Brooks Ghost 14 vs. Hoka Clifton 8 (2022)

Brooks Ghost 14 vs. Hoka Clifton 8

These two shoes are direct competitors for daily training and long runs. As we will see, they take the DNA of each brand with characteristics whose relevance will depend on each runner.

First of all, we find medium stacks with 29 mm heel height for the Brooks Ghost 14 and 31 mm for the Hoka Clifton 8.

The underfoot feel is soft in both cases, with moderate bounce. The ride is smooth but without any mind-blowing energy return either. The shock absorption is good, which allows for great comfort even during long distances.

The first point where these two shoes diverge is the drop: the Ghost has a classic drop of 10 mm while the Clifton has a low (5 mm) drop. This is a matter of personal preference. There’s no reason to change if you already run with a specific configuration.

Secondly, the foot lockdown is good for both of these shoes, but they are loose, which can be more difficult to adjust if you have narrow feet. Conversely, runners with wider feet will be thrilled!

Let’s also note that the Clifton is lighter with 250 g/8.8 oz (men’s model) compared to 281 g/9.9 oz for the Ghost, or 31 g/1.1 oz less.

Finally, if sustainability is an essential criterion, you’ll enjoy the new Brooks Ghost and its carbon-neutral footprint. Last but not least, both shoes are vegan.

Ghost or Clifton: which one to choose?

These running shoes are very good and very similar in performance and comfort.

As we have seen, the main difference is their heel-to-toe drop. We recommend choosing the configuration you are used to (i.e., low or standard/high drop).

Side-by-side comparison

Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Brooks Ghost 14 score
Brooks Ghost 14
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A comfortable and versatile shoe that offers soft cushioning and a flexible foot lockdown
Great overall comfort
Pleasant and more responsive cushioning than on the previous version
Versatile and forgiving shoe
Durable, carbon-neutral, and 100% vegan
May lack stability
Foot lockdown is a little loose
A versatile lightweight running with a soft and comfortable cushioning
Great comfort
Soft, high-stack cushioning, which is responsive enough for daily runs
Bigger upper suitable for runners with wider feet
Breathable (and vegan!) mesh
Lightweight shoe
Lack of stability, according to some testers
The looser fit of the upper can be tricky to adjust for athletes with thin feet

Brooks Ghost 14

Hoka Clifton 8

Technical Specs

TerrainRoadRoad
Pronation typeNeutralNeutral
Drop12 mm5 mm
Heel stack height31 mm29 mm
Forefoot stack height19 mm24 mm
Weight (men)283 g/10 oz250 g/8.8 oz
Weight (women)249 g/8.8 oz215 g/7.6 oz
FeaturesRecycled materials, Vegan
Release year20212021

Technologies

OutsoleOmega Flex Grooves, Rubber, Segmented crash padZonal rubber, flex grooves
MidsoleDNA LoftCMEVA, Meta-Rocker Geometry, OrthoLite
Upper3D Fit Print, engineered mesh100% vegan engineered mesh, heel counter

Cushioning

Softness (1-5)4 – Soft4 – Soft
Bounce (1-5)3 – Moderate3 – Moderate

Use

SpeedSlow, moderateModerate
DistanceMid, long, 10k, half marathon, marathonMid, long, 10k, half marathon, marathon
WorkoutDaily runs, recoveryDaily runs, recovery
Kevin Le Gall

Kevin Le Gall

Kevin is the founder and editor of Runner's Lab. He started running in 2015 and completed his first marathon in Rotterdam in 2016. He's also worked for Under Armour from 2016 to 2018 and helped launch their running collection in Europe (in particular the HOVR shoes). In addition, Kevin is a 300-hour certified yoga teacher (Sivananda) and uses this experience to run more mindfully with a focus on well-being over performance.