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Hoka Bondi 5
- By Mark
- In Reviews
The new Hoka Bondi 5 is said to be the next iteration of the Bondi legacy. Bondi is the first ever shoe under the Hoka One One brand that was intended for road running. The Hoka One One Bondi 5 is a game changer for the Bondi shoe range as it is the most comfortable shoe in the line. This shoe was released into the market in March 2017. Hoka Bondi 5 comes in different fits for men and women. Why all the fuss about this shoe?
Specifications
- Brand: Hoka One One
- Model: Bondi 5
- Upper: Synthetic
- Midsole: EVA Foam
- Outsole: Rubber
- Best Use: Road Running
- Support: Neutral
- Width: Normal Wide
- Heel to Toe Drop: 4mm
- Weight: M 283g | W 241g
- Release Date: March 2017
The Good
- The signature HOKA ONE ONE Cushioning. The Bondi 5 comes with a full-length EVA midsole. This provides a better fit and a feeling of more comfort. The width is also wider.
- It has a 3D Puff Print. The 3D puff print allows for improved comfort and fit.
- Durability. The Hoka Bondi 5 has zonal rubber placement. The shoe’s outsole is covered with enough rubber to make it last a long while.
- It offers a smooth heel Transition. The Hoka Bondi 5 comes in a rockered design that gives the shoe a tapered shape at the toe and heel. This creates a smooth heel to toe transition.
- It is versatile. It has a comfort frame upper and padded tongue adding to the superior all-around comfort.
The Bad
- Some of the people who have tried out the Bondi 5 have only raised one concern, and that is that the tongue of this shoe can feel rigid depending on your lacing technique.
- This feeling is mostly felt by those who prefer the heel lock lacing technique. Runners often prefer this technique as it prevents your foot from sliding forward in the shoe while running making running more comfortable.
- With the Bondi 5, this technique makes the tongue push up against the front of your ankle creating some discomfort. The tongue of the Bondi 5 is heavily padded to give it structure. This might be what brings about the rigid feeling at times.
- Overly cushioned shoes often translate to reduced flexibility and responsiveness. Hoka One One Bondi 5 tries to balance this with its rockered design that complements its thick cushioning layer.
Bottom Line
The Bondi 5 appears to be perfect for running and promises ultimate comfort. If there is one thing that the HOKA ONE ONE brand is known for it is maximum cushioning of their shoes. Well, the Bondi 5 is highly customized for runners. Hoka One One considered all points of concerns for runners and addressed them by creating the Bondi 5.
4.3/5
Hoka One One Bondi 5 Reviews
Size and Fit
MEN’s:
This shoe weighs 10 oz. This weight is however based on size US 9 and may vary depending on the size of the shoe. The men’s Bondi 5 comes in sizes 7 to 11.
Offset: 4mm (heel – toe drop)
Heel: 33mm
Forefoot: 29mm
WOMEN’S
The women’s Hoka Bondi 5 weighs 8.5 oz. This weight may also vary as it is based on size US 7. The women’s Bondi 5 comes in size 5 to 11.
Offset: 4mm
Heel: 31mm
Forefoot: 27mm
Outsole
As outlined before, the outsole of this shoe is entirely covered in rubber material. This gives it a better grip and contributes to its durability.
Midsole
The midsoles of this shoe are where the EVA foam has been placed. It covers the entire length of the shoe offering a pillowy soft feel that wraps up and around your foot. The EVA foam provides a thick layer of cushioning making you feel like you are a bit taller than when you wear normal brands of running shoes. This is one of the main marketing points for this shoe and sets it apart as the ultimate choice for running. The manufacturers say that Bondi 5 has the highest degree of cushioning ever made by HOKA ONE ONE.
Upper
The tongue of this shoe was redesigned to feature an open engineered mesh construction and seamless construction. The overall fit of the upper part of Bondi 5 is almost similar to the Clifton 3 apart from the fact that Bondi 5 has more accommodation in the toe box area. Aside from the new mesh material that provides more breathability and flexibility. The upper part of the shoe is designed using breathable materials. This provides a lightweight and more detailed support.
Stability
This shoe does not increase your stability. It only allows the foot to adapt to its natural placement. It has a better compression set to provide the balanced ride. The high abrasion rubber covering makes it very durable.
Durability
The only part of this shoe not covered in rubber is in the middle of your foot. This allows the shoe to serve you for long without you having to worry about wears and tears associated with running shoes. This shoe can withstand both smooth and rough terrain making it the ultimate choice for all runners. You can wear these shoes for road and concrete surfaces as well as when running on light trails.
Breathability
The Bondi is designed for maximum breathability and support.
Traction
Bondi 5 is specially designed for runners. The Hoka Bondi 5 comes in a rockered design that gives the shoe a tapered shape at the toe and heel. This creates a smooth heel to toe transition.
Conclusion
If you run on the regular, then you definitely know the difference between conventional shoes and maximum cushioning shoes. Hoka Bondi 5 is the best. You will have a pillowy smooth ride you won’t even feel like you are running. You might think that the thick layer of cushion will make it heavy, but that is far from the actual case. It is lightweight and breathable giving it a light feel on your feet. You can cover hundreds of miles in Hoka One One Bondi 5 without worrying about wears and tears depending on your training and style of running.
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