The form of a working shoe’s heel isn’t simply an aesthetic selection—it could additionally impression your stride and the way properly the shoe absorbs impression as you run. Together with new foam and a softer, extra cushioned tongue, the Bondi 8’s new, bigger heel and crash pad are supposed to present a comfortable, easy experience.

There’s no getting round it: The Bondi 8 will look chunky in your ft—which lots of people love—but when that’s not your private choice, it’s one thing to contemplate. This was really one of many elements that made me hesitate so lengthy within the first place, however now that they’re on my ft nearly day by day (and I don’t journey or stumble round in them because of the thick sole, like I used to be afraid of), I’m glad I took the plunge. If something, the peak of the heel makes it really feel like there’s one thing extra substantial beneath my ft.

What I discovered most spectacular was that, regardless of how cumbersome the shoe seems to be, it feels shockingly light-weight—which is sensible since they clock in at 8.9 ounces, the Bondi 8 is considerably lighter than my Adidas’s Stan Smith’s (my previous standbys), which weigh round 11 ounces.

I’m not the one fan of the redesign: With over 6,000 five-star critiques on Hoka’s web site, the Bondi 8 has loads of different admirers. Even the American Podiatric Medical Affiliation has seen—the group awarded this sneaker their seal of acceptance, that means a gaggle of specialists has decided that it helps promote higher foot well being.

Board-certified podiatrist Julie Schottenstein, MS, DPM, tells SELF that she recommends the Bondi 8 to her sufferers on a regular basis—notably individuals with excessive arches, because of the shoe’s ultra-plush cushioning. These sneakers have a stack peak of about 50 millimeters on the heel and a heel-to-toe drop of 4 millimeters, that means there’s over 1.5 inches of sentimental foam all through your complete footbed to soak up shock as you stroll or run.

“Cushion is at all times the secret for sufferers with excessive arches, and the Bondi 8 actually does this properly,” Dr. Schottenstein says. “Moreover, this shoe could be nice for sufferers with situations like metatarsalgia [a condition marked by pain in the ball of your feet] and likewise older sufferers who’ve misplaced the fats pad on their foot, which might happen with regular ageing.”

Match and really feel

After I first laced them up, it was apparent that there’s a ton of padding within the Bondi 8. My ft felt like they had been resting on a agency pillow. (And as an added bonus, they made this quick particular person really feel an inch taller.) The tongue itself is further cushioned and comfortable in opposition to my foot—that is clearly a shoe designed for final consolation.

I acquired them within the common width, and though my ft are on the broader facet, they’ve by no means felt tight or constricting. Involved about pinched toes? You might wish to spring for the broad width—simply be aware that there are fewer shade choices to select from.