The Hoka Clifton 9 and Hoka Skyflow are both cushioned daily trainer with a lot of classic Hoka features, like a 5mm drop and a rocker-shaped midsole. The main difference between them is that the Skyflow uses a super-critical EVA foam in the midsole, while the Clifton uses a compression-moulded EVA foam. Is that difference enough to make the Skyflow worth its higher price? Nick dives into the details in this video.
Check out our full reviews of the shoes:
Hoka Skyflow review:
Hoka Clifton 9 review:
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
00:15 – Design & Key Stats
02:20 – How’s The Fit
03:05 – The Run Test
06:11 – Verdict
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Hello and welcome to run testers my name Is Nick and in this video I'm going to Be comparing the Hoka Clif 9 and the Hoka [Music] Skylow so the Clifton 9 and the skyl are Both daily trainers within the Hoka Range the Clifton is almost the classic Quintessential Hoka it's been around for A long time so on the ninth version There's loads of colorways available Skyf flow is a new shoe this year that I Think more or less comes in and OCC Occupies the same space as the Clifton But offers a slightly you know more Premium experience got a slightly higher Price tag and you've got a different Midell foam used with the sky flow but Both shoes are designed really for Cranking out a lot of daily training as Comfortable fairly versatile options the Clifton cost £130 or $145 whereas the Sky flow is £150 or $160 Sky flow is Actually the heaviest shoe it's 285 G or 10 oz in the UK size 9 whereas the Clifton is 262 G or 9.2 o in the same Size they both have 5 mm drop the sky Flow has a slightly higher stack height It's 40 mm at the heel 35 at the 4ot in The men shoe and then it's 38 at the Heel 33 at the 4 foot in the women's Shoe when we first tested the Clif and The stack height was given as a fair bit Lower than that but actually on the info
I have now with the latest tech sheets That came out with the sky flow it's Listed as 38 at the heel and 33 at the 4 Foot in the men's shoe then 37 and 32 For the women's shoe which looks about Right like it's a pretty high stack shoe And it feels comparably High to the sky Flow but the sky flow is that little bit Higher the sky flows is design you've Got a cre jackard upper you've got a Super critical Eva midsole this is very Much the key difference between the two Shoes and instead of the compression Molded EVA foam used on the Clifton had Been used on loads of hooker shoes for a Long time youve got a super critical EVA Foam which is similar to the materials Used on shoes like the Mac line you've Got the usual hooker rocker and then a Rubber out sooil with pretty good Coverage there a little bit of exposed Foam and a bit of a recess in the middle Of the shoe there to try and save some Weight but it's a thick layer of durable Rubber in all the key areas with the Clifton you've got an engineered mesh Upper pretty padded on the tongue and Collar they both got similar level of Padding on in those areas I'd say and Both of them have fairly significant Internal heel counters like I say you've Got that compression molded Eva midsole On the Clifton you got the rocker as Well you got a rubber out sole pretty
Comparable in terms of everything except For that midsole I would [Music] Say it comes to the fit of the two shoes Obious got the same size here uk9 us99.5 And it's got a very good fit in general I get on really really well with the fit Of Hokah shoes so I'll say that now so I A pretty narrow foot I have a fussy Achilles that gets annoyed by certain Heel designs but never happens with Hooker shoes and in general their shoes Fit me really well I'm also you know a Fairly small uk9 so the fact this is a Us99.5 instead of a US 10 like it is in Some Brands yeah works very well for me So I have no concerns at all about the Fit they are reasonably narrow shoes That often happens with hoker but there Are wide sizes available for both of These shoes got a fairly padded tongue But nothing that I found oppressive at All when running in the shoes in hotter Conditions in general yeah the fitness Works really well for me it's Comfortable but not overbearing in Anyway and I've got the right amount of Room around the toe box good hold around The heel and [Music] Midfoot so it comes to the run test you Have got two shoes here that have really A lot more similarities than they do Differences they both fit in the kind of
Classic H and mold that 5mm Drop The Rocker similar outsoles uppers Everything like that and the ride is Quite similar as well but you have got This super critical foam in the midsole Of the sky flow and you have a price Increase to reflect that so you've got a Slightly better of midso material here And the question is like how much more Does that deliver in terms of ride Experience and ride feel and does it Make it worth the extra money you have To pay compared to the Clifton so I've Done a lot of running in B shoes and I've done a run in them at the same time I think you do notice the difference in The ride field between the two shoes I Think the Clifton actually feels a Little bit softer at the heel with that Compression molder Eva get a nice roll Through from both shoes and then you Have I think a bit more of a responsive Toe off with the sky flow like both are Very comfortable both very cushioned You've just got that little bit more pop Off the toes when running in the sky Flow and it's not to say that neither of These are incredibly versatile shoes but They both kind of sit in that category Of daily trainers that are probably more Comfort first but can do a little bit of Everything and I think because of the Slightly popular feel you have with the Sky flow you do get a little bit more
