The design and the build of this shoes are really really DISAPPOINTING. It is the most expensive item of Hoka line. It is light though. My son who likes running tried a pair in the store, but the color was white, then we found the black one, and bought it online (bikester.no) - the same size 42. When he used it for running he noticed that the actual dimension of the shoes is not standard. It is bigger than the actual number of 42. He cannot use the shoes for running. Not only that it is uncomfortable, it is also dangerous, risk of accident / injury. We saw other people also disappointed with the shoes, and re-sell theirs online.If you want to buy one, really try it physically for a while (at store), or if you buy it online order in several sizes so you can ... MoreThe design and the build of this shoes are really really DISAPPOINTING. It is the most expensive item of Hoka line. It is light though. My son who likes running tried a pair in the store, but the color was white, then we found the black one, and bought it online (bikester.no) - the same size 42. When he used it for running he noticed that the actual dimension of the shoes is not standard. It is bigger than the actual number of 42. He cannot use the shoes for running. Not only that it is uncomfortable, it is also dangerous, risk of accident / injury. We saw other people also disappointed with the shoes, and re-sell theirs online.If you want to buy one, really try it physically for a while (at store), or if you buy it online order in several sizes so you can choose the right one for you.

Fantastic walking shoe. Sub-par runner.

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!

Get the OnCloud Cloudmonster Instead

I am an avid Hoka Bondi fan and this model is a departure from years past. The attached tongue rubs the arch of the foot at the instep, the entire shoe is narrower and smaller, and the width of the sole of the shoe actually feels less stable. I returned these shoes and ended up with On Cloud Cloudmonster as recommended by the specialist in the store. I would have NEVER tried these without her recommendation. The Cloudmonster is quite possibly the best shoe i have ever run in. I am an 8.5 W in Hoka, and ended up with a 9M in On Cloud and they have more space in the toe box than the Hoka W. So impressed with OnCloud, and I am hopeful that Hoka fixes their shoe in the next model.

Knee Saver

I'm 6'2'' and 220 lbs. I bought these to relieve the impact felt by my knees. I had previously been running in the Hoka Rincon 3, which is a comfy shoe, but over time my knees gradually began to feel a sharp pain upon impact. Out of the box, my knees feel almost no impact. This is exactly what I needed.A note on the 4mm drop: The Rincon 3 has a 5mm drop, but there is a sizeable foam cavity under the heel. This causes the heel to sink farther into the foam than the forefoot, making the effective running drop less than 5mm, it seems. The Bondi 8 has a 4mm drop, but much more foam support under the heel, making the effective running drop higher than the Rincon 3, I think. I definitely felt that my calf and soleus needed to work less to toe off in the Bondi 8 versus ... MoreI'm 6'2'' and 220 lbs. I bought these to relieve the impact felt by my knees. I had previously been running in the Hoka Rincon 3, which is a comfy shoe, but over time my knees gradually began to feel a sharp pain upon impact. Out of the box, my knees feel almost no impact. This is exactly what I needed.A note on the 4mm drop: The Rincon 3 has a 5mm drop, but there is a sizeable foam cavity under the heel. This causes the heel to sink farther into the foam than the forefoot, making the effective running drop less than 5mm, it seems. The Bondi 8 has a 4mm drop, but much more foam support under the heel, making the effective running drop higher than the Rincon 3, I think. I definitely felt that my calf and soleus needed to work less to toe off in the Bondi 8 versus the Rincon 3. This may also be the case when comparing to the Clifton 8. I'm no shoe expert, but these are my observations.

Phenomenal running shoes

Had my old shoes fall apart on me before a big race, and ordered these based on the reviews. Very quick arrival, and my initial thought was that I'd gotten the sizing wrong, since they're huge. Feels like wearing a pair of boats, and the heel sticks out almost an inch behind your true heel, but I tell you what, it's like running on a cloud. Massive cushioning meant that I ran 21 km with these shoes in a race on my very first wear (other than a test walk around my house), and didn't feel a single complaint from the shoes. Very comfortable, great for reducing some of that joint impact. Held up great, shoes feel very sturdy, very comfortable, and very light despite their large size.

Podiatrist recommended

My podiatrist diagnosed me with bruised bones in my food because my natural food padding was too thin causing my walking to be agonisingly painful. My podiatrist recommended the Hola Bondi 8 shoes as it has excellent cushioning in the soles. Gezwaaid right, the Hoka Bondi 8 shoes totally solved my issues. I can now walk pain free and I am back to my old self. I was so satisfied that I bought a second pair as I like to have a variety of colours. I can recommend the service at Athlete’s Foot because the are magicians to fit you with the correct size for your feet.

Poor Quality

Hoka’s quality control has decreased drastically. I have been wearing Hokas for years. Last year my Bondi 7 started to fall apart after 3 months. I just purchased Bondi 8 in January and both sneakers have worn away in same spot on inside of sneakers. I was going to exchange but they won’t send a pair till they receive these. So basically 3 weeks without sneakers. I am now just receiving a refund and moving on to another better quality sneaker manufacturer. Too bad. They used to be quality.

So far so good

Purchased about one month ago, still breaking them in and haven't run in them yet. I've worn Brooks for the last several years, heard a lot of good things about Hoka and decided to try. I wear inserts with my shoes and so far everything is good. I have narrow feet but they fit snugly. The look and bulkyness take some getting used to but I didn't buy these for looks. I'm satisfied so far with the comfort of the shoes. Time will tell on durability and longevity. I typically wear out the heels 1st on my Brooks and then over time my right foot becomes supinated and I know it's time for new shoes. I'm interested to see how long these last.

Toe Box Too Wide

At age 71 6' 230 lbs by first pair of Hoka's for walking. Impressed with the cushy feel of these very comfy but i usually take 11 1/2. Had to go to a size 12 because my toes where touching the front in the 11 1/2 when walking. I have a narrow foot and the toe box seemed too wide on the D medium. Also they felt like too much shoe almost like a Clown shoe in the toe box area! Read all the hype about the Bondi 7 being better so I ordered a pair on line and returned the Bondi 8. I must agree I love my Bondi 7s. 11 1/2 size is perfect and looking down the toes box doesn't look so BIG! Need to stock up on the 7s before they are all gone! Thank You HOKA for the Bondi 7!!!!

Very good stuff!

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!