Hoka Bondi 8

Running Shoe Reviews: Neutral Road
Hoka Bondi 8

Category

Neutral Running Shoes / Hoka Road Running Shoes

Summary

Average Weight: Men's 303g / Women's 252g
Offset: 4mm
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 31mm/ 27mm

Looking for a smooth, efficient ride with maximum cushioning? Then these are the running shoes for you. Lightweight, comfortable and responsive, it will keep you running happily through 2024 and beyond. Thanks to the superb shock absorption, this is also an excellent choice for getting back to running after an injury, or a shoe to put on as soon as you feel any niggles in your feet.

Men's Hoka Bondi 8

Men's Hoka Bondi 8
Men's Neutral Road Running Shoes
£150.00

Women's Hoka Bondi 8

Women's Hoka Bondi 8
Women's Neutral Road Running Shoes
£150.00

Features

Upper: Breathable mesh feels nice and comfortable, even though it is not as soft and giving as in some other shoes. This new version comes with a memory foam heel collar that offers a great fit and secure comfort for the ankle. Despite the fact that with some other shoe models of different brands I sometime have to go for a wider width, in case of the Bondi 8 the standard width fits me well. The toe box is not so deep, but I haven't had any problems with my toes rubbing against the upper.

Midsole: Full-length compression-moulded EVA midsole with TPU overlays offer maximal cushioning without feeling too soft or bulky. One can also really feel the benefits of the refined early-stage Meta-Rocker technology that is built in the midsole to work as a wheel for your foot. As a result, rolling through transitions is much easier and the ride feels really smooth and efficient. 

Outsole: Rubber outsole minimises weight and maximises durability of the shoe, which is already above standard. 

 

Women's Hoka Bondi 8
Women's Hoka Bondi 8

Pros

  • A unique blend of a maximum cushioning in a lightweight shoe
  • Active Foot Frame technology cradles the heel and embeds the foot securely, so even though the Bondi officially belongs to the neutral category, it feels really stable.
  • Smooth, efficient ride thanks to the Meta-Rocker technology
  • In women's fit available in two different widths (standard and wide).
  • In men's fitting available in three different widths (standard, wide and extra-wide).

Cons

  • The cushioning feels a bit firmer, which may not suit to runners who are used to soft cushioning.

In Testing

If you haven't seen Hoka shoes before, you may be surprised how bulky they look. The second surprise is that it feels unexpectedly lightweight. And the third revelation may appear as soon as you start running in them... Judging by the look, one wouldn't expect that featherlight and smooth ride.

In my opinion, one of the biggest benefits of this shoe is the maximum amount of cushioning. Hoka shoes are famous for being more cushioned than any of their competitors, and the Bondi 8 is no exception. Shoes with superior cushioning may on the other hand sometimes be lacking in responsiveness. This is, luckily, not the case with the Bondi 8.

The superior cushioning of Hoka running shoes is very popular with long distance runners and people who like comfortable shoes in general. I myself, belong to both the categories. But there is also the third category of runners that will appreciate these shoes. Hoka trainers are also often recommended by podiatrists to their patients with various foot problems or injuries, like Morton's neuroma, plantar fasciitis etc.

Due to my recent heel injury, I've had an opportunity to test the benefits of the Bondi 8 during my recovery. And I have to say that the shoe worked miracles for me, as it offered me the superior cushioning that was very much needed to protect my injured heel from the shocks caused by hitting the ground while landing. Thanks to the comfort and confidence the shoe provided, I was able to gradually get back to running at a time when my heel was still hurting a bit. When compared to other shoes of different brands, I haven't found another shoe that would be able to do the same trick for injured runners or walkers.

Another mind-blowing feature of this shoe is its stability. And here I am not talking about the stability in the anti-pronation control sense. I am talking more about the way how your foot feels inside the shoe and how it's guided through the stride. Simply feeling stable without any interference caused by the anti-pronation control of a medial stability post, which is often the case with the regular support shoes. The Bondi 8 usually works really well for mild over-pronators (which is my case), or people with neutral gait. However, strong over-pronators, may need to look for a shoe with a proper anti-pronation control that is built in the midsole.

If you are not sure about what kind of shoe is suitable for your gait, check out our Natural Gait Analysis service.


Verdict

I absolutely love this latest model of the Hoka Bondi 8. Thanks to its ultimate shock absorption it enabled me to keep running while I was still recovering from my foot injury. Its lightness, maximum cushioning, smooth and efficient transitions make them my favourite daily trainer for all kind of distances, from 2 miles up to marathon distance and more...

Men's Hoka Bondi 8

Men's Hoka Bondi 8
Men's Neutral Road Running Shoes
£150.00

Men's Hoka Bondi 8 Wide

Men's Hoka Bondi 8 Wide
Men's Neutral Road Running Shoes
£150.00

Men's Hoka Bondi 8 Extra Wide

Men's Hoka Bondi 8 Extra Wide
Men's Neutral Road Running Shoes
£150.00

Women's Hoka Bondi 8

Women's Hoka Bondi 8
Women's Neutral Road Running Shoes
£150.00

Women's Hoka Bondi 8 Wide

Women's Hoka Bondi 8 Wide
Women's Neutral Road Running Shoes
£150.00

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