Shoes similar to the Hoka Clifton
Ranked by ride similarity. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The closest current match to the Hoka Clifton is the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28. The modern Nimbus matches the Clifton's tall, soft, rockered formula with a plusher upper and a little more weight. The closest cross-shop in the max-cushion aisle.
- Asics Gel-Nimbus 28Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Jul 28, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
The Hoka Clifton is a light max-cushion shoe with a tall, rockered platform and an 8 mm drop. Everything below is measured against the current Clifton 11 (9.2 oz, 8 mm drop, 42 mm heel). No shoe matches it exactly, so each pick lists what carries over and what does not.
- 9.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 43.5 mm heel
- $165 list
The modern Nimbus matches the Clifton's tall, soft, rockered formula with a plusher upper and a little more weight. The closest cross-shop in the max-cushion aisle.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.7 oz heavier, 1.5 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $10 more at list.
- 9 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $170 list
The 1080 matches the Clifton's soft rockered formula with a plusher build and a full width range. It runs about an ounce heavier.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.2 oz lighter, 2 mm less heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $15 more at list.
- 10.5 oz
- 5 mm drop
- 43 mm heel
- $170 list
The Bondi is the Clifton's bigger sibling: more foam, more weight, a more lounge-like ride. Fans of one often keep the other for different days.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 1.3 oz heavier, 1 mm more heel stack, 3 mm less drop, $15 more at list.
- 7.9 oz
- 5 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Mach is the Clifton's faster sibling: lighter, lower, and snappier. Plenty of Hoka runners rotate one of each.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 1.3 oz lighter, 5 mm less heel stack, 3 mm less drop, $10 less at list.
- 10.5 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 46 mm heel
- $150 list
The Vomero 18 carries more shoe in every direction: more stack, more padding, more weight. Clifton runners wanting maximum cushioning for recovery days cross-shop it; runners who prize the Clifton's lightness stay put.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 1.3 oz heavier, 4 mm more heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $5 less at list.
- 8.8 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 41.5 mm heel
- $155 list
The Novablast is the bouncy alternative at a similar stack and the same $155 list. It is livelier underfoot and less rockered; its wet grip was the weak point until the 6's outsole fix.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.4 oz lighter, the same drop.
- 10.1 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 45 mm heel
- $160 list
The two now share an 8 mm drop and a tall, soft, rockered easy-day brief. The Cloudsurfer 3 carries 3 mm more heel stack and 0.9 oz more weight for $5 more; the Clifton 11 remains the lighter option, while the Cloudsurfer feels more resilient and inherently stable.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.9 oz heavier, 3 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $5 more at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40.5 mm heel
- $140 list
The 880 v15 moved onto the Clifton's turf: high stack, rockered, easy-mile focus. The Clifton is about an ounce lighter; the 880 counters with widths to 2E and 4E and more outsole rubber.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.9 oz heavier, 1.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $15 less at list.
- 9.5 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42 mm heel
- $155 list
The Clifton with lugs, and since the Challenger 8 that is nearly a spec-sheet fact: same quoted 42 mm heel, same 8 mm drop, a third of an ounce apart. The trade is rubber for smoothness. If some of your Clifton miles are already gravel or dirt path, the Challenger covers them without changing how the shoe feels underfoot.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.3 oz heavier, the same drop.
- 9.7 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $125 list
The Rincon 5 is Hoka's $30-cheaper value trainer on the same 8 mm drop, but the hierarchy has flipped: it is 0.5 oz heavier with 4 mm less heel stack. The Clifton 11 is plusher; the Rincon is firmer and simpler.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.5 oz heavier, 4 mm less heel stack, the same drop, $30 less at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Pegasus is the traditional-trainer counterpoint: firmer, lower to the ground, with a snappier feel. Runners switch between these two lines in both directions depending on how much cushion they want.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.9 oz heavier, 5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $10 less at list.
- 9.6 oz
- 5 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $165 list
Hoka's trail shoe, and the closest thing to a Clifton with teeth. Since 2025 the two quote almost the same stack; the Speedgoat drops to 5 mm, sits on a narrower platform and puts 5 mm Vibram Megagrip lugs under it. Buy it for dirt, not as a Clifton replacement on pavement.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 0.4 oz heavier, 2 mm less heel stack, 3 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
- 10.4 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 35 mm heel
- $190 list
The Cloudmonster carries 1.2 oz more and 7 mm less heel stack than the Clifton 11, with a plate under the foot and a firmer ride. Clifton runners who want something more planted try it. The trade is $35 and a heavier shoe on easy days.
Against your Hoka Clifton 11: 1.2 oz heavier, 7 mm less heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $35 more at list.
Chasing a specific older version?
If it is a particular Clifton you miss, start from that version's page: what replaced it, and where old stock still exists.
Questions runners ask
- What is the most similar shoe to the Hoka Clifton?
- The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28. The modern Nimbus matches the Clifton's tall, soft, rockered formula with a plusher upper and a little more weight. The closest cross-shop in the max-cushion aisle.
- Do any of these match the Hoka Clifton's 8 mm drop?
- Yes. The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 and the Asics Novablast 6 and the On Cloudsurfer 3 and the Hoka Challenger 8 and the Hoka Rincon 5 match it exactly. The others sit lower, which changes how the landing loads your calves and Achilles.
- Why switch away from the Hoka Clifton at all?
- The usual reasons: a version you loved got discontinued, an update changed the ride, or the fit moved away from your foot. The list above is ranked by how closely each shoe matches the current Clifton 11, with the differences called out honestly.