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Hoka Bondi 8 Review

A max-cushioning shoe that doesn’t make any runs worthwhile
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Hoka Bondi 8 Review
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $165 List
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Manufacturer:   Hoka
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2024
44
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#30 of 30
  • Landing Comfort - 30% 5.5
  • Responsiveness - 20% 2.0
  • Stability - 15% 6.5
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 4.0
  • Weight - 15% 2.8
  • Traction - 5.0% 7.2
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

The Hoka Bondi 8 is a maximal cushioning shoe designed to provide plush comfort for easy running at the expense of speed and weight. Typically that's a fair tradeoff. Unfortunately, the foam of the Bondi 8 is firm and lifeless, the upper runs oddly narrow through the midfoot, and the heel collar is overly stiff. This shoe isn't very comfortable to run in, so you're paying a huge weight penalty for no good reason. We've tested a number of other max-cushioning shoes that are more comfortable, more versatile, and lighter. With that in mind, we can't recommend the Bondi 8 for running. However, we think some of the features that detract from the running experience make it a good choice for walking or standing.
REASONS TO BUY
Popular brand name
Good for standing in
REASONS TO AVOID
No responsiveness
Inert foam
Uncomfortable upper
Extremely heavy
Narrow/low-volume fit
This article was updated on November 3, 2024, to include new information from another round of testing.

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Bottom Line This shoe makes too many sacrifices while still failing its primary objective, and isn't a good running shoeAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Hoka Bondi 8 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Landing Comfort (30%)
5.5
8.0
8.3
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (20%)
2.0
8.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (15%)
6.5
5.7
7.0
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
4.0
7.5
8.0
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
2.8
6.8
5.8
8.4
5.3
Traction (5.0%)
7.2
5.0
4.0
6.2
9.0
Specs Hoka Bondi 8 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Measured Weight 11.80 oz 9.03 oz 9.76 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Measured Heel Stack Height 37 mm 38 mm 43 mm 30 mm 38 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 4 mm 11 mm 7 mm 7 mm 11 mm
Plate Type None Nylon None None None
Rocker Angle 20.0 deg 25.0 deg 22.5 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 68.0% 67.7% 66.5% 62.2% 66.7%
Style Max-Cushioning Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer
Upper Engineered mesh Engineered mesh/knit Engineered woven/knit FantomFit Engineered knit
Midsole EVA PWRRUN PB FF Blast + Eco FuelCell NITROFOAM
Outsole Rubber Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type Finger loop None Finger loop None None
Sizes Available 7-16 US, regular, wide & extra wide 7-15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Bondi 8 is an update of a hugely popular shoe. Unfortunately, we think it is a step backwards. This shoe makes huge sacrifices in an attempt to provide supreme comfort but fails to accomplish that goal. As a result, it's the lowest-scoring trainer in our lineup. We think it is a poor choice for a running shoe.

In late spring 2024, Hoka made the Bondi 7 available for purchase again. Many user reviews preferred the ride and upper fit of that shoe as compared to the Bondi 8.

Performance Comparison


hoka bondi 8 - the bondi 8 just isn't enjoyable to run in when compared to it's...
The Bondi 8 just isn't enjoyable to run in when compared to it's competitors.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Landing Comfort


If you only looked at the lab specs for the Bondi 8, you'd assume that the cushioning was excellent. It packs 37 mm of foam under the heel and 33 mm under the forefoot. That's on par with some of the most cushioned shoes in our test. Sadly, the foam Hoka used in this shoe is inert and oddly firm. With most max-cushioned shoes, we expect one of two sensations underfoot — plush and pillowy, or firm and bouncy. Some of our favorites are both plush and bouncy. The Bondi 8 doesn't fall into any of those categories. Instead, it's firm and lifeless. The foam borders on hard. You don't sink into it. It returns no energy and has no bounce. Running in the Bondi 8 feels like you have rubber bricks taped to the underside of your foot.

hoka bondi 8 - the stack height of the bondi 8 suggests comfort, but the reality is...
The stack height of the Bondi 8 suggests comfort, but the reality is far from it.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

As a result, we found that the Bondi 8 did very little to dampen landings, regardless of pace. It felt much more similar to shoes that have 10 mm less stack height — just heavier. We did notice that it actually started to feel a tiny bit better at faster paces when impact forces are higher, which is unfortunate because this shoe is designed for easy running. That does suggest it may work slightly better for heavier runners, although we still wouldn't recommend it. Overall, for a shoe that is designed around max-cushioning, we are very disappointed with the Bondi 8.

