What replaced the Hoka Clifton 9?
Updated July 30, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Clifton 10 replaced the Clifton 9 in April 2025 and changed the geometry for the first time in the line's history: the drop went from 5 mm to 8 mm on a taller platform and a new last. It also gained about an ounce and $5. Longtime Clifton runners called it a goodbye to the old shoe.
At a glance
- The Clifton 10 is 0.6 oz heavier
- 10 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 5 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Clifton 9 vs 10.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterThe 10 is a different Clifton: taller, heavier, and the first to leave the 5 mm drop that defined the line for a decade. Heel strikers and most reviewers welcomed the smoother, more forward ride. The low-drop faithful did not, and the standing advice in the community was that the 9 was still on shelves for a reason.
Stick with the Clifton 9 if
- You need the 5 mm drop; a decade of Cliftons trained your calves on it
- The 9 fits your foot; the 10 sits on a new last and fits differently
Move to the Clifton 10 if
- You heel strike and want the smoother, more forward 8 mm ride
- You want the tallest, softest Clifton platform yet
Where the Hoka Clifton is now
Two updates on, the Clifton 11 (2026) is what sits on shelves today. Against the shoe you own rather than the one that directly replaced it:
- The Clifton 11 is 0.5 oz heavier
- 10 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 5 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
What loyalists said about the update
Split down the middle. One lab gave it 86 and praised the ride while dinging the dated EVA foam and the weight gain. A widely shared review literally titled itself goodbye to the old Clifton, meaning it mostly as a compliment. Skeptics were told to stock up on the 9, and one tester logged visible outsole wear inside 30 miles.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Clifton 9 stock
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 30, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Clifton 10, these come closest to what the Clifton 9 did.
- 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 9: 1.4 oz heavier, 5 mm more heel stack, 5 mm more drop.
- 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 9: 1.2 oz heavier, 11.5 mm more heel stack, 3 mm more drop, $20 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 9: 0.3 oz heavier, 8 mm more heel stack, 1 mm more drop, $25 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Hoka Clifton 9 still available?
- Yes. The Hoka Clifton 9 is still widely stocked on Amazon in both men's and women's sizes, often below its original list price now that a newer version exists.
- Is the Clifton 10 a downgrade from the Hoka Clifton 9?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Clifton 10 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Hoka Clifton 9 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- How much heavier is the Clifton 10?
- 0.6 oz heavier in a men's US 9: 9.3 oz against the Hoka Clifton 9's 8.7 oz.
- Did the drop change from the Hoka Clifton 9 to the Clifton 10?
- Yes, from 5 mm to 8 mm. A drop change this size affects where your foot loads at landing, so plan a few easy runs to adapt.
- Is the Hoka Clifton still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Hoka Clifton 11, released in 2026, 2 versions on from the Hoka Clifton 9.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Hoka Clifton 9?
- The Nike Pegasus 42. 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.