HOKA Bondi 9 Overview | Name It a Comeback

When the Hoka Bondi was first launched, it was thought-about outrageously huge and cushioned to plenty of runners. Now it’s the norm amongst max cushioned footwear. Our focus is on how the Hoka Bondi 9 has revamped itself and if we’d now name it an ideal operating shoe once more, as an alternative of only a nice strolling shoe.

We’ve put in plenty of miles in Bondi footwear over time and there’s a motive, they usually pop up on our checklist like greatest strolling footwear or greatest Hoka trainers. That’s proper a shoe might be good for each, you simply must have a special pair on your lengthy strolling days vs operating due to your put on sample.

The final Bondi left us wanting extra, so now right here we’re placing issues to the take a look at. Did this huge overhaul give us extra?

Who Is It Good For?

Who’s Hoka Bondi 9 a superb match for? Let’s break it down with some frequent classes:

• Vast Ft: Go for the large and extra-wide choice!
• Heavier Runners: Completely a go to choice for foam that compresses properly, feels steady and sturdy.
• Lengthy Runs: 100% seize this for these longer miles to have a clean journey from begin to end.
• Entrance of the Pack: Excellent for these straightforward and restoration paced miles.

This might be nice for mid and again of the pack runners in search of a every day coach to go that further distance.

Hoka Bondi 9 Overview

I’ve to be trustworthy, the final time that I attempted operating in a pair of Hokas a couple of years in the past, I returned them solely after a couple of runs as a result of they only weren’t the shoe for me.

I used to be apprehensive the identical factor was going to occur after I went to check these however you possibly can even ask my husband I need to’ve mentioned “wow” a minimum of a couple of instances whereas operating.

My first run within the Bondi 9 was a kind of actually really feel good runs the place I wished to simply preserve going.  Okay, perhaps it was the footwear or perhaps it was as a result of I used to be coming off of some relaxation days however both means I’ll take it.

When you’ve got been a very long time fan of the Bondi, I believe you’re actually going to understand the updates that Hoka has made.

That is going to be a shoe that’s nice for center and again of the pack runners who’re in search of a every day coach that’s sturdy, supportive and has a cushiony really feel.

It’s constructed for consolation over velocity, making it a super alternative for these longer coaching runs. Will it’s a shoe that center and again of the pack will put on for half and full marathons? I believe it undoubtedly has some potential!

Whereas it’s not constructed for speedwork, the Bondi 9 nonetheless provides a contact of bounce because of the mix of its supercritical EVA foam and the graceful MetaRocker midsole design.

(If you happen to’re questioning what EVA is, it’s essentially the most generally used operating shoe foam and helps the shoe to really feel springy relying on how a lot is used.)

I believe I notably actually loved operating within the Bondi 9 due to the graceful MetaRocker. It’s tremendous refined and helped to encourage extra of a pure gait and actually, I wasn’t operating as a lot in my typical dancer means (operating extra up on my toes) which has been one thing I’ve been engaged on enhancing.

Hoka Bondi 9 Specs

Let’s have a look at a few of the particulars:

• Weight: 10.5 oz Males’s, 9.3 oz Girls’s
• Heel Drop: 5 mm
• Utilization: Max cushion every day coach
• Obtainable in 6 colours
• Obtainable in large and further large (in restricted colours)
• Obtainable on Hoka.com for $170

I put on a dimension 11 in trainers so after I look down at my ft it’s A LOT extra shoe than I’m used to. However, I’m to the purpose the place I’d a lot quite put on a shoe that FEELS good because the precedence over how my ft look within the shoe.

Bonus factors to Hoka as a result of the Bondi 9 does are available in plenty of cool colorways.

Hoka Bondi 9 Really feel

Hoka gave the Bondi a makeover and it’s all about enhancing the journey and most significantly the match. Spoiler alert, they nailed the consolation.

The very first thing I seen after I placed on these footwear was how comfy they felt. There may be loads of padding across the collar and tongue which felt nice from the beginning and actually, solely appeared to get higher every time I put them on.

The tongue stayed completely in place and I used to be completely happy that the prolonged heel pull didn’t trigger any irritation or blisters even with my low rise socks.

One of the vital noticeable updates within the Bondi 9 is the upgraded cushioning to Hoka’s tremendous crucial foam EVA. This helps to provide that softer, extra responsive really feel underfoot.

I seen that whereas operating on each the treadmill and out of doors every step felt actually clean. It has the right stability between mushy and agency and I didn’t really feel like I used to be sinking right into a marshmallow like I’ve when attempting different pairs of Hokas.

Even with all that cushioning, the Bondi 9 nonetheless manages to really feel light-weight, which is a large win for a shoe this plush.

Hoka additionally upped the stack top by 2mm, bringing it to 43mm within the heel, and whereas that may sound like lots, it didn’t really feel cumbersome or unstable in any respect.

Lately, my go-to shoe for restoration runs has been the Brooks Glycerin Max however the Bondi 9 might must have a spot in my rotation.

Hoka Bondi 9 Match

On the subject of the match, I felt the Bondi 9 was barely on the slim aspect. If you happen to usually want a wider shoe, you would possibly need to try the large or further large choices.

For me, the midfoot felt comfortable, however there was nonetheless loads of room within the toebox that might be particularly good when my ft swell on these longer runs.

One of many upgrades is the knit higher, changing the mesh from earlier variations. I really like how this gave the shoe a sock like match, making it really feel much more safe and comfy.

I took the Bondi 9’s out within the tremendous chilly temps that we had right here in Colorado and I really feel just like the knit higher saved my ft hotter. But it surely does make me marvel about how the thicker materials will do within the heat temps, particularly as somebody who heats up shortly.

The shoe’s outsole is designed with a Durabrasion rubber to assist delay the shoe’s life, particularly within the areas that usually see extra put on and tear. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see the way it holds up after getting some extra miles logged each on the treadmill and out of doors.

Comparable Sneakers to the Bondi 9

We’ve examined a couple of footwear that really feel related, however completely different based mostly on the model match:

Hoka Bondi Vs Skyflow

You possibly can see a few of the variations simply by placing the 2 footwear collectively. However the query is, what’s the distinction in how they really feel?

From Coach Amanda: Final yr, I switched from recommending the Bondi to the Skyflow for runners. With the Bondi 9 I used to be curious to see if that may keep the identical, so I pulled on each pairs for some restoration miles the day after a long term. 

Now, I’d say it’d come right down to what you take pleasure in most underfoot.

Skyflow truly feels softer, however together with your foot being cupped it’s actually steady. I may choose up the tempo a bit if wanted with it. In equity, the Skyflow is absolutely damaged in and I do marvel if the Bondi received’t really feel softer with extra miles on it.

Keep in mind the midsole is a supercritical foam so it’s not as sturdy, however is lots lighter and feels softer at a barely decrease stack.

Listed here are a few of the key variations:

• Bondi is a 43mm stack and the Skyflow 41mm
• Bondi makes use of an knit higher and Skyflow makes use of Creel jacquard higher (each a thicker materials)
• Each have a padded tongue and heel collar
• Each are impartial footwear
• Bondi is on the market in large and further large
• Skyflow is on the market in large
• Skyflow is extra average to max cushioning
• Bondi has a softer plush cushioning

There you have got it, our first ideas on the Bondi 9. I hope that this may assist get you excited to check out the up to date match and really feel of the Bondi in your subsequent stroll or run!!

Able to run? Go test it out on Hoka.com for $170

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