AfterPay Available - Back with it's 8th iteration to the Hoka One One Bondi collection, this new addition drives an even more lively and energetic run. Reworked with softer, lighter foam and brand-new extended heel geometry for the perfect blend of soft and bouncy. Taking on a billowed effect, the rear crash pad affords an incredibly soft and balanced ride from heel strike to forefoot transition. The Bondi has continually evolved to provide runners with a smooth yet supportive stride you can count on each time you run.
AfterPay Available - Back with it's 8th iteration to the Hoka One One Bondi collection, this new addition drives an even more lively and energetic run. Reworked with softer, lighter foam and brand-new extended heel geometry for the perfect blend of soft and bouncy. Taking on a billowed effect, the rear crash pad affords an incredibly soft and balanced ride from heel strike to forefoot transition. The Bondi has continually evolved to provide runners with a smooth yet supportive stride you can count on each time you run.
AfterPay Available - Back with it's 8th iteration to the Hoka One One Bondi collection, this new addition drives an even more lively and energetic run. Reworked with softer, lighter foam and brand-new extended heel geometry for the perfect blend of soft and bouncy. Taking on a billowed effect, the rear crash pad affords an incredibly soft and balanced ride from heel strike to forefoot transition. The Bondi has continually evolved to provide runners with a smooth yet supportive stride you can count on each time you run.
AfterPay Available - Back with it's 8th iteration to the Hoka One One Bondi collection, this new addition drives an even more lively and energetic run. Reworked with softer, lighter foam and brand-new extended heel geometry for the perfect blend of soft and bouncy. Taking on a billowed effect, the rear crash pad affords an incredibly soft and balanced ride from heel strike to forefoot transition. The Bondi has continually evolved to provide runners with a smooth yet supportive stride you can count on each time you run.
Last updated at 09/06/2024 12:36:15
originally posted on dickssportinggoods.com
For all of you young, athletic, and perfectly fit readers.....move on. I'm not talking to you! Just kidding. I was once you.....a few decades ago. That said, I am going to the trouble of writing this review for those of you who still want to stay in shape, but who have rounded a corner in life and keep facing physical barriers, be it weight, muscle, or joint issues. I'm about 250 lbs and 65 years old. Exercise has been an important part of my life, and running, in particular, has been a passion. For me, a long distance run is purifying, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But, at my age, days on the road and trail are numbered. I feel it in my joints more than anywhere else. But this shoe, with it's cushioning and design, has given me hope that I may be able ... MoreFor all of you young, athletic, and perfectly fit readers.....move on. I'm not talking to you! Just kidding. I was once you.....a few decades ago. That said, I am going to the trouble of writing this review for those of you who still want to stay in shape, but who have rounded a corner in life and keep facing physical barriers, be it weight, muscle, or joint issues. I'm about 250 lbs and 65 years old. Exercise has been an important part of my life, and running, in particular, has been a passion. For me, a long distance run is purifying, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But, at my age, days on the road and trail are numbered. I feel it in my joints more than anywhere else. But this shoe, with it's cushioning and design, has given me hope that I may be able to continue running for several more years yet. The shock absorption capabilities cannot be overstated. You feel like you're floating.....no pounding. I can tell you that my knees, hips, and ankles appreciate it, and while I insert a day or two of recovery between runs, I don't have the muscle soreness you might expect. This is my second pair of the Bondi's. My old pair is still perfectly fine for walking and everyday use, but I reserve my new pair specifically for running. I would guesstimate that I ran about 10-15 miles a week for around 20 weeks, before demoting my old Bondi's to walking. That might seem expensive at this price point, but for me, my joints and the potential to extend this activity make it worth every penny. Just a word on fit. I wear an 11.5 in ASICS, but a 12 in Hoku.
