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 will serve you well
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 is a beloved running shoe for cushion-loving long-distance runners and people who work on their feet for long hours. The Bondi 8 was released with an updated, nearly half-inch think 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. 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 quite as comfortable as prior versions.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on October 9, 2023, to include more recommendations on other products to consider.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Hoka Bondi 8 - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $164.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $139.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $160 List $129.95 at Amazon | $139.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $120 List $63.72 at Amazon |
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 | With strong responsive bounce and enough comfort for long runs, this shoe will suit marathon hopefuls and speed demons alike | The structure and comfort of this shoe make it a highly recommended option for long distance runners who want a reliable road running steed | While not a race-focused shoe, this affordable and bouncy option will keep your legs turning over quickly and easily |
| Rating Categories | Hoka Bondi 8 - Women's | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Puma Deviate Nitro... | Brooks Adrenaline G... | Saucony Kinvara 14... |
| Cushioning and Landing Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (25%) | |||||
| Stability (20%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Hoka Bondi 8 - Women's | Asics Novablast 4 -... | Puma Deviate Nitro... | Brooks Adrenaline G... | Saucony Kinvara 14... |
| Weight (per shoe, size 6.5) | 8.87 oz | 7.36 oz | 7.02 oz | 8.21 oz | 5.55 oz |
| Style | Maximum | Neutral | Neutral/race | Supportive | Neutral |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US | 5 - 12 US | 5.5 - 11 US | 5 - 13 US | 5 - 12 US |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 9 mm | 8 mm | 12 mm | 5 mm |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 36 mm | 40 mm | 34 mm | 34 mm | 30 mm |
| Measured Forefoot Stack Height | 30 mm | 31 mm | 26 mm | 22 mm | 25 mm |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 4 mm | 8 mm | 6 mm | 12 mm | 4 mm |
| Claimed Heel Stack Height | Not stated | 40.5 mm | Not stated | Not stated | 31 mm |
| Claimed Forefoot Stack Height | Not stated | 32.5 mm | Not stated | Not stated | 27 mm |
| Measured Outsole Length | 10.75 in | 10.65 in | 10.31 in | 10.50 in | 10.13 in |
| Measured Outsole Width | 4.59 in | 4.32 in | 4.00 in | 4.25 in | 3.96 in |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered knit mesh | Mesh | Engineered air mesh | Mesh |
| Midsole | Foam | FF Blast Plus Eco | Nitro/Nitro-Elite | DNA Loft v2 | PWRRUN, PWRRUN+ |
| Outsole | Durabrasion rubber | AHAR outsole | PumaGrip ATR Rubber | Rubber | XT-900 rubber |
| Measured Outsole Hardness | 73 HA | 59 HA | 65 HA | 47 HA | 63 HA at inner toe/outer heel, 35 HA rest of shoe |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | Finger loop | None | None | Finger loop |
| Width Options | Regular, wide | Regular | Regular | Narrow, medium, wide, extra wide | Regular, wide |
| Heel Compression Stiffness | 45 lbf | 44 lbf | 35 lbf | 52 lbf | 40 lbf |
| Toe Compression Stiffness | 53 lbf | 38 lbf | 40 lbf | 56 lbf | 42 lbf |
| Toe Box Volume | 5.4 in^3 | 6.2 in^3 | 6.7 in^3 | 6.5 in^3 | 6.7 in^3 |
| Rocker Angle | 17.0 deg | 22.0 deg | 12.5 deg | 26.5 deg | 26.0 deg |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The latest version of the Bondi by Hoka left our testers disappointed. The underfoot cushion and epic stack height feels 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
Cushioning and Landing Comfort
Unsurprisingly, this metric is where the Bondi 8 earned a near-perfect score. With a stacked landing pad and plenty of cushion, the joint protection offered by the Bondi is top-notch. The Bondi 8 has a 6mm drop, with the heel sitting at a lofty 36mm and the toe sitting 30mm 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 long 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 33mm 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, the Bondi 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 the Bondi from feeling 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 models. 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. Because the Bondi 8 only has a 4 millimeters of heel-to-toe differential, your foot sits on a relatively stable plane. This contributes to the great stability of the updated Bondi.
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 the only 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 roundup. 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
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 toe box doesn't bother you and if all of the other elements come together in the right way, the Bondi might be a great 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?
We didn't test any other shoes quite like the Bondi 8 — it takes a plush stack height to a whole new level. The Hoka Clifton 9 beat out the Bondi this time around because of its lighter-weight landing cushion and overall comfort. The Hoka Mach 5 is a much lighter version of a plush distance shoe. The Asics Gel Kayano 30 is a maximalist running shoe with a ton of underfoot cushion that beats the Bondi out in every metric.
—
Ally Arcuri
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