If you are searching for a comfortable running shoe with excellent
cushioning but you don’t want to pay a high price for a max-cushion shoe,
then this 10-comparison points battle between the Skechers Ride 11 (read the full review here) and the Hoka Clifton 9 (read the full review here) is what you’re looking for!
The Puma Velocity 2 is my top pick for my daily runs, but I picked the
Clifton 9 to face the Ride 11 because both are versatile and very
comfortable running shoes and share some similarities in a way that who’s
looking for a Clifton, might as well look at the Skechers Ride 11 and
vice-versa
Let the battle begin!
Comfort
Both running shoes are very comfortable and you will be fine with any of them, but the Ride 11 has top-notch comfort in a way that it seems more like a max-cushion shoe. It has a lot of padding, a very plush tongue, and on top of all this, the insole is one of the most comfortable insoles I have tried. But don’t get me wrong. The Clifton 9 is also very comfortable, but not as much as the Ride 11.
The Ride 11 wins this round.
Winner: Skechers Ride 11
Midsole
The Clifton 9 has an EVA foam midsole with only 32 mm of heel stack height. This combo works very well and I have only minor complaints about it, but it’s somewhat outdated. The Skechers Ride 11 has a dual-density EVA foam called Hyper Burst Ice, with a softer inner core that has CO2 injected by a supercritical process. This is a very resilient foam that compresses a lot and decompresses very quickly. The Ride 11 midsole also has an H-shaped infused carbon plate that will add stability and snappiness to the ride. So, the Ride 11 midsole has not only a more innovative foam, but it’s also more comfortable, softer, has more energy return, and is more durable than the Clifton’s foam. In the end, I had more fun running with the Ride 11.
This is a clear win for the Ride 11.
Winner: Skechers Ride 11
Outsole
Both outsoles have strategically placed rubber, with nice coverage on the forefoot and the necessary coverage on the heel. Durability-wise, they seem to perform the same. The rubber from both shoes will last up to 800 km (500 mi). Regarding the grip, they don’t significantly differ on wet pavement, but on dry pavement, the Ride 11 Good Year rubber proved to be one of the best I’ve tried this year. Because of this, the Ride 11 wins this point, again.
Winner: Skechers Ride 11
Weight
The Clifton 9 is a light daily trainer and the Skechers Ride 11 is a somewhat heavy daily trainer but with a very well-distributed weight. Nevertheless, the Clifton is 30g (1 oz) lighter in the size EU 42 (9 US) and is also lighter in my EU 45 (US 11) size, and this difference is noticeable on the run.
So, finally, the Clifton 9 wins a round.
Winner: Hoka Clifton 9
Fit
You’ll find a good lockdown on both shoes, but neither is perfect. I didn’t manage to have a perfect lockdown on both but the reasons are different. On the Clifton 9, the heel is not totally secured and on the Ride 11, with the amount of padding that it has, it’s hard to feel a perfect lockdown. But, in the end, I never had any issues while running.
This one is a draw.
Winner: Draw
Cushioning
Two great midsoles that will protect your feet and legs from the constant pounding. But the cushioning is different. The Clifton 9 feels softer and compresses more. The Ride 11 is denser and doesn’t compress as much, but it has a more comfortable sensation while running. Also, the Ride 11 insole wraps your foot and adds one more layer of cushioning, reducing the impact and distributing that impact energy to the entire insole.
So, they are both great, they are different, but in the end, they both do a great job in the cushioning department.
Let’s call it a tie.
Winner: Draw
Energy Return
The Clifton 9 energy return didn’t surprise me. In fact, to me, it’s lacking some energy return. Yes, it compresses and decompresses a lot, but the decompression is not quick enough or with enough power to give us a spring feeling. It’s a fun ride, for sure, but not a springy one. On the other hand, the Ride 11 was a nice surprise. The HyperBurst Ice midsole delivers a springy ride that is not usual on relatively cheap daily trainers.
This round is an easy win to the Ride 11.
Winner: Skechers Ride 11
Stability
These are two neutral running shoes but very stable (for neutral running shoes). The Clifton 9 dropped the aggressive sidewall from the previous versions, but still offers support both from the sidewalls and from the wide landing platform.
The Ride 11 support is more “aggressive”. It also has some minor sidewalls, but the insole has a greater amount of foam in the arch area and will give you extra support which is great for those who pronate, but not so great for those with flat feet.
Despite the Ride’s more “aggressive” approach, both shoes felt pretty stable for a neutral shoe and I can’t pick a clear winner.
Winner: Draw
Versatility
This was the hardest round to pick a winner because they are both very versatile. So, let's slice this round into pieces.
For recovery runs, I’d pick any of them.
For easy runs, I’d pick any of them.
For workouts or races, the Clifton 9 is lighter and has some energy return,
and the pronounced rocker is great for easy and fast transitions. The Ride
11 is heavier, and doesn’t have an aggressive rocker, but has higher energy
return and a plate to improve the toe-off. So, both have strengths and
weaknesses. I’d pick any of them.
For long runs, both are very comfortable for long runs, but the Clifton 9 is
too soft and lacks energy return. Despite the Ride 11 weight, it’s great for
long runs, but I have flat feet and the insole is pressing my arches too
much causing some discomfort on longer runs. So, I’d pick any of them.
In the end, it’s a draw.
Winner: Draw
Price
Looking at the retail price in Europe, the Ride 11 retails for 145€ and the Clifton retails for 150€. You can easily find them discounted so the real price is less than that, but the Ride 11 is cheaper so, it’s the round winner.
Winner: Skechers Ride 11
Final Score
The Skechers Ride 11 is the clear battle winner with 9 points against the Clifton’s 5 points, and the Clifton 9 only won 1 round, the weight.
Before trying the Ride 11 I would never have thought that it would win this battle, but the Ride 11 really surprised me with its comfort and great energy return.
Despite this battle result, there’s no wrong decision. Both shoes are great, comfortable, and versatile. But if you enjoy feeling a spring below your feet, then the Ride 11 is the one to pick.
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.
Skechers Ride 11:
- US: Road Runner Sports
- EU: Top4Running - Code "allaboutrunning" for an additional 5% discount.
- UK: SportsShoes.com
Hoka Clifton 9:
- US: Road Runner Sports
- EU: Top4Running - Code "allaboutrunning" for an additional 5% discount.
- UK: SportsShoes.com | ProDirectSport.com
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.
Portuguese-speaking readers, I have this same content in video format here (video below). Visit my YouTube channel.
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