originally posted on REI
These are my first pair of Hokas, but after trying the Clifton, these felt much more cushioned and secure on my feet. I really tried to like them, but they squished my feet every time I would wear them. I would wear them casually, for road running, indoor running, to the gym, and HIIT classes, but they felt narrow every time. After a month, I decided to try on the wide version and they felt so much better. I've never had any issues needing wide shoes, but these ones run narrow. I'm 5'8" (172cm) and 175lb (79kg) and usually wear US 9.5 men's shoes but felt the 9.5 Wide was a better fit for this model. Again, these were my first Hokas so I'm not sure if it's the brand or this model that was narrow for me.I don't care about style or looks, but if I did, I probably ... MoreThese are my first pair of Hokas, but after trying the Clifton, these felt much more cushioned and secure on my feet. I really tried to like them, but they squished my feet every time I would wear them. I would wear them casually, for road running, indoor running, to the gym, and HIIT classes, but they felt narrow every time. After a month, I decided to try on the wide version and they felt so much better. I've never had any issues needing wide shoes, but these ones run narrow. I'm 5'8" (172cm) and 175lb (79kg) and usually wear US 9.5 men's shoes but felt the 9.5 Wide was a better fit for this model. Again, these were my first Hokas so I'm not sure if it's the brand or this model that was narrow for me.I don't care about style or looks, but if I did, I probably wouldn't get these. They look bulky, chunky, and disproportionate to your actual feet size. The reason why I bought these was for comfort and they were the best shoes I've worn with this level of comfort. The shoe felt plushy on every step, like wearing a block of foam. And the heel felt hugged by the cushion on the back and sides without being overly constricting. The bulkiness does take some time to get used to, especially walking on any stairs because each step is a bit more cumbersome. Overall, I still enjoyed the experience wearing them, but I will need to get a wider pair to fully enjoy them.
originally posted on moosejaw.com
Am a huge fan of the Bondi line for running especially as an older, multi-sport athlete who needs more cushioning due to knee issues from basketball. Beginning with the Bondi 7s, the design changes have had a definite negative impact on my experiences with this line. I had hoped with this new model, the Bondi 8, things would start to move in a more positive direction, performance-wise. But sadly, it was considerably worse! After one test run on a treadmill, the shoes felt exceedingly clunky and boat-like, and the whole cushioning system seemed "off". At least with my Bondi 7s, I was able to run in them for a couple of months before having to abandon them. Fortunately, I was able to track down a new pair of the older Bondi 6s, which I love and feel great, so am ... MoreAm a huge fan of the Bondi line for running especially as an older, multi-sport athlete who needs more cushioning due to knee issues from basketball. Beginning with the Bondi 7s, the design changes have had a definite negative impact on my experiences with this line. I had hoped with this new model, the Bondi 8, things would start to move in a more positive direction, performance-wise. But sadly, it was considerably worse! After one test run on a treadmill, the shoes felt exceedingly clunky and boat-like, and the whole cushioning system seemed "off". At least with my Bondi 7s, I was able to run in them for a couple of months before having to abandon them. Fortunately, I was able to track down a new pair of the older Bondi 6s, which I love and feel great, so am happily running in them for now. Sadly, I will likely need to look for another brand of running shoe, once my luck in finding the older Bondi 6s runs out. Of course, in fairness to the brand, fit is a very personal thing, and I realize that others may have a completely opposite experience to mine. Still, I thought it might be helpful to share my experience here, having been a long-time wearer of the Bondis. The one star here is for the awesome customer service that Moosejaw provided - the return of these shoes was very easy and painless!
For all of you young, athletic, and perfectly fit readers.....move on. I'm not talking to you! Just kidding. I was once you.....a few decades ago. That said, I am going to the trouble of writing this review for those of you who still want to stay in shape, but who have rounded a corner in life and keep facing physical barriers, be it weight, muscle, or joint issues. I'm about 250 lbs and 65 years old. Exercise has been an important part of my life, and running, in particular, has been a passion. For me, a long distance run is purifying, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But, at my age, days on the road and trail are numbered. I feel it in my joints more than anywhere else. But this shoe, with it's cushioning and design, has given me hope that I may be able ... MoreFor all of you young, athletic, and perfectly fit readers.....move on. I'm not talking to you! Just kidding. I was once you.....a few decades ago. That said, I am going to the trouble of writing this review for those of you who still want to stay in shape, but who have rounded a corner in life and keep facing physical barriers, be it weight, muscle, or joint issues. I'm about 250 lbs and 65 years old. Exercise has been an important part of my life, and running, in particular, has been a passion. For me, a long distance run is purifying, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But, at my age, days on the road and trail are numbered. I feel it in my joints more than anywhere else. But this shoe, with it's cushioning and design, has given me hope that I may be able to continue running for several more years yet. The shock absorption capabilities cannot be overstated. You feel like you're floating.....no pounding. I can tell you that my knees, hips, and ankles appreciate it, and while I insert a day or two of recovery between runs, I don't have the muscle soreness you might expect. This is my second pair of the Bondi's. My old pair is still perfectly fine for walking and everyday use, but I reserve my new pair specifically for running. I would guesstimate that I ran about 10-15 miles a week for around 20 weeks, before demoting my old Bondi's to walking. That might seem expensive at this price point, but for me, my joints and the potential to extend this activity make it worth every penny. Just a word on fit. I wear an 11.5 in ASICS, but a 12 in Hoku.
