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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Weight
    2. Stack Heights
    3. External Shape
    4. Internal Shape
    5. Other Features
  5. Performance
    1. Heel Energy Return
    2. Forefoot Energy Return
    3. Heel Cushioning
    4. Forefoot Cushioning
    5. Heel Firmness
    6. Forefoot Firmness
  6. Comments

HOKA Clifton 9 vs HOKA Mach 6

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

HOKA Clifton 9
HOKA Mach 6

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 15, 2025 04:45 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 15, 2025 04:46 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
HOKA Clifton 9 Picture
HOKA Mach 6 Picture

Variants

  • Clifton 9 (Black/Black - (Women - US 7))
  • Clifton 9 (Black/Rose Gold - (Women - US 7))
  • Clifton 9 (Evening Sky Coral - (Women - US 7))
  • Clifton 9 (Frost/Gold - (Men - US 9))
  • Clifton 9 (Lettuce/Solar Flare - (Women - US 7))
  • Clifton 9 (Nimbuscloud/Steel Wool - (Men - US 9))
  • Clifton 9 (Oat Milk/Barley - (Men - US 9))
  • Clifton 9 (Olive Haze/Mercury - (Women - US 7))
  • Clifton 9 (Sandstone/Cream - (Women - US 7))
  • Clifton 9 (Solar Flare/Lettuce - (Men - US 9))
  • Clifton 9 (Stardust/Electric Cobalt - (Men - US 9))
  • Clifton 9 (Sunlit Ocean/Lilac Mist - (Women - US 7))
  • Clifton 9 (Vanilla/Astral - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Black/Electric Tangerine - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Black/Fuchsia - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Black/White - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Black/White - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Cielo Blue - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Cloudless/Waterpark - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Dusk Shadow - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Electric Cobalt/Varsity Navy - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Frost/Gold - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Lava - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (Oat Milk/Barley - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (Pale Dusk/Gull - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (White - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (White/Lettuce - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (White/Nimbus Cloud - (Men - US 9))
  • Mach 6 (White/Nimbus Cloud - (Women - US 7))
  • Mach 6 (White/Solar Flare - (Men - US 9))

Our Verdict

HOKA Clifton 9

HOKA Mach 6

The HOKA Clifton 9 and the HOKA Mach 6 are both daily trainers, but each caters to slightly different preferences. The Clifton 9 is a more basic, reliable option, offering simplicity and stability for everyday mileage. The Mach 6, however, is more versatile thanks to its lighter weight, superior bounce, and more responsive cushioning. The Clifton is a good choice if you're looking for a straightforward workhorse. Still, for runners wanting more agility, responsiveness, and versatility in daily training, the Mach 6 will be the better pick.

0 

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 

4.5
6.2

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.1
6.9

Heel Energy Return 
 

1.8
6.7

Weight  

6.1
7.0

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

5.9
7.4

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

6.1
7.0

Right Shoe Weight Photo  

HOKA Clifton 9 Right Shoe Weight Photo
HOKA Mach 6 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo  

HOKA Clifton 9 Left Shoe Weight Photo
HOKA Mach 6 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

257.5 g (9.08 oz)
233.6 g (8.24 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo  

HOKA Clifton 9 Stack Height Photo
HOKA Mach 6 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.2 mm
37.1 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

30.9 mm
31.2 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.3 mm
5.9 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

5.0 mm
5.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

HOKA Clifton 9 3D Model Full Shoe
HOKA Mach 6 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

89 mm (3.5")
88 mm (3.5")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
61 mm (2.4")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

107 mm (4.2")
108 mm (4.2")

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

HOKA Clifton 9 3D Model Internal
HOKA Mach 6 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

274 mm (10.8")
271 mm (10.7")

Internal Heel Width 
 

58 mm (2.3")
59 mm (2.3")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

87 mm (3.4")
92 mm (3.6")

Other Features  

Other Features Photo  

HOKA Clifton 9 Other Features Photo
HOKA Mach 6 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Semi-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

1.8
6.7

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Heel Energy Return 
 

73.0%
80.0%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.1
6.9

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

73.5%
80.5%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

6.6
6.2

Heel Cushioning Picture  

HOKA Clifton 9 Heel Cushioning Picture
HOKA Mach 6 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

1.01 J
0.95 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

3.23 J
2.99 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

6.17 J
5.60 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

5.9
7.4

Forefoot Cushioning Picture  

HOKA Clifton 9 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
HOKA Mach 6 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

0.82 J
0.98 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

2.42 J
2.73 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

4.43 J
4.83 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

7.0
7.7

Heel Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

42.4 N/mm
44.9 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

60.1 N/mm
65.7 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

77.0 N/mm
86.1 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.9
8.5

Forefoot Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

51.9 N/mm
43.1 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

83.3 N/mm
76.3 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

113.1 N/mm
107.7 N/mm
Show Text 

HOKA Clifton 9

HOKA Mach 6

Comments

  1. Comparison

HOKA Clifton 9 vs HOKA Mach 6: Main Discussion

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