REASONS TO BUY
Super plush
Durable build
Stable
REASONS TO AVOID
Less responsive
Maximal design won't suit everyone
Uncomfortable upper
Narrower than past iterations
Hoka Bondi 8 - Women's Review
If you are looking for an ultra-cushioned shoe to help protect your joints, the underfoot stack of this shoe is built for you
Here is an example of a highly-stacked, ultra-plush running shoe.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
The Hoka Bondi has long been a beloved running shoe for cushion-loving distance runners and people who work on their feet for long hours. The Bondi 8 was released with an updated, nearly half-inch thick tongue and finger loop heel design to create a more balanced ride and comfortable fit. Hoka also chose to update their lightweight foam and the shape of the engineered mesh of the upper, which created a narrower shoe than in the past. While we still love the ample underfoot stack, the upper comfort took a serious hit with this new version — so much so that Hoka re-released the Bondi 7. If a plush stack is what you're after, the Bondi 8 still provides plenty of cushion. But Bondi fans from the past, beware: this version isn't nearly as comfortable as prior versions.
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 This Product
Hoka Bondi 8 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Running Shoe for Women |  Best Value for a Women's Road Running Shoe |  Best Balance of Comfort and Responsiveness | Most Versatile Road Running Shoe | |
| Price | $132.93 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $140 List $139.95 at Amazon | $119.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $180 List $179.95 at Amazon | $139.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | The super-stacked EVA foam midsole of this shoe make it a strong contender for long, punishing road runs or even just long days on our feet | This running shoe offers the performance technology and comfort needed to be your go-to shoe, no matter your running goals | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | Though it lacks the lightweight tech of super shoes, the balance between its responsive midsole and lateral stability makes this a powerful everyday trainer | For epic versatility in a single shoe, we recommend this lightweight superstar |
| Rating Categories | Hoka Bondi 8 - Women's | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Hoka Bondi 8 - Women's | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Measured Weight | 8.87 oz | 7.36 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.17 oz | 6.27 oz |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 36 mm | 38 mm | 27 mm | 35 mm | 33 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 8 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm | 7 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | Full length plastic | None |
| Rocker Angle | 17.0 deg | 22.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 24.5 deg | 24.5 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 70.7% | 69.5% | 64.7% | 65.0% | 65.4% |
| Style | Max-Cushion | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered knit mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Creel jaqquard |
| Midsole | Foam | FF Blast Plus Eco | PWRRUN | DNA Flash v2 | Supercritical EVA |
| Outsole | Durabrasion rubber | AHAR outsole | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | Finger loop | None | Extended heel pull | Extended heel pull |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 11 US, regular & wide |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The latest version of the Bondi by Hoka left our testers disappointed. The underfoot cushion and epic stack height feel the same as it has for the last few years, but the upper comfort really took a hit this time around. If you have a semi-narrow foot and are looking for a plush cushion to run upon, you might like the updated Bondi.
Performance Comparison
Despite having such great underfoot comfort, the updates to the Bondi ultimately left us uncomfortable on our runs.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Landing Comfort
Unsurprisingly, this metric is where the Bondi 8 earned a near-perfect score. With a stacked landing pad and plenty of cushioning, the joint protection offered by the Bondi is top-notch. This shoe has a 6 mm drop, with the heel sitting at a lofty 36 mm and the toe sitting 30 mm above the ground. This means that there is a ton of foam to dampen the impact of each footfall. When it comes to joint preservation and underfoot comfort, the Bondi provides exactly what many runners seeking out a maximalist shoe will need.
The maximal construction of the Bondi provides an excellent landing pad for longer runs.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Responsiveness
As a trend, maximalist shoes tend to score poorly in this metric, and the Bondi 8 falls in line. This shoe is built for comfort, not fast turnover and speed, so it is no surprise that it is not the most responsive.
The 36 mm underfoot stack and emphasis on comfort make the Bondi one of the less responsive shoes that we tested.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
When it comes to a maximally cushioned shoe's responsiveness, it isn't the actual worst, though. Because Hoka thoughtfully designed the midsole with rear crash pads and ultralight foam, the Bondi does offer some bounce. The weight of the shoe is well-distributed, which aids in its responsiveness by preventing it from feeling as clunky underfoot.
On long neighborhood runs, the cushion of the Bondi seemingly protects our joints from undue impact.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
The stability of the Bondi 8 is on par with that of the prior versions. The engineered mesh overlays of the upper provide strong support, though not quite enough for runners who want support structures to help correct overpronation. This version of the Bondi feels like it is relying on the tight body structure to create stability. This is great for the stability of the shoe but less so for the overall comfort.
The wide base of support and low heel-to-toe differential make the Bondi 8 a pretty stable shoe.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Upper Comfort
The redesigned upper of the Bondi 8 is far less comfortable than it has been in the past. As a past award winner for well-rounded comfort, we were disappointed with the updates to the upper of the Bondi.
The tense and narrow toe box of the Bondi is one feature that we don't like with this version.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The overlays of the upper provide support, which is awesome, except that the engineered mesh isn't quite as forgiving as it was in past versions. The mesh surrounding the toe box is quite rigid and doesn't leave quite enough real estate for toes to splay. Even our tester with narrow-to-average feet found the narrow and stiff toe box to be uncomfortable. Even after 20+ miles in the Bondi 8, we still felt uncomfortable around the toes due to this updated shape. Since much of the upper comfort occurs around the toe box, loosening and tightening the laces doesn't influence this. In fact, the tongue of the updated Bondi is quite plush and provides great comfort through the midfoot.
The weight distribution of the Bondi is great, despite it being a relatively heavy shoe.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
The Bondi 8 weighs 8.87 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe. Since it's a maximally cushioned running shoe, it is no surprise that it weighs in quite a bit heavier than many of the shoes in our lineup. As mentioned above, we love how well the weight is distributed in the Bondi. While much of the shoe's structure exists beneath the platform, it doesn't feel this way while running.
Even though the Bondi isn't our top pick this time around, we found a lot to love about this super plush running shoe.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Traction
With an outsole constructed of Durabrasion rubber, the Bondi has notably more traction than many of our favorite road shoes. We have worn it on many different surfaces and never had an issue with slipping. The Bondi has become popular among demographics who need traction to aid in their balance, with good reason.
The durabrasion rubber and wide base help keep the Bondi connected to the earth.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Hoka Bondi 8?
If you want a durably built running shoe that boasts maximum underfoot cushion, the Bondi 8 might be a great choice for you. If you want a shoe that will be with you for long days on your feet, the Bondi can be just that. While not the least expensive running shoe around, it provides good value, especially when it comes to specifically designed shoes. If the uncomfortable, narrow toe box doesn't bother you and if all of the other elements come together in the right way, the Bondi could still be a good choice for you.
For runs where we know we are going to hit a lot of pavement, we love having the Bondi in our line up.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If you're after max cushioning, the Hoka Skyward X is a far better all-around experience across nearly every testing metric (and is about on par with the Bondhi's traction). It costs more but offers some truly impressive comfort. Compared to other Hoka options, the Clifton 9 beat out the Bondi this time around because of its lighter-weight landing cushion and overall comfort. However, the Mach 6 is our current favorite Hoka model. The Mach 6 is significantly lighter and more streamlined in its fit when compared to the Bondi. The Mach feels light underfoot, making it a very versatile road shoe. For a fun, bouncy stack that is a bit softer and more forgiving, then Mizuno Neo Vista is a great alternative.
—
Ally Arcuri
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