Hoka Clifton 9 and Three Shoes to Compare It Against

Introduction

The Hoka Clifton line has a long history, and the Clifton 9 continues its reputation as a soft daily trainer. But softness is best judged in context, so this roundup compares the Clifton 9 against three other shoes: the Hoka Speed 3, the Rebel V3, and an older Hoka Rincon. Each one tells you something different about where the Clifton 9 fits and who it suits.

The Hoka Clifton 9: Soft, Plush, and Easygoing

The Clifton 9 gained three millimeters of stack height over its predecessor, with a 32/27 mm setup and a 5 mm drop in the men’s version. It pairs an engineered knit upper with compression molded EVA, and Hoka added just a small amount of extra rubber on the outsole, which is minimal in a good way.

On the road, it lives up to the soft-landing promise. If you enjoy a plush, forgiving ride for easy miles and tired legs deep in a training block, this shoe treats you well. The fit is generally fine, with only a slight, ever-so-slight bit of slipping in the heel pocket, not enough to be a dealbreaker.

Softness Measured: How the Foams Compare

Comparing the Clifton 9 against similar-feeling shoes tells an interesting story. A durometer reading on the Clifton 9’s midsole came out around the mid-30s, around 36. The Hoka Speed 3 landed at the same 36 reading, which makes sense given how similar the two feel underfoot.

The Rebel V3 measured noticeably softer, in the mid-to-upper 20s, around 29 to 31 depending on the side tested. An older Hoka Rincon, roughly two years old, read around 41, though its foam has hardened with age from exposure to air and sunlight, which pushes older foam readings higher than they would have been new.

Rebel V3: Softer Than the Clifton, With a Catch

The Rebel V3 is unquestionably softer than the Clifton 9. But because its stack height sits lower than the Clifton 9’s, it never feels as mushy or cumbersome underfoot. That lower profile lets you stay connected to your foot strike and even push the pace on tempo runs with confidence.

There is one important warning. In warmer temperatures, around 65 to 70 degrees, the Rebel V3 felt mushy in testing. If you dislike that vague, overly soft feeling, be cautious before buying. In cooler weather it felt much better, and for genuinely easy recovery miles when your legs are tired, the extra softness is a genuine asset.

Hoka Speed 3 and the Aged Rincon

The Hoka Speed 3 reads at the same 36 durometer as the Clifton 9, so riders who like one softness profile will likely feel at home in the other. It is a useful cross-check if the Clifton 9’s feel appeals to you but you want a point of comparison.

The older Hoka Rincon is a reminder of how midsole foam changes over time. Foam exposed to air and sunlight breaks down and hardens, which is why collectors shrink-wrap and seal shoes in storage to preserve them for years. A two-year-old Rincon reading 41 on the durometer was almost certainly softer when new, and it still evokes the feel of the Clifton 9.

Buying Advice

If a soft landing is what you want from a daily trainer, the Clifton 9 fits the brief, and its measured softness sits comfortably in the middle of this group: softer than an aged Rincon, firmer than the Rebel V3, and matched closely by the Speed 3. Choose the Clifton 9 or Speed 3 for a dependable cushioned ride at a range of paces.

Pick the Rebel V3 only if you love maximum softness and mostly run easy miles, ideally in cooler weather. And remember that any foam-based shoe changes character as it ages, so a very old pair will never ride the way it did fresh out of the box.

Conclusion

The Clifton 9 earns its reputation as a plush daily trainer with a modest stack increase, minimal outsole rubber, and only a small heel-fit quibble. Measured against the Speed 3, Rebel V3, and an older Rincon, it lands in a balanced middle ground: cushioned enough for tired legs, without tipping into the mushy territory that the very soft Rebel V3 can hit in warm conditions.