A
Andrew Dionne
March 14, 2024
As Advertised
Having bounced around between multiple brands searching for a new trainer after both Adidas and Mizuno did unspeakable things to the Bostons and Wave Riders, I experimented with joining the growing camp of runners who have enjoyed success with the Hoka One One Cliftons. For me, the shoe is a tale of two mileages, one of which being the first 100-200mi, and the other being everything else. When I first wore the shoe I was surprised by how little of the “platform” look was actually noticeable. Make no mistake, there is a lot of shoe there, but it didn’t feel like it. Similarly the 5mm offset was a bit less than I was used to, but it certainly didn’t feel like it. I still got the sense of being rocked forward on my toes, and although it lacked the snap of my typical workout shoes, it also wasn’t the marshmallow I was expecting. Over time however, this was the big change for me. While I initially would have quantified them as “comfortably firm”, as they wear in, I found them to grow softer and softer, to the point where it felt like more of an impediment than a boost. Similarly, I also felt as though I was sitting “deep” in the shoe, with a significant amount of heel collar grasping my ankle. While I enjoyed the shoe at first and would certainly consider them on short runs during double sessions, they’re not going to be a shoe I reach for particularly often.
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