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The Bondi was my favorite of the [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka range]] for some time. Then the [[Altra Olympus]], came along, and was a 'better Bondi' because it's shaped for the human foot. After that the [[Hoka Clifton]] came along and produced Minimax cushioning at a remarkably light weight. I've found that the Original Bondi B, the Bondi 2, 3, 4, and Bondi Speed are all remarkably similar. The Bondi has a horribly small toe box, but once its cut open the shoe works quite well. The Bondi has a reasonable balance of soft cushioning and weight, but has been surpassed by the Clifton. In fact, running with a Clifton on one foot and a Bondi on the other proved to me how close the two shoes feel, except for the weight. The Bondi is not available as a trail specific version, but I've found it works pretty well on most trails, though it lacks the lugs for slick, muddy tails. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
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|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 top]]
* '''Flexibility'''. The Bondi does not have much flexibility, though the level of cushioning offsets this a little.
* '''Outsole'''. The Bondi has a variety of materials on the outsole. There is some exposed midsole, some slightly more durable foam, and some durable rubber. While this helps balance durability with the weight it does create some uneven wear over the life of the shoe. In hot conditions I've had problems with the difference in wear levels, with the harder outsole at the extreme front and back of the shoe remaining intact while the softer outsole and exposed midsole wear badly.
* '''Shape'''. The Bondi has the typical Hoka shape, which includes a horribly constricted toe box. The toe box is so bad that I've noticed a distinctive pattern of blisters it courses causes when I'm working blister repair at aid stations. I believe it is critical to [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box of any Hokas]].
* '''Upper'''. The upper varies a little with the different models and versions of the Bondi. The earlier versions had a multilayered and complex upper, but the later versions are much simpler. The padding around the ankle opening has become rather thin in the later versions, which reduces the comfort.
* '''Tongue'''. The Bondi has a classic tongue rather than a tongue-less sock style of upper. The tongue has good padding.