HOKA Bondi 8 Road-Running Shoes - Women's review
When I was picking up my Asics Kayano 31 Black Warrior, I stumbled upon the HOKA Bondi 8. And I was like, “What in the world? This shoe is so ugly and way too pricey. Who would actually shell out for this?” Well, joke's on me, because that thought came right back to bite me.
This shoe is something else. You try to figure out if it's good - looking, but the lines on the shoe are pretty basic. Then you think maybe it's tough - looking, but it's all big and chunky with these rounded edges that are almost cute. Somehow, this look just got stuck in my head. It was like a catchy song I couldn't shake off, and before I knew it, I was dead - set on getting it. I felt like I was getting my own special pair of “old - folks' comfort shoes” (kinda like that brand, but for a laugh).
Now, the Bondi 8 is made for big - bodied runners, with that thick sole for shock - absorption. But I'm mainly gonna use it for getting around town. I'm not planning to run in it much, 'cause I've seen a lot of people online say the sole doesn't hold up well when you're doing sports.
Let's start with how it looks. It's seriously one - of - a - kind. In today's shoe scene, aside from HOKA's own Cavita 5 and a few domestic brands copying its look, there's really nothing else like it. It's got that dad - shoe vibe, but also a bit of that Y2K style (minus all the sparkly stuff). It's great for making a fashion statement, but it's also a real, proper running shoe. It can do both everyday wear and sports. How cool is that? The way the toe sticks up high, and the fabric at the base of the toes presses down, and then the line goes up along the top of your foot, the side view is just amazing. People who get it, really get it!
Now, sizing. Oh man, this was a hassle. I had to exchange the size twice. I watched a bunch of videos online. Some people said to go half a size up, others said it's only the women's size that needs to be bigger, and the men's is true to size. So, I first got my usual 42.5, the same as my Kayano 31. I put 'em on, and right away, my feet were killing me. It was like my feet were in a vice - grip, front and back. And the width was a nightmare. The outside of my foot was jammed against the side of the midsole, and my arch on the inside was getting crushed. I could barely walk, forget about running.
So, I swapped 'em for a 43. With regular socks, the length was okay. But when I put on thick running socks, it was way too tight again. The front and back were squished, and while the outside of my foot fit okay in the insole, the inside was still pushing on my arch.
Finally, I took a leap of faith and went for a 44, a size I've never worn before. And boom! All those problems disappeared. With regular socks, my feet stay put, and it's not too loose. It's just right for walking around. And with thick socks, there's still room to spare. My feet don't feel cramped on either side.
So, everyone's feet are different. What those bloggers say online about sizing and how it feels on your arch might not be true for you. You really gotta try 'em on yourself to know what works.
As for how it feels on your feet, just in terms of comfort, I don't think it's as good as the Kayano 31. But I haven't actually gone for a run in it yet, so I can't say anything about how it performs during a workout.
