The Clifton is a versatile daily trainer known for its lightweight build and its highly cushioned ride. It's one of HOKA's best-selling trainers and every year, it gets more and more popular. It costs $150.
The Novablast is also a versatile daily trainer- it's known for its bouncy, fun ride. It's one of the new generation ASICS trainers that don't have gel in their midsoles. It costs $140.
This comparison will tell you which daily trainer is better for you.
The midsole of the Clifton is made of compression moulded EVA. It provides a supportive ride but it doesn’t offer much bounce or energy return. It has a very thick midsole but its ride is quite firm for such a tall midsole.
The midsole of the Novablast is a brand new foam called POE (polyolefin elastomer). It doesn’t have any EVA in its midsole and it has a soft, energetic ride. The Novablast has a much softer, squishier ride than the Clifton.
The Clifton has some stability features such as rearfoot guide rails to keep your foot centred during transitions. The Novablast is more of a pure neutral trainer and it doesn’t have any stability features. The Clifton is more stable and it feels like a light stability trainer.
The forefoot of the Clifton is stiffer than the Novablast. This stiffness helps the forefoot rocker to function more effectively. The Clifton has a more prominent forefoot rocker compared to the Novablast.
The Clifton is better for short, fast runs due to its firm ride. It has a firm platform for you to push off from. The Novablast has a softer ride more suited to slower and longer runs. The Novablast has more long-distance comfort.
When it comes to durability, the Novablast has the more durable outsole. Its midsole foam and outsole rubber is more resilient doesn’t wear down as fast as the soft rubber on the Clifton. The Novablast’s midsole also retains its cushioning for longer than the Clifton which is made of EVA foam.
The Clifton has a jacquard knit upper which is soft, smooth and comfortable. Its tongue is not gusseted so there is some downward slide that happens. The Clifton has a spacious forefoot and toe box which is suitable for most foot types. It fits true to size and foot lockdown is great.
The Novablast has a jacquard engineered upper which is not as soft as the Clifton but is more breathable. It has a gusseted tongue and no tongue slide occurs. It isn’t as spacious as the Clifton and it runs a bit shorter in length so you might need to go up a half size. Foot lockdown in the Novablast is also very good.
If you are looking for a firmer, more stable trainer, the Clifton is the better option for you. It has a firm ride so it’s better for short and fast runs. It has some stability features which will prevent you from over pronating or supinating. It has a rockered ride which will feel more efficient and energy-saving during runs.
If you want a softer, more lively trainer, get the Novablast. It has a more energetic, plusher ride which is better for longer and slower runs. It has a more durable midsole and outsole and it costs $10 less than the Clifton. The Novablast also has a cooler upper with less padding that’s more suited to warm climates.
