If you’ve been in the running Shoe game long enough, then there’s no doubt you’ve heard of the Hoka Bondi. It’s best known for its luxurious cushioning that lasts for miles…and miles!

Maybe you are thinking of branching out to other brands, but want that same cushioning underfoot. 

4 shoes similar to Hoka Bondi are the New Balance Fresh Foam Moore, the Brooks Glycerin, the Saucony Triumph, and the Nike ZoomX invincible. 

4 Running Shoes Similar To Hoka Clifton:

1. New Balance Fresh Foam More
2. Brooks Glycerin
3. Saucony Triumph
4. Nike ZoomX Invincible 

Top Choice: New Balance Fresh Foam More

#1 Choice is the  New Balance Fresh Foam More

• Plush Cushioning
• Soft Heel Collar
• Inherent Stability

1. New Balance Fresh Foam More

The New Balance FreshFoam More may be the closest shoe to being a Bondi, without actually being a Bondi.

With a high stack height, wide platform, and foam rising around your foot for greater stability, this shoe checks many of the same boxes, but with a slightly different flavor. 

The soft underfoot feeling comes from the New Balance famous Fresh Foam Cushioning, which is absolutely packed into this shoe to feel ultra-cushioned.

The foam is not so dense as to be bulky though, so it maintains a relatively lightweight feeling underfoot that can get down to marathon pace fairly comfortably.

With all high stack height running shoes, it is perfectly natural to be skeptical about stability, but the wider base was implemented to put all worries at ease. It feels fairly similar to the base of a Bondi overall—albeit with a less dense feeling because of the fresh foam.

The rocker-shaped midsole keeps the transition periods smooth for the most part, and this forward roll is partly why the shoe feels like it can move so well at slightly faster paces. It is nothing different than what most other shoe brands are doing with high-stack shoes, but it still feels natural and fun underfoot.

This works well with those who prefer a lower drop at 4mm from heel to toe.

For greater lockdown over the top of the foot, you get an engineered upper mesh with zonal support to hold your foot correctly and the toe box has plenty of subtle openings for greater breathability.

The lacing system feels easy to use, and beyond that, there is not much to talk about. The upper is solid, but nothing to write home about. 

To protect that midsole there are some strategically placed outsole rubber pods in high wear areas.

This gives just enough traction, grip on slippery surfaces did not feel like much of an issue, but I could see things getting a little slippery on very rainy or wet days. 

2. Brooks Glycerin

The Brooks Glycerin is another take on luxurious cushioning that takes on a slightly different angle for providing long-lasting comfort underfoot.

With a little more snap and a bit more of a traditional feeling, those who like a higher heel-to-toe drop and a nearly perfect upper mesh will want to stay to hear about this Glycerin. 

The soft underfoot feeling comes from the DNA Loft midsole foam, which feels excellent at ground contact for impact absorption, but then does have a hint of a responsive snap at the toe-off.

It’s not enough to go crazy with, but enough to make you feel happy about the extra pep in your step. There is some extra flexibility to the midsole from the Omega Flex Grooves that you probably won’t notice, but that’s the point.

The shoe will be flexible, but just enough from what you’d expect from a high-stack training shoe. 

The Blown Rubber outsole is good for durability, but might also be part of the contribution towards the responsive nature of the toe-off. It is thick enough to feel like it might have an impact on the snap in the midsole from the toe-off.

The DNA Loft transition zone further increases the range of motion from the shoe that you can get. It works like the flex groove, you can’t really notice them in general, but you are glad they are there. 

Now to the best part of the shoe overall, which is everything about the upper. The upper is made up of the 3D Fit Print, which is a series of strategic overlays that have an incredibly comfortable and secure fit.

The plush interior lining is a nice touch too, as it surrounds the foot and expands with the movement of your foot to cater to your stride.

It’s not a feeling that most would be able to point out and say “this is the difference maker of the shoe”, but to me, this might actually be the best feeling part of the shoe overall. It just feels entirely luxurious underfoot. 

