Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Hoka Bondi 9: The OG of Max Cushion Roars Back! 7 Comparisons

Article by Sam Winebaum

Hoka Bondi 9 ($170)


Introduction

The Bondi was the OG max cushion road trainer, sporting for years a big stable stack height of cushion few other trainers matched or even got close to. Over time, it got bigger yet.  As running shoe foams evolved it became relatively heavy, lumbering and best used for walking, and innumerable pairs have been sold for that as it is a superb walking and standing on your feet all day shoe. Yes, many trained in it as well but other max cushion options emerged in the last few years and started to eat into its franchise as the big shoe.


The Bondi 9 totally revives the model into a truly fine max cushion daily to recovery run trainer with a weight below several of its direct competitors such as the Brooks Glycerin Max and Ghost Max 2, and Hoka's plated Skyward X. 


Most significantly, it is now 0.9 oz / 26g  lighter as  it swaps old school compression molded EVA for modern supercritical EVA. This new foam is more energetic and lighter than the prior foam.


Even while losing weight it goes up 2mm in stack height to about 43 heel / 38 forefoot so is now is in the emerging super max category, 


Promising stats and tech aside it is a super fun big shoe to run, and yes still use for walking. Please read on for all the details my test results.

Pros:

  • Fun to run big shoe with supercritical foam energy and smooth flexible toe offs even with its big 38mm forefoot stack

  • Not the old lumbering Bondi: lighter, more flexible with a more dynamic ride and  yet more cushioned

  • Definition of a plush yet lively ride and fit 

  • Never thought I would say this but this Bondi 9 is for the first time a daily trainer class shoe if you like deep cushion and a softer ride

  • Comfortable roomy yet secure enough knit upper. 

 

Cons:

None really but how about a lighter weight yet via a more streamlined non knit upper

Fans of older versions may find it a touch less stable


Most comparable shoes

ASICS Nimbus 27 (RTR Review)

Brooks Glycerin Max (RTR Review)

Brooks Ghost Max 2 (RTR Review)


Stats

Approx. Weight: men's 10.45 oz / 296g

  Sample Weight: men’s  10.2 oz / 286g US8.5 (Bondi 8 10.72 oz / 303g US8.5)

Stack Height: men’s 43mm heel / 38mm forefoot (5 mm drop spec) 

Platform Width: 100mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 100 mm forefoot 


First Impressions, Fit and Upper

The upper is an engineered structured knit with some stretch. Usually I find “comfort” focused knit uppers sloppier in hold than I like, but not so here. The hold is excellent if for sure on the comfort rather than performance side of fits. 

The fit is for sure generous for my narrow to medium feet. 

Those who were at the edge in the Bondi 8 with its  non stretch engineered mesh upper and went with the available wide sizing  should for sure try the regular width as there is very decent stretch from the knit here. I note more over the toes and a less constrictive over the top of the foot fit.

The collars and tongue are plush but not overdone. The lace up is easy and secure.


All in all an excellent comfort upper. I do think somewhat lighter materials might have reduced the weight yet more to sub 10 oz but for the intended more mellow runs uses and comfort focus I won’t complain too much.


Midsole & Platform

The magic here is the midsole. The new supercritical EVA  foam here is soft and energetic. Super pleasant to run and a great move by Hoka. Keeping the midsole with old school EVA and making such foams softer and softer often lead to a mushy ride in big stack shoes. I found the Bondi 8 with its somewhat firmer  EVA foam dull, stiff and not particularly pleasant to run.. Not so here. 


The foam reminds of a slightly softer Puma Nitro, also an EVA supercritical in their trainers with different foams in their most recent racers. It is softer than Saucony PWRRUN Pb with a feel somewhat similar to the Fuel Cell PEBA/EVA blend foam in the Balos. It is clearly more energetic and softer than the compression molded EVA foam in the upcoming Clifton 10 (or 9) and somewhat softer than the similar supercritical EVA in the Mach 6 and similar stack height Skyflow.


The stack height goes up 2mm and the weight goes down 0.9 oz / 26g as a result of the new foam. So we get lots of cushion and protection while at the same time plenty of pleasing relatively quick, given the softness, rebound. 

The rear rising midsole side walls, the “Active Foot Frame” provide stability on landing while not getting in the way as their foam is soft enough  and not to in any way feels “rail-like”, overly present at the top of the midsole.


Bottom Line: The venerable Bondi gets a superb underfoot upgrade with lower weight, more energy return, more flex and a higher stack height of great feeling cushion. Huge Smiles on the run upgrade and walkers should be just as delighted.


Outsole

The outsole has a podular design and uses Hoka’s Durabraison rubber. Long term durability is  to be determined but should be good.


The outsole design and cavities below give the Bondi 9 decent flex while its rear focused higher midsole walls Active Foot Frame gives it sufficient stability although somewhat less than the firmer/denser foamed Bondi 8.


Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations

The Bondi 9 returns the OG of max cushion to the front of the pack. While I barely could run the Bondi 8 due to its dull, quite firm, heavy and stiff ride, the Bondi 9 is a delight to run, wear all day and walk in.


