I tried the HOKA Bondi 9, and they’re even better than I imagined

I am a HOKA fan to my core. I own four pairs of HOKA sneakers (five if you count my first pair of Clifton 9 shoes that I retired!). I thought I had a #1 HOKA that could not be beaten, but I finally have a new favorite pair.

After two years with my Clifton 9 sneakers, I had to retire my original pair. I loved them so much that I got a brand new pair. Then HOKA dropped the Clifton 10.

HOKA Bondi 9

On sale for $170

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But it wasn’t the Clifton 10 that surpassed the Clifton 9 as my favorite HOKA. My new favorite HOKA is actually the newest model in the Bondi collection.

Which HOKA sneaker is the best?

I own four pairs of HOKA sneakers. I wear HOKA sneakers every single day for pretty much any activity that I do.

I’ve had two pairs of the Clifton 9, the Bondi 8, the Kawana 2, and now, I own the Bondi 9.

The Bondi 8 is all but discontinued on HOKA’s website, and it was replaced by the Bondi 9.

You’re probably wondering what my credentials are. Am I some marathon runner? No. I’m a walker. I’ve logged 125,000 steps in just one week in Disney World in my Bondi 8 sneakers and lived to tell the tale.

Outside of walking like crazy on vacation, I go to Rumble boxing five times a week, and I walk anywhere from four to seven days a week, rain or shine. As a native New Jersey resident, my HOKA sneakers have all seen their fair share of rain and snow.

Despite wearing my Bondi 8 for Disney trips and walking around New York City, I always favored my Clifton 9 for daily walks and going to the gym. My pair of Kawana 2 sneakers barely even come out of the closet at this point. The Kawana just doesn’t seem to offer the same support that the Bondi and Clifton styles do.

I thought the Clifton 9 was the best thing HOKA ever made, that was until I got the Bondi 9.

HOKA Bondi 9 Review

When I first saw the Bondi 9, I was immediately shocked to see the style change. The Bondi 8 is a big shoe, and I used to joke that they were my clown shoes.

The Bondi 9 looks much more like the Clifton 9 when looking top down. Perhaps that is why I immediately liked the Bondi 9 more than my Bondi 8, but I had to put the shoes to the test to confirm they are better.

Bondi 9 Specs

• Weight: 9.3 oz.
• Drop: 5.00 mm
• Stability: Neutral 
• Cushion: Plush
• Design: “The Bondi 9 features a symmetrical bed of cushion without additional prescriptive technologies. Designed to provide the support you want and nothing you don’t. It features a higher bed of soft cushion, designed to provide a forgiving impact and ride.”

This model of HOKA is meant for everyday running and walking. The Bondi 9 features a 3D molded collar and is made with EVA engineered mesh with 55% recycled polyester.

This shoe has HOKA’s Smooth MetaRocker™, which is HOKA’s “curved sole design that promotes a smooth and efficient rolling motion of the foot during running or walking.” It also features Hoka’s Rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame, which “is a technology that cradles the heel deep within the shoe, providing a secure and stable ride, especially in shoes with a high stack height.”

HOKA Bondi 9 Release Date

The Bondi 9 released on January 15, 2025 on HOKA’s website and was also available for purchase at Dick’s Sporting Goods on the same day. This style of Bondi is currently available in 14 colors and three widths (regular, wide, and extra wide) in both women’s and men’s styles. The colorways offered for this include neutral options like:

• White/White
• Black/White

HOKA also has fun, vibrant colors in the Bondi 9, like:

• Blue Spark/Mint Fluorite
• Frost/Sunflower

HOKA Bondi 9 Price

The Bondi 9 is $170 and has yet to go on sale since its release. This was a $5 increase between designs. The Bondi 8 was $165 when it debuted.

Stock on the former model (the Bondi 8) is very low, as the shoe is being phased out of sales, but you can find the Bondi 8 in extremely limited stock for $88 to $130 at Foot Locker, $121 to $135 at Road Runner, and $140 at Shoe Station.

Bondi 8 vs. Bondi 9

The style differences between the Bondi 8 and Bondi 9 are immediately obvious; the Bondi 9 is narrower, less bulky-looking, and no longer features the heel pull tab.

I loved wearing the Bondi 8 to Disney, but often found my shoes would squeak. I never felt like I fit in the Bondi 8 as well as I fit in my Clifton 9, and now how fit in my Bondi 9.

When I went for walks while wearing the Bondi 8, this didn’t matter too much. But when I would do HIIT classes at Rumble, I felt like my foot was sliding around in my shoe. But, I wasn’t wearing the wrong size, because when I tried to size down to a 7.5 from the 8, my toes felt too squished. As soon as I switched to the Bondi 9 (in the same size, an 8), this issue disappeared!

Bondi 8 vs. Bondi 9 Differences

The Bondi 8 and Bondi 9 both feature neutral stability and a plush cushion design. The stability design means nothing has been added to correct your gait. A shoe with a stable design would have HOKA’s J-frame technology to correct inward roll or overpronation. If you needed something for overpronation, the Stinson line is better suited for you.

Despite the fact that Bondi 9 weighs more, the shoe’s design feels and looks less bulky. The sole of the Bondi 9 shoe is not as wide as the 8, so that clown shoe effect is gone. The toe box design resembles the Bondi 7 style that fans previously raved about.

The other notable difference between the 8 and the 9 is the increase in the Heel Drop. The Bondi 8 was a low-drop style, while the Bondi 9 has shifted into a mid-drop style with an increase from 4.00 mm to 5.00 mm.

The Heel drop refers to the difference in height between the heel and the toe, which is measured in millimeters. Heel drops between 1 to 4 mm encourage midfoot/forefoot strike, while heel drops between 5 to 8 mm encourage a balance between support and natural foot motion.

This difference in drop is probably why I noticed a difference in my HIIT workouts. I have more balance and support in the Bondi 9 than I got in the Bondi 8. My former favorite shoe, the Clifton 9, also features the same 5.00 mm heel drop.

Is the Bondi 9 worth it?

At $170, you have to look at these shoes as an investment. I have a few ailments that make me think hard about what kind of shoes I’m wearing. I have degenerative disk disease that causes pain in my lower back, knees, and hips. And if that isn’t enough, I also have a stress fracture in my foot that never healed properly. So, I really need shoes that provide support and comfort when walking, working out, and doing my daily activities.

For me, the Bondi 9 is more than worth it. My feet never hurt after wearing these. I can do errands in these shoes, I can do an intense 45-minute workout at Rumble, or I can go on a 4-mile walk. My feet feel great after and never achy, squished, or tired. I also never get any blisters, no matter what the activity is. Even my Clifton 9 has given me a blister here and there.

I might be biased, given these were my fourth pair of HOKA sneakers. But if I’ve been purchasing from this brand for years, and bought four different shoes, I think I can speak candidly on this subject. I have HOKA sneakers that I adore, HOKA sneakers I only wear for certain occasions, and then HOKA shoes I have shoved away in a closet.

My Bondi 9s are going to be worn straight into the ground, I love them so much. I imagine I will buy another pair... probably right before HOKA launches the Bondi 10 in 2027 and changes the style entirely again.

Get the Bondi 9 for $170 from HOKA.

HOKA discounts & sales on sneakers right now

These are the top HOKA sneaker deals for the week of June 9, 2025. Prices are as low as $88 on some HOKA sneaker styles.