Adidas SL series of shoes have a very interesting history.  The very first version of the shoe called SL 72, was launched in 1972 coinciding Munich Olympics. Since then, Adidas has been releasing a new edition for every Olympics. The number in the shoe name represents the year of the Olympics.  While SL stands for Super Light. 

SL 20, which was launched in 2020 coinciding with the Tokyo Olympics. SL 20.2 is the recent upgrade of the shoe, designed to be a lightweight and fast trainer. It can do a little bit of everything. One can use them for easy runs, intervals, tempo runs, and probably even long runs. 

<ShoeCard shoeCode="001009022M"></ShoeCard>

##### What makes up SL 20.2?

True to its name prefix SL 20.2 weighs about 230 grams for UK 8. That is on the lower end of the spectrum for neutral trainers. 

**Midsole**

The midsole is made of Lightstrike cushioning which is compressed EVA. Lightstrike is a relatively newer foam from Adidas. Compared to the well-known Boost foam (e-TPU) Lightstrike, it is much lighter.  Boost foam is very bouncy, it is also heavier. Lightstrike on the other hand is much lighter, but not as bouncy. Adidas is slowly phasing out Boost foam with Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro foams in their new shoe line-up. 

The shoe has a stack size of 24.2mm at the heel and 14.2mm at the forefoot. That is about 10mm of heel-to-toe drop, which makes it an excellent shoe for mid-foot and heel strikers. 

**Upper**

The upper is an engineered mesh, and is highly flexible which suits well for a lightweight trainer with medium stack height, no carbon plates, and has classic geometry (not a rocker). It is good to see Adidas proudly claiming the shoe is made of Primegreen materials. The upper is made of 50% of recycled content, and no virgin polyester is used. 

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      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-top.jpg" caption="Upper is made of recycled materials" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Outsole**

As with most Adidas running shoes, the outsole is made of Continental Rubber, which gives pretty good durability. The rubber is placed strategically in the common hotspots which ensures the midsole wear is minimal. Unlike the other running shoes from Adidas including the earlier SL20, the outsole doesn’t have the Torsion system for added stability.

##### Why did I consider this shoe?

I was fed up with the idea of changing shoes for different types of runs. I prefer to do my threshold workouts in fast shoes and not daily trainers. My long run typically is about 120-130 minutes with 5-8K of running in between at a threshold pace. It just did not make sense to me to change shoes while doing my long run.

I was previously using Nike Pegasus 37 and Nike Zoom Fly 3. I was looking for something that fits right between both of them and which did not have a carbon plate in it.  SL20.2 fits the bill perfectly for me.  

##### Ride In SL 20.2

I have run about 300 KMs in the shoe. I have tested the shoes mainly on my longer runs. Apart from that, I have also tested the shoe for a 10-miler workout at Half Marathon pace, 400-meter repeats, and a couple of easy runs. I have tested this shoe on the roads only. I have completed a couple of easy runs on softer surfaces, mainly public parks.

I feel I was getting maximum out of shoes when I was running at my half marathon pace/thresh-hold pace. The shoe doesn’t have much energy return, and the ride doesn’t have much bounce. So, if you are primarily looking for energy return and a bouncy ride, this shoe is definitely not for you.

This shoe is very lightweight and it works just fine also in intervals and easy runs. This shoe doesn’t have much cushion either. While I was not hurting my feet because of that, I would definitely not use them for a race day.

**Fit & Comfort**

Overall fit of the shoe is on the tighter side. It runs tight for the regular size that I normally use. If you have wide feet or need some space in the toe-box, go half a size above your regular size. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-toe.jpg" caption="Toe box fit is on the tighter side" alt="" ></LightBox>
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</div>

The shoe requires a break-in, and I’ve hurt my toes a few times.  I had to run about 100kms before I felt fully comfortable, and post that the shoe feels great. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-heel.jpg" caption="Heel has good padding and is comfortable" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Stability**

Because of the low stack height, the shoe feels fairly stable to run in. Lack of torsion system doesn’t seem to affect much.  That said, this doesn’t have any stability features that you find in the stability shoes that are targeted at overpronated runners. 

**Road Grip** 

This Continental rubber on the outsole of the shoe feels great on the roads with an excellent grip. Certainly, better than the Nike’s Pegasus line I have tried. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-bottom.jpg" caption="Continental rubbers offers excellent road grip" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Aesthetics**

The shoe looks minimal and yet very nice. In fact, it looks so nice that, once I retire them, I’m looking forward to wearing them as a casual sports shoe. The shoe is fairly easy to clean. It is also very easy to put it on and remove the shoe. 

I did not like shoe lacing. You can upgrade them to give a better aesthetic feel to the shoe. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
  <div class="col-12 col-md-8 px-1">
      <LightBox src="/images/sl202-perspective.jpg" caption="Reflective overlays are a nice touch" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="001009022M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "An all-rounder which is light on pocket", 
    "Very durable shoe",
    "Lightweight and an excellent choice for speed and tempo runs"
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Not well-cushioned, and the cushioning is quite firm",
    "Very little energy return compared to other foams such as Boost and React",
    "Takes time to break in "
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
I would recommend this shoe to anyone, especially new runners who only want to own one pair of shoe. This can be used for easy runs, tempo runs, and intervals as well. I would not recommend this shoe to be used on race day. You can have this along with a carbon-plated racing shoe and you are sorted for the season. 
</InfoCard>


A lightweight trainer that is fast, and is also light on pocket.