I tested them at a variety of paces from the lower end of my daily training paces (just above 9 min miles) to slower more recovery type runs, for some walks and for everyday wear. I was struck by their easy flow at slower paces, often where similar big stack stiffer shoes (Nimbus 27, Glycerin Max, Bondi 8) feel lumbering, back weighted and harder to turn over. Not so here!


I am curious as to what a flexible forefoot plate might do to this shoe to give it more pop.


Completely updated underfoot,  the Bondi moves from a plodder best suited to slow running and walking to become a relatively light super max cushion run trainer that can, for those who seek soft, big, energetic rides, serve as a daily trainer for all but faster runs.  For me, it will lean towards easier runs and recovery runs.  And not to forget its popularity for walking and standing on your feet all day it will remain a top choice. A very significant update as the Bondi 9 returns to form here!

Sam’s Score: 9.5 /10

No real deductions beyond wishing for a lighter somewhat more performance oriented non knit upper NS flexible plate but realize not going to see in this comfort above all else trainer.


Please also watch my Hoka Bondi 9 Video Review (15:08)



7 Comparisons


Hoka Skyflow (RTR Review)

The Skyflow is 1 oz lighter and sits on a somewhat lower 40/35 platform. It’s foam is supercritical (not specified what kind but feels like a PEBA/EVA blend and is  firmer than the Bondi’s. It has a more rigid rocker geometry due in large part to its firmer foam and outsole design which is less podular than Bondi’s. It is more responsive and less bouncy than the more mellow and fun Bondi 9. Think of it as a higher performance flavor of a mini max stack height Hoka. Its upper is more performance oriented and snugger if true to size and is similar to the Mach 6’s. The Bondi 9 upper is clearly more relaxed and comfortable and with more room due to its knit construction


Clifton 10 (RTR Comparison Review) Clifton 10,  Bondi 9, Skyflow 

The spring releasing Clifton 10 is the first Hoka to have an 8mm drop, all other Hoka over the years  have been 4 or 5mm in drop, a few less. Its stack height goes up to 42mm heel / 34 mm forefoot. The foam remains compression molded EVA and in comparison to the Bondi is dull and dated feeling, if now leading to far more stable Clifton than before. It fits me true to size with an upper that bridges between the more performance oriented Mach and Skyflow’s and the more relaxed Bondi 9. Think of Clifton 10 as a workhorse traditional daily trainer at mini max stack heights and Bondi 9 as the friendlier cruiser


Hoka Skyward X (RTR Review)

Add more stack height yet to 48/43, use a layer of PEBA underfoot, a sophisticated training focused carbon plate and below that the same supercritical EVA as the Bondi 9 and you get a a very slightly (0.2 oz) heavier shoe yes but a more deeply and energetically cushioned and faster one. Its upper is roomy and secure and despite the big big stack height it is somewhat more stable than the Bondi 9.  This comes at a price of $225 or $55 more than the Bondi 9 but I think worth it for the shoe’s yet more fun ride and increased versatility.


ASICS Nimbus 27 (RTR Review)

Another big stack height option. The Nimbus is stiffer and more ponderous with its non supercritical FF Blast Plus Eco foam denser and less energetic if on a bit more stable platform. It is not nearly as easy to turn over as the Bondi 9 at slower paces but a faster paces has a more responsive ride. 0.5 oz heavier and not as exciting in this match up clearly Bondi 9 for me for a trainer for more relaxed runs with the heavier and duller Nimbus somewhat lost and dated if very reliable. Both true to size.

UA x Speedland Infinite Mega (RTR Video Review)

The new UA is a very soft shoe but an energetic playing in the same slower to recovery run category as the Bondi. It’s soft, thin, very comfortable upper with dual BOA dials is incredible and will I think adapt to any volume foot. It leans all out comfort above all else and at $250 is a pricey option. The Bondi 9 is a better value and somewhat more versatile as it can more easily handle somewhat faster paces ofr..


Brooks Glycerin Max (RTR Review)

The Glycerin Max has been a popular recent super max entry. At 45.25 mm heel /  39.25 mm forefoot it is slightly higher than the Bondi and about a half ounce heavier. Unlike the more easy going Bondi it is a rigid rocker shoe with a pronounced front rocker to the Bondi’s flexible profile thus favoring faster paces than the Bondi. It is not as easy going at slower paces as the Bondi with its DNA Tuned dual density supercritical foam midsole not as pleasingly soft and energetic but more responsive and effective as the pace picks up.  The choice depends on what you want your super max cushion trainer for noting that the Brooks is also $30 more at $200.


Brooks Ghost Max 2 (RTR Review)

The somewhat lower stack $150 Ghost at 39.33 mm heel /  33.33 mm forefoot mm forefoot  is for me the closest comparison to the Bondi 9 with a similar flexible easy going and friendly ride. A 0.4 oz heavier shoe it plays in the same easier paces world as the Bondi 9. If the $20 price difference is not vital I would pick the Bondi in this match up for its somewhat lighter weight, higher stack and more energetic ride.


Index to all RTR reviews: HERE

Hoka Bondi 9 is available now


Tester Profile

Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.


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Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
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