Despite its reputation as a brand that prioritizes comfort over speed, Hoka set off on a blistering pace this year. It has yet to slow down.
Since the start of 2024, it introduced dozens of new models, ranging from the towering Skyward X to the super-fied Tecton X 3. Oh, and who could forget the Mafate Speed 4 Lite Stsfy, a versatile collaboration with haute running label Satisfy?
To close out the year, the brand is now revisiting the original Clifton from 2014 — a model that solidified Hoka as a true contender in the road-running wars and proved the company could make a maximalist shoe that didn’t wear like a brick.
A decade on, the Clifton, now in its ninth iteration, routinely tops best-of lists (including Gear Patrol‘s own), appealing to a broad range of runners and walkers for its lightweight design that still offers ample amounts of cushioning.
As a result, the Clifton isn’t just Hoka’s number-one model but one of the most popular shoes in the world — that is, from any brand, even the heavyweights like Asics, Adidas and others.
