Hoka One One Clifton 3 Review

Hoka One One was the first company to release an oversized foam midsole running shoe in 2010 and the trend has been gaining popularity ever since.  Now most companies have some variation of a highly cushioned shoe.  The founders of Hoka One One wanted to create a larger sweet spot, much like on oversized tennis racquets or skies.  There have been statements both for and against these highly cushioned shoes. 

While they might not be for everyone, there some benefits that the shoe companies are claiming.  They claim that the extra cushion provides a softer ride, which you cannot disagree with.  They also claim that the extra cushion lessens the impact on your joints and can reduce the amount of recovery time needed after long or higher intensity runs.  Another claim is that the extra cushion provides an increase on energy return, meaning that the shoes will provide more of a spring than lesser cushioned shoes. 

I have reviewed the Hoka One One Huaka in 2014 (no longer in production), which is still one of my favorite cushioned shoes (Click here for my review of the Huaka).  Since then, I tested the Clayton (Click here for my review of the Clayton), The Vanquish 2 (Click here for my review of the Vanquish 2) and Clifton 2 (Click here for my review of the Clifton 2), which are all incredibly light and nimble.  The original Clifton won multiple awards and the Clifton 2 won the Summer 2015 “Editor’s Choice for Best Ride” from Competitor.com.  The Clayton won the September 2016 “Editor’s Choice” award from Runner’s World.  They are awesome shoes and when I found out that the Clifton 3 was coming out, I started to get really excited to see how they would improve upon one of my favorite long distance training/racing shoes.  It has already won the 2016 “Best Update” award from Competitor.com.  Hoka One One has proven that they know how to make some killer shoes and from what I read, the reviews of the Clifton 3 have followed along that same path.

Let’s first look at what made the original Clifton and Clifton 2 so popular.  They provide tons of cushioning, both having a 5mm heel drop, which puts your foot and body in a better alignment than many of the shoes with larger heel drops.  The Clifton weighed in at 7.7 ounces and the Clifton 2 weighed in at 8.3 ounces, which are both extremely light.  They also had no sew ultra-light weight uppers.  They all have an Early Stage Meta-Rocker Geometry, which means that the tow and heel are curved, kind of like a pair of skis.  It supports your natural gait cycle and gives a smooth roll from impact to toe-off.

The one complaint that I had about the Clifton 2 was that they were a little narrow in the toebox and I had to get a ½ size larger shoe to avoid my big toe rubbing the inside of the shoe, which would probably lead to hot spots and blisters.  Sizing up is a very simple solution and the shoes were still amazing.  I ran my first marathon in them last year.  Hoka One One took the feedback from their customers on the narrow toe box and made the toebox in the Clifton 3 wider (not by a huge margin, but it is wider).  I was able to wear my true shoe size and not have to size up. 

Clifton 2 (Left)/Clifton 3 (Right)

The Clifton 3 features the same 5mm heel drop that the Clifton 2 had and comes with a 24mm forefoot stack height and 29mm heel stack height (the distance from the ground to your foot).  The shoes weighs in at 8.6 ounces, which still boggles my mind how they can have so much cushion and still keep the weight so low.

Hoka changed their upper material to an Ultra-Lightweight No Sew SpeedFrame Construction.  The new upper material looks a little different as the Clifton 2 had a smoother mesh.  The Clifton 3’s mesh is more textured.  The new mesh feels more durable.  It is actually softer than the previous version and it’s more breathable as well. 

I really like the Clifton 2, but I love the Clifton 3.  Hoka fixed the one thing on the Clifton 2’s that I had a concern with and made a beast.   Many people describe running in Hoka shoes like running on clouds.  I ran a few of my longer runs on really tired legs and the Clifton 3’s just made the run go by quickly. 

Pros:

Winner of the Competitor.com “Best Update” award for 2016

5mm heel drop (still somewhat low)

Very light 8.6 ounces

Plenty of cushion for all types of runs

Great price ($130 Hoka One One website)

Cons:

Absolutely none

Hoka One One Social Media Links:

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I will be using the Clifton 2, Clayton, and Clifton 3 during my marathon and 50k trainings over the next 6 months.  The amount of cushion, light weight, and overall comfort makes these the ideal shoes no matter if you are going out for a quick tempo run or for a long distance run.  I am really impressed with the Clifton shoe lineup and see why they are all award winning shoes.   I would definitely recommend the Clifton 3, but as with all shoes, they will not work for everyone.  Check them out at your local running store and let me know what you think.  You can pick up a pair at your local running store (click here for locations), at the Hoka One One website, or at your favorite online retailer.  They are worth checking out, I promise.  Let me know what you think.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

What is BibRave and what is a BibRave Pro?

So you may have seen some of my social media posts about being a BibRave Pro.  I have had a few people ask me what that is so I wanted to clarify it for you.  First I should let you know all about BibRave.  

