The Bondi 9 tops this page because it comes in Wide (2E) and X-Wide (4E) as well as regular, so the deepest cushioning in the category is actually available to wide feet. RunRepeat scored it 86 out of 100 and rated it lighter and more durable than the Bondi 8 it replaces. The standard D width runs narrow, so size into the wider last.
Full review
A 43 mm heel stack of supercritical EVA
The shoe is built around putting as much foam as possible between the foot and the pavement: a 43 mm heel stack, 38 mm at the forefoot, in a supercritical EVA midsole roughly 2 mm deeper than the Bondi 8 while weighing less at 10.7 oz. RunRepeat scored it 86 out of 100 and rated it lighter and more durable than the model it replaces.
The rocker is what keeps the stack from feeling like a brick
An early-stage Meta-Rocker curves the sole so the foot rolls from heel to toe rather than slapping down flat. On a platform this tall and this soft, that geometry is what makes a walking pace feel smooth instead of sluggish. It is not a fast shoe and does not try to be, but for a steady walk on concrete it is one of the more comfortable platforms sold.
Wide (2E) and X-Wide (4E), because the D width is narrow
This is the reason the Bondi leads a wide-foot page. RunRepeat flags the standard D build as unsuitable for wide feet, so the regular last is not the one to order. The 2E and 4E versions open real room across the forefoot and over the instep, and a 3D-molded heel collar keeps the rearfoot locked down so the extra width up front does not turn into heel slip.
Durabrasion rubber zoned into the wear areas
The outsole puts rubber where a walker actually grinds it away rather than covering the whole footprint, and RunRepeat rated the Bondi 9 more durable than the Bondi 8. That matters on a shoe bought for daily pavement mileage: a deep midsole is only worth the money if the upper and outsole outlive it.
Tall, heavy, and warm in the knit upper
The same 43 mm stack that protects the heel also raises the foot well off the ground, and on uneven sidewalks that height can feel tippy until it becomes familiar. At 10.7 oz this is not a light shoe. The engineered knit upper holds heat in warm weather, and the price sits near premium-trainer territory without any of the speed hardware that usually justifies it.
Strengths
- +Offered in Regular (D), Wide (2E), and X-Wide (4E), so wide and extra-wide feet get the same plush ride as everyone else
- +Deepest cushioning of any shoe here — a 43 mm heel stack of supercritical EVA that takes pressure off the heel and plantar fascia
- +Carries the APMA Seal of Acceptance and is a standard podiatrist recommendation for plantar fasciitis and all-day standing
- +Early-stage Meta-Rocker geometry rolls you through each step smoothly, reducing strain on heels and arches
- +Lighter and more durable than the Bondi 8 at 10.7 oz, with a breathable engineered-knit upper
Watch-outs
- −Heavy and tall — reviewers call it clunky, and the 43 mm stack can feel tippy to some walkers
- −The standard (D) width runs narrow; you need the 2E or 4E build to actually get wide-foot room
- −The new knit upper can trap heat in warm weather
- −Near-premium price without speed-focused features like a carbon plate
How it compares
Nothing here is more cushioned, and nothing here is taller. The New Balance 928v3 goes up to 6E and sits much lower to the ground; the Brooks Addiction Walker 2 is firmer and built for motion control. Choose the Bondi if underfoot protection is the priority and the stack height does not bother you.
Rating sources
Our 4.3 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