These are my first pair of Hokas, but after trying the Clifton, these felt much more cushioned and secure on my feet. I really tried to like them, but they squished my feet every time I would wear them. I would wear them casually, for road running, indoor running, to the gym, and HIIT classes, but they felt narrow every time. After a month, I decided to try on the wide version and they felt so much better. I've never had any issues needing wide shoes, but these ones run narrow. I'm 5'8" (172cm) and 175lb (79kg) and usually wear US 9.5 men's shoes but felt the 9.5 Wide was a better fit for this model. Again, these were my first Hokas so I'm not sure if it's the brand or this model that was narrow for me.I don't care about style or looks, but if I did, I probably ... MoreThese are my first pair of Hokas, but after trying the Clifton, these felt much more cushioned and secure on my feet. I really tried to like them, but they squished my feet every time I would wear them. I would wear them casually, for road running, indoor running, to the gym, and HIIT classes, but they felt narrow every time. After a month, I decided to try on the wide version and they felt so much better. I've never had any issues needing wide shoes, but these ones run narrow. I'm 5'8" (172cm) and 175lb (79kg) and usually wear US 9.5 men's shoes but felt the 9.5 Wide was a better fit for this model. Again, these were my first Hokas so I'm not sure if it's the brand or this model that was narrow for me.I don't care about style or looks, but if I did, I probably wouldn't get these. They look bulky, chunky, and disproportionate to your actual feet size. The reason why I bought these was for comfort and they were the best shoes I've worn with this level of comfort. The shoe felt plushy on every step, like wearing a block of foam. And the heel felt hugged by the cushion on the back and sides without being overly constricting. The bulkiness does take some time to get used to, especially walking on any stairs because each step is a bit more cumbersome. Overall, I still enjoyed the experience wearing them, but I will need to get a wider pair to fully enjoy them.
Am a huge fan of the Bondi line for running especially as an older, multi-sport athlete who needs more cushioning due to knee issues from basketball. Beginning with the Bondi 7s, the design changes have had a definite negative impact on my experiences with this line. I had hoped with this new model, the Bondi 8, things would start to move in a more positive direction, performance-wise. But sadly, it was considerably worse! After one test run on a treadmill, the shoes felt exceedingly clunky and boat-like, and the whole cushioning system seemed "off". At least with my Bondi 7s, I was able to run in them for a couple of months before having to abandon them. Fortunately, I was able to track down a new pair of the older Bondi 6s, which I love and feel great, so am ... MoreAm a huge fan of the Bondi line for running especially as an older, multi-sport athlete who needs more cushioning due to knee issues from basketball. Beginning with the Bondi 7s, the design changes have had a definite negative impact on my experiences with this line. I had hoped with this new model, the Bondi 8, things would start to move in a more positive direction, performance-wise. But sadly, it was considerably worse! After one test run on a treadmill, the shoes felt exceedingly clunky and boat-like, and the whole cushioning system seemed "off". At least with my Bondi 7s, I was able to run in them for a couple of months before having to abandon them. Fortunately, I was able to track down a new pair of the older Bondi 6s, which I love and feel great, so am happily running in them for now. Sadly, I will likely need to look for another brand of running shoe, once my luck in finding the older Bondi 6s runs out. Of course, in fairness to the brand, fit is a very personal thing, and I realize that others may have a completely opposite experience to mine. Still, I thought it might be helpful to share my experience here, having been a long-time wearer of the Bondis. The one star here is for the awesome customer service that Moosejaw provided - the return of these shoes was very easy and painless!
