HOKA Bondi 8 vs Bondi 9: What Changed, and Is the 9 Better?
The retained RunRepeat samples report 125 SA at the Bondi 8 heel and 146 SA at the Bondi 9 heel, about 17% higher on that laboratory measure. The Bondi 9 sample also had larger toe-box readings and 9.1 mm of drop versus 6.2 mm. These are construction observations, not measured treatment benefits.
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The measurements can help you compare what to try on. They do not make the 9 a proven heel-pain winner or the 8 a universal low-drop choice. If an existing pair suits you, compare the actual replacement’s fit and comfort rather than assuming either generation has the same effect for every foot.
Evidence status: This is a published-source specification comparison attributed to Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS. No original product photos, measurements, wear-test notes or clinician-review records are available for these shoes. The brand and review-site figures are dated source reports; the laboratory figures are RunRepeat’s samples, not measurements performed by Podiatrist Tested. They do not establish comparative treatment outcomes, validated scores or a Seal award.
What HOKA says changed
The earlier HOKA source summary described supercritically foamed EVA, 2 mm more stack, a reworked collar and a knit upper marketed as roomier. The recorded Bondi 9 list figures are 5 mm drop and $175. Launch sources recorded 4 mm and $165 for the Bondi 8; the September 2026 HOKA page recorded 5 mm. These dated source statements are not a new availability or price check.
| Specification | Bondi 8 | Bondi 9 |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $165 at launch | $175 ($170 at launch) |
| Stated heel-to-toe drop | 4 mm at launch; 5 mm on HOKA’s page now | 5 mm |
| Stated weight, men’s | 10.8 oz (307 g), US 9 | 10.5 oz (298 g) |
| Midsole | EVA | Supercritical EVA |
| Upper | Mesh | Knit |
| On sale on 28 September 2026? | No longer at HOKA US or Running Warehouse | Yes, at HOKA and running shops |
Sources: HOKA’s US Bondi 9 page, read 28 September 2026, which gives the weight without a size and showed some colours from $140. Bondi 8 launch figures as listed by Believe in the Run; HOKA’s US Bondi 8 page, marked unavailable, now gives 10.80 oz and a 5.00 mm drop. Reviewers at launch gave different stack heights for the Bondi 8, so we leave stack to the lab below.
What the lab measured
The cited RunRepeat samples differed by 5.1 mm at the heel and 2.2 mm at the forefoot, with drop readings of 6.2 and 9.1 mm, a 2.9 mm difference. The Bondi 9 sample had larger toe-box readings and was 8 g lighter. Differences from manufacturer figures do not by themselves identify an error: the sample size, size/version and measurement method matter.
| Measurement | Bondi 8 | Bondi 9 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toe-box width at the big toe | 69.2 mm | 72.5 mm | 3.3 mm wider |
| Width at the widest point | 92.2 mm | 94.1 mm | 1.9 mm wider |
| Toe-box height | 28.5 mm | 29.6 mm | 1.1 mm taller |
| Heel stack | 36.2 mm | 41.3 mm | 5.1 mm higher |
| Forefoot stack | 30.0 mm | 32.2 mm | 2.2 mm higher |
| Measured drop | 6.2 mm | 9.1 mm | 2.9 mm steeper |
| Weight | 311 g | 303 g | 8 g lighter |
| Midsole hardness (Asker C, higher is firmer) | 41.5 AC | 43.0 AC | About 4% higher hardness reading |
| Energy return at the heel | 51.0% | 60.2% | Higher reported heel energy return |
| Heel shock absorption | 125 SA | 146 SA | About 17% more |
| Force to bend the forefoot | 17.7 N | 16.5 N | About 7% lower bending-force reading |
| Heel counter stiffness (1 to 5) | 3 | 3 | The same |
| Insole thickness | 4.9 mm | 4.4 mm | 0.5 mm thinner |
| Torsional rigidity (1 to 5, older method) | 4 | 4 | The same |
Source: RunRepeat lab, one pair of each, read 28 September 2026, with the same toe-box, cushioning and bending tests on both shoes. Hardness is on the Asker C scale and shock absorption in RunRepeat’s SA units; torsional rigidity for both is on the lab’s older 1-to-5 scale. Medians of the lab-measured shoes we review (34 for the toe-box figures, 35 for the rest): 72.8 mm at the big toe, 95.2 mm at the widest point, 27.0 mm of toe-box height, 38.7 mm of heel stack, 8.5 mm of drop, 137 SA and 15.3 N. These are the earlier attributed sample data and comparison-set counts, not a current inventory or an independent retest. Differences between samples do not by themselves establish effects on pain, injury, balance, Achilles loading or device fit.
What these specifications can support
Heel measurements: The cited heel readings are 146 SA versus 125 SA, about 17% higher, placing the Bondi 9 fifth of 35 in the earlier comparison set. Hardness readings are 43.0 and 41.5 Asker C, while heel stack differs by 5.1 mm. These figures do not isolate which component caused the difference, justify a price premium or establish pain relief, heel stability or benefit for a thinning fat pad.
Drop measurements: The earlier launch figures were 4 and 5 mm; the recorded later Bondi 8 page said 5 mm. The cited samples measured 6.2 and 9.1 mm. Neither a category label nor the difference establishes a preferred model for Achilles, calf or forefoot symptoms. The heel-to-toe drop chart compares geometry, not a validated therapeutic range.
