Now I'll tell you a story about how a small running shoe brand started in the French Alps completely changed the way runners viewed running shoes. To do that, I'll take you back to the beginning. Not quite Big Bang, Adam and Eve, or whatever you believe. But the beginning for that then-small running shoe brand, .
At the time, the trend was for running shoes to be as minimalist as possible. Ideally shoes without any foam in the midsole so you could really feel the ground and get back to basics. But HOKA One One's founders had a vision of something entirely different. They wanted shoes with plenty of cushioning and wide midsoles for stability, yet still light.
And there's the "rocker" aiding forward motion in your stride. The rocker works like a rocking chair, tilting the shoe forward, easing your next step. Thus, HOKA One One was created, and it wasn't long before the first came out.
Fast forward to today. We see nearly all have a shoe inspired by HOKA One One Bondi. But Bondi remains the original – with the release of the new HOKA One One Bondi 8, HOKA cements its reign as kings of comfort!
Well, that was quite a long intro just to say that are the bosses of comfort. So, let's move on to the actual review!
HOKA Bondi 8 – Lighter and More Tuned!
HOKA One One Bondi 8 is an excellent running shoe with maximum cushioning! They've changed things from Bondi 7 that I didn't think worked, making the shoe a bit lighter and more tuned.
The midsole of HOKA Bondi 8 has a new design, making it even softer and smoother to run in. It's still HOKA's typical CMEVA foam, but lighter and softer, with altered geometry, enhancing my running experience.
I've quickly turned to HOKA Bondi 8 for easy runs. It's really soft and nice to run in. It protects my legs well, and for cruising, it's perfect for me. Yes, it's just really nice to run in.
Kasper Tillegaard
HOKA Bondi 8 – A Shoe in Balance
The upper hits a fine balance of cushioning and breathability. I tested the shoe during a Danish summer, running in over 23 degrees Celsius. Even though it's cushioned and soft to wear, my feet never felt overheated. HOKA One One with Bondi 8 has achieved a balance, typically hard to get with both cushioned and breathable shoes!
On the outsole, HOKA One One has placed rubber on selected wear areas. It gives a good grip for what HOKA Bondi 8 is intended for, namely running on asphalt and wide forest paths. Without rubber covering the whole outsole, expect some wear on the midsole material, but there's plenty of it in HOKA Bondi 8 for lots of miles before wearing down.
Kasper Tillegaard
Overall, I find HOKA Bondi 8 a really nice shoe! I'll definitely use it for many easy runs this fall. I recommend it for anyone needing a highly cushioned shoe for easy runs. If you're a heavier runner, it will also work well due to its cushioning and wide base for stable landings.
Didn't find a favorite?
See the full selection of running shoes here:
