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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoe Reviews – Hoka Bondi5 Review}}The Bondi 5 is a little heavier than its predecessors, but sadly not quite as well cushioned. I find myself much preferring the [[Hoka Clifton]] which is both lighter and softer, or even better, the [[Altra Escalante]]. I also find the sole of the Bondi a little higher than I would like, and that stack height does interfere a little with my biomechanics, and adds a little more stress to my ankles. Like all Hoka shoes, the shape of the toe box is grim, and I found that just a few miles in the Bondi caused me a lot of toe pain, but cutting the toe box open resolved the problem nicely. I've rated it as "Recommended", and that rating may be erring on the side of generosity. I feel that the Bondi has declined while it's competition has risen. (For the previous version, see [[Hoka Bondi 4| Hoka Bondi 4 Review]].) {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
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|[[File:HokaHalfsHoka Bondi 5-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 5 top.jpg]]|[[File:Hoka Bondi 5-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 5 bottom.jpg]]|[[File:Hoka Bondi 5-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 5 inside.jpg]]|[[File:Hoka Bondi 5-outside.JPGjpg|none|thumb|x300px150px|The Hoka Bondi cut in half, showing the 5 outside and .jpg]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 top]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-inside views. You can see that the midsole foam is a lot higher on the jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 outside than the inside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-B-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi B top]]|[[File:HokaOlympusSliceHoka-Bondi-B-bottom.JPGjpg|none|thumb|x300px150px|A comparison between Hoka Bondi B bottom (you can see the wear that occurred rapidly at Badwater.)]] |[[Altra OlympusFile:Hoka-Bondi-B-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi B inside]] and |[[File:Hoka -Bondi-B-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi B outside]]
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=Characteristics=* {{H:cushioning}}. The Bondi is my favorite used to be one of the [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka range]]best cushioned shoes you could buy, and was famous for its massive, soft, with a nicely cushioned pillowy ride. Sadly, that's all in the past, though I generally prefer and the [[Altra Olympus]]fifth version is significantly firmer, and a little heavier. The Bondi is thick, so it might work a little better for much heavier runners, but I've found d suggest that there are other shoes in the Original two a much better job. The Bondi Bhas a rather abrupt taper at the very front of the shoe which Hoka describe as a 'Early-Stage Meta-Rocker', a fancy name for putting the taper under the toes. I find this can feels like the Bondi 2has a lump under my toes, but typically I only notice when I swap shoes late in a long ultra. However, I know of the runners that prefer the Bondi 3 and Bondi Speed are all remarkably similartaper. I have The very rear of the shoe is cut away slightly, creating a little bit of a slight preference for the rocker shape.* {{H:drop}}. The Bondi Speedis not zero drop, but with the rear is about 5 mm thicker than the difference front. This is a fairly modest amount of drop, and not enough to cause me any issues.* {{H:structure}}. This shoe is made of a single type of foam, so there is mostly visualno variation in foam density within the midsole to interfere with the movement of the foot on the ground. I've run The midsole does wrap around the lower part of the foot to create some additional stability, which helps overcome some of the problems you get with a thick sole creating a stilt-like instability without interfering with biomechanics.* {{H:flexibility}}. . The Bondi B on one foot and does not have much flexibility, though the level of cushioning offsets this a little. * {{H:outsole}}. This iteration of the Bondi Speed on has hard rubber outsole material over the majority of the contact area, and all of the other without feeling any real differencehigh pressure, high wear areas.* {{H:shape}}. The Bondi has the typical Hoka shape, which includes a horribly small constricted toe box. The toe box, but once its is so bad that I've noticed a distinctive pattern of blisters it causes when I'm working blister repair at aid stations. I believe it is critical to [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the shoe works quite well, toe box of any Hokas]]. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}* {{H:upper}}. The upper is seamless and moderately breathable as you can see from the image below. The padding around the ankle opening is a little thinner than I'd like, though it's far from uncomfortable <br/> [[File:Hoka Bondi has best balance Upper (1).jpg|center|thumb|300px| A shot of soft cushioning and reasonable weight in the Bondi, backlight to show breathability]]<br/>[[File:Hoka rangeBondi Upper (2).jpg|center|thumb|300px|An alternative view.]]* {{H:tongue}}. The Instinct has a traditional tongue with a tab to attach it to the laces. It's well-padded, but perhaps a little short. * {{H:lacing}}. The traditional flat laces stayed tied.* {{H:heelcounter}}. The Bondi is not available as has a trail specific versionlarge, ridged heel counter, but I've found the upper is probably sufficiently padded to isolate you from it works pretty well on most trails. The only issue might be if you twist your ankle, though even slightly it lacks might dig in, something that's more likely with the lugs for slickthick, muddy tailsstilt-like sole. {{FastBlr|altra/instinct-3-1321|1321|Hoka Bondi}}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}