HOKA Bondi 9 Evaluation | Name It a Comeback

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

We’ve put in loads of miles in Bondi sneakers through the years and there’s a cause, they typically pop up on our checklist like greatest strolling sneakers or greatest Hoka trainers. That’s proper a shoe will be good for each, you simply have to have a unique pair in 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 large 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:

• Extensive Toes: Go for the extensive and extra-wide choice!
• Heavier Runners: Completely a go to choice for foam that compresses nicely, feels secure and sturdy.
• Lengthy Runs: 100% seize this for these longer miles to have a easy trip from begin to end.
• Entrance of the Pack: Splendid for these simple and restoration paced miles.

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

Hoka Bondi 9 Evaluation

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

I used to be frightened the identical factor was going to occur after I went to check these however you possibly can even ask my husband I have to’ve stated “wow” not less than just a few occasions whereas operating.

My first run within the Bondi 9 was a kind of actually really feel good runs the place I wished to simply maintain going.  Okay, perhaps it was the sneakers 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 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 selection for these longer coaching runs. Will or not 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 gives a contact of bounce because of the mixture of its supercritical EVA foam and the graceful MetaRocker midsole design.

(When you’re questioning what EVA is, it’s probably 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 delicate and helped to encourage extra of a pure gait and truthfully, 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 take 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
• Out there in 6 colours
• Out there in extensive and additional extensive (in restricted colours)
• Out there 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 might 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 loads of cool colorways.

Hoka Bondi 9 Really feel

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

The very first thing I seen after I placed on these sneakers was how comfy they felt. There’s 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 vital noticeable updates within the Bondi 9 is the upgraded cushioning to Hoka’s tremendous important 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 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 big 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 could have to have a spot in my rotation.

Hoka Bondi 9 Match

With regards to the match, I felt the Bondi 9 was barely on the slim facet. When you usually want a wider shoe, you would possibly wish to try the extensive or additional extensive 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 rapidly.

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 fascinating 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 just a few sneakers that really feel related, however totally 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 sneakers 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 future. 

Now, I might say it would come all the way down to what you take pleasure in most underfoot.

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

Bear 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 sneakers
• Bondi is obtainable in extensive and additional extensive
• Skyflow is obtainable in extensive
• Skyflow is extra average to max cushioning
• Bondi has a softer plush cushioning

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