Hoka Clifton Vs Mach | Which Neutral Cushioned Trainer To Pick?

You’re ready for your first pair or your next pair of HOKA and it’s time to make the decision between two neutral models: HOKA Clifton vs HOKA Mach. Lucky for you, I’ve been testing out these shoes for over a decade and love to share my opinions and details about the shoes.

Each year, I test out their new models and put in enough miles to have solid feedback on feel, fit and whether I’ll be shelling out money for another pair.

Here I hope to help breakdown the differences and help you find the right option for running. In particular, we are going to focus on a HOKA Mach vs Clifton in fit, feel and function. The Clifton has been their flagship shoe since the start, but the Mach is quickly catching it in terms of runner love.

HOKA Mach Vs Clifton Overview

In the case of the HOKA Clifton and HOKA Mach, two popular offerings from the renowned running shoe brand, there are distinct variations that cater to different running styles and preferences. Exploring these differences will help you make an informed decision based for your needs.

While the Mach prioritizes being light over being cushioned, that doesn’t mean you’ll lack for cushion.

Meanwhile the Clifton is celebrated for its luxurious cushioning, delivering a comfortable ride that absorbs impact exceptionally well. This makes it an excellent choice for long-distance runners or those seeking optimal comfort during recovery runs.

On the other hand, the Mach boasts a more responsive and energetic feel, emphasizing a lightweight design and enhanced propulsion. It appeals to runners aiming for speed, agility, and a snappy ride, making it an ideal option for tempo runs and shorter-distance races.

Clifton Vs Mach Key Differences

I will go through all of this in more detail, but for a very quick overview some key differences:

• Mach is a more responsive shoe
• Mach is a lighter shoe
• Clifton has more cushion for longer runs
• But the Mach actually feels softer to me underfoot
• Clifton will be a bit more stable

Hoka Running Shoes Overview

In case, you’ve yet to try HOKA One One running shoes, let’s just take a quick peak at what you can expect from this brand. Because they’re the one’s that started the whole max stack height trend!

I’ve done a full deep dive in to the Best HOKA Running Shoes, Trail Running Shoes and Walking shoes, so this is just a quick overview of what’s in the line up.

A quick description of the key Hoka shoes:

• Hoka Clifton (neutral cushion)
• Hoka Bondi (neutral plush cushion)
• Hoka Mach (neutral responsive cushion)
• Hoka Speedgoat (neutral cushioned trail)
• Hoka Challenger ATR (more responsive cushioned trail shoe)
• Hoka Arahi (cushioned stability shoe) – not a shoe I’ll test as I don’t need stability
• Hoka BondiX (neutral plush cushion with carbon fiber)
• Hoka RocketX (neutral carbon fiber racing shoe)
• Hoka Cielo X1 (top end carbon plate race shoe)

Following are a few things that I would say across each shoe, so saving time here by saying it once.

Stability

While I DO NOT recommend stability shoes for most runners, the Hoka is designed to provide some base level stability thanks to the wider platform of the midsole. This is a great way to get the benefits without changing your stride or hiding the fact that you have weak muscles.

This is going to apply to all of their shoes and my preference over picking a standard stability shoe for overpronation.

Maximal Shoe

Stack height is how we refer to the size of the outsole and what is therefore defined as a maximal shoe of 30mm to 50mm.

I did separate detailed post comparing maximal and minimal, but for now here is what HOKA has to say about their shoes:

“maximum cushioning material is designed for excellent shock absorption and an inherently stable ride.”

Extended Heel

You may notice that many of the HOKA’s have an exaggerated heel of the soles…some really big and some just barely noticeable. Having tested out some of the biggest and some on the more normal side, I can say that I don’t LOVE the really big heels.

But they do have a purpose.

Through testing they found that extension helped with getting the foot to roll forward more quickly.

It reduces issues from heel striking and speeds up the movement of the foot. You’ll often see this referred to as an early-stage meta-rocker.

Replacement

The standard saying is replace your shoes every 500 miles and these shoes are the same. The durability has been really great, as noted I have been through a number of pairs and never had one that I felt needed to be tossed early due to anything coming apart or feeling worn out.

Whatever you have found to be your sweet spot in the past will be roughly the same here. I.e. larger runners, big men, etc often find they need to replace shoes quicker due to breakdown, others  find that more treadmill runs means maybe their shoes are good for 800 miles.

Like most runners upon seeing the size of the Clifton I assumed it would be heavy or clunky.

In fact, they were so light I was absolutely shocked.

And when I tried to go back to my old shoes they felt like rocks. I’ve now run in the Hoka Clifton 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

The Clifton Edge with the larger heel did nothing for me and the shoe simply didn’t feel as cushioned. The 2 went a little off track as did 7, but 5, 8  and 9 are winners again.

