I just test drove the Clayton 2s for a few weeks in my search for a less cushioned-but-similarly-fitting Bondi 4. It was a success. I tried pretty much every other Hoka out there and these were the only ones that worked. The 2s are much better than the 1s - better tongue most notably. I’m no Cinderella when it comes to shoe reviews but this one just fit my foot like a glove. My foot felt very ‘wrapped’, and with Riplaces they went on super quick and easy. Plenty of support for my nominally flat feet, but not too much like other Hokas. And just enough cushioning for my 6 foot, 178 pound frame. I raced in them up to 10 during an Olympic; I’m not yet sure if I’d do a half ironman in them (flashbacks to a foot injury 15 years ago when I tried racing flats).
Regarding using them barefoot, I tried them for a mile and it was a no-go. Not because of toe blisters like others have reported, but due to a blister on the arch of my foot that developed I think where the insole meets the side of the shoe - it’s like a line blister. I still can’t get rid of it 3-4 weeks later, every time I run it re-develops. But no issues at all with socks on.