Price: $150
Weight: 10.2 oz (M), 7.6 oz (W)
Type: Road
Courtesy of Solepack: Max-cushioning
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Hoka One One’s Bondi is the king of cushioning in its family of maximalist-style shoes. The RW Shoe Lab measured the Bondi 6 to be extremely soft compared to most shoes tested, and wear-testers couldn’t stop gabbing about the shoe’s incredibly plush midsole. “This type of shoe was new to me,” said a tester. “I’ve never run in Hokas or other shoes with a lot of cushioning, but I was thoroughly impressed. The foot strike took some getting used to, but I found that my feet and legs weren’t as tired as usual.”
Clydesdales runners will appreciate how their feet won’t sink into that undesired territory of squishiness and wear; the full-EVA midsole is highly durable and can handle a heavy step. “I expected the cushioning to wear down,” said a tester. “But even though these were the only shoes I was using, they still felt as soft as when I first tried them.”
A major change for the Bondi is the redesigned rubber outsole to reduce weight (our shoe lab measured the trainer to land middle of the pack) and improved durability. Testers familiar with the brand’s shoes found the change a positive upgrade. “The outsole is a big improvement from original Hokas I tested several years ago,” said a tester. “There is very little wear after a month of testing. This traction pattern seems to work best on light gravel and smooth surfaces.”
For runners looking for an ultra-cushioned road shoe, the Bondi 6 delivers a plush ride without a weight penalty.
Full-Length EVA Midsole
oz M, 7.6 oz W softest, balanced rides you can experience in a running shoe. Said a tester, “The Bondi 6 absorbs the impact and helps my beat-up body to run comfortably.” Testers also felt pumped running in the shoe, and even improved race times. “My legs never felt tired running in these shoes,” said a tester. “The cushioning from heel to toe is remarkable. I raced in a 5-K with them and had a PR of 15 seconds.”
However, the shoe’s midsole is not without critics. “As much as I enjoyed the cushioning,” said a tester, “I also felt it made for a slower recovery for push-off, the result being a feeling of a soft but slow ride. I would not choose this shoe for a 5-K race.”
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For On-the-Go
Solepack
The GRF
Published: Oct 05, 2018 2:15 PM EDT.
$30 | Solepack
For Everyday
Helly Hansen
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Heel Height: Very High | 38.4 mm.
$60 | Amazon
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Ultimate Direction
North Roll
All Day Duffel.
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For the Yogi
Lululemon
An internal heel counter provides some stability mens shown
Forefoot Cushioning: Very Soft.
$158 | Lululemon
Redesigned Outsole
To cut down weight on an optimally cushioned shoe, the Bondi has an all-new outsole that also enhances durability. Hoka One One designs its shoes with a rocker sole—it’s curved to help you smoothly roll from heel to toe. Runners not used to the Meta-Rocker and high platform—the Bondi has one of the highest profiles in both the heel and forefoot, according to our lab—may need to adjust their stride. “I could tell on my first few runs that my calves were working differently,” said a tester, “but once I got accustomed to it, they were less tired after longer runs.”
Secure Fit
An internal heel counter provides a secure fit and some support, while Lycra on the heel section imparts comfort. “The cushioning was great, no complaints,” said a tester. “I'm often sensitive around the collar, but these hugged my feet very well.”
Stylistically, some runners found the shoe a little too wide for their taste. “The shoe is so wide that aesthetically they are not my style,” said a tester. But wider-footed runners will appreciate the variety in widths, from women’s D to men’s EE.
All the Stats You Need!
Men’s
- Heel Height: Very High | 42.4 mm
- Weight: Light | 7.6 oz
- Other Hearst Subscriptions
- An internal heel counter provides some stability mens shown
- Run in the Offbeat, Zigzag Reebok Floatzig X1
- Forefoot Cushioning: Very Soft
- Flexibility: Very Stiff
- Stability Features: Some
- Energy Return: Moderate
Women’s
- Weight: Light | 7.6 oz
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Low | 8.1 mm
- Courtesy of Lululemon
- An internal heel counter provides some stability mens shown
- An internal heel counter provides some stability mens shown
- Forefoot Cushioning: Very Soft
- Flexibility: Very Stiff
- Stability Features: Some
- Energy Return: Moderate
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective—and exclusive—data. In addition to a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
