HOKA Bondi 9 vs Clifton 10: A Podiatrist Reads Both Spec Sheets
Most people are told the Bondi is the cushioned one and the Clifton is the light one. On the published and independently measured numbers, the Clifton has the taller heel, the softer midsole and the wider toe box — while being 28 g lighter and $20 cheaper.
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Neither shoe has been under our caliper, so neither is scored. Every figure below is HOKA’s or an independent lab’s, labelled. What testing means here.
The numbers, side by side
Model versions: the Brooks Ghost 17 and HOKA Clifton 10 named on this page have since been superseded. The current models are the Brooks Ghost 18 and HOKA Clifton 11. Nothing here has been swapped to the newer versions — this page describes the models it was built on, and each newer model has its own review.
| Measurement | Bondi 9 | Clifton 10 | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heel stack lab | 41.3 mm | 44.4 mm | The Clifton is the taller shoe, not the Bondi |
| Forefoot stack lab | 32.2 mm | 32.0 mm | Effectively identical underfoot at the ball |
| Drop, stated HOKA | 5 mm | 8 mm | What the box says |
| Drop, measured lab | 9.1 mm | 12.4 mm | Both are wrong, both in the same direction |
| Weight lab | 303 g | 275 g | Clifton is 28 g lighter |
| Midsole softness lab | 43.0 Asker C | 34.2 Asker C | Lower is softer — the Clifton is the plusher of the two |
| Toe box, widest lab | 94.1 mm | 97.2 mm | Clifton is roomier across the forefoot |
| Toe box, at big toe lab | 72.5 mm | 73.1 mm | Close, slight edge to the Clifton |
| Widths HOKA | Narrow–X-Wide | Narrow–X-Wide (men) | Both accommodate a wide foot |
| MSRP HOKA | $170 | $150 |
What a foot and ankle surgeon takes from this
The received wisdom is backwards on three of the four figures that matter. The Clifton is usually sold as the lighter, firmer, more responsive shoe and the Bondi as the plush one. Measured, the Clifton has 3 mm more heel, a midsole nearly nine points softer on the Asker C scale, and a wider forefoot — and it is lighter and cheaper. On paper the Clifton wins almost every axis.
Where the Bondi still earns its place is firmness under load. A softer midsole is not automatically better. At 43.0 Asker C the Bondi is the firmer platform, and for a heavier runner, a long day standing, or anyone who feels unstable on a tall soft stack, firmer is usually steadier. Soft foam under a 44 mm heel is a lot of shoe to balance on.
The drop question is the one to actually decide on. A measured 12.4 mm (Clifton) unloads the Achilles and plantar fascia more than a measured 9.1 mm (Bondi), and pushes correspondingly more load onto the forefoot. If your problem is heel pain or an insertional Achilles, the Clifton’s geometry is the friendlier of the two. If your problem is under the ball of the foot — metatarsalgia, a neuroma, sesamoiditis — the Bondi’s lower measured drop is the safer pick, and neither is as low as HOKA claims.
How I would choose between them
- Heel pain, plantar fasciitis, insertional Achilles → Clifton 10. Higher measured drop, taller heel, softer landing. Based on the published geometry, not on wear.
- Forefoot pain → Bondi 9. Lower measured drop keeps marginally less load forward, and the firmer midsole gives a more predictable platform. Based on the published geometry, not on wear.
- Bunion, hammertoe, or a wide forefoot → Clifton 10. 97.2 mm at the widest point against 94.1, and both offer wide and extra-wide.
- Heavier body weight, or you feel unsteady → Bondi 9. Firmer foam under a slightly lower stack is the more stable of the two.
- Neither, if you were sold on a low drop. Both measure materially higher than stated. Ask for a shoe whose drop has been measured, not quoted.
What we cannot tell you until we test them
Read the full analysis of each
HOKA Bondi 9
Firmer, heavier, lower measured drop. The steadier platform of the two.
HOKA Clifton 10
Taller, softer, wider, lighter and cheaper. Better for heel pain.
Brooks Ghost 17
If you want a spec sheet that survived measurement, this is the one.
Where to buy — Bondi 9 $170, Clifton 10 $150 at MSRP. Amazon pricing varies by size, colourway and seller; last checked 3 September 2026. We have tested neither shoe.
Women’s HOKA Bondi 9 — check price on Amazon Men’s HOKA Bondi 9 — check price on Amazon Women’s HOKA Clifton 10 — check price on Amazon Men’s HOKA Clifton 10 — check price on AmazonPodiatrist Tested is reader-supported. We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Commissions never influence a score or a ranking, and we publish shoes we recommend against. Read the editorial policy.
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