A life-saver if you have lower-back problems.
After getting a pair of Bondi 8's I was very impressed with the comfort level of the Hokas and decided to try to find something more rugged. The Bondi SR was the closest thing to "rugged" I could find in EE. I have a "wide" foot, and have a very "narrow" selection to choose from. The Bondi SR's were the ONLY option for a EE other than in the Bondi 8's. I am 48 and not really ready for a senior shoe, but I am also practical and want to be comfortable. Honestly, these truly look like a senior old man shoe. I don't care, because that is how comfortable they are. The impact while walking and jogging is really well cushioned. It is like walking on pillows. Lots of bounce in the step too, and I am able to talk good distances without pain, as where I was only able to walk ... MoreAfter getting a pair of Bondi 8's I was very impressed with the comfort level of the Hokas and decided to try to find something more rugged. The Bondi SR was the closest thing to "rugged" I could find in EE. I have a "wide" foot, and have a very "narrow" selection to choose from. The Bondi SR's were the ONLY option for a EE other than in the Bondi 8's. I am 48 and not really ready for a senior shoe, but I am also practical and want to be comfortable. Honestly, these truly look like a senior old man shoe. I don't care, because that is how comfortable they are. The impact while walking and jogging is really well cushioned. It is like walking on pillows. Lots of bounce in the step too, and I am able to talk good distances without pain, as where I was only able to walk about 10 minutes before stopping. The exterior fabric looks cheaper than I would expect and shows considerable wear after daily use over 6 months. However, it is easy to clean the exterior and is more durable than with the Bondi 8. Definitely recommend-but they aren't pretty. The grip is awesome for wet surfaces. Highly recommend to restaurant staff, those working around slippery surfaces, etc...Go ugly early---the comfort is worth it!... Show more
originally posted on REI
Get the wide!
I'm a woman and wear a 13 normal width in womens and an 11/11.5 normal width in mens. The men's 11 fit length wise but they're so marrow. I even carefully measured prior to ordering. I tried wearing them for the day but made it 3 hours. I LOVE the support and the way they feel on my feet as they hit ground. Being a tall, big footed woman in nursing means minimal options for shoes! I'm going to exchange for the wide or get a refund since they're meant for work. My other Hoka sneakers are a regular width men's 11 and they're incredible but these fit very narrow compared to the walking sneakers. I highly recommend this company and their other sneakers, I don't understand why these are so different.... Show more
Amanda
originally posted on hoka.com
I am so glad I found these
I am a nurse and a "mid-size" woman with bunionettes (small bunions on the pinky toe side). I work 12hr shifts with a lot of walking and standing time and was having trouble finding a shoe that supported my feet without causing them pain to the lateral part of my forefoot.These shoes have met and surpassed my needs in every way. The leather keeps my feet dry from spills and cleanup is easy. The slip resistant sole is superb, I am confident maneuvering freshly mopped floors. The cushion has helped my knee pain as well as my foot pain, I can walk 10,000 steps and more with comfort. Using a men's size 10 when I typically wear a women's size 11 wide keeps my foot supported in the shoe without rubbing on my bilateral bunionettes. And lastly, these are my second pair, ... MoreI am a nurse and a "mid-size" woman with bunionettes (small bunions on the pinky toe side). I work 12hr shifts with a lot of walking and standing time and was having trouble finding a shoe that supported my feet without causing them pain to the lateral part of my forefoot.These shoes have met and surpassed my needs in every way. The leather keeps my feet dry from spills and cleanup is easy. The slip resistant sole is superb, I am confident maneuvering freshly mopped floors. The cushion has helped my knee pain as well as my foot pain, I can walk 10,000 steps and more with comfort. Using a men's size 10 when I typically wear a women's size 11 wide keeps my foot supported in the shoe without rubbing on my bilateral bunionettes. And lastly, these are my second pair, the first ones lasted a year before I noticed the cushion getting worn down. I am 200lbs at 5'8" and these shoes have held up to 3-5 miles a shift on concrete hospital floors for one year. I will gladly pay the price every year to have a shoe that performs like this.... Show more
Dani
originally posted on hoka.com
I Can Walk for Miles
I have chronic plantar fasciitis and wear custom orthotics. Thus, I'm always on the lookout for shoes with great cushion and superb support. The Bondi SR has firm maximum cushion and excellent arch support. The shoe is not as bouncy has the Adidas Ultraboost nor the New Balance X More v4. I usually wear a 13 regular, but on this shoe I needed a wide. Maybe it's the orthotics or the leather, but, after exchanging for the wide size I was in Heaven. The shoes fit extremely comfortable with absolutely no unwanted pressure or rubbing. The regular size rubbed on the outside of my heels. I love the rocking motion when one walks and the feel is just easy comfort. I put the shoes on and went for a 5 mile walk with absolutely no discomfort. Yes, I know you should break them ... MoreI have chronic plantar fasciitis and wear custom orthotics. Thus, I'm always on the lookout for shoes with great cushion and superb support. The Bondi SR has firm maximum cushion and excellent arch support. The shoe is not as bouncy has the Adidas Ultraboost nor the New Balance X More v4. I usually wear a 13 regular, but on this shoe I needed a wide. Maybe it's the orthotics or the leather, but, after exchanging for the wide size I was in Heaven. The shoes fit extremely comfortable with absolutely no unwanted pressure or rubbing. The regular size rubbed on the outside of my heels. I love the rocking motion when one walks and the feel is just easy comfort. I put the shoes on and went for a 5 mile walk with absolutely no discomfort. Yes, I know you should break them in, but, hey, they felt so perfect when I put them on... so why not go for it? There is a reason why so many in the health fields, me included, love these shoes... you can walk and stand in them for hours if not days. Sure, they're "clunky"... but, clunky is fashionable.... Show more
Mark
originally posted on hoka.com
I really wanted to love these...
