Just a few days after the announcement of the Hoka Clifton 11, the Hoka Clifton Pro running shoe is already here, offering a more dynamic and faster version of the Clifton 11.
Why is the Clifton so popular?
The Clifton series is one of the world’s most popular running shoes, and it is worth adding straight away that this popularity is well deserved. It does not earn this reputation by delivering outstanding performance in one particular area, but by being slightly above average in every respect. Thanks to this quality, it is a good choice for a very wide range of runners, meaning that many people can use it, which is precisely why it is so popular.
Hoka Clifton Pro
Why was there a need to create a Pro version?
When the Hoka Clifton 10 was released in 2025, many people were already expecting the shoe to feature a new, more advanced midsole foam. But it did not; it was made from the same CM EVA foam as its predecessor. Hoka made some refinements to this compression-moulded foam, and the criticism was not that the material failed to deliver the expected “Clifton standard”, but that EVA foam was already considered an older technology in 2025, while the Clifton’s competitors featured foams made from more advanced materials such as PEBA, supercritical EVA and TPU. These foams are not only more responsive and faster, but also lighter and considerably more durable.
What the new Hoka Clifton Pro running shoe offers
The answer to these criticisms has now arrived, as the midsole of the Hoka Clifton Pro running shoe is made from a supercritical foam called ProGlide+. It is a more flexible and bouncier foam. The midsole stack height and drop are the same as those of the Hoka Clifton 11, meaning 42 mm at the heel with an 8 mm drop. The geometry is slightly more aggressive, with a more pronounced rocker designed to support faster running.
The outsole has also changed, with the Clifton Pro receiving a completely different layout. It is still made from highly abrasion-resistant Durabrasion rubber, but the heel section now features a new Super Abrasion Rubber compound that is expected to be even more durable. The outsole covers a smaller total surface area but is distributed across a wider section of the shoe in a podular configuration than on the Clifton 11, so it is expected to provide better traction.
The upper of the Hoka Clifton Pro continues to be made from engineered mesh with good breathability. The shoe will be available in two widths: standard and wide.
Although the supercritical foam and the reduced midsole surface area might suggest that the shoe would also be lighter, the men’s Hoka Clifton Pro weighs 296 grams (242 g for the women’s version), which is 12 grams more than the Hoka Clifton 11.
The Hoka Clifton Pro 11 running shoe will be available from July 2026, with a European price of €170.