Let's start with the good. The Bondi 8 is super cushy, and makes a pretty fantastic walkin' around shoe. Pretty darn comfortable to walk around in. Now let's talk about the not so good. The Bondi 8 is a terrible running shoe. It's big. It's clunky. It's heavy. It's slow. It has a pretty narrow toe-box. It feels terribly uncoordinated. And it forces a terrible stride pattern. The Bondi 8 is one of 3 pairs of Hoka's I've actually run in. I've tried on many more. One running theme I've noticed is that Hoka loves narrow toe boxes. They love to really squish your toes in there. This one's no different, as both of my smallest toes are right up against the toe wall, and my big toe has very little room. I've also run in the Clifton 8 and the Challenger. The Clifton 8 is ... MoreLet's start with the good. The Bondi 8 is super cushy, and makes a pretty fantastic walkin' around shoe. Pretty darn comfortable to walk around in. Now let's talk about the not so good. The Bondi 8 is a terrible running shoe. It's big. It's clunky. It's heavy. It's slow. It has a pretty narrow toe-box. It feels terribly uncoordinated. And it forces a terrible stride pattern. The Bondi 8 is one of 3 pairs of Hoka's I've actually run in. I've tried on many more. One running theme I've noticed is that Hoka loves narrow toe boxes. They love to really squish your toes in there. This one's no different, as both of my smallest toes are right up against the toe wall, and my big toe has very little room. I've also run in the Clifton 8 and the Challenger. The Clifton 8 is MUCH lighter, more comfortable, more responsive, and snappier. It feels great to run in. The Bondi 8 is heavy. Don't think about doing any speed training, the Bondi 8 will slow you down a bunch. And don't think about doing any distance running either, running in the heavy Bondi's is exhausting. Running in the Bondi is best reserved for weight training runs, where you actually want to run in a heavier shoe to strengthen your legs, and for recovery runs where you're gonna run half-heartedly anyway, an it's more about just moving your body. Even then, they're exhausting. Last complaint: stride mechanics. I'm typically a mid-foot striker, and when I'm speed training, or sometimes hill+speed training, I'll force a forefoot strike. The Bondi actively pushes your foot strike backwards. They force me to run flat-footed. I can feel the added impact of clomping my way down the road, despite all the cushioning, and the loud clomping is an embarrassing assault on my ears. (Note: If you're already a heel-striker, this may not bother you.) End summary? I've never regretted buying a shoe more, and now I can't return them. Weighted-shoe training it is!
I use walking as a form of exercise and I was looking for a pair of running shoes that were also good for fitness walking. I read quite a few reviews and these shoes came up very favourably. Reading the reviews on here I went up half a size. Which I am glad I did. I tried them on when I had returned from a long brisk walk and my feet were swollen. They did come up tight and I did panic! I have been wearing them since I got them, a few weeks now. I do fitness walking on roads and it feels like I am gliding. They are great pair of shoes for fitness/brisk walking. However, they are not the softest of shoes. They are very firm but lots of cushioning which is important for long distance fitness walking. Would I buy them again? Yes. I would?I do recommend that you go up ... MoreI use walking as a form of exercise and I was looking for a pair of running shoes that were also good for fitness walking. I read quite a few reviews and these shoes came up very favourably. Reading the reviews on here I went up half a size. Which I am glad I did. I tried them on when I had returned from a long brisk walk and my feet were swollen. They did come up tight and I did panic! I have been wearing them since I got them, a few weeks now. I do fitness walking on roads and it feels like I am gliding. They are great pair of shoes for fitness/brisk walking. However, they are not the softest of shoes. They are very firm but lots of cushioning which is important for long distance fitness walking. Would I buy them again? Yes. I would?I do recommend that you go up half a size. Try them on when your feet are swollen after a run or fitness walking. Your feet do expand after running/brisk walking so you need to know if they are still comfortable and a good fit when swollen.
