Hoka Clifton vs New Balance 880
Comparing the current Clifton 11 and 880 v15. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
Drop is the real difference: 6 mm on the 880 v15 against 8 mm on the Clifton 11. Coming off the Clifton 11, the 880 v15 loads your calves and Achilles harder for the first couple of weeks. Both sit in the same role (daily trainer). The 880 v15 lists $15 lower.
- Hoka Clifton 11Men's at AmazonWomen's
- New Balance 880 v15Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Clifton 11 | 880 v15 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.2 oz | 10.1 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E, 4E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Softer engineered mesh with 3D print overlays and a 3D-printed open-cell sockliner | Single-layer engineered mesh with a gusseted padded tongue |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 42 mm | 40.5 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 34 mm | 34.5 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Compression-molded EVA foam with a MetaRocker profile | Full-length Fresh Foam X on a rockered max-stack platform |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $155 | $140 |
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 880 has done it 2 times in 6 versions, most recently with the 880 v15 in 2025. 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 880 v15
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Hoka Clifton lineage and the New Balance 880 lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Hoka Clifton or the New Balance 880 lighter?
- The Clifton 11, by 0.9 oz in a men's US 9 (9.2 oz against 10.1 oz).
- Can I switch from the Hoka Clifton to the New Balance 880?
- Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 2 mm (8 mm on the Clifton 11, 6 mm on the 880 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 880?
- They are close: 42 mm of heel stack on the Clifton 11 against 40.5 mm on the 880 v15. Foam matters more than the millimeters here (Compression-molded EVA foam with a MetaRocker profile against Full-length Fresh Foam X on a rockered max-stack platform).
- Which comes in more widths?
- The Clifton 11. The Clifton 11 runs in D, 2E, 4E for men's sizes; the 880 v15 runs in D, 2E.
- Which costs more, the Hoka Clifton or the New Balance 880?
- The Clifton 11, by $15 at list ($155 against $140). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated August 7, 2026.