Brooks Ghost 14 vs. Hoka Clifton 8 (2022)
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
Pleasant and more responsive cushioning than on the previous version
Versatile and forgiving shoe
Durable, carbon-neutral, and 100% vegan
Foot lockdown is a little loose
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
The looser fit of the upper can be tricky to adjust for athletes with thin feet
Brooks Ghost 14
Hoka Clifton 8
Technical Specs
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Pronation type | Neutral | Neutral |
| Drop | 12 mm | 5 mm |
| Heel stack height | 31 mm | 29 mm |
| Forefoot stack height | 19 mm | 24 mm |
| Weight (men) | 283 g/10 oz | 250 g/8.8 oz |
| Weight (women) | 249 g/8.8 oz | 215 g/7.6 oz |
| Features | Recycled materials, Vegan | |
| Release year | 2021 | 2021 |
Technologies
| Outsole | Omega Flex Grooves, Rubber, Segmented crash pad | Zonal rubber, flex grooves |
| Midsole | DNA Loft | CMEVA, Meta-Rocker Geometry, OrthoLite |
| Upper | 3D Fit Print, engineered mesh | 100% vegan engineered mesh, heel counter |
Cushioning
| Softness (1-5) | 4 – Soft | 4 – Soft |
| Bounce (1-5) | 3 – Moderate | 3 – Moderate |
Use
| Speed | Slow, moderate | Moderate |
| Distance | Mid, long, 10k, half marathon, marathon | Mid, long, 10k, half marathon, marathon |
| Workout | Daily runs, recovery | Daily runs, recovery |
