Back at the end of last year (2020), I had the opportunity to attend the launch event for the Hoka SS21 collection, and of course, one of the shoes featured was the Hoka Clifton 8.
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My first impression when trying on and standing in the Clifton 8
"Whoa... the softness is gone," I exclaimed to myself.
"The Clifton is no longer the Clifton. It's not as soft as a marshmallow like it used to be."
I was a little disappointed, so I went for a light jog in the conference room.
"The Clifton 8 is probably going to disappoint a lot of people," I thought to myself.
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Day after day passed, and almost six months went by!
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And May 31, 2021 arrived!
The Hoka Clifton 8 was in my hands... The next morning, I had an 8K tempo run scheduled. It was the perfect opportunity to try it out, coinciding with the launch of the Clifton 8 in Thailand!
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The model I got was the Hoka Clifton 8 Wide, designed for wide feet. My feet are 2E wide.
When I tried it on for the first time, it turned out... there was more room inside than in the size 9US Clifton 7 Wide I used to wear.
This is because the upper material on the Clifton 8 is thinner than on the previous model, giving it more volume at the forefoot.
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Time to try it out on a run!
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I ran a 2K warm-up at a 7-minute pace.
"Whoa... hey... it actually is soft."
"Even though it felt firm when I was standing and I couldn't really feel the softness, when I actually ran, yeah, it was soft."
"The softness at a 7-minute pace wasn't as mushy as the Clifton 7."
"Yeah... that's great."
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I was surprised after just the warm-up.
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"Beep" The timer went off, signaling the start of my 5K speed session.
I started taking quicker steps and pushed off harder with my glutes to lengthen my stride.
My pace gradually increased from 7 to 6 minutes per kilometer.
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"Thump, thump, thump" The sound of my footsteps fell into a steady rhythm.
I tried to maintain this pace.
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"Huff, puff, huff" My heavy breathing fell into a steady rhythm, matching the sound of my footsteps.
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"Whoa, compared to the Clifton 7, which felt mushy and draining at a 6-minute pace...
The Clifton 8 has a much firmer sole. I could feel the softness while running, but it wasn't mushy or draining. My foot just didn't slide around like it does in carbon-plated shoes.
And that softness had the distinctive feel of the Clifton, unlike any other shoe!"
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My slight disappointment from six months ago... fell to the ground with a "thud" and vanished along with my heavy breathing "huff, puff, huff."
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For the last 3 kilometers, my body was warmed up and I was really getting into it... My pace was 5:32 minutes per kilometer.
"Thump, thump, huff, puff"
I tried to slow down, but I was feeling bold. No matter how much I tried to ease off, I wouldn't slow down...
"Alright, let's just push through it!" I thought, giving myself a final burst of motivation!
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"Beep" The timer went off, signaling the end of the speed session... I immediately started walking.
Walking, then alternating with light jogging... 1K cooldown.
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After finishing my run, I'd like to introduce my friends to the Hoka Clifton 8 a little more.
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It still features the Meta Rocker design, with an upturned forefoot and heel for a smooth rolling motion.
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I used the Wide model with a 2E forefoot. It was so comfortably wide that it almost felt loose, because the upper material on this model is thinner than on the previous version, giving it more volume inside.
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This is the thin mesh upper with plenty of holes for excellent breathability.
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The heel pull tab makes it easier to put on and reduces friction on the Achilles tendon... but personally, I
don't really like it. It doesn't lock the heel in as well as the original design found in the Clifton 6 and earlier models.
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After finishing my run, I drank Pocari Sweat, an electrolyte drink, to replenish the electrolytes lost during the run.
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That concludes this review. It's short, just a little teaser. See you in the full video review coming soon to Runnercart on YouTube.