I’m not the first to say it, but Hoka’s are the ultimate everyday sneaker. Cushy and comfy, they’re the shoes your feet didn’t know they needed, until you tried them on. My two teenagers are both equally obsessed with the brand, and my 80-year-old aunt swears by them. While I’ve owned (and loved) multiple pairs through the years, I’ve been living in my Bondi 9s, the latest Bondi model, released a year ago, in January 2025.
A pricier shoe, the Bondi 9s will typically run you close to $200. And while this model in particular rarely goes on sale, I just spotted a selection of colors, in men’s and women’s options for 20% off at Zappos and Hoka.
If you think you don’t need another pair of sneakers or you don’t regularly go for walks, allow me to introduce you to the indoor sneaker — more supportive than a slipper, but just as comfortable.
My mom recently convinced me of the merits of having an indoor pair of sneakers. Unlike walking shoes or gym shoes, these only go in the house, and are meant to be worn in the kitchen and for all those household chores. She claims slippers aren’t supportive enough, and honestly, I’m inclined to agree.
I took her suggestion and wore my new pair of Bondi 9 indoors only for all the hours I’m in the kitchen – cleaning, meal prepping, and cleaning again. (Did I mention I have two teenagers?)
After long stints in the kitchen, I can definitely feel that the Bondi 9 delivers the ultimate shock absorbency when standing on hard floors. The foamy and bouncy underfoot cushioning is improved, which makes standing for long lengths of time delightful. I’ve been in multiple PT sessions for back and foot pain (three decades of running will do this), but never felt tired or achy wearing the Bondi.
I’d say Mom’s right — slippers just don’t cut it anymore for my two-hour kitchen marathons. I also stood in line for 45 minutes at the DMV in the Bondi and experienced no leg fatigue or lower back discomfort.
In addition to extreme comfort, the Bondi 9 looks good, too.
I opted for the blue spark/mint fluorite color, which is a bold and fun combo, currently on sale. (My teenage daughter even complimented my choice.) It looks nice no matter what I’m wearing, and the bright colors make me happy when I look at my feet. With many choices in regular and wide sizes, you can definitely find something neutral if that’s more your thing too. My foot is a normal width — in a running sneaker I wear a 9.5, walking sneaker a 9. This sneaker fits true to size for me.
And it’s had some serious design upgrades from previous Bondi models.
The Bondi 9 is also lighter than its predecessor. The women’s version dropped from 9.9 ounces to 9.3, while the men’s went from 11.4 ounces to 10.5. The 9 does feel and look like an upgraded shoe when I compared my youngest daughter’s 8 and 9 models. She’s a beginner runner and loves these! (Hot tip: I always order my kid’s sneakers from the Hoka site — they have free returns and often more color options than other sites.)
I also appreciate the newly improved knit upper for a more stretchy fit in the 9 model. They feel supremely breathable. I prefer wearing my running and walking sneakers with a thin moisture-wicking sock, and my feet stay cool in the Bondis — even on the hottest and most humid August days.
The 9 also sports a raised heel height, which provides more comfort, less sock slippage, uncomfortable heel rubbing, and I think even makes putting them on a tad more seamless. There was no breaking in period for me – they felt great right out of the box. On my two-mile walks I appreciated the supportive heel cushioning that allows my foot to gently roll forward making for a comfortable and enjoyable ride, and delivers a springy step that feels good.
Hoka improved the Bondi with what’s called a “supercritical” EVA foam midsole, which is lighter, a bit softer, and more responsive than the traditional EVA foam in the Bondi 8. The takeaway: it gives back more energy, and feels bouncier. The stack height is two millimeters greater compared with the former Bondi 8, so you’re getting a more energetic ride overall. My walks generally include a lot of up-and-down hills, and this model delivers the right amount of cushioning and responsiveness for varying terrain.
If you want to experiment with running, or even play around with a run/walk during your outdoor ventures, the Bondi 9 is the shoe to take that leap in, especially at this price. It’s billed as a slow-running/recovery sneaker, but also falls under the walking purview. And, of course, it makes a great indoor sneaker.
See what some other happy shoppers had to say and grab an on-sale pair of Bondi 9s for yourself to wear indoors, outdoors and everywhere else.
“Walking on a cloud is an understatement. Ultra-comfortable, true to size, and beats every other shoe on the market for comfort.” — Elise, Hoka customer
“Long time Hoka Bondi fan here, so know that up front, these Bondi 9′s are a HUGE update/ upgrade from the previous! Oh my goodness, these shoes provide significantly more cushioning and pure comfort! Frankly I never really noticed differences better the 6, the 7 or 8. These however are next level.” — Mpd04, Zappos customer
“The most bouncy, comfy shoes ever. The best bondis yet!” — Chan, Zappos customer
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)
Be the first to comment