Four Running Shoes, Four Verdicts: Hoka Clifton Pro and the Latest Adidas Lineup

Introduction

Four shoes, four clear verdicts. Three come from Adidas, one from Hoka, and each one targets a fairly different runner: a premium daily trainer with new foam, a gym-focused hybrid, a weatherized zip-up version of a proven favourite, and a max-cushion monster with a serious stack. Here is how they stack up against each other and who each one actually makes sense for.

Hoka Clifton Pro

The Clifton Pro is the new look Hoka on the block, built around a supercritical EVA blend that gives it a softer departure from the standard Clifton. It comes with 42mm of stack in the heel and around 34mm up front, an 8mm drop that is a little higher than some past Hoka models. Early impressions suggest it is more responsive than expected rather than simply plush.

Despite the extra stack, the big question is timing. Other brands have been putting premium foams into daily trainers for a few years now, and the Clifton Pro can feel like it arrived a couple of years late to the party. There is a large price uplift too: £150 in the UK, with a launch just a couple of weeks away. An extra wide version is available if you need it, and Hoka uppers tend to be generous in fit.

The verdict here leans negative for now. The new midsole formula may add more energy return, but it is a hard sell when rivals already occupy this space. Worth a look if you love the Clifton fit and want more bounce, but not an obvious upgrade.

Adidas Adizero Dropset Pro

The Dropset Pro is the most interesting shoe of the group. It sits in the Adizero lineup but is aimed at the gym, or hybrid training like Hyrox, where running sections are interspersed with gym work. Adidas has thrown in the full suite of tech: Continental rubber combined with Light Traction on the outsole, which has proven extremely durable in other models.

Flat energy rods run just underneath the midsole between it and the outsole, similar to the system seen in the Adios 7, adding stability and some forefoot pop. The midsole is Lightstrike Pro, and it appears to have two sections, possibly a denser, more stable formula in the rear for extra rigidity. The stack is low: 29mm in the heel and 22mm at the front, so expect plenty of road feel and stability nods rather than plush cushioning.

At £130 in the UK, it launches at a very competitive price in line with the Evo SL. It could even work as a dedicated low-stack running shoe if you want responsiveness and heel stability. A clear yes.

Adidas Evo SL Zip

The Evo SL Zip takes a shoe that has reportedly sold over 10 million pairs across its variants and adds a zipper to the upper. Importantly, the traditional laces remain at the top of the shoe, so you get both lacing and a zip, making this more of a weatherized twist than a laceless design.

Everything else looks exactly as per the standard version: same midsole, same outsole. It is a slightly odd launch timing given summer conditions, and the zip brings roughly a £20 uplift over standard pricing, so you have to really want the feature. For some runners it could genuinely help from an accessibility point of view, since fastening a zip may be easier than tying laces.

The verdict is a nay for anyone happy with the standard Evo SL, but if the zip solves a real problem for you, the underlying shoe is proven and very likely to be a success all the same.

Adidas Adistar BYD 2

The Adistar BYD 2 quietly dropped in the UK without much fanfare. It uses Dreamstrike material, a Pebax-based foam, with around 45mm of heel stack, which translates to a towering amount of cushioning underfoot. The sample weight sits around 280g, and real-world sizes will likely land well above that, making it a heavy offering. There is also a lot of rubber on the outsole, adding further weight.

This is another maxed-out cushion shoe with a slightly plusher upper, a category many runners already have covered in their rotation. It is expensive at £165 in the UK, particularly when cheaper alternatives do a very similar job.

The verdict is a nay unless you specifically want maximum stack and plushness from the Adistar line. If you prefer lower, more connected shoes, this one is unlikely to change your mind.

Overall Buying Advice

Of the four, the Adidas Adizero Dropset Pro is the standout pick, thanks to genuine versatility, durable outsole tech, and a competitive £130 price. The Hoka Clifton Pro suits loyal Hoka fans who want a bouncier Clifton, but it faces stiff competition at £150. The Evo SL Zip only makes sense if the zipper genuinely helps you, and the Adistar BYD 2 is for committed max-cushion devotees with the budget for it.

Conclusion

Three Adidas releases and one Hoka update show two trends clearly: premium foams are trickling into everyday shoes, and stack heights keep climbing. The Dropset Pro proves there is still room for clever, purpose-built design, while the rest of the group mostly asks whether you really need what is new. Match the shoe to your actual training, and the right choice here is fairly obvious.