Customer Reviews Hoka Bondi 5

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.

I have never understood why companies will take a proven winner like the original Bondi shoe line and completely change what made it a winning product, they have taken a well made shoe with the most wonderful cushioned ride I have ever had the pleasure to walk in and turned it into a average comfortable shoe that looks like it would have that wonderful marshmallow cushioned walk but it's all just a look :-( Please quit messing with the supremely cushioned and supremely comfortable shoes that made Hoka One One so Legendary, signed, a not so happy customer.

Had 2 pairs of Bondi 2 and still using them although 2nd pair now falls apart. Since Hoka was bought out, you brought out THREE GENERATIONS OF SREWED UP BONDIs. Too tight, and now you are messing with the insole -- suddenly there is a forefoot hump built in which was the main reason I have been avoiding other models. Just bring back the Bondi 2, if anyone pre-acquisition is still around who remembers how to build shoes!

Hoka totally changed the cushioning from the Bondi 4. There is a colored portion at the top of the midsole that is not soft and it makes the shoe way too firm...a total difference from the Bondi 4. My estimate is the Bondi 5 feels at least 50% more firm...definitely not what I'm looking for. If you're looking for that legendary maximum cushioning look elsewhere. Since this is the only model Hoka makes in a wide version, this is my only option. The Bondi 4 literally changed my life which is why I'm so disappointed in the Bondi 5. Hoka, PLEASE change the shoe back or make other models in wide versions.

My knees felt great when running with Bondi 4s. Knees started hurting again after running in Bondi 5s. Please increase the cushioning of Bondi 4s. Did like the flat shoe laces. Will probably return these.

I tried using the new Bondi 5 2E as a replacement of the discontinued Bondi 4 2E for my daily running routine. The shoe toebox is too narrow and cramps my feet. It's basically unusable for me and is not an adequate replacement for the Bondi 4 2E.

I have been wearing only Hoka shoes (boots, trail, running) for several years now. Have had several pair of the Bondi 3's and 4's. Decided to try the Bondi 5's. I ordered the same size in the 5's as I have been wearing in my other Hoka's. I immediately found the 5's to be shorter and/or more cramped to the point that I couldn't imagine keeping them. And this was just wearing them around the house to get a feel for if I want to keep them or not. Kept rechecking to be sure I had the right size. But my left foot just felt crammed into the toe portion of the shoe and hurt just around the house. No way I would wear for a workout. Returning them. May try the next size up as I want to continue to wear Hoka's.

The Bondi 5 look more sporty than the Bondi 4, and they have a little more shape in arch; the shoe seems a little narrow at toe top and juts upward a little more. What really matters (and is noticeable) is that the Bondi 5 is simply uncomfortable. It is painful as soon as you put the shoe on your foot. It is far from comfortable. When I take off the shoes my feet breath a sigh of relief. The Bondi 4 looked more like a boat but I will take those any day because with those I had ZERO pain and discomfort. I could stand up at work all day w/o any pain in my Bondi 4 shoes. This is not so with the Bondi 5. I am very, very disappointed with the Bondi 5. I'll have to look for another shoe until the next (hopefully better) version of the Bondi comes out next year.

There's no point in buying these. They are no longer soft like the previous models of Hoka used to be. My Saucony and Asics feel just as soft and cushioned as these do. So why buy them when you can buy a normal looking running shoe that is just as cushioned. Hoka's have always looked so different than normal running shoes, but that different look actually looked kind of beautiful to you because you knew the ride that awaited you once you put them one. That ride is gone in the Bondi 5, so there is no point in buying them.

This shoe has a much harder forefoot. I find it very uncomfortable compared to the previous model it replaces. I have run 8 marathons in Bondi's and my forefoot never got sore. I am getting sore forefeet with this shoe. This shoe has lost the cushy forefoot that made HOKA's my go to shoe for marathons. The design team screwed up a great shoe with this sole design. I am very disappointed and I will start looking for another brand of shoe.

I initially loved the cushioning on these, they felt really high though, almost like platform shoes. The support was basically non-existent on these shoes and I rolled my ankle really bad the 3rd time I wore them. I probably should have bought a more supportive shoe, but unless you have ankles of steel or are a smaller guy I wouldn't recommend these shoes. I am 6'3" 245 and would never buy these shoes again.

These shoes are definitely not the most cushioned shoe Hoka has. They feel hard, clunky and stiff. I bought the 2E and they still are too narrow. Used them once and had knee and foot pain. Retired them already. Very disappointing!

I've been a fan since 2010. As of recent Ive made numerous attempts to give a variety of hokas a shot, with the hopes of falling into the shoe that has that marshmallow feel. I haven't had any luck. it seems as though Hoka is trying out new things. Which I can respect innovation, but I don't get why you would mess with the proprietary blend of midsole cushion that Hoka first started of with.I understand that Hoka as a company is trying to expand and reach out to as many individuals as possible, with their various models.Something for everyone.But, I don't think I'm the only consumer of the brands goods that feels the same way. In that, The shoe no longer offers the cloud like feel. Sounds like their motto should also be adjusted accordingly. The closest thing I've found to the softness that the original Hokas provided are in the Altra Olympus and Timp. So,I hope this is helpful for some. For now I'm moving on to Altra. If Hoka ever brings back that cush, Please let me know

You won't post my reviews so I'm posting daily ones on reddit

I wore these to work in an office for 2 weeks on a carpeted floor and the tread began to separate from the sole on both shoes, and the upper began to separate from the bottom. One of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, but the most poorly put together. Was quite disappointed with the customer service response.

Most of my Hoka purchases have been good. But this was a bad one. Hoka has added so much material to the top of the shoe that it is crazy uncomfortable and heavy. Material is so thick there is no way for your foot to breathe. This is likely my last pair of Hokas.

I am a huge Hoka fan, or at least I was. The original Cliftons helped me return to running an run pain free after a decade off of running. I then ran in the Bondi 3 and had great success. This version of the Bondi simply does not have the same cushioning. There is plenty of material there, but it is not soft or plush. The Bondi 5 was hard and clunky. Fortunately, Hoka continues to have great customer service and I was able to return them. To Hoka: Please bring back the soft cushioning found in the original Cliftons and/or the Bondi 3.

I have already returned it. Waiting on the appropriate credit

Decker continues to erode the Hoka brand with the Bondi 5. Bondi 4 was a great shoe. Bondi 5 has worse cushioning with such a high stack height. Seems hard to believe- possibly 33 mm of cement in the sole? Also the "meta rocker" is essentially gone- which is sorely missed. Not sure how anyone finds these comfortable or useful as a running shoe. Luckily found a pair of new Bondi 4 online- will be returning these Bondi 5s. Will say the shoe fit well- got a wide and it was a nice fit for the upper. Hope Bondi 6 is better or I will have to go elsewhere.

Thanks

I tried a Bondi in Black since HOKA ON LINE said that this would be a suitable replacement for the Valor in Black. While it is Black in color, the cushioning is NOT the same as the Valor. It does not provide the cushioning that I need(for my knee) and have grown accustomed to with the Valor. Also the Bondi is also has a very wide foot print look and does not have the sleek look of the Valor. I will continue to look for a suitable replacement for the Valor since I still have 2 more pair in my stock even though HOKA has stopped making them. Hopefully HOKA can develop a true replacement for the Valor or start making them again before I need another pair of shoes, otherwise I will move to another company for my shoes.