I would consider the Clifton a Hoka neutral running shoe, balanced cushion, with a good padded collar and tongue.

The Clifton is not their softest shoe (that’s the Bondi), but it is absolutely a cushioned shoe with their standard eva foam midsole. But with each model the Clifton is getting closer to the Bondi and now it’s also classified as their most cushioned type of shoe.

As we get older that additional cushion might just feel better because we actually lose from the fat pads in our feet.

Usage

Thus far I have worn the different models for everything from a speed day to a half marathon. In truth, they aren’t the best choice for speed, but they felt nice when I was coming back from knee surgery many years ago.

Fit

Fit is the one thing that bothered a little in early models, as I have a more narrow foot and so sometimes my foot felt a bit like it was too small for the shoe. However, I have read many other reviews that state it’s a very average fit, so this you’ll need to test out for yourself.

In newer models I have not had this same experience, so it feels more dialed in and I do love the toe box providing plenty of room for the foot to move.

• I wear the same size 11 as in all other running shoes
• Fits a wider foot (I do have a more narrow foot and don’t find that my foot moves around too much)
• Toebox is not as wide as an Altra, but wider than many other brands

Specifications

The Clifton 9 is a good shoe, but probably not my favorite Clifton so far. I think the 8 was solid and I’ve got my fingers crossed the 10 comes back to being a winner.

Clifton 9

• Neutral Running shoe
• Moderate Cushion
• 5 mm drop
• 7.2 oz women’s, 8.9 oz men’s
• Available in 14 colors
• Available in Wide in some colors
• $140
• See all HOKA Clifton models (also includes a gender neutral, suede and waterproof)
• Find older models marked down (I’ve like everything from the 6 onward in recent years)

If you’ve been wearing a shoe with a larger heel drop you may notice more of a difference in the muscles that are activated in your ankles and feet.

My personal preference is towards less of a heel drop as I think it gets our foot in better alignment, it also mimics the idea of a minimal shoe, but with the cushion!
Clifton original in pink and Clifton 2 in purple.

When you’re ready to turn on the speed, the Mach is your HOKA of choice. It’s not a carbon fiber shoe, instead it’s a super lightweight shoe designed to spring off the ground and help you find that quick turnover.

This shoe is best for runners who are looking for a fast and responsive shoe to take on long-distance races or interval training. BUT to be clear it’s also a stellar daily trainer, NOT a carbon plate type shoe.

The Mach features a lightweight foam midsole that provides a quick, lively feel, while the meta-rocker design helps to encourage a more natural gait.

While many shoes promote something like a meta-rocker to help propel you from heel to forefoot, I will say I did actually notice it a bit in the Mach. That’s super unusual, normally I’m wondering what on Earth they mean.

Additionally, though this shoe is lighter and has a lower stack height, the difference in the PROFLY+ foam is noticeable. The Mach 6 feels like a really great cushion.

Fit

These feel like they might be a bit more narrow than the Clifton and yet still not narrow like a Nike. Putting them on you can also feel immediately how light they are and how thin the upper is for breathability.

You won’t find a padded tongue here, but I had no issues with the thin tongue. I felt just fine on the foot.

While they’re also listed as a neutral shoe, I was thrilled to see my foot didn’t drop in one bit when I put them on which is common in other shoes. Another example of how their shoes have some natural support due to the bigger platform.

• True to size
• Very similar to Clifton,lower cushion
• Good room in the toebox

Specifications

I wasn’t a fan of the first models, but the Mach 6 has a steady place in my rotation. I’m probably running in it every few weeks, which says a lot for someone testing new shoes weekly!! I might love the Mach 5 a tad more, but probably just because I’ve used it more.

Mach 6

Hoka Mach vs Clifton

Trying to decide between these two models? There are a a few big ways in which they are different, so it’s going to depend on what you prefer in a shoe.

Hopefully the initial details above gave you some things to think about with these road shoes. But for a straight side by side comparison of Mach vs Clifton, here’s what I’ve found over testing many models.

• Both are a neutral running shoe.
• Clifton is going to feel like a more cushioned shoe because it has 3mm more of cushioning (still not plush like the HOKA Bondi)
• Mach is a lighter shoe than the Clifton
• Having run in both, I like both, but definitely use the Mach a lot more now and lean to other cushioned running shoes for my long run days.
• Clifton will probably last longer due to the rubber outsole.
• Mach is great for speed workouts, tempo runs and even 5K, 10K race days.
• Clifton is great for long runs, easy runs. It’s a little bit more flexible shoe.

Looking for more reviews to find the best things for your run?

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