Hoka Bondi SR Review

A comfort-first design focus paired with boot-like rigidity makes the Hoka Bondi SR an interesting shoe. It's a bit like a luxury SUV — it has a plush interior made with soft materials, yet its exterior is tough and ready to get messy.

Comfort

As the most-cushioned of Hoka's road shoes, the Bondi SR provides long-lasting comfort. This shoe has earned the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, which is granted by a committee of podiatrists to products that promote good foot health. After miles of walking in these Hokas, we experienced no foot pain and only minimal leg fatigue due to the shoe weight.

We measured an impressively tall 40mm heel stack height and a 33mm forefoot stack on these Hokas. That means there's a lot of EVA cushion between your feet and the pavement. And while that foam does feel a bit plush, it's not bouncy or too soft. Hoka's early-stage MetaRocker guides your foot through the step and maintains stability throughout, which helps keep fatigue to a minimum.

Shoe Exterior Shoe Interior

And the full-grain leather uppers add style, function, and comfort to the equation. They're pleasantly soft to the touch. However, they can feel a bit tight and restrictive on your foot when brand new. We initially felt that the Bondi SR's width was too tight, especially at the midfoot, but after several thousand steps, the leather had “broken in” and the fit felt much improved.

But while the leather uppers have some great benefits, ventilation is their greatest weakness. The lack of breathability in these shoes means your feet can get quite warm and may sweat. It's a tradeoff, for sure. If you do prefer well-ventilating uppers over protective leather uppers, other versions of the Hoka Bondi are also available — so you have options.

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Support

Among the first qualities we noticed about the Hoka Bondi SR was the shocking rigidity of its sole. Again, this is another way in which this shoe is like a boot. At first impression, this seemed like it would only cause discomfort, but it actually makes the shoe amazingly stable, enhancing comfort and overall support.

Not only is the sole rigid, but its category-leading 5-inch width provides exceptional ground area contact. And more ground contact translates to greater stability.

Hoka lists the Bondi SR as a “neutral” shoe. That's because they haven't added unnecessary stabilizers or other prescriptive technologies to the shoe. Instead, the cushion and base provide enough support on their own, with the MetaRocker adding just a touch of guidance to keep your foot rolling smoothly from heel to toe.

Attaining a 100% heel lock required trying a couple of lacing techniques. Standard lacing left some wiggle room, and you want your heel to be fully locked in place to prevent hot spots and blisters. The runner's loop technique worked best for us. And since the top two eyelets on either side of the Bondi SR shoes are reinforced, this lacing technique felt like the ideal method for this shoe.

Traction

The Hoka Bondi SR is exceptionally grippy in most settings. The outsole is fully covered in non-marking, oil and slip-resistant rubber. We tested this rubber compound's traction on various surfaces, including wet tile, linoleum, and pavement, and couldn't get it to slip even when we tried to force it. For potentially messy places like wet hospital floors or greasy kitchens, these Bondis will work to keep you upright.

The rubber itself is ultra-grippy, but the material is only part of this shoe's traction story. The extra-wide base is also a traction-boosting factor, since more ground contact inherently leads to more friction and grip.

To that end, the tread has been precision-engineered to maximize traction — deep tire-like grooves separate sections of hexagonal lugs that are further divided. The grooves allow plenty of space for puddles of liquid to escape, while the hexagons create a puckering effect with each step, like it's latching on to the ground as you walk.

While this all manifests as astounding traction on flat surfaces, the sole fails to provide the same level of grip on gravel and uneven trails. That's because, aside from a few deep grooves, the outsole is flat — there are no large, chunky lugs that can grab gravel and stab into dirt.

Weight

Yes, these are heavy shoes. At about 30 ounces for a pair of men's 10.5-size regular-width Hoka Bondi SRs, you'll certainly feel them on your feet. The leather material, thick foam stack, and wide base all add ounces to the total count. Comfort and protection come with a price, and for these shoes, that price is weight. We took the Hoka Bondi SRs on a five-mile walk, and by the end, we experienced a bit of leg fatigue from hoofing them around.

Dare we say it again? They're nearing boot-like territory in this aspect, too. Walking miles in boots is certainly possible and can be comfortable, but work boots tend to perform their best at work, and for most people, they're not walking five miles at once while on the clock. So in that same vein, the Bondi SR shoes will perform best for someone who frequently walks short distances and may have periods of standing, squatting, or sitting between those walks. In such a use case, the weight won't be much of a factor.

Durability

Generally, the Hoka Bondi SR is a durable and hard-wearing shoe. The materials are of quality, but they've been chosen to perform well in some situations moreso than others. It will depend on your use case.

As a walking shoe kept to indoor use and pavement, this shoe will last you a long time before needing repair or replacement. The leather uppers are sure to age well, and the outsole will remain supremely grippy so long as it is kept clean. User reviews report interior fabric wear as a cause for concern, but we did not experience this during our testing.

On the other hand, trail and gravel use may wear down the shoe prematurely. Sticks and rocks may scar the leather uppers. And part of what makes the outsole so grippy is that it is comprised of a soft, maleable rubber compound — and while that rubber will hold strong on smooth tile, it will break down much more quickly against the forces of nature.

Should You Buy the Hoka Bondi SR?

The Hoka Bondi SR is a great all-day shoe that supplies plentiful comfort and support. Water-resistant leather uppers and slip-resistant soles add function and utility, making them a great choice for various workplaces, from retail to restaurants and healthcare. But their heft and limited ventilation make them less than ideal for long periods of continuous walking. If you're an intrepid explorer needing a shoe for long walks on the beach and through the woods, look elsewhere, but for day-to-day use and workplace environments, they're a solid option.

What Other Men's Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

The Hoka Bondi SR is almost its own category of shoe, but it's not the right choice for everyone. If you're in need of a comfortable shoe you can work in all day, but want something a little more professional in appearance, consider the Dansko Professional. Or if you're all about maximum comfort, but you're hunting for a shoe that weighs much less and has great ventilation, take a look at the Altra Experience Flow 2.