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Now I'll tell you a story about how a small running shoe brand started in the French Alps completely changed how we runners viewed running shoes. And to do that, I'll take you back to the beginning. Not quite Big Bang, Adam and Eve, or whatever you subscribe to. But the beginning for what was then a small running shoe brand, .
At that time, the trend was for running shoes to be as minimalist as possible. Preferably shoes with no 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 lots of cushioning and wide midsoles that could provide stability while also being lightweight.
And we haven't even mentioned the “rocker” that helps propel you forward in the stride. The rocker gives a bit of the same effect as a rocking chair, so when you lean forward, the shoe rocks with you, making it easier to take the next step. And in this way, HOKA One One was created, and it wasn't long before the first came out.
Now we fast-forward to today. Here we see that almost all have a shoe heavily inspired by HOKA One One Bondi. But the Bondi is still the original – and with the release of the new HOKA One One Bondi 8, HOKA cements that they are still the kings of comfort!
Well, that was quite a long intro just to say that is the boss of comfort. So now onto the real review!
HOKA Bondi 8 – Lighter and More Balanced!
HOKA One One Bondi 8 is an excellent running shoe with maximum cushioning! I think they have changed the things from Bondi 7 that didn't quite work, and the shoe has become a bit lighter and more balanced.
The midsole on HOKA Bondi 8 has a completely new design, making it even softer and smoother to run in. It is still HOKA's typical CMEVA foam, but it has been made lighter and softer, and the shoe's geometry has also been changed, which has improved the running experience for me.
I've quickly started looking towards HOKA Bondi 8 every time I go for an easy run. It is really soft and pleasant to run in. I feel it protects my legs very well, and when I just want to cruise, 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 nice mix of padded and breathable. I've tested the shoe at a time when it's actually been summer in Denmark, so all my runs in it have been in temperatures above 23 degrees Celsius. Even though the shoe is padded and soft to put on, it has never felt like my feet were overheating. It's quite impressive that HOKA One One with Bondi 8 has hit that balance, as it's typically challenging to have both a padded and breathable shoe!
On the outsole, HOKA One One has placed rubber on selected wear areas. This gives the shoe good grip for what the HOKA Bondi 8 is intended for, namely running on asphalt and wide forest trails. Since there isn't rubber on the entire outsole, expect some wear on the midsole material, but in HOKA Bondi 8, there's plenty of it, so there should be lots of miles before it wears down.
Kasper Tillegaard
Overall, I think HOKA Bondi 8 is a really nice shoe! It's one that I'll definitely use for many of my easy runs throughout the autumn. I would recommend it to anyone who needs a highly cushioned shoe for their easy runs. If you're a heavier runner, it will also work well for you, as it's both highly cushioned and has a large and wide base, allowing you to land stably and safely.
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