I've been wearing Bondi 7's for several years now and absolutely LOVE them. I wear them for work (I'm a letter carrier). They're a Godsend for my bad back... ever since I began wearing Hoka's, I've been able to ditch my regular chiropractic visits. Every chance I get, I recommend them to other carriers, and several coworkers are now Hoka fans for life.Well management changed and now they wanted to enforce dress code rules, which means I had to switch to leather shoes. I immediately bought a pair of Bondi SR's because I felt it would be a perfect pick. Four days into wearing these and I just can't. My feet hurt so bad. They don't seem to have nearly the same amount of padding on the bottom, and despite being a good fit, I'm getting blisters. I didn't expect these ... MoreI've been wearing Bondi 7's for several years now and absolutely LOVE them. I wear them for work (I'm a letter carrier). They're a Godsend for my bad back... ever since I began wearing Hoka's, I've been able to ditch my regular chiropractic visits. Every chance I get, I recommend them to other carriers, and several coworkers are now Hoka fans for life.Well management changed and now they wanted to enforce dress code rules, which means I had to switch to leather shoes. I immediately bought a pair of Bondi SR's because I felt it would be a perfect pick. Four days into wearing these and I just can't. My feet hurt so bad. They don't seem to have nearly the same amount of padding on the bottom, and despite being a good fit, I'm getting blisters. I didn't expect these to be SO different in feel from the 7's... boy, was i wrong.... Show more
MailLady
originally posted on hoka.com
Life changing!
My (adult) son went to work in a big box store (cement floors) and regularly gets over 40K steps in an average day. He had issues with feet, hips and back. He has always worn good, well fitting shoes, but this was just extreme conditions and it was taking it's toll. He noticed quite a few people wearing HOKA brand and started asking. They all swore they were the only way they could manage work without the pain to their joints. He was skeptical as was I, but decided to try a pair. He is absolutely blown away. No pain and increased stamina because he isn't hurting. Normally, when he got home after work, the first thing he did was remove his shoes. He says not now! It is amazing the difference these shoes have made.... Show more
Mom
originally posted on hoka.com
No Better/More Comfortable Shoes For Daily Physical Tasks!
I Love These Shoes! I am On My Feet All Day, and Work Physically in a Variety of Settings. I Have Put These Shoes Through The Absolute Ringer, and Yet They Have Still Held Up. I Did Have Some Splitting on a Portion of The Toe Seam, Although, Due to The Fact That I Essentially Treat These as a Daily Work Boots, I Am No Surprised! Nothing That a Few Dabs of Super Glue Can't Handle! All in All, These Are The Most Comfortable Shoe on The Market, and I Cannot Stop Hyping Them Up To Everyone, When The "Shoes" Topic Comes Up. Do Yourself a Favor, and Stop Hesitating. These Shoes Are a Worthy Work Investment. Gotta Comfort & Protect Those "Money-Makers"!... Show more
MZ
originally posted on hoka.com
Not white!