BibRave is a website where you can find and review races.  It is a free running community that connects runners with the best races around.  Why would this site interest you though?  I will ask you this question.  Have you ever run a race that was poorly run, wasn’t easy to follow the course because it wasn’t well marked, or didn’t provide what they said they would?  Have you run a race that was unbelievably amazing and you wanted to shout from the rooftops about how awesome it was?  You don’t need to pay any money to review races.  Think of it as Yelp for races.  That is what BibRave is all about.  

It was created by Tim and Jessica Murphy.  They created BibRave to help people find which races provided the best race experience (good crowds, support, course, etc.).  You can check out some of the races I have reviewed by clicking here (my reviews).  BibRave is a great resource, especially since it isn’t exactly cheap to run races.  You want to make sure you get the most for your money.  You can buy BibRave hats, shirts, Koozies, and more at their website (click here for the store).

A BibRave Pro not only reviews races, but they get free entries into select races.  You promote the races, expo’s, courses, and swag as part of getting the free race entries.  You also get free gear and products to review and promote from BibRave partners.  It is an awesome community of active, experienced, and knowledgeable runners with a passion for races (all distances, terrain, and abilities are welcome).  BibRave Pro Ambassadors should have reviewed at least three races on BibRave, be social influences, and have the desire to spread the love about running and races.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, feel free to apply (click here). You also get a free orange BibRave T-shirt or tank and Buff.  I feel truly humbled to be part of such an awesome group of runners and hope you will check BibRave out.  Who knows, you might find the race you have always been looking for.

My first race that I get to do as a BibRave Pro Ambassador is the Golden Gate Half Marathon in San Francisco, CA on November 6, 2016.  It has been on my bucket list and I can't wait to experience racing across the Golden Gate Bridge.  You can save 10% off the registration fees by using code BIBRAVEGG at http://po.st/bibravegg.  Come join me at this race.  Shoot me message if you want to meet up before the race.

Knuckle Lights Review

Knuckle Lights are the first and only lights that are designed to be worn on your hands.   This puts them in the perfect position to light your path and be seen on your next run or walk in low-light conditions.    In 2010, Dan Hopkins, the founder of Knuckle Lights had a 6 month old son and could only run at 5:00 AM, before the sun came up.  He tried running with a flashlight and headlamp, but both created issues.  Dan didn’t like having to run with something in his hands.  The light from the headlamp was okay, but about a mile into the run, his head would start to hurt.  Also, steam from his breath would come between the light and Dan’s line of sight and he couldn’t see his path clearly. 

Dan decided to take the headlamp and strap it around his hand.  He thought it would be cool to have one on each hand so he bought another headlamp and that was the first set of Knuckle Lights.  To make a long story short, Dan drew up a few prototype designs and the first Knuckle Lights were produced.  The original version is still available for $39.99, but doesn’t offer a rechargeable battery.  Today, I will be reviewing the newest Rechargeable Knuckle Lights. 

What’s in the Box:

When your Knuckle Lights show up, they come in a box with 2 units (lights), a wall adaptor, USB cable, and a charging dock.  There is also a “User Guide” that is full of information.  It goes through step-by-step directions on what comes in the box and that you should fully charge the Knuckle Lights before using them for the first time.  There is also a section on how to wear the Knuckle Lights and the three different power options as well as how to turn the units off.

The Details:

The Knuckle Lights have an LED beam in each unit that has a broad spreading beam of light.  This means that you will have a wider area that is lit up and it will be easier to see debris or hazards in your path.  The LED’s put out  a combined 280 lumens, which is a decent amount of light. That means that each unit in the high power setting puts out 140 lumens.  There is a low light setting and a blinking setting as well.  You simply press the button on the top of the Knuckle Lights to switch between the light settings.  The unit will turn off if you press and hold the button for 2 seconds.

The Knuckle Lights have Li-ion rechargeable batteries that are housed in an IPX-6 waterproof housing.  That means that you can use Knuckle Lights in all types of weather without worrying if the unit will be damaged.  The battery life is stated to last for 4 hours on the high power setting, 8 hours on the low power setting, and 14 hours in the blinking setting.  I did test the time on the high power setting and got about 4.5 hours out if it before the battery ran out of juice.

The Knuckle Lights are designed to be worn across the front of your hands and you can tighten the straps to be as tight or loose as you like.  I personally like them a little more tight so I don’t have to hold on to the lights.  The lights felt comfortable, even on longer runs. 

Knuckle Lights are covered by a 5 year warranty against defects in materials or manufacturing.  That warranty does not cover damages caused by accidents, unreasonable use, or leaking.

Pros:

Decent light – 280 lumen wide angle beam

Three power settings

Completely waterproof

Decent batter life – Li-Ion rechargeable batteries

Comfortable straps.

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Knuckle Lights are a decent option for staying safe and providing light on your early morning or late evening runs.  They are comfortable, the battery lasts for quite a while, and if someone scares you just punch them with your Knuckle Lights (just kidding, kind of…).  You can pick them up for $59.99 at the Knuckle Lights website or on Amazon with free one-day Prime shipping.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.