Adidas SL20.2 Review

Hoka’s (erstwhile Hoka One One, pronounced on-ay on-ay) India launch was perhaps a silent one. The launch lagged all the fanfare otherwise the brand deserves for its success in the rest of the world in such a short duration. Once a trail running shoe manufacturer is now unarguably the loved cushioned running shoe creator. The ‘bulky yet lighter” has been the theme for Hoka since its inception and it’s no different for its latest daily trainer, Hoka Clifton 8. “Why change something that works well, right?” The Clifton 8 also is an exceptional example of “it is not what you see”. While Clifton is in its eighth iteration, Clifton 8 is our 1st review from the series which will naturally limit our analysis to the present iteration without any comparison to its predecessor. 

In India, the shoe is exclusively available on Tata Cliq, and is currently priced at INR 11,999. While even the Carbon X2, Hoka's premier carbon plated shoe is available on discount, there isn't any on the Clifton 8. 

The Hoka Clifton 8 is a maximum cushion neutral trainer. The shoe features an early stage meta rocker and an extended heel crash pad, built using an EVA foam midsole, meant for a smooth and a soft ride respectively. The early-stage meta rocker, like the Hoka’s Carbon X and Rocket X, is placed right behind metatarsal heads to create a smoother ride and a faster transition to the forefoot. 

<ShoeCard shoeCode="012006008M"></ShoeCard>

##### What makes up Clifton 8?

**Midsole**

The midsole of Clifton 8 is made of compression-molded EVA (CMEVA) foam. Hoka changed its midsole compound in the eighth iteration to make the shoe 15% lighter than its predecessor. Even though the cushioning is plush, Clifton 8 doesn’t fail on the responsiveness during the ride. We compared it with other balanced cushion daily trainers and trainers that are plush, and the Clifton 8 is evidently lighter compared to other popular trainers like Nike Pegasus 38 and Puma Velocity Nitro 2.

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    <LightBox src="/images/hcf8-weight.jpg" caption="Very light for a well cushioned trainer" alt="" ></LightBox>
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</div>

We have measured the softness of the midsoles of few popular daily neutral trainers with a Shore Durometer.  In terms of midsole softness Clifton 8 on par with most daily trainers.

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    <LightBox src="/images/hcf8-durometer.jpg" caption="Softness is on par with popular daily trainers" alt="" ></LightBox>
</div>
</div>

The shoe has a stack height of 29mm on the heel and 24mm on the forefoot with a 5mm heel-to-toe drop. That’s just for the heart of the shoe - the midsole. You additionally get a spongy 5mm Ortholite insole, making the ride even more softer. 

**Upper**

The Clifton 8 features a decently ventilated 100% engineered mesh in the upper and a plush gusseted padded tongue. The upper is made of 100% vegan materials. The lacing is traditional and almost enough for you to lock your heel additionally if required. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/hcf8-topview.jpg" caption="Comfy upper with good ventilation" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Heel**

The heel counter on the Clifton 8 is rigid but the plush around the counter is enough to not irritate the Achilles. It carries the ‘elf ear’ design for easy slip-in and also to prevent heel slippage. Saying this, the heel counter is where I struggled, you can attribute it to my Haglund deformity. This is more personal and might not apply to all the runners.

The heel counter packs a reflective material for a safer ride in the low-light conditions. 

**Outsole**

The outer rubber of the Clifton 8 features a more durable and grippier 3mm thick 81HC hard rubber patch. 

##### Why did I consider this shoe?

Since the road races in India were slowly getting back on track since the pandemic, the hope to run my first full marathon at the Tata Mumbai Marathon was wildly back. Putting on mileage to train for the marathon is universally basic, and my plans were nothing different - to stay on foot for as long as possible. The hunt was to find a highly cushioned daily trainer to put on mileage, and the timely Hoka’s launch in India meant a no-brainer to go for the Clifton 8. 

##### Ride In Clifton 8

The Clifton 8 looks huge right out of the box. But hey, don’t let the look of it fool you. It’s certainly one of the lightest cushion trainers out there. It’s genuinely not a highly cushioned shoe, like the Nike Invincible Run, but perhaps a well thought and balanced one. 

The first ride on it was definitely a painful one since I felt irritation on my Achilles through the 5KMs, and since then, a silicon heel cup coupled with heel lock lacing has come to the rescue. If you are someone who has a troublesome Achilles history, please try it before getting them on runs. 

The Clifton 8 felt rigid initially and took a handful of runs to break in and get the comfort out of the cushion. The Clifton 8 will be your long-run and recovery run go-to trainer. The cushion is a balanced one, yet slightly leaning towards the softer side which makes it less responsive. The ride is mildly responsive, thanks to the rocker on the forefoot, and is evident only during the long runs since the rocker isn’t an aggressive one unlike the one in the ride series from Asics. 

