The Greatest Performance Sneaker of All Time (The GPSOAT?)
I hate when 'content creators' tell you when you need to buy something, and I hate to be the guy that might do it... but this might be diffy.
Has there ever been a time when something just completely rocks your socks off? The Satisfy x Hoka Clifton LS is that shoe for me.
This is a shoe that I chose as my sneaker release of the year… and if you were around me from the months of November and December, I would’ve been the most insufferable person you know because I wouldn’t shut up about it.
Also, we’re going to play a game. Every time I use the word ‘functional,’ you have to lowball one seller on grailed.
The Satisfy x Hoka Clifton LS is a shoe that was originally intended for lifestyle but has been repurposed into a functional (that’s one lowball) piece of footwear. Form-turn-function seems to be the ethos of Satisfy. Satisfy does not need to use the latest sweat-wicking fabrics or form-fitting tights. They take simple fabrics and turn them into functional clothes fit for purpose – running. Bryce Partouche, the founder of Satisfy, was not always in the running apparel space. Starting a Label called April 77, he focused mostly on fashion from a solely stylistic perspective but it all changed when he could not find a running label that aligned with his passion for running.
Fast forward to 2024, and we have a rather successful running apparel label. I think Bryce has stayed true to what his initial intentions were. For example, you have the Mothtech line (with the tagline ‘it’s ok to run in cotton.’). Mothtech is a fabric that caught me by surprise (like what? Running in cotton? What is this, the 90s?), but, these cotton tees have holes specifically cut out of them to help the ventilation in heat-prone areas of your body – once again using a lifestyle product, and repurposing it for functional use (I'm sensing a theme here, are you?)
Ok, so before I go into my review after owning the shoe for a while, I want to point out some of the obvious differences between the original Hoka Clifton LS (FYI the LS stands for lifestyle), and then the repurposed Satisfy collaboration.
Notable updated features:
Firstly, the upper. The mesh upper has been re-engineered to support ‘optimal breathability’. Not only is the upper updated for a functional purpose, but it actually looks sick. The knit takes inspiration from topographic maps to have this unique and asymmetrical look to them.
Next, you have the speed lace system - think of a bungee lace system like on a pair of Salomons or something like that. Whereas the GR Clifton LS comes with a standard lacing setup. If I’m being honest, this was an aspect I was not that keen on. Generally, I don’t like the speed lacing, but when I got these in hand I realised that this updated feature makes sense for the shoe – say it with me now “form turns function.”
Then we have the heel cup. On the GR Clifton LS, the heel cup has what looks to be made up of one-half suede, and the other half leather; but on the Satisfy model, both halves of the heel cup contain the same material which looks to be some type of canvas(?) I actually have no idea so if someone can tell me the name of the material that would be epic. Nonetheless, keeping the theme of functionality at the forefront.
The last big feature I’m going to point out is the protective toebox panelling. This has to be my favourite feature of the shoe. Originally the toe panelling had a big fat piece of suede on it. Did it look good? Hell yeah! But then Satisfy asked, “Well, is it functional?” Hell no! So what did Satisfy do? Switch that bitch to a 3M reflective panel so that it serves the functional purpose of keeping you safe especially when you hit those intervals after dark.
Tried and true review:
Now that we have the updated features in play, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the review. Let’s preface by saying that I haven’t actually had a chance to…. run… in these yet. I have a NOF stress fracture (did you know that I was a runner?). While I have not run in these, I have spent a considerable amount of time playing tourist in Europe with these bad boys - walking about 14-18km (8.7 - 11.1 miles for you freaks in the north) a day. I’ll say that even though I have not been able to use them for their specific purpose of running, I have used them enough to give you an honest and truthful review on them (with a little bit of bias because you already know they were my shoe of the year).
If you couldn’t tell, there is a lot I like about this shoe from a functional POV, but I actually think the shoe looks tight af. The mesh was the biggest surprise to me when I got them in hand. I don’t know how to describe it other than ‘free,’ so in that same breath, the knit going in all directions and being ‘free’ adds such a nice touch on a shoe that I already thought was stellar.
When I was seeing the initial product shots, I thought the shoe was mostly black with the 3M panels being navy, but boy was I wrong. You thought Satisfy were gonna do a standard black-and-white duo pair? Nah dog, they threw you a curve ball with that navy midsole (Navy new superpower for 2024????). Speaking of navy, let’s circle back to the navy 3M panels on the toe box. They look good 24 hours a day. You’re walking back to your car in a dark car park late at night? Turn on your phone’s torch and let them shits shine. You’re on your 8 am 36km long run? That sun is gonna bounce off the panels so perfectly. You literally cannot go wrong with these.
The last point I’m going to make about what I like about these bad boys, is that they are so comfortable. I’m definitely entering my unk-mode era, where I’m rocking supportive footwear in my everyday casual fits… but why is that a bad thing? I’m sorry I like to be comfortable while looking good! Something that fashionbros thought they had to sacrifice for many years – looking at you, sartorial enjoyers (Mariano take notes)! Like, maybe I don’t always want to wear leather soles and have my feet aching all day?
Now comes the hard part… Unfortunately, there are some aspects of the shoe that I do not like (I'm just as shocked as you tho). My quarrel with these joints is their durability. I can’t tell you exactly, but I reckon I’ve worn them for approximately 220km of walking and some parts of the shoe aren’t holding up. Firstly, both heels have worn away all the way down to the plastic heel cup – I really struggle to understand how I let that happen because I have felt very little heel slippage.
My next problem confuses me a little bit. I have holes already wearing through the top knit near my big toe knuckles. I’m not sure how that has occurred, maybe I caught my foot on a curb, or my foot got caught underneath something, but either way, it has me a lil sad ngl.
I do ask myself the question, would the shoes be wearing the same way if i had done 220km of running in them? Probably not because literal time wearing them would be much shorter; even so, it makes me genuinely sad because this is a shoe I’m obsessed with and would be happy to wear daily, but I fear for their longevity if they’re already wearing away after a couple of months… idk maybe I got some fked up feet.
Final thoughts:
I could probably count on one hand the number of times that a shoe has been designed for pure function but looked so good (maybe it’s because I struggle to count past five idk). It’s a sleek design with enough differentiation from the general release which makes them a standout in the Hoka lineup. Seeing them wear out in the upper knit hurts about as much as not being invited to one of your childhood friend’s wedding (that one was personal), but hopefully, there will be a restock one day (please Satisfy I need to double up). I would still call this my release of 2023 as it is a shoe that I love so much, despite the few negatives.