The engine's answer
Best running shoe with a low, close-to-ground ride for getting started on road running, under €280
Hoka Clifton 9
81% match
Light, soft and friendly — running shoes’ golden retriever
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Live search for the Hoka Clifton 9 at retailers that carry it.
Why it wins here
The Hoka Clifton 9 wins this question with a 81% match against all 78 shoes in the catalogue. It costs €150, weighs 248 g and stands on a 32 mm heel stack with a 5 mm drop; its cushioning scores 82/100, its grip 60/100 and its energy return 58/100. The tightest constraint is the terrain: only 61 of the 78 shoes count as a road-ready shoe, and 60 clear both the price and the terrain filter. Its biggest edge over that field is on terrain — Road shoe, grip 60 /100, stability 62 /100; 61 of 78 shoes count as a road-ready shoe. The nearest runner-up, the New Balance Rebel v4, finished 1 point behind.
The dimensions where it beats the rest of the field by the most, for this question specifically — with the numbers behind each one.
- TerrainRoad shoe, grip 60 /100, stability 62 /100; 61 of 78 shoes count as a road-ready shoe
- Cushionstack height 32 mm, weight 248 g
- Goalcushioning 82 /100, stability 62 /100, price €150
- Budget€150, €130 under the €280 ceiling — 77 of 78 shoes qualify
What's good
- Soft ride at a genuinely low weight
- Rocker makes easy pace feel effortless
What to watch
- Midsole packs out faster than firmer rivals
- Snug toebox for wider feet
What the runners-up gave up
The next three in the ranking, and the measure each one lost on against the Hoka Clifton 9.
- New Balance Rebel v480%Cheap thrills, in the best wayNew Balance Rebel v4 (80%) lost on the goal: cushioning 70 /100 against 82 /100 for the Hoka Clifton 9. SportsShoes.com ↗ Top4Running ↗ Running Warehouse ↗
- Kiprun KD90080%The €100 shoe that embarrasses €160 shoesKiprun KD900 (80%) lost on the goal: cushioning 70 /100 against 82 /100 for the Hoka Clifton 9. SportsShoes.com ↗ Top4Running ↗ Running Warehouse ↗
- Saucony Kinvara 1580%The featherweight classic that refuses to dieSaucony Kinvara 15 (80%) lost on the goal: cushioning 62 /100 against 82 /100 for the Hoka Clifton 9. SportsShoes.com ↗ Top4Running ↗ Running Warehouse ↗
Questions this answer raises
- Is the Hoka Clifton 9 within a €280 budget?
- Yes. At €150 it sits €130 under the ceiling, and 77 of the 78 shoes in the catalogue come in at €280 or less.
- Does the Hoka Clifton 9 suit road running?
- It is a road shoe with grip 60 /100 and stability 62 /100. The question filtered for a road-ready shoe, which 61 of the 78 shoes are; for getting started the ranking also weighed cushioning 82 /100, stability 62 /100, price €150.
- What does the engine pick with a smaller budget?
- With a €140 ceiling the same question goes to the Kiprun KD900 at €100. Best low-stack road shoes for beginners under €140 →
Change an assumption
This page answers one runner's question. Yours is not that question — adjust the surface, the goal or the budget and watch the whole field re-rank.
Answer for your own running