Customer Reviews Hoka Bondi 5

I got these based on a strong recommendation from a running shoe fitter at a running store. I have a hard time finding shoes that work because of my wider feet and high arch. They are bulky but the do fit true to size. Unfortunately, they started falling apart on the soles only a couple months into owning them and of course you can't return them for not being happy at that point. I feel that if these shoes are only going to last me a few months, give or take, they are not worth the investment. After looking through other reviews it would seem I'm not the only one who has had this problem. In addition, while they do fit true to size, they are not actually very comfortable at all.

I run 6-9 miles 3 days a week and have loved the Bondi 4's. Great comfort and shock absorption. I recently purchased these Bondi 5's and it feels like a completely different shoe - especially the hard sole. Hoka is still a good company but I felt compelled to pass this on so others won't make the same mistake I made.

I rarely have fitting sizes but after 2 pairs they consistently are just a bit small. That never happens to me.

This is my 3rd pair... do 50 miles per week... and must say that I prefer the old design... Had more cushioning... and a unique bounce ... now, it's like everything else... I will now look for old models to buy. Dissapointed.

I have owned Bondis in the past and was excited about these Bondi 5s. I have been disappointed over the past year and a half as Hoka seems to be making their shoes narrower and tighter. They used to be the most comfortable shoe money could buy. I have regular width feet and have never bought a wide size. The last two pair I have bought have hurt. No matter how loosely I tied the laces, my feet became numb and hurt very badly. This is horrible. The Bondi 5 is bad about this. Here is the thing. The actual shoe is wide enough. It is the upper fabric. Hoka is making the upper fabric too small and tight. I will never buy these again. If you have a medium width D foot, these are too tight.

After only a couple of months use as a nurse, the rubber pads on the sole started peeling off on both shoes.

I really like the shoe to begin with, especially the cushioning. But after just a few months (maybe less) I began to notice that the support for the outer sides of the foot had diminished. I actually felt as if my feet were slopping to the outside of the shoe and I had to consciously walk on the insides of my feed to prevent this. Needless to say the shoes were unwearable and I set them aside for a pair of Brooks. Very disappointed. I will give Hoka another chance and try one of their other shoe models. Hopefully this sole-wear problem is not due to the soft cushioning.

Heavy & stiff but worse is the blue dye color ran when it became wet. I will say Hoka refunded quickly with out questions. Great service. Just wish the shoes matched the service.

Bought new Bondi 5 thinking it was better (the best). But compared to my prior pair (2016 model), I do not find this to be as comfortable as I imagined it would be. Great sales person helped convince me to tighten laces more to keep heal from rubbing. The fit is not perfect, but what's done is done. Think and test it out. If you feel any discomfort, delay your decision until you are sure. $150+ should be perfect.

too narrow

Too small and tight

I was very excited to try Hoka. I am 5'8" 210lbs and run 5 miles 4x per week, my gait is neutral and my arch is average, so in theory this would be the perfect shoe. Unfortunately I was unable to try them in a store, so I ordered true to size. The toe box is short and narrow, cramping my 3 outside toes. My ankle and heel felt secure. Determined to experience Hoka, I took them for several runs with the hope that they would break in (about 35 miles, so 7 runs for me). No such luck. I did enjoy the "rocker" design to the outsole. This facilitated a smooth transition through toe-off and encouraged me to keep moving forward. As I mentioned before, they did not fit me well, but they still should have absorbed impact well enough with the maximalist design. They did not -- I could feel the ground upon impact. While I was high off the ground due to the huge midsole, there wasn't much "give" to the material. While they were slightly responsive, I felt each stride vibrate up through my legs. As previously mentioned, I am heavy for a runner, but I think it is fair to expect better protection from a massive shoe. I like what Hoka is trying to do, but this model did not work for me. If I am going to wear "clown shoes" as my running buddies call them, I would like a soft, plush ride that alleviates the strain of road running.

I use this shoe for working out on a elliptical and walking at work.

This is about the 10th pair of Hoka one that I have bought from you and it is the second time the shoe did not fit right.

I used to rely on Hoka shoes, but for the lat few years I have seen a decline in reliable quality. I am trying to get a pair of Bondi 5 that fit properly, but they vary quite a bit from one pair to the next. One pair had a left shoe that was small, the next pair had a right shoe considerably higher than the left. I am exchanging one last time, because I think these shoes will be good if I can find a pair that actually fits.

I returned them.

I was disappointed in the "ride" of Bondi 5. It was stiff and less cushioning than I expected/wanted. Also, the shoe does not run true to size.

I put them on out of the box and knew immediately shoes were a bad fit for me. Feels at least 1/2 size too small. Quite narrow. I wore them around the house. Uncomfortable.

My 4th pair of Hokas. Mafate, Rapa, Stinson 3, Clifton. I need highly cushioned shoes as metatarsitis a problem from many years of running (32)and now brisk walking. Asics Nimbus and Brooks Glycerin just don't have enough cushion anymore for my daily 5 mile walks. Altra Torin 1.5 is great. Bought 2 pr. Because I loved the large toe box ......now discontinued. Should have bought 10 pr. Anyway, just took my Bondi 4's out of the box. Held my breath trying them on. Purchased my usual half size larger, 11.5/D's ...fit perfectly, BUT, as I wear around the house, the narrow toe box reveals itself, AGAIN!!! Materials look very cheap. When is Hoka going to get it right????!!!!!!. And why don't they have an E vs EE. They would double their sales with a slightly wider toe box! Going to keep wearing indoors to give them a chance to loosen up before I send them back. Come on Hoka, LISTEN to your customers.!!!!! If these go back, my last purchase of Hoka's........like they care.

Less then standard Adidas/NB cushioning, yet up on stilts. Dreadful. Give me that marshmallowly bondi cushion. So I can stamp the downhills. Why mess with the shoe that made the brand?

I've owned two other Hoka products before this one, specifically the Huaka and the Clifton. I loved both of those shoes. I do not like the Bondi 5 at all. It has a very hard ride, and the cushioning seems very stiff. The shoe felt true to size and width, but it felt generally uncomfortable even for short distances like 4-5 miles. I'm a neutral runner, so I didn't expect any kind of stability features. It is definitely a neutral running shoe. I'm very disappointed in this shoe and I hope this is not indicative of a new direction for Hoka.

I went in to Run On (Roadrunner) looking for some new New Balance shoes and was sold these instead. They felt great in the store. I'm a big guy and need the extra cushion to keep my knees and feet from going further south. After a some treadmill time, I wish I'd gone back to New Balance. The toe box and instep are tight (too tight, actually) but the heels slip if they're not cinched down to the max. I'm not sure why they feel differently after some use, but they do. Overall, I can get by with them by loosening the laces over the instep to they point they look ridiculous, but I likely won't consider them again.

Love the concept, I wear a medium or "D" width is every other shoe brand, but Hoka's run too narrow. I took the time to write two letters to the brand manager, but she didn't bother to answer.....Too bad! I am done with these people. I have bad knees and the shoes would be great....IF....They fit! Just look at the comments on almost every style, TOO NARROW often comes up, even the sales person at Roadrunner Sports said fitting is a big problem for this brand.....Back to New Balance I guess.