Total sham. The 8 bombed big time. They have the shock absorption of a flip flop. They feel like they have big lumps in the soles pushing against your foot in all the wrong places. I cannot believe doctors endorsed this shoe. I’ve never owned a HOKA before but see tons of people wearing these at races so didn’t second guess snatching up a pair to diversify my trainers.Ran my regular 5 mile 45 minute run and felt like I got plantar fasciitis limping around like a cripple. Luckily it was just this joke of a shoe because when I switched back to my Diadora and the pain evaporated instantly.I went back to a different fleet feet store and asked the guy if it’s just me or is this shoe actually horrible. He said the 7 and earlier models were great but they blew it with ... MoreTotal sham. The 8 bombed big time. They have the shock absorption of a flip flop. They feel like they have big lumps in the soles pushing against your foot in all the wrong places. I cannot believe doctors endorsed this shoe. I’ve never owned a HOKA before but see tons of people wearing these at races so didn’t second guess snatching up a pair to diversify my trainers.Ran my regular 5 mile 45 minute run and felt like I got plantar fasciitis limping around like a cripple. Luckily it was just this joke of a shoe because when I switched back to my Diadora and the pain evaporated instantly.I went back to a different fleet feet store and asked the guy if it’s just me or is this shoe actually horrible. He said the 7 and earlier models were great but they blew it with the 8. Said they get more returns and complaints about this one than anything else they sell. Even pointed to the exact spot where he knows the pain comes from.Buyer beware. Just because it looks popular don’t just slam down $150+ for a shoe, read other one star reviews because they’re all seasoned runners with more experience with this brand than me.
I've worn the Bondi 7's for about a year and really love them. What sets the Bondi's apart from other brands is the low heel to toe drop, so they don't feel like you are wearing heels.Since the Bondi 8's came out I upgraded to them, but overall I feel they are a significant downgrade for many reasons. First the good, the foam is a tiny bit softer which makes them more comfortable, and the base is much more stable which helps with ankle rolls and instability. Two stars for these improvements.The negative, however, far outweighs the positive. My main gripe is that they significantly lowered the heel cap height, you can clearly see this side by side with the Bondi 7. So now my heel does not properly get locked in, and I'm definitely in the right size with about .5" ... MoreI've worn the Bondi 7's for about a year and really love them. What sets the Bondi's apart from other brands is the low heel to toe drop, so they don't feel like you are wearing heels.Since the Bondi 8's came out I upgraded to them, but overall I feel they are a significant downgrade for many reasons. First the good, the foam is a tiny bit softer which makes them more comfortable, and the base is much more stable which helps with ankle rolls and instability. Two stars for these improvements.The negative, however, far outweighs the positive. My main gripe is that they significantly lowered the heel cap height, you can clearly see this side by side with the Bondi 7. So now my heel does not properly get locked in, and I'm definitely in the right size with about .5" room at the toes and have also tried heel lock lacing techniques. So now my heel shifts up and down and makes the shoe feel quite unstable, eliminating any gains the wider shoe tread gave and then some. I could try heel cups, heel spacers, or a variety of other half baked solutions, but would rather just have the shoe made correctly. If you have smaller heels then this may not be an issue for you. They also run quite a bit narrower than the 7's, although I resolved that issue by getting a wide pair. But even with the wide size they still chafe the sides of my toebox a bit.Another downgrade is the finish, especially the white at the sole. It has a semi rough finish which catches dirt very easily. Because of the semi rough surface you can't just wipe them clean, you have to lightly scrub with a toothbrush, and that gets old very quickly.Last is the finish, let's be realistic here, I'm willing to bet the vast majority of these are sold for lifestyle, those who want a cushier walk, and not to hard core runners, even those looking for relief days. While I'm not short, I'm 5' 9", when I'm wearing these everyone asks me if I like how tall they make me. With the Bondi 7's Hoka made an effort to minimize the heel by putting color halfway through, with the 8's they let the entire heel be evident making them look like elevator shoes.Overall I would still recommend them if you have a smaller heel and narrower foot, but you may be better finding a Bondi 7 on clearance.
