Truth be told, though, its individual story is one of evolution, not revolution — as if anyone will complain. After all, why mess with a good thing?

Compared to last year’s model, the biggest changes happen underfoot, where the Clifton gains an extra 3mm of stack height, clocking in at 42mm for a men’s size 10.

Hoka Clifton 10 shoe
The stack height grows to 42mm (an increase of 3mm from the Clifton 9), while the heel-to-toe-drop goes from 5mm to 8mm.
Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

While Hoka’s designers decided to preserve the midsole material, compression-molded EVA, the extra foam should offer additional impact resistance during longer efforts, as well as increased durability over hundreds of miles.

Hoka Clifton 10 shoe
CMEVA isn’t the most advanced foam on the market, but it’s a dependable workhorse that promises hundreds of miles.
Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

What’s more, the heel-to-toe drop increases from 5mm to a more universal 8mm, offering a smoother transition underfoot — especially at faster paces — making this the most competent Clifton for tempo and track workouts.