REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Well-cushioned
Great joint protection
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Clunky
Hoka Bondi 9 - Women's Review
Built for walking and jogging, this shoe offers ample underfoot cushioning, but it is heavy
For walks and the occasional slow jog, the Bondi is a comfortable choice.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
By Ally Arcuri ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 10, 2025
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
With cushioning that just won't quit, the Hoka Bondi 9 is a powerfully popular shoe that is ideal for meandering walks and long days on your feet. This clunky shoe offers a tapered take on comfort, making it less suitable for people with wider feet, though Hoka thoughtfully offers wide and extra-wide options. Runners who are dead-set on a heavily cushioned road running shoe by Hoka will find success in the updated Bondi 9. However, the Bondi is not a shoe for speed, and runners seeking an energetic and dynamic experience will quickly become bored with its comfortable reliability.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Hoka Bondi 9 delivers a softer, more runner-friendly fit than the Hoka Bondi 8, making it a better choice for steady daily mileage.
For walkers and easy joggers, the Bondi remains one of Hoka's most supportive and reliable options.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Cushioning
The Hoka Bondi 9 delivers a well-engineered undercarriage packed with supercritical foams, a supportive frame, and a smooth rocker for a reliable ride. With 37 mm of stack in the heel and an 8 mm drop that places the forefoot at 29 mm, it provides a balanced platform for daily miles.
The Hoka Bondi 9 offers a durable, supportive ride with high-performance foams, a smooth-enough rocker, and lasting comfort for walkers and casual runners.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The cushioning feels more protective than plush, prioritizing durability and consistency over softness. Impressively, even after extensive testing, the underfoot feel remains steady and resilient - something many high-tech foams fail to achieve. For walkers and mellow joggers seeking lasting support and comfort, the Bondi 9 remains one of Hoka's most dependable shoes.
The Hoka Bondi combines engineered mesh and a molded heel collar for a secure, durable fit, with slightly narrow forefoot options and a non-gusseted tongue as its only minor drawbacks.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Upper Comfort
Much like its cushioning, the Bondi 9 offers an upper that feels both strong and dependable. Crafted from engineered mesh, this style pairs seamlessly with a molded heel collar for a secure and comfortable fit. While the upper can run a little warm with less breathability, the trade-off is increased durability, making it worthwhile. The midfoot and forefoot run slightly narrow, which may be a drawback for runners who prefer roomier toe boxes. Fortunately, Hoka also produces wide and extra-wide versions, ensuring that more runners can enjoy the Bondi's supportive build without compromise. Our only issue with the Bondi is that its tongue isn't gusseted. Plush and secure across its midfoot, this is the only true upgrade we would make to the fit of this shoe's upper.
The Bondi's wide platform and structured midsole provide a stable, supportive ride, while its firm heel collar and sidewalls enhance security, creating a controlled feel - even if it doesn't feel completely natural at first.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
Everything about the Hoka Bondi 9 feels oversized, which lends itself well to it's stability profile. The wide outsole provides a supportive landing pad for each footfall. The width of the platform and structure of the underfoot materials create a neutrally stable ride that is ideal for runners seeking support. The heel collar is on the stiffer side, blending well with the structure of the side walls. The construction of the updated Bondi doesn't feel the most natural, but it's engineered in a way that makes it feel secure and prevents unnecessary wobbles.
As heavy as expected, the Bondi is best suited for long walks and easy jogs, rather than runs where you want to increase your leg turnover.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
Each women's size 6.5 Bondi weighs 8.61 ounces, to be exact. While this is to be expected, the monstrous weight of the shoe comes with some downsides. The Bondi isn't a shoe we recommend for runners who want to level up their running by increasing leg turnover. The weight of this shoe makes it better suited for long walks and occasional jogs.
We found the Bondi 9 to have reliable traction. It's unsuitable for trails but manages gravel turns and everyday conditions with surprising confidence.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Traction
We were impressed with the Bondi 9's traction. While not at all suitable for moderate trails, it held its ground well in various weather conditions. We gauge traction, in part, by how well a shoe can handle top speeds around gravel corners. The Bondi isn't a top-speed shoe, but with an outsole coated in texturized rubber, it handled the twists and turns around our neighborhood with ease.
The updated Hoka Bondi is designed for walking and easy runs, offering durability and support.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Should You Buy the Hoka Bondi 9?
Hoka updated the Bondi and made it a shoe that is built for mellow running, walking, and standing. Although a bit on the pricier side, the durability and strength of this shoe make it worth the investment. That said, the Bondi is not a dynamic, do-it-all shoe. Runners who want energy return in a versatile running shoe will find that the updated Bondi falls flat.
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If cushioning is what you're after, the Asics Novabast 5 is a much more exciting road running shoe to consider. If you like the firm cushion of the Bondi but want something slightly more interesting, the Hoka Clifton 10 might be a better choice for you. The Nike Pegasus 41 is a standby shoe to consider for overall neutrality and less heft.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Hoka Bondi 9 - Women's versus top competing products:
—Ally Arcuri
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