Off the toes which makes it a little bit More suitable I think for long runs like At any Pace I think it just you you hold Your form a little bit better in a shoe Like this over long runs and it has a Little bit more when it comes to faster Runs as well though it is a little bit Heavier than the Clifton so that's Something to take in account but found When I was running a b at the same time Like you got a little bit more softness From the Clifton and then a little bit Less life out of the toes in terms of How I felt I was being pushed along off The toes with the shoe just that little Bit more pop with the sky flow actually Feels a little bit similar to the Difference between the Nike Pegasus 41 And the Nike Pegasus plus we've got Similar geometries of both shoes but a Better foam in the Pegasus plus that Gives you that little bit more oomph However with the Nikes it's more of a Clear difference because the Pegasus Plus is lighter nimbler feels a lot Faster as well as being more responsive Whereas the sky flow actually feels Quite a lot like the Clifton you have Got a slightly nicer foam there but You've also got a slightly heavier shoe So I wouldn't necessarily feel like it's As a clear difference and clearly worth An upgrade as it was with the two Nike Shoes but I did find I was running in
The Sky flow like anything like towards An hour over an hour I did find the ride You get from that super critical foam a Little better for me and I do a lot of Progression runs or kind of easy to Steady Pace runs that kind of thing and Again the sky flow just feels better for Those even though it is a bit heavier Just because the foam just gives you That little bit more back and it's a Kind of ride feel I like now if you're Looking for more of a softer feel Especially at the heel I think you get That a bit more with the Clifton like it Does feel like still quite Nimble and Lightweight because it is a pretty Lightweight shoe for the cushioning you Have here but doesn't necessarily give You a lot off the toes and that's what I Think let it down a bit for faster Running uh in general and also compared To the sky flow actually when I was Testing both the shoes for the original Reviews they both came at really good Time for me because when I was first Testing the Clifton I was doing a lot of Fairly short runs I was I think just After a big Marathon block and I was Just getting back into training again Running regularly but not doing anything Too long and I was testing the sky flow Know I was more into the marathon Training mode where like every run I go Out for probably be 13 to 15 kmers and I
Just prefer the feel of the shoe for That kind of thing whereas Those nippier Runs those shorter runs you pick up the Pace a little bit you maybe do some fun Intervals the Clifton works really well For those and and I think it you know Actually has that nice soft feel at the Heel which some people might prefer to The sky flow but in terms of grinding Out a lot of miles and doing the hard Mileage and marathon training is where The sky flow I think was a notable Upgrade for [Music] Me so it comes to the verdict like it's A difference when you look at the two Shoes is the list price difference That's £20 or $15 I prefer the sky flow I'd probably pay the extra for it Because I think this phone holds up Better on Long Run I think it might hold Up better over the lifespan of the shoe As well just because I do think it's a Really good foam I've Loved using it on Shoes like the Mac I think hoker the Geometry of the shoes in tand them with That foam just makes this a really nice Daily trainer that you don't really Notice on the foot very much it can help You Cruise along in a variety of paces And it feels very consistent and holds Its responsiveness throughout runs so I Do think it's worth that little upgrade Especially if you are someone who's
Doing more mileage marathon training That kind of thing that said the Clifton's a bit older and it is cheaper It's a little bit lighter and I think It's the kind of shoe that will be Popping up in sales a lot especially as We enter things like the Black Friday Period and it's certainly a shoe that Has a lot of merits because as I Mentioned in the run test there are Definitely more similarities between These isues than differences and I think If you're s who mostly going out for Shorter runs you just want a comfortable Shoe then the Clifton will do that Really well and if you can spot it at a Really big discount then I'd probably go For the cheaper shoot because you know I Like the sky flow but I like the Clifton I'm happy using the Clifton for the same Kind of runs just the skylow I think Gives you that little bit more for Longer runs but whether it's worth a big Upgrade in price I wouldn't be so sure Only other thing I'd say if you are a New Runner or a heavier Runner I think The more resilient foam you get from the Sky flow might work a little bit better In terms of durability and protection Over runs than the slight softer feel of The hoker it might press PR down a Little bit more this foam and I think You might get a slightly more consistent Feeling over the course of the life of
The shoe maybe with the sky flow so it Might be a slightly better option with That foam in there but like I said Overall the shoes have that similar hook Of feel they're both really good shoes I Prefer the skyfly do think the foam is An upgrade but whether it's worth the Upgrad in price will depend on the price At the time and probably what you're Going to use the shoes [Music] For as a comparison of the Hoka Clif 9 And the Hoka skyflow let us know what You think in the comments below please Do like and subscribe cribe ring the Little bell and we will see you next Time on the channel
