The New Balance 1080 vs. The Hoka Clifton 11: Which Daily Trainer Is Best for Your Foot?
- We compare the New Balance 1080v15 and Hoka Clifton 11 to help you save time while shopping for your next daily trainer.
- Our group of wear-testers enjoyed taking the 1080s out for short runs, and the Cliftons on longer walks and runs.
- The biggest distinctions between the two trainers comes down to fit, cushioning, and stability.
With so many options for running shoes on the market, narrowing down the ones that will work best for you can feel overwhelming at times. And if you don’t understand how the various features in a shoe can help you run more efficiently, deciding between daily trainers is even trickier. Luckily, we test hundreds of shoes every year and our reviews, easy-to-follow buying guides, and head-to-head comparisons will help make your search easier.
That’s extremely useful when considering two pairs of shoes that look similar on the shelf but feel slightly different on foot. Take the New Balance 1080v15 and the Hoka Clifton 11, for example. Both of these max-cushioned daily trainers are good for recovery and long workouts, but which one should you go with?
I’ve spent dozens of hours running and walking in each of these trainers, and so have some of our Runner’s World testers, a field of 300+ local runners who log at least 100 miles in every shoe and provide valuable feedback. By design, the Clifton 11 works well for my wide, flat feet, however, I really enjoyed running in the 1080 because they reminded me of an earlier version of the Clifton. Here’s my take on the differences between each shoe, and how to decide which will work best for you.
How the Hoka Clifton 11 Compares to the New Balance 1080v15
Specs
| Best For | Everyday training, long runs, and recovery |
| Foam | CMEVA (compression-molded EVA) |
| Cushioning | Max cushioning |
| Weight | 9.9 oz (M9) 7.5 oz (W7) |
| Drop | 8mm |
Specs
| Best For | Everyday training, long runs, and recovery |
| Foam | Infinion (TPEE and EVA) |
| Cushioning | Max cushioning |
| Weight | 9.1 oz (M9) 7.2 oz (W7) |
| Drop | 6mm |
Where the 1080v15 and the Clifton 11 Differ on Fit
Before I tested the 1080v15, I didn’t know much about my foot type. I now know that I have wide, flat feet. The shoe’s newly engineered upper is contoured to hug your foot and, surprisingly, my feet don’t feel suffocated by the shoe. I thoroughly enjoyed running in the 1080, despite the slightly narrow fit and I routinely laced them up for long runs. The upper is perforated, which allows for better airflow than previous versions. The gusseted tongue is padded and soft, and it helps keep your foot locked down. The Infinion foam bounces back with each foot fall, making it easy to pick up the pace and that made me want to wear them for all of my long runs. Our testers enjoyed these features too, and laced them up for long and recovery runs.
“From the start, the shoe fit great,” said Nina Rems. “Normally I look for sneakers with a wider toebox (i.e., Altra, Topo), but these felt great, no issues on long runs (or any runs) with my bunions.”
Like Rems, I also didn’t have any issues with the fabric rubbing against my bunions and I didn’t experience any hotspots around the top of my foot, which is not typical for me in New Balance shoes.
The 1080v15 has better airflow and a more streamline fit, whereas the Clifton 11 differs with an upper that’s super cushy and plush. The soft tongue lies flat on the top of my foot, and I barely noticed it while running in them. Unlike the 1080v15, the Clifton’s tongue isn’t gusseted; however, it has two keeper loops that help it stay centered. I appreciate the spacious toebox because my toes have plenty of room to spread out, but the shoe isn’t so big that it feels like it’s sliding off my foot.
Now that I have a better understanding of my foot type, I know why I fell in love with the Clifton 9 all those years ago. I remember it as a plush trainer that made running feel effortless. Two versions later, it’s not the exact same shoe I recollect. The designers made a whole lot of changes to the Clifton 10, including an update to the upper and added 3 mm of cushioning to the heel (I never had a chance to test those shoes).
For the 11, Hoka swapped the jacquard knit fabric for mesh, making it more breathable and changed the sockliner to improve comfort. It feels like a slightly firmer shoe to me, compared to the Clifton 9 but, all in all, these are still the comfortable and reliable trainers I’ve all grown to love.
How the Clifton and the 1080 Feel on Foot
This is where deciding between the two trainers gets tricky. Both shoes genuinely ride well, and perhaps that’s because they’re max-cushioned trainers with a rocker sole, and that makes transitions—whether you’re running, walking, or doing a mix of both—easier. The rocker sole especially comes in handy when keeping momentum on recovery days.
Runner’s World tester Ryan Ireland liked how the 1080 felt on easy runs of 4 miles or less. “The cushioning—although a lot for me—normally felt nice on my legs for the recovery-style runs, that I wouldn’t like during speedwork,” he said. “I will probably still wear these shoes on my recovery runs because they felt bouncy and were more forgiving than my Mizuno Wave Horizon 6s that I normally run in.”
The plush cushioning is part of the reason why I routinely laced up my neon green 1080 as well. When I first slipped them on, they felt like the perfect replacement for my Clifton 9. I wear them on recovery runs, but I prefer to lace them up for long runs since they’re very comfortable, and I usually spend hours on my feet on those days.
In her review, Senior Gear Editor Cat Bowen notes the Clifton 11 shines on walks. She described the CMEVA as soft, but not marshmallow-mushy. It provides the right amount of cushioning, so you can finish recovery efforts feeling refreshed and not stiff. I felt the same way after wearing the shoes on my longer run/walks. In fact, after finishing a 7.5-mile run, I had enough energy in my legs to carry out the rest of my Sunday funday activities.
Hoka Clifton 11 vs. New Balance 1080v15: Which One Should You Buy?
Go with the 1080v15 if … you’re looking for a comfortable shoes to accommodate your narrow feet for long runs. The Infinion foam is springy and responsive, so it will hold up for many miles, and it can really give the kick you need when running tempo miles. And if you have a wider foot, there are widths available.
Buy Men's New Balance 1080v15 |Buy Women's New Balance 1080v15
Go with the Clifton 11 if ... you need a little more stability than what the average shoe offers. Though it doesn’t have the same support as a stability shoe, the Clifton 11 gives off serious stability vibes. Perhaps that’s because the fit is meant to better accommodate wide feet, so there’s a wider base, which also provides more support. It’s also one of our top walking shoe picks, and popular among out run/walk staff.
Buy Men's Hoka Clifton 11 | Buy Women's Hoka Clifton 11
Monique LeBrun is a health and fitness editor who is based in Easton, Pennsylvania. She covers a wide range of health and wellness topics, with a primary focus on running performance and nutrition. Monique is passionate about creating content that empowers runners to become the best versions of themselves. As an avid runner and parent, she loves spending time outdoors with her daughter, who often accompanies her on weekend runs as her personal mini run coach.