hoka bondi 8 - you can see here how little "give" the foam has. for the amount of...
You can see here how little “give” the foam has. For the amount of stack height underfoot, the ride is supremely disappointing.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Responsiveness


This is a shoe that is designed for easy running. It is not responsive and actively fights you any time you want to run faster in it. The massive chunk of foam tries to slow you down. It feels like it absorbs all the force you're trying to push off the ground with and returns none of it. We attempted a threshold session in them but gave up and switched shoes after only a mile. What are normally easy and relaxed mile-paced strides were slow and difficult in these shoes. In fairness, the shoe isn't designed for that type of running, but it's part of our standardized testing that every shoe goes through. The Bondi 8 is the least responsive shoe in our lineup, and it really isn't close. It does have a forefoot rocker to help offset the stiffness of the shoe, which is necessary. Counterintuitively, we think it helps the most at slower paces.

hoka bondi 8 - the rocker is visible in this cutaway.
The rocker is visible in this cutaway.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

This just isn't a versatile shoe. It has one pace — slow. If you ask it to go faster, it will argue with you until you give up.

hoka bondi 8 - trying to pick up the pace in the bondi 8 is a chore... so we gave up.
Trying to pick up the pace in the Bondi 8 is a chore... so we gave up.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


The Bondi 8 scores surprisingly well in the stability department, thanks to a few features that really help create a planted feel. First, there's the wider, flared platform. When combined with the firm foam, the shoe provides a very stable base when standing. That's one of the reasons we think this is a better option for walking or wearing to stand than it is for running. Second, the Bondi 8 has decent sidewalls on the inside of the heel and midfoot that provide some lateral support. Finally, the stiff upper structure and narrow fit help to provide solid lockdown.

hoka bondi 8 - the wide platform and sidewalls provide solid stability.
The wide platform and sidewalls provide solid stability.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Upper Comfort


The materials of the upper are pretty standard for Hoka. They're comfortable and mostly soft. The heel collar is padded, and the engineered mesh is soft. It isn't very breathable, but it works.

hoka bondi 8 - the upper breathes poorly.
The upper breathes poorly.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The same mesh that limits breathability also creates a very rigid toe box. The outside of the toe box has a fast taper that limits volume. We rarely have issues with toe box volume but found that the taper was a little too aggressive for comfort during longer efforts. The heel cup is overly stiff, which provides nice support but likely won't feel great if your heel doesn't fit the shoe perfectly. All of these issues have been noted in user reviews as well.

Finally, we noticed some mild discomfort through the midfoot of this shoe. That's unusual, and it's a result of a very narrow midfoot shape. Other users have reported similar issues. Hoka does offer a wide version of the shoe, which we would recommend to most users who typically find regular sizing to be comfortable through the midfoot. Overall, for a shoe designed to be comfortable on everyday runs, the upper really falls short.

hoka bondi 8 - here you can see the stiff heel collar, the narrow and high arch...
Here you can see the stiff heel collar, the narrow and high arch, and the low-volume fit.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Weight


The Bondi 8 is anything by light. It's one of the heaviest shoes in our lineup, coming in at a whopping 11.80 ounces in a US men's 10.5. That puts it at a significantly higher weight than similar shoes that offer much better cushioning and upper comfort. We definitely noticed this increased weight while running.

hoka bondi 8 - the bondi could stand to cut an ounce or two.
The Bondi could stand to cut an ounce or two.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Traction


The Bondi 8 has above-average traction thanks to the lug-shaped sections of rubber outsole and exposed midsole.

Should You Buy the Hoka Bondi 8?


If you're looking for a shoe to run in, look elsewhere. There are a number of max-cushioning shoes that better accomplish the cushioning and comfort goals of the Bondi 8 without making so many sacrifices to weight and responsiveness (or price). If you're looking for a decent shoe to stand in all day or to go for walks, this might be a decent shoe for you.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


If you value comfort above all else, there are a number of options that provide that far better than the Bondi 8. The Hoka Skyward X has the best cushioning we've ever experienced and significantly better responsiveness as well. The New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 has very plush cushioning with a more rockered ride and a bit more pace versatility. The Saucony Triumph 22 packs a chunk of soft and bouncy foam that makes it reasonably versatile and very comfortable.

Nathaniel Bailey