HOKA ONE ONE CLIFTON 7

£125 Alongside the Bondi, the Clifton has been a mainstay of the Hoka road range during the brand’s tri rise. Our previous Clifton 4s have been edged out by the leaner Rincons for both endurance and the odd tempo run, yet the 7s (released on 1 August) instantly look striking out of the box. The first thing that stands out is that extended pull tab on the heel, which seems a touch overkill compared to a fabric heel loop, but Hoka also tout its ability to protect the Achilles area. Elsewhere there aren’t major updates to the popular Clifton 6, especially in the mid/outsole, which still delivers that classic lightweight yet cushioned feel (heel to toe drop is 5mm; stack height 29mm, par for Hoka). The new mesh reduces weight to 247g (UK 8.5) and breathability’s good, yet we feel the more versatile Rincon 2 (reviewed next issue) and Rincon TK (release TBC) outdo these, largely for their finer ability to shift between slow and swift, the latter we struggled with here. hokaoneone.eu