I gave in to the Hoka hype, and these are my honest thoughts

Earlier this year, I embarked on a day of light hiking in my beloved Vans. While it was only a six-kilometre walk, I can assure you that I didn't love my shoe choice the following day when my knee seized up and began to spasm uncontrollably.

I'm definitely not blaming the shoes themselves – I have mild cerebral palsy and have faced this kind of injury before. However, as I began a six-week journey to heal my knee, I knew some proper walking shoes were non-negotiable.

As I've gotten older, I've found that the more chunk there is to a running or walking shoe, the better. I had a pair of Sauconys that lasted me for years, but after learning about the Hoka brand and their unrivalled support and comfort, I was intrigued. The only hold-up was the price point, but after my weeks of hobbling, I was ready to spend money on anything that offered me a bit of reprieve.

So, I finally let myself buy a pair of Hokas – and I splurged even more on the latest release: the Bondi 9. And after months of wearing not much else on my feet, these are my honest thoughts.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

Hoka Bondi 9 Women's Shoes

$289.99 on Hoka$290 on JD Sports

All the tech behind the Hoka Bondi 9

The Bondi 9 is the latest iteration of the Bondi shoe, which has been around for years now. It's well-known for its thick sole and 'plush' interior, making it a very comfortable shoe to wear.

However, the Bondi 9 has been overhauled and now has a 2mm increase in its stack height and a new premium foam midsole, which is thicker than before.

It has an elevated 3D moulded collar and special Durabrasion rubber in the zones that usually wear down quickly. It also has a structured knit upper, which is super-breathable.

Features that were carried over include the MetaRocker, which is designed to help move your foot forward in the shoe, and the incredibly lightweight nature of the shoe, which weighs just 263 grams.

Initial thoughts

Picking up the Bondi 9, I was intimidated by the sheer height of the stack. It honestly seemed too high, especially for an injured girl who can't walk in high heels on a good day (not that that should matter, but it just looked so tall!). However, once I had the shoe fitted, I began to understand the hype.

The shoes are so light that they feel like you're wearing nothing. I was shocked by the function of the MetaRocker, which makes it feel like you're not putting effort into the steps you're taking.

I wear orthotics in my shoes, so I actually opted to get the Bondi 9 (2E Wide), which is designed for wider feet. I don't usually need a wide shoe; this was just to give me more room to slip the orthotics in. Also, I found having more surface area for my feet preferable. I was worried it'd feel somehow like too much underfoot once I had my orthotics in on top of that giant heel, but I can honestly say I'd never felt more stable in my walking in my life.

The first few weeks

Not to downplay my own efforts in recovering from my injury, but I feel my walking saw major improvement once I started wearing the Hoka Bondi 9 shoes. And since even the shortest walking distances had been painful and fatiguing, I started wearing them almost everywhere.

I paired them with jeans and trousers for work and wore them to all my gym sessions, enjoying the complete comfort underfoot. It's easy to forget you're wearing them, given the stability they provide.

Moving forward, I think I would only buy Hoka shoes for exercise. I'm still building up my walking prowess, but I do see a return to running in my future with these shoes. I also see a very happy podiatrist and physiotherapist who knows I'm taking care of my feet and my joints.

The small cons

I know some people have reported that the Bondi shoes are too high for them, so I wanted to note that this is an important consideration if you're looking to buy a pair of Hokas. I have, at times when walking quickly, found that I will scrape my foot along the ground if I'm not careful enough to lift my feet off the ground on each step. I can see how this would be a problem for some, but given I'm still practising my heel-toe walking to perfect my gait post-injury, I've found the reminder really helpful.

The only other (very minor) con is self-inflicted: I bought a light-coloured pair. And since I love wearing them so much, they're already getting dirty. Thankfully, the flyknit upper cleans quite easily with a bit of dish soap, and I'd happily throw them in the washing machine if it came to that. Ultimately, they were my favourite colour of the ones available, and I figured if I was wearing them that often, I'd want a neutral colour that I really liked (the black looked too full-on for my liking).

So, my only recommendation is to know your fit and find a colour that works for how you'll wear your Hokas. Then, you're ready to go!

You can get the Bondi 9s below, or shop some other Hoka options.

Hoka Bondi 9 Women's Shoes

$290 on Hoka$290 on JD Sports

Hoka Bondi 9 Men's Shoes

From $219.99 on Hoka$290 on JD Sports

Hoka Skyflow Women's Shoes

Here from $199.99

Hoka Skyflow Men's Shoes

Buy them for $279.99

Hoka Clifton 10 Women's Shoes

Yours for $269.99

Hoka Clifton 10 Men's Shoes

Here from $269.99

READ MORE: I've hiked over 90km in one pair of Salomons and here are my honest thoughts