Battle: Hoka Clifton 9 VS Puma Velocity Nitro 2

After the Hoka Clifton 9 full review and the Puma Velocity Nitro 2 full review, it's time for them to face each other in a 10 comparison points battle.

Let the battle begin!

Comfort

They are both very comfortable shoes with a good amount of cushioning, but regarding comfort, the Clifton 9 is a step above. The Clifton 9 has that foot-hugging comfort and almost feels like a max-cushion shoe. Despite what I just wrote, I prefer the Velocity's feeling. The Velocity has less stuff around the feet, I feel more freedom and I also feel that I am wearing a more versatile shoe.

In the end, the point goes to Clifton 9!

Winner: Hoka Clifton 9

Midsole

In the 9th iteration, the Clifton brought some changes to the midsole. It's now softer and you can feel a slight spring in it. It's quite fun actually. But at the same time, it's now less responsive and for me, less of a daily trainer. I believe that the majority of the Clifton's fans will appreciate this new midsole, but I prefer the last version midsole.

On the other hand, the Velocity didn't change its successful formula and just tried to improve in some areas, like adding a complete section of EVA below the Nitro foam.

Despite the changes that Hoka made to the Clifton, it's not enough to beat one of the best foams to date. The Velocity's midsole is more responsive, more versatile, and funnier, so the Velocity gets the point.

Winner: Puma Velocity Nitro 2

Outsole

Both outsoles are grippy enough for my needs. In fact, the Hoka Clifton 8 used to be my go-to shoe when it was raining because my feet stayed dry for longer with them. Nevertheless, even if I don’t need more grip, Puma’s PumaGrip is probably the best outsole to date so there’s no way the Velocity is going to lose this round.

Winner: Puma Velocity Nitro 2

Weight

These are two lightweight daily trainers and they both deserve the point. But, what’s the lightest? Well, it depends…

On paper, the Clifton is the lightest. In size 9 (EU 42) Hoka weighs 0.4 oz (10g) less than the Velocity. So, is Clifton the winner? Not quite, because in my size US 11 (29 cm) the Velocity weighs less 0.6 oz (17g) than the Clifton!

So, in the end, the lightest shoe will depend on the size. This is a usual strategy from shoe companies. They make the US 9 size as light as possible because that’s the benchmark and then they don’t care that much about the other sizes.

This round will be a tie. It’s impossible to determine a winner.

Winner: Draw

Fit

I didn’t get a perfect fit in any of these shoes. The Velocity fit is the same as the first version. It’s good overall, but a little loose on the heel.

Now, the Clifton 8 had a perfect fit for me, but this last version has not. It’s also a little loose on the heel.

In the end, the Clifton 9 feels to be more structured, and the foot-hugging comfort mentioned earlier is really helping to achieve a great fit. Because of this, the Clifton wins this round.

Winner: Hoka Clifton 9

Cushioning

The changes to the Clifton 9 midsole gave it a softer foam for a softer landing. This doesn’t directly mean that it’s more protective, but it sure feels like it.

On the Velocity side, we should already expect a very cushioned ride with that soft and bouncy Nitro foam. This foam is one of the best foams one can find on daily trainers.

Both shoes' cushioning is great, if not excellent, but they are different. The Velocity’s cushioning is more like a spring while the Clifton’s is more like a memory foam pillow.

So, this one will be a tie.

Winner: Draw

Energy Return

This one is easy. It’s an easy win for the Velocity. The changes made to the Clifton made it less responsive, but even if we compared the Velocity with the Clifton's previous version, it would still be an easy win for the Velocity. In the daily trainer category, it’s hard to beat the Velocity because it’s one of the most responsive shoes/midsoles.

Winner: Puma Velocity Nitro 2

Stability

These are both neutral daily trainers and for me, they are both stable. I never felt any hint of instability with them, but the Clifton has a firmer midsole and a wider platform, and that gives it a more stable ride. So, the Clifton wins this one.

Winner: Hoka Clifton 9

Versatility

Looking at the previous versions of both shoes, I would say they were both very versatile and I would happily declare this round a tie. But the new Clifton lost some of its versatility. For me, it’s now pretty much a max cushion shoe and that means that it is not ideal for speed work. On the other hand, I felt that the Velocity improved its versatility, now being even better for speed work. I feel that I can do everything with the Velocity and I don’t have the same feeling with the Clifton. Between the two, the Velocity is the real workhorse.

Winner: Puma Velocity Nitro 2

Price

Looking at the retail price, the Velocity is already cheaper, but it is very usual to find the Velocity highly discounted, making it even cheaper. The Clifton is not an expensive shoe, but it has a regular price for a daily trainer so it’s impossible to beat the Velocity.

Winner: Puma Velocity Nitro 2

Final score

In the end, the Hoka Clifton 9 scored 5 points and the Puma Velocity Nitro 2 scored 7 points, meaning that the Velocity is the battle winner!

There’s no doubt that the Velocity is an excellent daily trainer and one of the best workhorses that you can add to your rotation.

But don’t ignore the Clifton 9. If you are a heavy runner or if you prefer comfort over versatility, then the Clifton might be a better option for you.

What do you think about this result? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Also, drop me a line if you have any questions, and don't forget to follow the blog on social media and subscribe to receive a notification when I publish a new blog post.

If you're interested in buying one of these shoes, follow the links below.

Puma Velocity Nitro 2:

• EU: Top4Running - Code "allaboutrunning" for an additional 5% discount.
• UK: ProDirectSport.com
• Global: Amazon

Hoka Clifton 9:

• US: Road Runner Sports
• EU: Top4Running - Code "allaboutrunning" for an additional 5% discount.
• UK: SportsShoes.com | ProDirectSport.com
• Global: Amazon

These are affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. It helps out my blog so I can keep bringing new content.