 against $170). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated July 30, 2026.