Our tester at first checked these shoes 6 months back and continues to grab them as a strolling shoe for walkings. Our tester is a huge fan of Hoka shoes in basic and has actually likewise evaluated the Hoka Clifton 9 and the Hoka Transport. The Bondi 8 is unequalled as a strolling shoe, however as a running shoe leaves a little to be preferred.

The heel comes high up the back of the heel, providing grip and assistance where it matters.

Hoka Bondi 8: How we evaluated

Our 2 testers have actually been using the Hoka Bondi 8 for mild runs for 6 months, covering over 50km at a sluggish rate. Our testers both try to find a little various things in a running shoe, with one choosing a well-stacked, chunky shoe (like the Bondi 8) and the other favouring something more light-weight (like the Hoka Clifton 9).

Hoka Bondi 8: Build and cushioning

These shoes are unsurpassable in regards to cushioning: the layers of stacked foam in the sole make using them comparable to strolling on clouds.

The rear crash pad is developed with a “billowed” impact to cushion the foot strike. The majority of people strike the ground with their heels initially, so this is the very best location to have great deals of cushioning for energy absorption.

Our tester is a supinator( a natural gait where the foot tends to roll outwards) suggesting they prefer well-stacked, heavily-cushioned shoes that supply great deals of bounce. The Hoka Bondi 8 ticks every box in this regard: the most cushioned shoe our tester has actually utilized to date, it is now a company favorite.

The only problem we have is that the large crash pad, so comfy underfoot, can capture on our tester’s calves as quickly as they choose the speed up. While this isn’t completion of the world, on a longer run this might cause aching areas and bruising.

The heel-to-toe drop (4mm) likewise adds to the cushioning, taking pressure off the back of the calves and Achilles tendon when running. They are still thought about neutral shoes, however that 4mm heel-to-toe drop supports the natural roll of your foot, adding to the “bouncy” experience.

Hoka Bondi 8: Design and upper

These are fantastic shoes for roadway running, as the upper is versatile and soft, permitting the foot to roll and move over tough surface areas like concrete. It is less ideal for something like path running, where the chunky sole and thin upper might cause injury on unequal surface.

Our tester likes the partly gusseted tongue, which does not move when running, and the protected laces which do not require to be retied every couple of minutes. There is a heel tab to make the shoes much easier to pull on, and a useful ridge on the back to assist you kick them off once again.

Hoka Bondi 8: Outsole

The outsole is appropriately grippy, even on slick surface areas like damp tarmac, which is precisely where you require it most. This is another thing that makes them great roadway runners: you can rely on every action you take in them without losing your footing or erasing. While the structure makes them inappropriate for pronators, who will desire a stability shoe, they are dependably durable underfoot.

It deserves bearing in mind that all that rubber can be heavy, so these are not the very best shoes for striking speed PBs.

Hoka Bondi 8: Performance

These are incredibly comfy shoes that can be broken of package without any problems from rubbing or locations. The toe box is large enough to permit toes to splay on departure, and the heel-to-toe drop assists support the natural rhythm of your running foot.

They are much heavier than some runners would like, clocking in at 1 pound 5.6 oz (0.61 kg) for the males’s set and 1 pound 1.8 oz (0.5 kg) for the females’s. If you’re a range runner looking for high energy return, cushioning and bounce, jeopardizing a little on weight may lead to a more comfy running experience in general.

Hoka Bondi 8: Verdict

Eventually, these are our tester’s preferred set of basic function shoes, however not the very best runners they’ve attempted. While they are excellent shoes with whatever you might desire from an encouraging range road-runner, they are likewise heavy and they are broad.

These 2 defects knocked a star off the general ranking, however that still leaves the Hoka Bondi 8 with a healthy 4 out of 5 stars.

Lou Mudge is a health author based in Bath, United Kingdom for Future PLC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in innovative composing from Bath Spa University, and her work has actually appeared in Live Science, Tom’s Guide, Fit & Well, Coach, T3, and Tech Radar, to name a few. She routinely blogs about health and fitness-related subjects such as air quality, gut health, diet plan and nutrition and the effects these things have on our lives.

She has actually worked for the University of Bath on a chemistry research study job and produced a brief book in partnership with the department of education at Bath Spa University.