Shoes similar to the Hoka Bondi
Ranked by ride similarity. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
The closest current match to the Hoka Bondi is the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28. The modern Nimbus runs the same tall, soft, rockered recipe with a plusher, warmer upper and a little less bulk. The most direct cross-shop in the max-cushion aisle.
The Hoka Bondi is a heavy, plush max-stack cruiser built for easy paces and all-day wear. Everything below is measured against the current Bondi 9 (10.5 oz, 5 mm drop, 43 mm heel). No shoe matches it exactly, so each pick lists what carries over and what does not.
- 9.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 43.5 mm heel
- $165 list
The modern Nimbus runs the same tall, soft, rockered recipe with a plusher, warmer upper and a little less bulk. The most direct cross-shop in the max-cushion aisle.
Against your Hoka Bondi 9: 0.6 oz lighter, 3 mm more drop, $5 less at list.
- 9 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $170 list
The 1080 is softer and about an ounce lighter, with a full width range. Runners who find the Bondi too much shoe usually land here or on the Clifton.
Against your Hoka Bondi 9: 1.5 oz lighter, 3 mm less heel stack, 1 mm more drop.
- 9.2 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42 mm heel
- $155 list
The Clifton is the same rockered Hoka formula with less foam and over an ounce less weight. The usual switch when the Bondi feels like too much shoe for actual running.
Against your Hoka Bondi 9: 1.3 oz lighter, 1 mm less heel stack, 3 mm more drop, $15 less at list.
Chasing a specific older version?
If it is a particular Bondi you miss, start from that version's page: what replaced it, and where old stock still exists.
Questions runners ask
- What is the most similar shoe to the Hoka Bondi?
- The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28. The modern Nimbus runs the same tall, soft, rockered recipe with a plusher, warmer upper and a little less bulk. The most direct cross-shop in the max-cushion aisle.
- Do any of these match the Hoka Bondi's 5 mm drop?
- No. The closest matches all sit at a different drop than the Hoka Bondi's 5 mm, so give any switch a couple of adaptation weeks.
- Why switch away from the Hoka Bondi at all?
- The usual reasons: a version you loved got discontinued, an update changed the ride, or the fit moved away from your foot. The list above is ranked by how closely each shoe matches the current Bondi 9, with the differences called out honestly.