Run Oregon is Kickin’ it in the Hoka Bondi 8

I have to start this review with a confession. The first time I put on Hoka’s Bondi 8, my first thought was: “Do these shoes make my feet look big?” The cushion on the bottom that had me at first feeling a little bit like a duck was actually a great protection for me from the puddles of winter running. So I guess those ducks have it pretty good and can teach us runners a few things. Quack!

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The shoes I got were labeled as “Outer Space / Bellwether Blue.” The waves on the sides fit perfectly with my feeling of floating over the puddles. I floated over all the neighborhood sidewalk cracks and curves as well. Overall, I felt great confidence in solid footing for the wet weather. And with 12 color combinations to choose from, could add to my closet really easily this year thanks to Hoka.

In contrast to the size of the shoes, they were surprisingly light. Hoka gave the credit to their plush design: “Taking on a billowed effect, the rear crash pad affords an incredibly soft and balanced ride from heel strike to forefoot transaction.” I’ve followed the guidance from Hoka and incorporated these shoes into neighborhood runs and walks for about 2-3 miles.

Knowing I’m wearing vegan shoes with recycled content leaves me feeling like I’m doing good for the environment that I love being out in as much as possible.

My favorite thing about HOKA shoes is that they have a lot of cushion and feel great on my feet, but they still somehow feel light. Many other shoes offer cushion, but the price for that is heavy turnover.

These shoes performed so well over this time that most runs I didn’t even really think about what was on my feet – something I consider a positive. What I DON’T want to do when running is constantly thinking that I have new shoes on my feet.

I’m always surprised with how well HOKA shoes perform for their cost. As everything gets more and more expensive in stores, I’m seeing many other running shoes reach the $200 mark and higher. The Bondi is $160 and worth every penny.

The only hesitation I see in wearing my new HOKA shoes is that I don’t want to get them dirty! I know this is impossible in the PNW so I guess I’ll have to get over that, as they are going to get a lot of use this year.