Quick context - Longtime Hoka wearer, 35 year old with knee pain and sciata and 6ft, 150lbs - I have used the original Kawana for 2+ years and multiple trips logging 20,000 to 40,000 steps in them on big use days. By far the BEST shoe they made, but I didn't 'like the version 2 with the giant strap on the back so I got these Bondi 8 instead.

The Good: For the most part, they're great, color choices are great and the half color up the giant bottom portion help hide how large the lower rubber is. Materials are real durable and they are plush. Having knee pain these help cushion walking over long periods and you can easily wear these for long walking days comfortably without aching feet. Padding around the ankle is nice and cushioned as well. Sizing is true to size, I wear a 12 in Puma, Nike and the Past Hoka Kawana and the 12 is a perfect fit in this shoe so get your usual size.

The Bad (minor):
To me, its a bit clunky and hard on the inner ball of the foot (I mean to articulate - go from your big toe and down to where the ball is, that region), in particular I feel as though I notice a harder surface in the inner ball of my foot - its not terrible at all, but I did not have the "OMG ITS LIKE A CLOUD" moment I did when I first used the Kawana version 1s. Again, its not a deal breaker but I just observe it as something they could cushion better on the bottom of the foot and improve in the next iteration. Overall they are also a wide based shoe so if you are not careful driving you can sometimes find the foot width nicks the brake pedal as you hit the gas in narrow pedal cars. Again, first world problem but still my personal observations that I haven't heard anyone say before.

Brief bios - I'm in my 30's, 175 lbs. I have always been in rather good shape physically and played sports when I was younger. I am a certified personal trainer and have recently gotten back into running, looking to run my first marathon in May.

Reason why I bought these shoes - these shoes sports several claims from its maximum cushioning to its durability, and that it is an ideal shoe for both recovery runs and longer distances. Furthermore, dozens of reviews support these claims to the effect that this is the shoe for going the distance without sacrificing risk of burn out or injury. As a Hoka enthusiast and purist (the Clifton literally made me start running again!), I CANNOT DISAGREE MORE.

These shoes are absolutely TERRIBLE in nearly every aspect withstanding aesthetics and durability. Inspecting the shoe I could definitely tell that it was more durable, and trying them on I could tell the cushion was top grade but definitely would need a good amount to break in. My first run in these shoes was a simple 5K. For the entire duration of the run I felt like my feet were strapped to bricks! VERY heavy, VERY unforgiving, VERY narrow and VERY unexpecting from Hoka!

First impression - I decided to decrease my break in runs to literally 2 miles at a time and also wear them for 1-2 weeks as normal shoes. HORRIBLE IDEA! First there was the back pain - this shoes claims to have "plush" cushioning/the maximum amount of cushioning Hoka supplies. Be weary of this - with too much sink and a rather lack of support in that regard, the lower back is compromised. This is certainly the case with this shoe. Next there is the narrow mid sole - way more narrow that the clifton. Like "is this even the same company?" narrow. As a result, and even through 2 mile runs, I developed blisters on the arches of my feet.

After 4 months...Please read subsequent review.

I'd previously tried arahi 7 and clifton 9 in size 8. The insole was not smooth or comfy and both seemed a little small. Decided to return. Was about to give up on Hoka when by chance I gathered Bondi8 was well cushioned, and NOW on sale. Hadn't gotten this info after MUCH exploring web sites, talking to chat & other staff. I was looking for slip on and plush cushion but was coming to conclusion Hoka was just not the place to look, especially not slip on, except their Recovery items which I don't think look good. So took a chance & ordered Bondi8 in 8.5. Totally different from Arahi & Clifton, I really can't tell why. Plenty of room, not sloppy, interior is comfy. Quite satisfied, except not slip on (but not hard to put on). To be honest I was looking for a good looking shoe with "quality" reputation. Since the mid 1970s I'd been able easily to find a running shoe to be the most comfortable and also good looking, but that doesn't seem to be Hoka's forte. Glad I got these, really mostly by chance and persistence, but my "feedback" is that the process of finding a Hoka shoe with parameters like, comfy, easy to put on, and not real expensive seems puzzlingly arduous, tedious, & just unsatisfactory. Have not been a serious runner or even hiker for 25 years, too many injuries and OLD. They could probably sell a lot more and have more satisfied customers if staff were informed & trained and search more reliable. Sorry, but, IMHO, just shouldn't be SO HARD.

My first pair of Hoka's were the Bondi 8 which I bought before the end of the outdoor running season for me in 2022. I put well over 600 miles on them with probably 400 from a treadmill. My feet and legs just love the Bondi 8 for their plush cushioning and stable wide forefoot and heel.

I came upon the brand at the recommendation of a friend. I had recently started walking on a daily basis and my old hiking shoes were just broken down. I had an old pair of Reebok Realflex that just didn't have any cushioning at all. I went to my local running shoe store and started trying on various Hoka models. After trying on a couple trail running shoes and a couple road shoes I asked the sales person if they had the Puffin's Bill/Amber Yellow Bondi 8 on display in my size. He came back and told me they don't have that color in a wide. He returned with the black on black in a 10.5 2E. He sat down and readied the shoes and as I slid my foot into the shoe I knew I had found the one. I stood up and could feel the balloons of cushioning under my feet. As I walked around I could feel the bounce with every step I took. I really wanted to wear them out of the store but knew better...I needed to save them for their intended purpose.

Since then I have added jogging to my routine as well. I am on a second pair of Bondi 8's and I added a pair of Clifton 9's to my rotation. The Clifton 9 hasn't felt as plush and its durability is questionable to me. I purchased a pair of Mach 5's and a pair of Clifton 8's also to see how they feel, but they aren't close to my beloved Bondi 8's. I have even ventured away from the brand to Asics with the Dynablast 3, Novablast 3, and the Noosa Tri 14. I have even tried two zero drop shoes in the Ultra line-up. Nothing has had the comfort and response for my feet and legs as the Bondi 8. Now I have stocked up with 3 pairs of Bondi 8's that I have caught on sale or had a 20% off coupon somewhere. All I ask for is more colors for us wide feet people!