Buying from Dick's is the problem...1st shipment took 10 days to get to me. Shoes didn't fit (Not Dick's fault). Returned and the rep on phone gave me free expedited shipping for replacement - all good! Received my "new" shoes today and they are obviously previous returns from someone else. Soles dirty, laces out of place, no cardboard inserts to keep them in shape - NOT BRAND NEW SHOES. Extremely disappointed with Dick's, especially when I'm spending $165 for a pair of shoes. I'm keeping the latest pair because I don't want to keep going around and around with possibility of getting another used pair of shoes.As for the shoes...regularly were 9.5, but these are small and narrow. Go at least a 1/2 size up when ordering. 10's fit well in length and toe-box, but ... MoreBuying from Dick's is the problem...1st shipment took 10 days to get to me. Shoes didn't fit (Not Dick's fault). Returned and the rep on phone gave me free expedited shipping for replacement - all good! Received my "new" shoes today and they are obviously previous returns from someone else. Soles dirty, laces out of place, no cardboard inserts to keep them in shape - NOT BRAND NEW SHOES. Extremely disappointed with Dick's, especially when I'm spending $165 for a pair of shoes. I'm keeping the latest pair because I don't want to keep going around and around with possibility of getting another used pair of shoes.As for the shoes...regularly were 9.5, but these are small and narrow. Go at least a 1/2 size up when ordering. 10's fit well in length and toe-box, but still slightly narrow. Next time I may go with a wide size. They are nice and squishy and I hope they help my plantar fasciitis. I would recommend these shoes and would buy again...but not from Dick's
I am going to tell you important things about this shoe you need to know in outline form:1. They are extremely comfortable, but they were not so comfortable until I removed their insole and put my 10-second pressure relief heavily padded thick insole inside.2. This shoe will accommodate a think insole or orthothic--one of the few where your foot won't come off the back.3. This shoe is cut small. I am a men's 11 in most of my shoes, sometimes a 10.5. But in this shoe an 11.5 is the smallest size that fits me. So order 1/2 larger than you generally are.4. It's one of the few comfortable athletic shoes that comes in All Black which is the only color I buy to wear to the office too and reason I tried this shoe.5. Not waterproof--the material is thin and ... MoreI am going to tell you important things about this shoe you need to know in outline form:1. They are extremely comfortable, but they were not so comfortable until I removed their insole and put my 10-second pressure relief heavily padded thick insole inside.2. This shoe will accommodate a think insole or orthothic--one of the few where your foot won't come off the back.3. This shoe is cut small. I am a men's 11 in most of my shoes, sometimes a 10.5. But in this shoe an 11.5 is the smallest size that fits me. So order 1/2 larger than you generally are.4. It's one of the few comfortable athletic shoes that comes in All Black which is the only color I buy to wear to the office too and reason I tried this shoe.5. Not waterproof--the material is thin and breathable--hope that they last.6. Made in Vietnam.7. They look funny on your feet. People have asked me if I have a "foot condition" because they are so "bulbous" at the front and thin out to the back--I don't really care what they say, but you may? You won't win any beauty contests with these shoes on.8. Very lightweight--you won't find a lighter shoe.9. I would give them a try because I find that only one out of 25 shoes fits my flat and bad feet well and this is one of them--but again that is after I installed a soft thick insole.
Writing this just immediately after having run the Vancouver Sun Run (10k). Wore these for my runs up this and found there was very minimal break in to do. My legs are definitely not as fatigued as usual and found the cushion and bounce to be supporting and comfortable. Good energy return overall and really benefitted from the heel to toe transition because of the shape of the sole. At first, I was worried about the toe box being too narrow but they opened up fairly well after a few runs. I also went a half size up from usual for a bit of extra room and now I’m wondering why I never did before with other shoes. Yes, these are heavier than other shoes, have a large “clunky” sole but for someone who just wants to get more runs in with less fatigue and pain, they are ... MoreWriting this just immediately after having run the Vancouver Sun Run (10k). Wore these for my runs up this and found there was very minimal break in to do. My legs are definitely not as fatigued as usual and found the cushion and bounce to be supporting and comfortable. Good energy return overall and really benefitted from the heel to toe transition because of the shape of the sole. At first, I was worried about the toe box being too narrow but they opened up fairly well after a few runs. I also went a half size up from usual for a bit of extra room and now I’m wondering why I never did before with other shoes. Yes, these are heavier than other shoes, have a large “clunky” sole but for someone who just wants to get more runs in with less fatigue and pain, they are perfect. If you’re trying to break speed records, you’ll probably find something off with these. Overall, a great buy and would recommend!