Toe-box measurements: The Bondi 9 sample was 3.3 mm wider at the big toe, 1.9 mm wider at the widest point and 1.1 mm taller. Its 29.6 mm height ranked second of 34 in the earlier dataset; both samples were below that set’s widest-point median. These sample dimensions do not establish fit across all sizes or widths, or prescribe Wide/X-Wide for every bunion. Check width, depth and rubbing in the actual pair; the toe-box chart preserves the attributed measurements.
Should you switch?
Compare the Bondi 9 when…
- You want to compare the reported heel measure: 146 SA versus 125 SA, about 17% higher and fifth of 35 in the earlier set. This is not evidence of better pain relief.
- You want to try the sample’s larger toe-box dimensions: 3.3 mm more big-toe width and 1.1 mm more height. Verify actual clearance; rubbing does not guarantee this model fits.
- You want to compare the 9.1 mm sample drop. A tendon or calf symptom does not establish an automatic switch to this model.
- You are checking a current listing. The earlier sources recorded Regular, Wide and X-Wide for the 9; verify the exact size and width offered.
Compare a Bondi 8 listing when…
- You want to compare the earlier 6.2 mm sample drop with the 9’s 9.1 mm reading; this is not a clinical suitability rule.
- You want to compare the lower sample heel stack, about 5 mm lower. That does not establish better balance or ankle stability.
- An existing pair suits you and you want to compare another listing. The recorded September 2026 availability checks are historical; verify the exact current model, size and return terms.
Orthotics and inserts
The earlier sources describe removable insoles; RunRepeat reported 4.4 mm for the 9 and 4.9 mm for the 8, with 1.1 mm more toe-box height in the 9 sample. Subtracting those measurements does not establish usable interior volume or full-length orthotic fit. Test the actual device and shoe for clearance, security and comfort; our device-fit guide describes practical checks, not completed clearance ratings.
Questions runners ask
Is the HOKA Bondi 9 better than the Bondi 8?
The cited sample has a higher heel shock-absorption reading and larger toe-box measurements, but those differences do not prove better pain relief or fit for every foot. The reported drops are 9.1 and 6.2 mm. Compare actual fit, comfort and activity needs; no original PT wear test or treatment comparison is documented.
Did HOKA change the drop on the Bondi 9?
The recorded launch figures were 4 mm for the Bondi 8 and 5 mm for the 9, while the September 2026 Bondi 8 page also listed 5 mm. RunRepeat’s cited samples measured 6.2 and 9.1 mm, a 2.9 mm difference; the earlier 35-shoe set had an 8.5 mm median. Stated and measured figures refer to different sources and are not a therapeutic prescription.
Is the Bondi 9 wider than the Bondi 8?
In the cited samples, the 9 was 3.3 mm wider at the big toe (72.5 mm) and 1.9 mm wider at the widest point (94.1 mm). Both were below the earlier set’s widest-point median. These are not paired tests of every width option or proof that a named width will fit a bunion or broad forefoot.
Is the Bondi 9 more cushioned than the Bondi 8?
RunRepeat’s cited heel shock-absorption readings are 146 SA and 125 SA, about 17% apart, with the 9 fifth of 35 in the earlier comparison set. Heel stack is 5.1 mm higher and hardness readings are 43.0 versus 41.5 Asker C. Those readings describe the samples; they do not document how either feels when worn or a treatment result.
Is the Bondi 8 discontinued?
The earlier page recorded the Bondi 8 as replaced and unavailable at HOKA US and Running Warehouse on 28 September 2026. That is a dated availability report, not a fresh check of all retailers or proof that every size is unavailable. Verify the actual current listing before purchase.
Is the Bondi 9 good for plantar fasciitis?
The earlier laboratory set ranked its sample fifth of 35 for heel shock absorption. That construction ranking is not a clinical trial of plantar-fasciitis relief. Heel pain has several possible causes and may need assessment. Our HOKA heel-pain guide compares related published options and evidence limits.
Read the full analysis
Our spec analysis of the HOKA Bondi 9 carries its full figures and sources. We also compare it with the Arahi, the Clifton 10, the Bondi SR and the KURU ATOM 2.
Sources
- HOKA, Bondi 9 men’s product page (5 mm drop, 10.5 oz, supercritically foamed EVA, Durabrasion rubber, Regular, Wide and X-Wide, $175 list with some colours from $140, and HOKA’s list of what changed), read 28 September 2026.
- HOKA, Bondi 8 men’s product page (marked “This Product is Unavailable”; now lists 10.80 oz and a 5.00 mm drop), read 28 September 2026.
- Believe in the Run, HOKA Bondi 8 review (launch price $165, 10.8 oz / 307 g in men’s US 9, 4 mm drop) and HOKA Bondi 9 review (launch price $170), read 28 September 2026.
- RunRepeat, HOKA Bondi 8 and HOKA Bondi 9 lab reviews, read 28 September 2026.
- Bondi 8 availability: HOKA US and Running Warehouse, checked 28 September 2026.
Correction (9 October 2026): Qualified unsupported treatment-winner, load, stability and orthotic-clearance inferences while retaining the attributed manufacturer and outside-lab figures. Source dates and earlier availability reports remain historical; no new product test or clinician-review sign-off is claimed. ACFAS heel-pain guidance provides clinical context, not evidence that either compared model is a treatment winner.
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Our funding and evidence policy
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