I have run more than 220KMs in the Clifton 8. Predominantly I have used them for the long run and the easy run days, while have attempted a few intervals and tempo runs for review perspective. The CMEVA midsole of the Clifton 8 is not just softer, but lighter too, and the credit goes to Hoka designers for perfecting that balance. It's an out of the box long run, easy run, and recovery day shoe. I have done (run) two marshmallow rides of 30KMs and two 25KMs in the past two months, all considering the disappointing break-in experience. The geometry of the shoe suits the midfoot landers and that’s where you will have something to gain from the rocker, especially in the long runs, where your legs feel as fresh as in the start. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/hcf8-rocker.jpg" caption="Rocker works fine and is not aggressive" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

If not for this review, I would not use the Clifton 8 for speedier workouts. While it's not impossible to run speed in them, but you'll feel the softness on every stride instead of the required rigid response and the ground feel for intervals and tempo runs. Also for someone like me who trains intervals, tempo, and races with a more aggressive rocker shoe like the [Asics Evoride 2](https://shoegeeks.in/review/asics-evoride2-004010002/), the rocker on the Clifton 8 is a bit disappointing. 

All the miles clocked on this shoe have been on road and while I'm yet to take this off road, I'll be comfortable in taking Clifton 8 off road because of the grippier outsole.

**Fit & Comfort**

Clifton 8 fits true to size, and indeed even more for the narrow feet. It holds the midfoot really firm and yet carries enough space in the toe box. Hoka also runs a wider width option. The upper is made of engineered mesh and has been reasonably breathable during chilled conditions. It’s definitely not ventilated enough to go well with the upcoming hot and humid conditions. The padding around the heel counter and the tongue make sure they run warm. The elf ear heel counter design makes it triathlon friendly - easier to pull on. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/hcf8-heel.jpg" caption="Elf ear heel counter" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Stability**

Most modern neutral shoes do offer some stability, and like the Hoka Rocket X ([review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/hoka-rocketx-012010000/)), even the Clifton 8 offers a stable ride. The vertical sidewall grove on both the lateral and medial sides of the midsole allows the foam under the heel to compress and make it feel more cushioned and hence making Clifton 8 feel firmer.

**Durability** 

The Clifton 8 has begun to wear out a bit, but this is natural for the 220+ KMs clocked using them. Hoka has done a fair job on the outsole in the Clifton 8. The outsole features a 3mm thick rubber, which has good grip and also aptly placed at hotspots for enhanced durability. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
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      <LightBox src="/images/hcf8-outsole.jpg" caption="Outsole after 200kms of running" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

**Aesthetics**

The Clifton 8 was originally currently available in 4 color options - blue, red, yellow, and black. The blue one I have is ‘kinda coral’ blue I believe and is the most appealing option available. The colors are punchier, especially the red sidewalls on both the sides from the heel to the toe add more to the aesthetics. The heel counter and the upper packs overlays with reflective materials which is both pleasing and useful. 

<div class="d-flex flex-row align-items-center justify-content-center">
  <div class="col-12 col-md-8 px-1">
      <LightBox src="/images/hcf8-heels.jpg" caption="Reflective overlays are a nice touch" alt="" ></LightBox>
  </div>
</div>

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="012006008M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Very well-cushioned",
    "The fit is snug and feels good",
    "Lightweight",
    "Offers a smooth ride",
    "Durable outsole",
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Needs break-in time",
    "Lacks response",
    "Heel slip is experienced by some runners",
    "The laces are too short",
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
If you are looking to gear up your game from medium distances like a half marathon to marathon and more, Hoka Clifton 8 is highly recommended. 

Recommended rotation within Hoka lineup Clifton 8 long and easy runs, Mach 4 for Speed training and Uptempo runs, and Rocket X[(review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/hoka-rocketx-012010000/)) / Carbon X2 for racing. 

Recommended Rotation from other brands Asics Evoride 2 ([review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/asics-evoride2-004010002/)), Puma Liberate Nitro ([review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/saucony-axon-006011000/)) and Brooks Hyperion Tempo ([review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/brooks-hyperiontempo-007006000/)) for Speed training and Uptempo runs. Nike Next% 2([review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/nike-vaporflynext-002002000/)), Saucony Endorphin Pro 2([review](https://shoegeeks.in/review/saucony-endorphinpro2-006001002/)), Puma Deviate Nitro Elite for racing.
</InfoCard>

<WarningCard title="Caution when buying online">
Beware of the fake websites that claim to sell Hoka shoes on the cheap. As far as we know, Hoka shoes are currently sold only through <a href="https://www.tatacliq.com/hoka">Tata Cliq</a> in India. The following websites are fake
<li>https://www.hokaoneone-india.com/</li> 
<li>https://hoka-india.co.in</li> 
<li>https://www.hokaindia.com</li>
</WarningCard>

A light-weight neutral daily trainer for your next marathon

Hoka Clifton 8 Review

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Reviews

Adidas SL20.2 Review

Hoka Clifton 8 Review