HOKA - Skyflow

Clifton’s a little more comparable to the skyflow, witha more cushioned ride. I liked the skyflow, trying the clifton 10 now to reduce impact a bit.

I found the v14 way too squishy. I haven't tried a Clifton since the 9, but the v14 definitely had more of a 'sinking in' feeling. You might like the Hoka Skyflow. It is an every day trainer, similar to the fresh foam v14 and Clifton. I love it for easy and long runs as it just gets out of the way, comfortable but not squishy. There are also shoes like the Adidas Evo sl which some people recommend as a "do it all" shoe. They are easier to go fast in than the fresh foam/Skyflow/Clifton, but I personally don't find them comfortable for slower paces. Best bet is to try some shoes on in a shop as it is largely depends what works for you!

Hoka Skyflow - 736km - bought these after a long time as a Clifton wearer. A bit disappointing tbh, heavy and unresponsive, though from time to time I quite enjoy a run in them. Wearing them on slow runs only now and won’t be buying another pair. Evo SL - 595km - loved the Hoka Mach 5 for longer and tempo runs, but preferred these over the Mach 6 (seriously Hoka, what have you been playing at the last few years?). My best all rounder, will certainly replace them unless the Mach 7 is amazing. Kinvara 15 - 134km - light and quick and the closest I get to a minimal shoe. Good for speed work, track sessions and fast stuff up to about 5 miles. Low drop, get me nicely onto my fore/midfoot and give the calves a good workout! Begin to feel the lack of cushion eventually though. Hoka Mach X2 - 253km - great for longer faster stuff and racing, quicker than the Evo SL and more stable. Should wear them more really, especially as it looks like the Mach X3 looks decent. Hoka Challenger 7 - 363km - my current go to trail shoe - not that exciting but suit the kind of mixed road/trail routes near where I live. Peregrine ISO - 168km - a heavier duty trail shoe which I’ve used much less than I thought I would since they’re fairly horrible on hard surfaces. Good in the mud though, and useful for XC where the ground isn’t suitable for spikes. Nike Dragonfly XC - 35km - have gone all in on XC this season, and these have been excellent, especially as I found them for £40. Light and responsive and a joy to run in.

If you like the Clifton, I would look at the Rincon. It's a lighter shoe than the Clifton and by far one of my favorite Hoka shoes. I ran my first half marathon in the Rincon 3 and I just retired my pair of the 4. I replaced them with a pair of the Skyflow and am somewhat regretting my decision; they're just not the same. The other option is the Mach X 3. It has a nylon plate instead of a carbon, which I'd consider looking at if you haven't tried them already. I have a pair of the original Mach X that are still going strong and I use them for a lot of my speed work. I'm going out for intervals today and will be using the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 - also nylon plated and also incredibly durable. Make sure you go up another 1/2 size if you venture into Saucony because they do tend to run small and narrow.

* Easy/Recovery: Hoka Skyflow (52 mi) - Honestly, not my favorite shoe, but I bought them so I'll keep using them. It's probably back to my trusty Rincons after these are done. * Speed: Hoka Mach X (224 mi) - Still one of my favorites, especially for tempo runs. * Speed: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 (225 mi) - The original speed was one of the first shoes I fell in love with, and this shoe has different mechanics from the Mach X. * Long/Race: New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 (190 mi/19mi) - I have two pairs. One that I've done all of my long marathon training runs in, and the new pair that I'm using for Philly this weekend and then Love Run in March. I wanted something wider and cushioned enough for longer runs, and while these aren't the fastest supershoes I've ever used, they're certainly reliable enough for 26.2. Ideally I'll replace them with the Cielo X1 3 when they're released. * Race: Hoka Rocket X 2 (146 mi) - I think these have one more race in them and then they'll be relegated to training. I adore this shoe and have to decide if I grab another pair or go with the 3 when I replace them. Also in my closet but not currently in use: * Brooks Ghost 15 (136 mi) - These feel like having a 2x4 strapped to your foot. They really ruined the shoe with this model and it's made me hesitant to try Brooks again. * Hoka Clifton 9 (153 mi) - I like the Clifton, they're just not ones I reach for on a regular basis. * Hoka Mach 5 (153 mi) - I bought these because of the hype around them, which I ended up not agreeing with. They're "fine" enough. * Hoka Skyward X (113 mi) - I've tried on and off to use these, but they make my peroneal tendonitis flare up. * New Balance More v4 (155 mi) - Another shoe that was overhyped for me. They never felt as "plush" as others talked about. * Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 (65 mi) - I bought these to use for my half marathon last year because of how much I loved the previous version. I strongly dislike this as a half/full marathon shoe because of the firmness, and it's not comfortable over 9 miles, to the point where I ended up using my almost-dead 3s for the race. They don't have a place in my rotation because the Rocket is a more aggressive shoe over the 5K/10K distance. I may end up using them for speed work when my current speed shoes are done.

Have you tried the Skyflow or the Mach 6? I recently switched from the Clifton to the Skyflow for my easy and long runs and use the Mach 6 for my “speed” training days. I’m not a fast runner at all and like that both of these shoes give me adequate cushioning for my 50 year old legs but feel lighter and speedier than the Clifton.

Here is a perfect example of why it is important to actually go to a shop and try the shoes: I've been running for a year with skyflows, and they've been great. I switched to clifton gtx for the winter and have had so much pain in my feet. They fit well, but don't support my foot properly. I've not run in 2 weeks to recover, but i took a walk in them yesterday and that alone cause the pain to start to come back. So yeah, it's definitely the shoes! Don't get me wrong, they're great shoes, just not for me

Hoka Skyflow. I love them, they’re comfortable and quite dynamic. I prepare my marathon with them and probably will buy a new pair some weeks before the race day…

I overpronate, lately I’ve been alternating two pairs Hoka Skyflow. Neutral shoes feel good. 

I feel you there, I rotate hoka Skyflow and Hoka Clifton 9

I can't speak to some of those brands, but my Hoka skyflow were good and I just got the puma magmax v.1 which are freaking awesome and are on sale for $89 at Scheels.

I always try on a few based on what the running shoe store people suggest based on my previous purchases! I used to stay in the new balance 880’s then tried the Hoka skyflow and loved it, tried the ASICS something and I’m not a fan, anything more than 6 miles and I’m blistering on my toe, and my most recent pair I just got another pair of skyflows lol