A system has an outer catheter and an inner aspirating clot retrieval catheter having an expansile distal tip for flow restriction, improved aspiration efficiency, and a large mouth into which a clot or other obstructions can be retrieved. The clot retrieval catheter can have a support tube proximal of the tip. The expansile tip can be a strut framework, and a flexible, low-modulus cover is disposed around at least a portion of the tip strut framework and the proximal support tube. The distal end of the tip can be encapsulated by a low-friction elastomeric lip for atraumatic contact with the walls of a blood vessel. The tip has a collapsed delivery configuration and expands radially into a deployed configuration. The tip strut framework, support tube, and cover can all have characteristics which enhance the deliverability of the clot retrieval catheter to the target.