Hoka Bondi 9 Review: Bigger, Bouncier, Bondi-er
2025-02-03
INTRODUCTION TO THE HOKA BONDI9
MEAGHAN: I'm fairly certain the first pair of Hoka Bondi l ever slipped on was the Bondi 4 back in 2015. lt arrived after | had run the Boston marathon and felt like the perfect recovery day shoe. The Bondi has always been known as the thickest of the thicc bois in Hoka's lineup, and that certainly hasn't changed through the years, but the materials and ride have seen some updates. lt's gotten heavier, it's lost weight, one year it had a memory foam collar, then there were TPU overlays, and this year we got a brand new midsole material.
For the first time, the Bondi 9 is designed with a supercritical EVA midsole （in place of traditional EVA） and 2mm more stack to boot. The difference between the two EVAs is the manufacturing process. Supercritical EVA uses a process that involves high pressure and temperature with gas （like nitrogen）. This creates a lightweight foam with a lot of tiny, uniform bubbles. It typically makes the shoes lighter and more bouncy, kind of like that traditional EVA finally had its morning coffee.
The upper also gets a couple of updates, with a newly designed knit material and retooled collar.
But it still looks and feels like your traditional maxed-out Bondi. So, where does this allland us on the roads?
THOMAS: Unlike Meaghan, max-cushioned shoes don't always float my boat. While /'ve enjoyed the comfort the Bondi has delivered over the years, the shoe has always felt a bit too heavy and blocky for my tastes. I understand the appeal and adulation the shoe has received, but up until now, the Bondi X, which had a plate to add some stiffness to the rocker, was my favorite version of Hoka's max-cushioned trainer.
The Bondi 9, with the addition of a supercritical EVA midsole, drops almost a full ounce of weight to 11.6 oz / 328 grams （still not a lightweight） and gets a more lively underfoot feel. Read on and see if it makes me a convert.