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Buyer's Guide

HOKA Clifton 9 Review & Sizing Guide

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Buy Clifton 9 on closeout if you loved the pre-v10 Clifton fit RIP my Hoka Clifton 9's; skip it if you can't find your size at sale price, since Clifton 10 is the current shelf shoe and Clifton 11 is on the way.

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Key facts

Use case
Easy daily miles, long runs, walking — the everyman HOKA daily.
Status
Outgoing/discontinued — closeout availability only; Clifton 10 is the current model.
Fit
Narrow HOKA last; wide version available; standard for medium-narrow feet.
Ride
HOKA Meta-Rocker, soft EVA-blend foam, ~5mm drop.
Owner sentiment
Multiple owners pine for v9 over v10 — heartbreak thread about HOKA changing Clifton 9 design <ref id="c1">RIP my Hoka Clifton 9's</ref>.
Value
Strong sale value on closeout — often $80-100.

Full breakdown

HOKA Clifton 9 was a beloved daily trainer in the Clifton line — the one many longtime owners point to before the v10 redesign — and remains in inventory on closeout. A first-time marathon finisher who used Clifton 10 said he loved the Clifton 9s, and a Vomero Plus reviewer cross-shopping referenced cushioning preference set by Clifton 7/8/9 more plush than these shoes as well as the Hoka Cliftons 7/8/9 that I ran in prior years. Buy Clifton 9 if you want the recently-discontinued, well-loved Clifton fit at a closeout discount before stock disappears.

FAQ

Should I buy Clifton 9 over Clifton 10?

If you loved Clifton 9 and find your size on closeout — yes. The first-time marathoner in Clifton 10 was direct that he loved the 9s and the 10s were a downgrade I still probably won't be buying more cliftons, even though I loved the 9s, and a separate runner wrote a heartbreak post about HOKA discontinuing his favorite Clifton 9 colorway there's nothing more heartbreaking than seeing the company you buy running shoes from no longer make the ones you got use to... RIP my Hoka Clifton 9's. Buy multiple pairs while stock lasts if v9 was your daily.

Is Clifton 9 still in stock anywhere?

Yes on closeout — but availability is shrinking and selective. The runner who finished his first marathon in Clifton 10s still preferred the 9s and noted he probably won't be buying more cliftons even though he loved the 9s I still probably won't be buying more cliftons, even though I loved the 9s. Buy the colorway and size now while you can; if your foot needs the wide version, that often disappears first.

Is Clifton 9 worth buying as a new owner, or skip to Clifton 10/11?

For new HOKA shoppers, the current Clifton 10 or upcoming Clifton 11 is the safer buy; Clifton 9 is now mostly a fan-favorite closeout pick. The marathon finisher framed it as nostalgic preference rather than performance gap I really haven't liked them, and the laces haven't been holding together after not much time — meaning if you have no Clifton history, the v10 difference may not register. Buy v10 if you are new to HOKA; buy v9 only if you specifically loved it before.

Will Clifton 9 hold up like newer-generation shoes?

Yes — the v9 platform is a proven daily trainer in the same neutral category. The HOKA EVA foam holds up to 400-500 miles for typical recreational runners, and the rocker geometry distributes wear evenly — the original heartbreak thread about Clifton 9 discontinuation made clear how comfortable these were as a daily there's nothing more heartbreaking than seeing the company you buy running shoes from no longer make the ones you got use to. Buy a backup pair on closeout if you depend on this daily — you won't get the chance again once stock clears.