HOKA Bondi 9 Assessment | Name It a Comeback

When the Hoka Bondi was first launched, it was thought of outrageously massive and cushioned to a whole lot 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 a terrific working shoe once more, as a substitute of only a nice strolling shoe.

We’ve put in a whole lot 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 will be good for each, you simply have to have a distinct pair to your lengthy strolling days vs working due to your put on sample.

The final Bondi left us wanting extra, so now right here we’re placing issues to the check. Did this massive overhaul give us extra?

Who Is It Good For?

Who’s Hoka Bondi 9 an excellent match for? Let’s break it down with some widespread classes:

• Large Toes: Go for the vast and extra-wide possibility!
• Heavier Runners: Completely a go to possibility for foam that compresses effectively, feels steady and sturdy.
• Lengthy Runs: 100% seize this for these longer miles to have a easy experience from begin to end.
• Entrance of the Pack: Splendid for these straightforward and restoration paced miles.

This shall be nice for mid and again of the pack runners on the lookout for a day by day coach to go that additional distance.

Hoka Bondi 9 Assessment

I’ve to be sincere, the final time that I attempted working 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 fearful the identical factor was going to occur after I went to check these however you’ll be able to even ask my husband I need to’ve stated “wow” at the very least a couple of instances whereas working.

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

You probably have 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 on the lookout for a day by day coach that’s sturdy, supportive and has a cushiony really feel.

It’s constructed for consolation over velocity, making it an excellent 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 presents a contact of bounce due to the mix of its supercritical EVA foam and the sleek MetaRocker midsole design.

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

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

Hoka Bondi 9 Specs

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

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

I put on a measurement 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 somewhat 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 a whole lot of cool colorways.

Hoka Bondi 9 Really feel

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

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

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

One of the crucial 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 observed that whereas working on each the treadmill and outdoors every step felt actually easy. It has the right steadiness between delicate and agency and I didn’t really feel like I used to be sinking right into a marshmallow like I’ve when making an attempt 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 which may sound like rather a lot, it didn’t really feel cumbersome or unstable in any respect.

Not too long ago, my go-to shoe for restoration runs has been the Brooks Glycerin Max however the Bondi 9 might have to have a spot in my rotation.

Hoka Bondi 9 Match

In the case of the match, I felt the Bondi 9 was barely on the slender facet. When you usually want a wider shoe, you may need to take a look at the vast or additional vast choices.

For me, the midfoot felt cosy, however there was nonetheless loads of room within the toebox that shall 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 like how this gave the shoe a sock like match, making it really feel much more safe and cozy.

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. However it 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 lengthen 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 outdoors.

Related Footwear to the Bondi 9

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

Hoka Bondi Vs Skyflow

You’ll be able to 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 all the way down to what you take pleasure in most underfoot.

Skyflow really feels softer, however together with your foot being cupped it’s actually steady. I might decide 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.

Bear in mind the midsole is a supercritical foam so it isn’t as sturdy, however is rather a lot lighter and feels softer at a barely decrease stack.

Listed below 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 vast and further vast
• Skyflow is on the market in vast
• Skyflow is extra average to max cushioning
• Bondi has a softer plush cushioning

There you will have it, our first ideas on the Bondi 9. I hope that it will 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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