Hoka Clifton Pro: A Premium Clifton
My first thought when I saw the HOKA Clifton Pro was that it might be HOKA’s take on an unplated super trainer.
After running in it and spending more time understanding where it sits in the HOKA line-up, the Clifton Pro makes much more sense as a premium daily trainer.
The Clifton Pro takes the familiar comfort and protection of the Clifton family and gives it a more slightly more elevated feel. Extra liveliness underfoot, a smoother experience and HOKA’s new PROGLIDE+ midsole foam create a more refined daily training ride.
The Clifton Pro still delivers the comfort and protection of the trusted Clifton family, but adds a livelier feel, a more premium ride and a little more range for runners who have always wanted more from their everyday Clifton. Cushioned for daily kilometres, a capable option for long runs and lively underfoot when you increase the pace. 
Outsole: Daily Durability
The outsole is fairly straightforward, but intentional for the experience and role of this shoe.
The HOKA Clifton Pro uses a podular outsole design, with Durabrasion rubber through the forefoot and Super Abrasion Rubber through key wear zones in the heel. Rather than covering the entire outsole in rubber, HOKA has used strategic coverage to help protect the areas that take the most impact during daily road kilometres, while keeping the shoe feeling balanced under the thick PROGLIDE+ midsole.
That approach suits the design of the Clifton Pro for a number of reasons. There is enough rubber to support regular training on roads and paths, with the podular layout adding traction without making the shoe feel overbuilt. It also works with the more pronounced MetaRocker, helping the shoe roll smoothly from landing through toe-off.
Midsole: Introducing PROGLIDE+
This is the key feature and the most exciting introduction in the HOKA Clifton Pro. HOKA has introduced PROGLIDE+, a supercritical EVA foam that gives the shoe a more responsive and bouncy feel than the regular Clifton.
You can feel more return and resilience underfoot, giving the Clifton Pro a livelier ride while still keeping it smooth, controlled and daily-trainer friendly. It does not suddenly turn the shoe into a super trainer, but it does give the ride more energy and a more premium feel through daily kilometres.
The more pronounced MetaRocker also plays a big role in how the shoe moves. It helps the Clifton Pro roll forward more smoothly and gives you a cleaner release through toe-off, without making the ride feel dramatic, forced or overly shaped.
That combination of PROGLIDE+ and MetaRocker is what makes the Clifton Pro feel like more than just a daily trainer with a thicker midsole. The foam adds liveliness, the rocker adds the smoothness, and together they give the shoe that elevated Clifton feel.
Upper: An Engineered Mesh And Premium Lockdown
The upper also compliments the Clifton Pro, comfortable enough for daily training, but more refined than the standard everyday feel. HOKA has used a breathable engineered mesh upper, paired with a gusseted tongue and comfort collar. It gives the shoe a more secure and polished fit without making it feel stripped-back or overly performance-focused.
That balance is important as the Clifton Pro works for regular runs, longer efforts and plenty of time on foot, so the upper shouldn’t feel too performance focused. The gusseted tongue helps improve midfoot hold, while the comfort collar adds a softer step-in feel around the heel and ankle.
The upper gives the Clifton Pro a more premium feel on foot while keeping the easy-wearing comfort that makes the Clifton family so approachable. 
How Does It Feel And Who Should Buy It?
The HOKA Clifton Pro feels like a more complete version of the Clifton experience.
It still lands with the cushioned, protective feel runners expect from this family, but there is more energy return through the midsole and a smoother roll as the shoe moves forward. It does not feel overly rigid or aggressive, rather balanced and propulsive.
The ride is smooth, controlled with an element of liveliness, with the MetaRocker helping the shoe move through transition without making it feel forced. That gives the Clifton Pro a nice balance: enough cushioning for easy kilometres and longer runs, but enough energy underfoot that it does not feel flat when you start moving a little quicker.
This will suit runners looking for a daily trainer with a little more energy, polish and versatility in their everyday shoe, especially those who have enjoyed the Clifton but want a more premium experience.
Easy runs, daily kilometres, longer road runs and steady efforts are where the Clifton Pro fits best. If someone is specifically looking for a speed shoe or a true super trainer, this is not where I would start. But for runners wanting a premium daily trainer that can handle a lot of the week, the Clifton Pro sits in that space very well.
How I Would Use The Clifton Pro In My Rotation
For me, the HOKA Clifton Pro would sit firmly in the daily training part of my rotation.
I would use it two to three times a week, mostly for mid-week 30-60 minute easy runs and easier Sunday long runs where I am not trying to change pace too much. A good example would be my Wednesday morning easy run after a harder Tuesday session, when the legs are a little heavy and I want plenty of cushioning without the shoe feeling flat.
I would not reach for it for faster long runs or speedwork. It has more energy than the regular Clifton 11, but not the same exciting top-end feel as a true super trainer. For that, something like the ASICS Megablast or adidas Hyperboost Edge would make more sense.
In my own rotation, I would pair the Clifton Pro with something like the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro for tempo runs and faster daily running, then the ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo for specific speedwork and racing.
The Clifton Pro is the shoe I would look at if you want to replace your regular daily trainer with something a little more exciting for easy runs and slower, cruisy longer runs.
HOKA Clifton Pro vs HOKA Clifton 11
The Clifton Pro and Clifton 11 share a lot of the same foundation. Both share the same stack height, with 42/34mm for men, and 38/30mm for women. Both use an 8mm drop, and the Clifton Pro is built on the same Clifton 10 last, further highlighting the foam and ride as the key distinction of the Pro.
The Clifton 11 is still the comfortable everyday option in the HOKA line-up. For a lot of runners, that will still be exactly what they need, protection, easy cushioning and smooth ride. The Clifton Pro is for the runner who likes that feeling but wants the experience elevated.
In comparison, the Clifton Pro has a more energetic feel underfoot thanks to PROGLIDE+. It still feels controlled and reliable, but there is more resilience in the cushioning and a more purposeful roll through the stride.
The result is a shoe that feels more complete than the Clifton 11 without moving too far away from what runners already like about the Clifton family.
In terms of other shoes, I would place the Clifton Pro closer to premium daily trainers like the Nike Vomero Plus and On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper.
Final Thoughts
The HOKA Clifton Pro is a welcome addition to the Clifton family because it does not move too far away from what made the Clifton so popular in the first place.
It still feels comfortable, smooth and approachable, but brings more life to the ride through the PROGLIDE+ midsole. The more pronounced MetaRocker creates a smoother, more forward-moving transition, while the polished upper helps the overall package feel premium without losing the familiar Clifton feel.
Well suited to runners looking for a daily trainer with a little more energy, polish and versatility from their everyday shoe, especially those who have enjoyed the Clifton but want a more premium experience.
Explore the Clifton Pro online, or visit our Hindmarsh or Fullarton stores to experience the shoe on foot.
About the Author
Ed - Runner & Content Specialist
Ed is a distance runner and Performance Content Specialist at RunDNA. He has a passion for running, road and gravel cycling, quality gear, and stories shaped through effort and adventure. Ed's current focus is long-distance road running and triathlon, driven by a love of performance and the challenge of pushing both body and mind further. Favourite distance: the marathon. Where patience, pace and persistence come together.
