What replaced the Hoka Bondi 8?
Updated July 31, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Bondi 9 replaced the Bondi 8 in January 2025. It swapped the CMEVA midsole for a lighter supercritical foam, added about 2 mm of real stack, moved to a knit upper with a 3D-molded collar, and raised the list price $5 to $170. Most reviewers called it the best Bondi in years.
At a glance
- The Bondi 9 is 0.3 oz lighter
- 4 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 4 mm to 5 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Bondi 8 vs 9.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterThe 9 changed the one thing the Bondi had never changed, the foam, and got away with it. Supercritical EVA cut a third of an ounce and added real bounce, and most reviewers called it the best Bondi in years. It is still a big, easy-pace shoe; the character shift is under the hood, not in the mission.
Stick with the Bondi 8 if
- The 8 fits your foot and clearance pricing makes it the value pick
- The 9's extended heel lip or snug toebox rubbed you wrong in a try-on
Move to the Bondi 9 if
- You want the same easy-pace cushion with less weight and more bounce
- You stand or walk all day; the softer landing and heel cradle earn their keep
What loyalists said about the update
Mostly won over, around 67 percent positive across aggregated Reddit reviews. The foam swap itself drew little grief. Complaints center on the snug toebox, the extended heel lip rubbing some runners' Achilles, warmth from the knit upper, and the price. A minority who loved the 8's fit bounced off the 9 entirely.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Bondi 8 stock
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 31, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Bondi 9, these come closest to what the Bondi 8 did.
- 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 8: 0.9 oz lighter, 4.5 mm more heel stack, 4 mm more drop.
- 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 8: 1.8 oz lighter, 1 mm more heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $5 more at list.
- 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 8: 1.6 oz lighter, 3 mm more heel stack, 4 mm more drop, $10 less at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Hoka Bondi 8 still available?
- Yes. The Hoka Bondi 8 is still widely stocked on Amazon in both men's and women's sizes, often below its original list price now that a newer version exists.
- Is the Bondi 9 a downgrade from the Hoka Bondi 8?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Bondi 9 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Hoka Bondi 8 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- How much lighter is the Bondi 9?
- 0.3 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 10.5 oz against the Hoka Bondi 8's 10.8 oz.
- Did the drop change from the Hoka Bondi 8 to the Bondi 9?
- Yes, from 4 mm to 5 mm. A drop change this size affects where your foot loads at landing, so plan a few easy runs to adapt.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Hoka Bondi 8?
- 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.