The HOKA Bondi 9 Gives Runners What They Want

With the Bondi 9, HOKA has given runners what they want

The freshly launched HOKA Bondi 9 strikes a tricky balance between premium cushioning and lightness – a combo that runners have been chasing for years

WHEN HOKA WAS founded in 2009, its creators – a pair of runners based in the French Alps – sought to remedy a problem that hadn’t been addressed by any existing brand. They wanted trail running shoes that could help them move faster while running downhill. So, they created a shoe with an oversized outsole, allowing for greater stability and extra cushioning. Problem solved.

That same solution-based thinking still guides HOKA’s innovation today. With the global launch of the Bondi 9, the brand is again offering a solution to a common problem for runners. At HOKA’s flagship store in Melbourne, HOKA President Robin Green took Men’s Health through what that problem is. “Usually when you have a well cushioned shoe that has a lot of midsole foam, it tends to be really heavy and it’s hard to work through the shoe,” Green says.

The Bondi silhouette is HOKA’s most cushioned shoe, and like other max-cushioned shoes, it’s designed to provide superior comfort to keep you running for longer and without pain. But as Green says, extra cushioning usually means heavier, unresponsive shoes that start to feel like you’re dragging cinderblocks after a few kilometres.

That’s not an issue with the Bondi, as Green explains. “The secret sauce at HOKA is how incredibly smooth it feels to run in our shoes. They’re exceptionally lightweight but you still get a whole lot of cushioning.”

The Bondi 1 was released in 2011 and proved revolutionary for its time as the first shoe to successfully balance lightweight materials with maximal cushioning. So, eight iterations later, what has HOKA done to improve the shoe? Plenty, according to Green. “We haven’t updated the Bondi just for the sake of updating it,” she says. “There has to be a big improvement that we think we’ve made before we bring a product to market.”

“As we’ve continued to innovate, we’ve begun diving deeper into the geometry of the shoe itself,” Green continues. “We’ve looked at how we can make it even smoother and how we can elevate the underfoot experience. And, as new materials are developed, we keep finding ways to make shoes better and better.”

Hoka Bondi 9

Chief among the many improvements made to the Bondi 9 is a new midsole. Featuring supercritical EVA foam, the Bondi 9 takes the line’s famously plush ride to another level with a midsole that is more resilient for a bouncier yet softer underfoot feeling.

As Green said, the shoe’s geometry has also been updated with the addition of a rearfoot-focused Active Foot Frame, offering enhanced stability and support. The Bondi 9’s midsole is also stacked 2mm higher than its predecessor, which, in combination with a MetaRocker profile, provides an ultra-smooth ride that is even more cushioned.

Up top, the Bondi 9 has also been updated. A new structured knit upper with zonal breathability allows for a more comfortable fit, while a 3D moulded collar makes for an easy step-in and further softness. The outsole, meanwhile, is made with durabrasion rubber to protect high wear zones, adding a measure of durability to the shoe’s impressive traction.

It has the credentials, but is the Bondi 9 right for you? Every runner has different needs, but although it is advertised as HOKA’s most cushioned shoe, the Bondi 9 has qualities that will benefit almost every runner, according to Green. “We have shoes for everyone’s needs from the highly innovative Cielo to the more broadly appealing Clifton,” Green says. “But the Bondi is a shoe that we believe everyone can find enjoyment in.

“If you’re looking for an industry leader in premium cushioning that’s still lightweight and looks good, the Bondi 9 is the shoe for you,” Green continues. “Also if you have a history of injuries – maybe you’ve had knee or ankle issues – this is a shoe that will give you support to run longer. But really, who doesn’t want a more comfortable shoe?”

If you’re keen on getting a closer look at the Bondi 9, HOKA is offering previews of the new shoe at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club from 12pm-7pm on January 22nd and from 6am-7pm daily from January 24th-26th, with the club transforming into ‘the Cushion House’.

The exterior of the building will be completely redecorated with giant-sized versions shoe cushioning, in a nod to the Bondi 9’s signature design. As part of the activation, daily community runs, healthy snacks, coffee, a customisation station and a daily four hour DJ set are also on the itinerary.

It’s all part of HOKA’s belief that community is everything and that running should bring people together. “We engage with running communities all around the world. Whether we sponsor them or are part of them,” Green says. “That’s where running really happens.”

Find out more about the HOKA Bondi 9 here.

Hoka Bondi 9

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By Cayle Reid

Cayle Reid is a fan of everything sports and fitness. He spends his free time at the gym, on his surfboard or staying up late watching sports in incompatible time zones.

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