I ordered 2 pairs of these shoes. The first pair looked more lavender than white. I returned them and tried again because the agent I chatted with said that these shoes ARE bright white and that I must've gotten a pair that had something faded on them. These are not as bad, but they are NOT actually white, they have a blue/gray tint to them. My nursing school would not approve these because they don't look white in person. The midsole, laces, and collar lining are a bright white. The rest of the shoes (the leather parts) is what looks blue/gray. I'd also like to add that these shoes are not super comfortable, they made me feel unsteady. I have wasted 2 weeks dealing with these shoes and still haven't gotten the shoes I need for nursing school in a month.... Show more
Cam
originally posted on hoka.com
Purchased due to plantar fasciitis
I developed plantar fasciitis in January. By June, I realized that it was not going to simply go-away, and it was agonizing and disruptive to every aspect of my life. I finally decided to buy some footwear that would at least make walking and standing less painful, so after some research, I settled on these Hoka shoes. Within a week of wearing these shoes for everything, I no longer had any pain. I was still limping, as this limp had become my "normal" gait. I had to consciously make myself start walking in a normal fashion again, but the pain was gone and has not returned. I don't know if I'm the exception to the rule, but these shoed did not merely help alleviate my PF pain, they absolutely cured the issue. I have to be careful not to forget and do a lot of ... MoreI developed plantar fasciitis in January. By June, I realized that it was not going to simply go-away, and it was agonizing and disruptive to every aspect of my life. I finally decided to buy some footwear that would at least make walking and standing less painful, so after some research, I settled on these Hoka shoes. Within a week of wearing these shoes for everything, I no longer had any pain. I was still limping, as this limp had become my "normal" gait. I had to consciously make myself start walking in a normal fashion again, but the pain was gone and has not returned. I don't know if I'm the exception to the rule, but these shoed did not merely help alleviate my PF pain, they absolutely cured the issue. I have to be careful not to forget and do a lot of walking around my house barefooted, because I can start to feel the PF trying to rear its ugly head when I do, so I plan on buying some Hoka slip on sandals for when I am slumming around the house. I'm a backcountry hunter, and I am now debating on whether I will be wearing my 490.00 Zamberlains into the mountains this year or whether I'll risk rolling an ankle and choose to wear these Hokas. Regardless, thank you Hoka for making this shoe; it's given me my life-without-a-limp-and-awful-pain back!... Show more
E-Rock
originally posted on hoka.com
The Loudest, Most Comfortable Hoka
This is my 3rd pair of Bondi's (5,6,& SR). Definitely the most comfortable. The midsole is ultra plush and feels stable for walking and standing. The upper has a cushioned collar, which is easy on the Achilles. The upper produces leather on leather noise during walking as the tongue topside and underside of eyelets rub. Ventilation is horrible. Please add vent holes to the side of the shoe by the arch. Wear the thinnest sock possible to avoid sweaty feet. The outsole has the most opportunities for improvement. Not sure if the shoe designer/engineers know that hospital floors are routinely stripped and waxed? The noise that comes from the outsole is very loud and embarrassing (squish squish). I find myself seeking out carpeted sections of the hospital whenever ... MoreThis is my 3rd pair of Bondi's (5,6,& SR). Definitely the most comfortable. The midsole is ultra plush and feels stable for walking and standing. The upper has a cushioned collar, which is easy on the Achilles. The upper produces leather on leather noise during walking as the tongue topside and underside of eyelets rub. Ventilation is horrible. Please add vent holes to the side of the shoe by the arch. Wear the thinnest sock possible to avoid sweaty feet. The outsole has the most opportunities for improvement. Not sure if the shoe designer/engineers know that hospital floors are routinely stripped and waxed? The noise that comes from the outsole is very loud and embarrassing (squish squish). I find myself seeking out carpeted sections of the hospital whenever possible, in order to dampen the noise. Night shift hospital workers should not wear this shoe, as it will wake their patients. The tread also picks up tons of debris. Do not step on toilet paper with this shoe. It gets embedded in the tread and is a pain to get out. I recommend having a dedicated toothbrush for this shoe as the white on white model requires weekly cleaning, including the outsole. Durability has been good for the 3 months and I wear my Hokas at least 40 hours a week. Appearance, I get tons of compliments on this shoe, but find myself holding back from recommending the SR it to coworkers due to the crazy noise coming from the outsole. It's a truly a conflicting shoe, that has great strengths and weaknesses. Please have the shoe designers redo the outsole. It's the worst I've ever encountered in my 8 years as a Hoka costumer. If HOKA is going to market this shoe to hospital workers, then it should've tested it in the hospital environment before bringing it to market. Big, preventable oversight.... Show more
Seasoned Healthcare Worker
originally posted on hoka.com