HOKA Bondi 9 Reviews

After 100 miles, a forefoot striker who initially disliked the Bondi 9 now loves it as their daily trainer, saying it gets better every run, and ran a half marathon in it.

A 114 kg runner finds the Bondi 9 a great daily trainer, much softer and springier than the Bondi 8 with a roomier upper, though not as bouncy as the Skyward X.

A senior marathoner is digging the Bondi 9: classic Bondi cushioning with subtle firmness and stability, and a great new foam.

The Bondi 9 feels lighter than it is, with a wider upper, a slightly softer midsole and a much better ride than the clunky, firm Bondi 8.

A premium neutral max trainer with plush but structured cushioning. The new heel frame makes a very wide, stable, secure landing, and the rocker still rolls you forward. Still heavy, and the heel may be too structured for some (a bit much for one tester's mechanics).

Some of the highest cushion she's tested, for supreme comfort. A balance of plush comfort and practical performance for runners who put protection over pace. Though neutral, the wide heel and midfoot make it surprisingly stable.

Final score 8. Always Hoka's maxi model for slow and recovery runs, and v9 is much improved. Value score 7.5: at €180 it's €20 cheaper than its direct rivals, the Glycerin Max and its peers.

'A shoe for many feet': high comfort, and it adapted to his feet immediately. A max-cushion, stable shoe that should reach 500-600 km. He cautions that the midsole may lose much of its cushioning before the outsole looks worn.

Plush, protective and trustworthy, and he never found it heavy (unlike the Bondi X). Feet stayed warm at 1°C and the mesh breathed as it warmed. No major wear at 100 km. For ultrarunners, long endurance and recovery runs; not for speedwork.

A long-haul max-cushion workhorse: protective and comfortable for very long days, including a 51-mile ultra. It held up well across ~250 miles.