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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Hoka Bondi 4 5 Review}}The Bondi was my favorite of the [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka range]] for some time. Then the [[Altra Olympus]]5 is a little heavier than its predecessors, came along, and was a 'better Bondi' because it's shaped for the human footbut sadly not quite as well cushioned. After that I find myself much preferring the [[Hoka Clifton]] came along which is both lighter and produced softer, or even better, the [[MinimaxAltra Escalante]] cushioning at a remarkably light weight. I've found that also find the Original Bondi B, sole of the Bondi 2a little higher than I would like, 3, 4and that stack height does interfere a little with my biomechanics, and Bondi Speed are adds a little more stress to my ankles. Like all remarkably similar. The Bondi has a horribly small Hoka shoes, the shape of the toe boxis grim, but once its cut open and I found that just a few miles in the shoe works quite well. The Bondi has caused me a reasonable balance lot of soft cushioning and weighttoe pain, but has been surpassed by cutting the toe box open resolved the Cliftonproblem nicely. In factI've rated it as "Recommended", running with a Clifton on one foot and a Bondi that rating may be erring on the other proved to me how close the two shoes side of generosity. I feel, except for that the weight. The Bondi is not available as a trail specific version, but Ihas declined while it've found it works pretty well on most trails, though it lacks s competition has risen. (For the lugs for slickprevious version, muddy tailssee [[Hoka Bondi 4| Hoka Bondi 4 Review]]. ) {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}{| class="wikitable"style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka 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.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 5 outside.jpg]]

These characteristics apply to all of the Bondi range of shoes unless otherwise noted.* '''Why you'd buy it'''. Probably the only reason to get a Bondi now would be if you can get it far cheaper than the [[Altra Olympus]] or [[Hoka Clifton]], unless the slight increase in {{H:cushioning over the Clifton is critical to you.* '''Cushioning'''}}. The Bondi is used to be one of the best cushioned shoes availableyou could buy, and is slightly softer than the [[Altra Olympus]]was famous for its massive, soft, pillowy ride. While itSadly, that's not as thick as it looks on all in the outsidepast, it and the fifth version is much thicker than significantly firmer, and a traditional running shoelittle heavier. The latest incarnations of the Bondiis thick, the [[Hoka Stinson]] and the [[Hoka Mafate]] all have surprisingly similar levels of cushioning. * '''Drop'''. Sadly the Bondi does not have so it might work a zero drop midsolelittle better for much heavier runners, and the rear is about 5 mm thicker than the front. This is only about half the drop of a traditional running shoe and but I typically don't have any issues moving between d suggest that there are other shoes in the Bondi and two a zero drop shoe like the Altramuch better job. The Bondi has a rather abrupt taper at the very front of the shoe, unlike the Altra Olympus that has a gradual taper. which Hoka describe this as a 'Early-Stage Meta-Rocker', a fancy name for putting the taper under the toes. I find this can feels like the Bondi has 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 taper. The very rear of the shoe is cut away slightly, creating a little bit of a rocker shape.* {{H:drop}}. The midsole does wrap around Bondi is not zero drop, with the lower part of rear is about 5 mm thicker than the foot to create some additional stabilityfront. This helps overcome some is a fairly modest amount of the problems you get with a thick sole creating a stilt like instabilitydrop, and not enough to cause me any issues.* '''Structure'''{{H:structure}}. This shoe is made of a single type of foam, so there is no variation in foam density within the midsole to interfere with the movement of the foot on the ground. 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.* '''Flexibility'''{{H:flexibility}}. . The Bondi does not have much flexibility, though the level of cushioning offsets this a little. * '''Outsole'''{{H:outsole}}. The This iteration of the Bondi has a variety of materials on the hard rubber 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 material over the life majority of the shoe. In hot conditions I've had problems with the difference in wear levelscontact area, with the harder outsole at the extreme front and back all of the shoe remaining intact while the softer outsole and exposed midsole high pressure, high wear badlyareas. * '''Shape'''{{H: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 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]]. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}* '''Upper'''{{H:upper}}. The upper varies a little with the different models is seamless and versions of moderately breathable as you can see from the Bondi. The earlier versions had a multilayered and complex upper, but the later versions are much simplerimage below. The padding around the ankle opening has become rather thin in the later versions, which reduces the comfort.* '''Tongue'''. The Bondi has is a classic tongue rather little thinner than a tongue-less sock style of upper. The tongue has good padding.* '''Lacing'''. The Bondi Speed and Bondi 3 have a "speed lacing" system that uses fine laces and a locking system, but they include traditional round laces as well. I generally prefer the traditional laces as it can be tricky to get the tension right with the "speed lacing" system. Like many shoes in the Hoka range, the earlier versions had elastic straps that pull the sides together even if the laces are loose, but they were dropped from the Bondi 4. (I always cut these elastic straps off.)* '''Heel counter'''. The Bondi has a mild heel counter with no strongly defined edgesd like, so it should not cause a problem. The heel counter comes as far up the back of the heel as is normal for a running shoe.{{BuyShoes|RW=T|RRS=T|AZ=T|ZP=T}}{{ShoeGraphs}}=Compared with the Hoka Clifton=The [[Hoka Clifton]] seems like though it's an evolution of the Bondi, with the two shoes feeling remarkably similar, even when wearing one shoe on each foot. You can think of the Clifton as a Bondi that's lighter, with similar cushioning. The Bondi does have more cushioning in the heel, but I don't think you'll notice unless you're a serious heel striker. I prefer the Clifton and would choose it every time. {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|far from uncomfortable <br/> [[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-topUpper (1).jpg|nonecenter|thumb|150px300px|Hoka A shot of the Bondi 4 top, backlight to show breathability]]|<br/>[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-insideUpper (2).jpg|nonecenter|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 inside]]300px|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-outsideAn alternative view.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File* {{H:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]] |[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]|tongue}}=Compared with Altra Olympus=The [[Altra Olympus]] is a competitor for the Hoka range, and I believe it represents a much better shoe. The Olympus Instinct has a slightly thinner sole, but its toe box is shaped for traditional tongue with a tab to attach it to the human foot, and itlaces. It's zero drop. Overallwell-padded, I prefer the Olympus to the Bondibut perhaps a little short.* {| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File{H:Hoka-Bondi-4-toplacing}}.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 top]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-bottomThe traditional flat laces stayed tied.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 bottom]]|[[File* {{H:Hoka-Bondi-4-insideheelcounter}}.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Altra-Olympus-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus top]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus bottom]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus inside]] |[[File:Altra-Olympus-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra Olympus outside]] |}=Compared with Hoka Stinson Lite=The [[Hoka Stinson]] has become closer to the Bondi as it's evolved. The latest version of the Stinson Lite has remarkably similar levels of weighta large, ridged heel counter, cushioning and comfort. There but the upper is a slight difference probably sufficiently padded to the midsole shape between the shoesisolate you from it. The Stinson has a little more droponly issue might be if you twist your ankle, but a less abrupt taper under the toes. Hoka refer to this as the early or late meta-rocker, but even when I run with one shoe on each footslightly it might dig in, the difference is slight. Itsomething that's not clear to me why Hoka would produce two shoes that are this close, but more likely with the outsole on the Stinson Lite is better than the Bondithick, making it a slightly better shoestilt-like sole. {{FastBlr| class="wikitable"|altra/instinct- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-43-top.jpg|none|thumb1321|150px1321|Hoka Bondi 4 top]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Bondi-4-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Bondi 4 outside]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Hoka-Stinson-Lite-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Stinson Lite top]]|[[File:Hoka-Stinson-Lite-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Stinson Lite bottom]]|[[File:Hoka-Stinson-Lite-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Stinson Lite inside]]|[[File:Hoka-Stinson-Lite-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka Stinson Lite outside]]|}}