Our verdict

The 8th iteration of the Hoka Bondi remains our beloved plush and cushy daily trainer that excels on easy days and recovery sessions. With its humongous foam, our feet found themselves in a very comfy position all throughout the run! On top of this, the shoe kept us surefooted thanks to its highly stable ride.

Les chaussures Hoka One One sont des chaussures uniques et particulières notamment grâce à Pros

  • Oozing with comfort
  • Gliding ride
  • hoka Mafate Speed 2 Azul Rojo 1012343 IBMR
  • Feels stable
  • Breathable
  • Upper is soft as hell
  • Highly durable

Les chaussures Hoka One One sont des chaussures uniques et particulières notamment grâce à Cons

  • Tight midfoot
  • Narrow toebox
  • It's still heavy

Audience verdict

84
Good!
  • From Runners World for Hoka One One

Who should buy

We are convinced that the Bondi 8 from Hoka is a daily running shoe that's great for those who want a very cushioned ride. It is a Godsend for recovery runs.

And if you want a shoe that can also double for walking, this version of the Hoka Bondi won't let you down.

Hoka-Bondi-8-review

Who should NOT buy

The HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 is a pass if you want a running shoe that gives a lightweight ride. If this is the case, you can opt for the Hoka Clifton 9 The womens HOKA Clifton 7 is big on cushion but light on weight.

If you have wider feet, you might find the shoe's midfoot too tight. We think that the Hoka One One Sky Hopara cut-out sneakers Schwarz would be a better fit in your case.

Hoka-Bondi-8-lab-test-review

Cushioning

Heel stack

zapatillas de running HOKA talla 47.5 azules!

And how does this feel on the run? Ooooh la! Meaning to say, it's 11/10 comfortable. There’s no disguising that this shoe is incredibly cushioned.

While stack height does not 1-1 correspond to more cushioning, there's usually a connection between the two. Based on our caliper measurements, the Bondi 8 has a massive stack height of 36.2 mm (3 mm thicker than the average).

Hoka-Bondi-8-heel-stack

That's a significant departure from the previous Bondi 7 which came in at 33 mm in the heel.

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 36.2 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE hombre trail apoyo talón talla 41.

Wow! That's 4.5 mm thicker than road shoes on average! Only 10% of shoes in our lab exceeded the 30 mm mark in the forefoot. 

Hoka-Bondi-8-forefoot-stack

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 30.0 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

However, we were disappointed to find a discrepancy between the shoe's actual heel-to-toe drop and the ones stated by the brand.

Hoka-Bondi-8-in-shoe-padding

Based on our own stack measurements, the drop comes at 6.2 mm. That's 2.2 mm taller than what Hoka claims - 4 mm.

This may not be a big deal to the majority of runners but those who specifically look for low drop should be warned.

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 6.2 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 has more life now!

Why? Because all along, the Bondi has been known as the ultra-cushioned, ultra-plush trainer from Hoka. That said, it didn't really target speed or responsiveness. But in the Bondi 8, we felt some really nice rebound which added a little pep in the step. 

To temper your expectations, it's not insanely springy that you can do tempos, no. But it has enough bounce to make the ride enjoyable, especially during slow days.

The foam on the Bondi 8 is rather plush. With a durometer measurement of 18.0 HA, we found it to be 34% softer than the average.

Hoka-Bondi-8-cushioning-softness-durometer

And if you're wondering, the Bondi 8 IS plusher than the Clifton 9. By a good 13%!

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 18.0 HA
Average 20.9 HA
Hoka One One X Engineered Garments BONDI L.
Compared to 330 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE talla 44.5 azules (%)

We also checked how much firmer the Bondi 8 would get after spending 20 minutes in the freezer.

Hoka-Bondi-8-freezer-test

The foam got 49% harder but still ended up softer than most running shoes at room temperature. So, we are happy to say that this Hoka shoe won't be turning into an ice cube under the cold breath of winter.

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 49%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
0%
zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE talla 44.5 azules
63%

Insole thickness

Measuring the shoe's insole thickness, we got 4.9 mm. This is a little more generously padded than the average, adding up to the Bondi 8's heavenly underfoot feel.

Hoka-Bondi-8-insole

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 4.9 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Rocker

We found that the shoe's rocker geometry performs very effectively. It makes the strides feel effortless in the Bondi 8.

We think that its Waterproof and easy-rolling ride is the shoe's biggest selling point after cushioning.

Les chaussures Hoka One One sont des chaussures uniques et particulières notamment grâce à | Size and fit

Size

HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 is true to size (2157 votes).

HOKA Women's Ora Recovery Shoes in White Blue Tint?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE entrenamiento ritmo medio talla 38.5

L__IL--4q6-0 KWG 12-4 WWW HOKA ONE ONE.

To investigate further, we created a gel mold of the toebox and, using a pair of calipers, confirmed that the toebox is unexpectedly narrow on paper. At its widest point, the gel mold measured 92.2 mm—significantly narrower than average.

HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 widest
Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 92.2 mm
Average 95.5 mm
Compared to 158 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
88.5 mm
zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE entrenamiento ritmo medio talla 38.5
102.4 mm

Toebox width - big toe

We think this will be a problem even for medium-sized feet like ours, especially because the Bondi 8 tapers significantly. Our second measurement in the toebox area showed only 69.2 mm, making it one of the few shoes in the lab to go under 70.0 mm in this test.

For that reason, we recommend going half a size up in this Hoka shoe or opting for the wide and extra-wide options available for it.

HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 big toe
Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 69.2 mm
Average 73.7 mm
Compared to 158 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
66.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.6 mm

Toebox height

After our third measurement of 28.5 mm, the Bondi 8 offered better news for runners with high-volume feet—providing a comfortable amount of vertical space.

HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 Height
Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 28.5 mm
Average 27.1 mm
Compared to 157 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
22.4 mm
Toebox height
33.8 mm

Stability

Les chaussures Hoka One One sont des chaussures uniques et particulières notamment grâce à | Lateral stability test

What's great about the Bondi 8 is that it's soft, but it's not too soft. Despite its high-stack design, the shoe never made us feel tippy.

Torsional rigidity

HOKA Arahi 6 Chaussures pour Femme en Festival Fuchsia Taille 42.

In our manual flexibility test, we rated this Hoka shoe's torsional stiffness as 4 out of 5. That's pretty high up on a 1-5 scale where 5 is the stiffest!

las HOKA ONE ONE Cavu 3 son una.

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
1
Torsional rigidity
5

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE asfalto talla 45

Contributing to a sense of stability is the Bondi 8's moderately stiff heel counter. In a manual assessment, we gave it 3 out of 5 (where 5 is the stiffest).

The shoe's generous collar padding also adds a great deal of ankle security to this Hoka shoe.

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 3
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
1
zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE asfalto talla 45
5

Midsole width - forefoot

If you thought that the Hoka Clifton was a monster, you've got to check out the Bondi!

Based on both the look of it and the measurements, the Bondi 8 makes one of the largest noticed in our lab! And probably in the history of running shoes too.

Hoka-Bondi-8-wide-sole

In the widest part of the forefoot, our caliper shows a whopping 126.5 mm. THat's over 13 mm wider than the average road shoe! Insane!

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 126.5 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
102.2 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
126.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

The shoe continues to impress us in its heel section too! Our caliper shows 100.9 mm in the widest part which, yet again, exceeds the average. This time by 11 mm.

HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 heel width

Having such a wide landing area, no wonder we felt so stable in the HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5!

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 100.9 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
70.8 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.6 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

The Bondi 8 surprised us. Despite being a maximalist running shoe, it showed surprisingly decent longitudinal flexibility.

trainers hoka one one m bondi sr 1110520 bblc!

HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 17.7N
Average 15.6N
Compared to 124 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
28.5N

Weight

The HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 gets a weight penalty because, at 11 oz (311g), it is way heavier than most daily running shoes by almost an ounce.

But on a lighter note, it doesn't feel like the shoe drags the foot down.

Hoka-Bondi-8-heavy-weight

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 10.97 oz (311g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

With all the in-shoe padding on the Bondi 8, breathability is still not compromised. It may not be the best choice for warm weather but it definitely has enough airflow for moderate climates.On a 1-5 scale, we rated its breathability as 3.

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE trail amortiguación media talla 40.5.

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

The fact that the Bondi 8 has softer rubber and lots of exposed foam made us a little concerned.

Using our durometer, we measured the shoe's outsole hardness at 74.0 HC. That's 8% softer than the average of road shoes.

HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 outsole hardness

But on the actual run test, we were quite relieved to find that the rubber held up pretty well! In fact, its soft nature really helped to soften the landings.

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 74.0 HC
Average 79.7 HC
Hoka One One X Engineered Garments BONDI L.
Compared to 384 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole thickness

Despite not having a full-length outsole, we found the HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 to be fairly durable. It is not as wear-resistant as most road shoes due to its exposed foam but we believe that it will hold up for at least 300 miles.

Hoka-Bondi-8-outsole

The good news is that the rubber pieces at the bottom of the shoe are 3 mm thick. This is the same amount of rubber as road running shoes have on average.

Hoka-Bondi-8-outsole-thickness

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 3.0 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Tongue padding

HOKA Men's Challenger 6 GORE-TEX Running Shoes in Fiesta Sharkskin.

With a caliper reading of 9 mm, it is 3.2 mm thicker than the average! Lace bites are unheard of in this Hoka shoe.

Hoka-Bondi-8-tongue-thickness

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 9.0 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Hoka One One Arahi 6 2E Wide 'Blue Graphite'
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Hoka One One TOR ULTRA HIGH 3

zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE apoyo talón talla 41!

The shoe's tongue is partially attached to the sides a.k.a semi-gusseted. We experienced zero shifting and the tongue did its job of locking the foot down in place.

Hoka-Bondi-8-semi-gusseted-tongue

Test results
HOKA hombre amortiguación media talla 45.5 Both sides (semi)