HOKA  Bondi 9 Road-Running Shoes - Women's

I absolutely love these shoes. They have a solid base that is slightly wider than the foot so I never feel like I’m going to roll an ankle. Despite being slightly larger, they’re still super lightweight The heel curves slightly out so it’s easy to slip on and off and doesn’t dig into my ankle while I’m running. The soles are smooth, not nubby, so the tread is perfect for road running. But for that reason I don’t think I would recommend them for trail running. The color is more of a very dark bluish grey than a true black. I’ve been running in them 2-3 times per week since I got them about three weeks ago and I’ve already shaved off about 30 seconds in total from my 3-mile run. I absolutely love these shoes—they’re super lightweight and comfortable!

When these Bondi 9's arrived I wasn't sure I would love the increased stack height. Boy was I wrong. These are like cushy supportive pillows for your feet. Over the last few weeks I've walked almost 40 miles in these and my feet aren't tired, sore and covered in blisters. Their breathable and I find the width perfect. I'm between a size 9.5 and 10 and ordered these in a 9.5. As it gets colder out, I'm wishing I would have gotten the size 10 so I could wear with a heavier sock. The only negative, and a slight one at that, is the tounge is a bit short. Though I'd rather it be too short than long in a running shoe. Will definitely wear these out and order another pair!

I was Hoka before they became popular. It was the one shoe that allowed me to be active again. It was wide and fit my orthotics. With this latest shoe it is smaller in length and width. I’m guessing they are trying to make their shoes more mainstream. Unfortunately that has me looking for another shoe.

If you liked the previous iterations of the Bondi then don’t buy this one. I’ve been buying these shoes since iteration 5 and they took everything away that makes it a great shoe. They narrowed the shoe, especially the toe box, significantly, to the point that the wides were too narrow. I’ve been buying HOKAs for years because I have wide feet and bunions, and now even with the wide version, these are so narrow that they hurt. The previous versions made a great dual purpose running and walking shoe but now with how they designed the sole and cushion, the shoe works fine while walking but is clunky and fights against your stride when running. The only people who should wear these are people who have narrow feet and will only use them for walking.

I loved the look of these shows, and they were very cushy! Actually too cushy for my feet. I was wearing them in a class at the Y and the teacher told me that these are GREAT RUNNING SHOES but not good cross training shoes. They are curved where the heel hits the ground, so I was a bit unstable doing exercises. I wore them on a couple hikes, and they were ok for that. I’m usually either a 7.5 and an 8 - I had these in size 8 and they were too big so I think these run a little big. I’d recommend these for someone who wants a great running shoe with lots of cushion, but not if you want a multi-purpose shoe.

I love my Bondi's fit and I have three pairs now. However, I find that they fall apart after the 500 miles which for me is six months of walking, not even running! The inner ball of the foot area split open on both sides and the interior cushioning on the heel is worn out. This feels excessive for a $170 shoe. I own other brands of less expensive wide toe box running shoes and they are well past their 500 mile and I no longer run in them but wear them casually and they have not split open and are not visually worse for the wear. I just think that a shoe that is $20-30 more expensive than a competitor should be a well-built, sturdy shoe. Please fix this Hoka!

I’ve been wearing my new pair of HOKA Bondi 9 for several weeks now. I see reviews are mixed for this shoe. However, I personally find the Bondi 9 an absolutely fantastic and very comfortable walking shoe - no joke! I very much appreciate the extra cushioning on the insole! The insole - for me - also seems to be more level with the toe end tipping more evenly rather than tilting up or downward. I’ve been wearing HOKA now ever since they first came out. Their first shoe was a major hit and this Bondi 9 shoe - for me - is also a major hit. Just love it. I’m an avid walker. Well done HOKA! And, thank you…

I hate this shoe. I am a big fan of the Bondi series. The 8 was remarkable. I bought many pairs. Comfortable, wide, long-lasting. The 9 is a dud. They made the shoe narrower, which no longer fits the exact customer who loved the other Bondis. It's not as cushioned when you walk. They also got rid of the strap at the heel that helps you take the shoe on and off. I USE THAT!! EVERT SINGLE TIME I TAKE THE SHOES OFF AND ON. WHICH IS A LOT because I wear a pair in the house as well. Hoka you messed up with this version. Let's just get to the Bondi 10 and make your corrections to be more like the 8.

I'm very disappointed with the changes they made to the Bondi 9. The main difference is that they changed the fabric to something that is rougher and more mesh-like. They also made the back of the shoe (the part that touches your Achilles) very narrow and V shaped, instead of the U shape that the Bondi 8 had. Between the narrow shape and the mesh-like fabric, it really pinches the back of your foot and grabs the sock so it causes a rubbing sensation. You'd have to wear a very thin and smooth sock for this not to happen. I found this really terrible so I had to return them, unfortunately. I instead got a pair of Gaviotas which still maintain the U-shape of the back of the shoe and the smooth fabric.

I've bought Hokas for years and this is the first time I've been extremely disappointed! I read that there was a redesign and it is a failure. The plushness that I associate with the Bondi is gone! These shoes are as stiff cardboard and just as uncomfortable! I tried breaking them in for a couple months in the hopes it'll get better but they continue to make my feet ache!