Hoka Bondi B

I just got some, not sure I'll keep them.  Using them as mileage ramps up for IM in August.  I hear injured runners using them and being able to continue, maybe they'll prevent injury.  Haven't used them yet as i have an HIM in 10 days and thought changing shoes the week before would be stupid.  Actually listened to myself for once.....

There are 1 0r 2 very long threads on ST about them

Got some last fall.  Love 'em.  Cushioning is midfoot, where it belongs, instead of in the heel, which either encourages poor form or doesn't help good form. 

Funny lookin' shoe, but this ain't a fashion show.

many of the local ultra runners are wearing Hoka's.

I really like my Bondi B's, and basically got them to try with recommendations from ultra folks.

I'd say the things I like are:

1. I can do a long run and my feet don't feel stressed

2. the problem heel (left foot) doesn't hurt in these shoes (best reason)

the less favorable:

1. I think the extra cushioning requires more effort from other muscles in the leg. although for training purposes, I think this might be a positive.

2. I don't feel as fast (due to #1) but I haven't done any timing to compare

I've been using the Bondi B2's for about five weeks now. I'm 43 and have been dealing with all kinds of foot, achilles and calf issues for the last 18 months or so. I was barely able to do much run training last year, especially the second half of the year which made IMAZ training and racing an "experience." I spent plenty of time in the ortho doc's office.

I tried a zillion different kinds of shoes, PT, more stretching, foam rollers, massages, etc. Nothing helped the problem I was having with my foot/achilles/calf. Some shoes mitigated my issues more than others but there was no magical shoe to be found. I had pretty much scrapped the idea of training runs longer than 90 minutes because my legs could no longer take the pounding.

I read Dan Empfield's article on Slowtwitch about the Hoka's and it really hit home for me. I had never even heard of the Hoka's prior to that. "Mad Calf Disease" was exactly what was doing me in and I'm entering my mid-40's and I want to be able to run 10 or 20 years from now.

I thought I would give them a try.

All I have to say is WOW! My issues have resolved themselves for the most part since running in the Hoka's. The only "pain" I feel when running is typical muscle and joint stuff. It has been one hell of a turnaround.

I bought a pair of the Bondi Speeds for race day as they're a bit lighter than the regular Bondi's.

Count me as Hoka converted!

My one and only issue with the Hoka's is the sizing but it's an n=1 problem. I'm really a size 11.5 when it comes to foot length but I have super wide Fred Flintstone feet so I always have to size up to a 12 in any running shoe since nobody makes running shoes in E widths. The size 12 in the Hoka's seems a bit longer than size 12's from other companies. I ordered an 11.5 in the Bondi Speeds to try and they do fit better.

The shoes are that good. Probably not for everyone but anyone dealing with similar issues would be remiss in not trying them out.

I use the Hoka Stinson Evo DT Tarmacs.  Got them as a Christmas gift from my wife and absolutely love them.  Was in Saucony Hurricane 14s before that.  Around mile 7 or so my hips would begin to hurt, by mile 8 the knees were joining the party.  Did a lot of research and got the Hokas.  Have not experienced any joint pain (knock on wood) at any distance since that time.  An added bonus is my legs don't feel nearly as fatigued after a run as they used to.  Only drawback so far in my opinion as another poster said is they aren't the prettiest looking shoe, but I'll take function over form any day.

I'll put them to a real good test over this weekend.

I saw the thread on ST and then saw the shoes popping up like crazy at all the ultras around here.  In Dec I figured I would give them a try, and I picked up some Stinsons.  At first I wasn't a huge fan as I was getting this strange dull pain in my quad that lingered for quite a while.  I thought it may be the shoes.  Then I had a bad race in the mud with them, and I swore them off for a few weeks.

But after that I gave them a try again during a 100 miler I was running when my feet got too sore in my Peregrines.  They made a huge difference and allowed me to continue (although I still didn't finish -- not the shoe's fault though!)

I've been mainly running in the Stinsons now though but still break out my Kinvara's every now and again.  When I'm going long and slow I reach for the Hokas and keep the Kinvaras for the short and fast.  Somewhere in the middle is a toss up.

BLUF:  They are really great shoes.  I love em.

I think Dan on ST does, read his review

What is the diffence between the Bondi2 and the Stinson Evo Tarmac?  I looked at them on Running Warehouse the only difference I could see was the heel drop was 2mm more on the Stinson than the Bondi.

Does everybody use them in a rotation with more traditional trainers?  I'm currently running in Mizuno Elixirs and for the most part really like them.  Although I do have bouts with calf/achilles tightness from time to time.  I really think I'm dealing with what Dan Empfield called mad calf disease.

Read my review above.  Very true to fit, IMO.

I have found that the Stinson's run pretty true to size.

I wear 10.5 in Brooks pure line (connect, flow, flow2, drift, grit) but got an 11 with the hoka mafate 2. They only had a few sizes on at a great price, so I gambled. Turns out, they are just fine. I do use the closer in top eye holes though, or else my heel comes out in sticky mud.

I only wear them for long trail runs (15+miles) and notice my hamstrings wear out faster than I would expect. Perhaps it is due to the extra weight over my Brooks pure grits? But the next day, my legs feel great. 

I wear a 9.5 in most running shoes, and I got the 9.5 in Bondi B. Fits perfect.

There was a sizing error in the 2011 labeling (if I remember correctly), and was corrected sometime in 2012.

I got the bondi b, speed, mafate and Stinson Tarmac.  Got them all since October.  Generally, I don't have any foot issues, except that they get sore after running 30+ kms.  In the Hokas I have no problems.  I have done an annual 50k every february and used the Tarmac this year, all other years I could barely walk, not so much because of the pain in my legs but the pain in my feet, this year NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.  I think it is true that they are easier on the legs.  Although, I am going through a groin injury right now and they don't seem to help with that.

I ran mostly in lower drop shoes, so didn't have a problem using them.  I have more shoes than I care to admit and rotate the hokas.  I bought the speed hoping to use them in intervals and tempos but I got injured soon after I got them so haven't really given them a try for that purpose.  My hunch though is even though they are light, they aren't as light as my fast shoes.

Good luck, take it slow, especially if you don't have experience with lower drop shoes.