Less exciting but just as helpful is the OrthoLite Sockliner for that signature step-in comfort that comes with Brooks running shoes.

Seriously, if you don’t put your foot in a Brooks shoe and think “wow” then it might not actually be a Brooks shoe.

3. Saucony Triumph

Similar to the Brooks Glycerin as a feeling underfoot, the Saucony Triumph feels comfortable and highly cushioned, but with a slightly lower overall stack height for those that want a soft form, but without feeling as high off of the ground. 

The PWRRUN+ midsole foam is a full-length responsive cushioning compound for a springy underfoot ride, but it still feels nice at the striking point for impact absorption.

But the responsive ride pairs well with the XT-900 Carbon Rubber compound for durability and an extra snap into the overall ride. For a comfortable level of flexibility, there is a Tri-Flex groove to increase the flexibility and adaptability of the shoe. 

Engineered Mesh is something that Saucony does a good job with. It feels soft and adaptive at the initial step in feeling, but it’s also fairly lightweight and breathable.

Part of what makes this upper feel so well fitted is the FORMFIT Contoured Footbed that cradled my foot and got better and better as the miles went forward. 

4. Nike ZoomX Invincible

To keep it candid, this shoe is a total game-changer when it comes to a cushioned performance trainer. The signature ZoomX foam known to make up some of the fastest shoes in the world is now brought to a daily running shoe. 

So much “pop” in every step you take. 

Visually, it’s easy to see how much foam there is underfoot, but it may be misleading, as so much foam can be perceived as heavy.

This couldn’t be further from the truth, as a men’s size nine is only 9.3 oz. This blend of plush ground contact with an insane energy return at the toe-off makes for a fun and fluid ride. 

The only qualm with the midsole is that the foam in and around the heel area can feel unstable if you are loping along at a slower pace. It just might feel a little too mushy, which makes my ankles work a little too hard to stabilize at every step.

Nike knows this and has put a TPU wrap around the back of the heel to add some structural integrity to the shoe, but it does not quite feel like enough. 

That being said, this shoe is meant to get your cadence up, so this is a good opportunity to work on that. 

The Flyknit upper is sturdier than previous flyknit shoes, it still has some extra give, but it's far more secure than you might think. It is still breathable and comfortable, but it is nice to feel a better lockdown over the top of the foot and not be falling over the shoe like in previous flyknit models.

To hold the midsole together for longer and increase the durability of the shoe, there is a full-length rubber outsole with a waffle pattern for grip. The traction is good—even on wet surfaces—and the durability has been impressive, as the shoe still has “pop” after over 300 miles. 

Along those lines, the rubber outsole also holds the foam’s structure in place from the bottom to keep it from “pancaking” out the sides of the shoe. It may be hard to picture that, but these shoe designers know what they are doing.

The lacing is smooth and easy, the lockdown feels more like a performance fit, so it's a little snug, but still best to go true to size in most cases.

Conclusion

While it is incredibly hard to mimic the fit and feel of a Hoka Bondi, these other shoe models take a fairly respectable stab at providing a similar feeling with their own individual modifications that may make them more appealing to some with specific tastes.

The NB FreshFoam Moore is going to be the closest resemblance to the Bondi in fit, and underfoot ride experience. It has that high stack foam and a rocker that Bondi lovers will feel right at home in.

The foam feels less densely packed than the EVA from the Bondi, so it may not last quite as long, but it’ll be an enjoyable lifespan nonetheless. 

The Brooks Glycerin and Saucony Triumph as great options for those seeking a plush underfoot sensation, but with a slightly more traditional feeling with that heel-to-toe drop. They may be more appealing to those who want a little extra response throughout the toe-off compared to the Bondi or Moore. 

The Nike ZoomX Invincible has a place of its own because of the extra pop it puts back into each of your strides.

It's a sensation incomparable to any other shoe on the market, but that is not necessarily a good thing. Many might feel like the shoe is unstable and wobbly at slower paces, but if you can get comfortable with that unstable feeling at slower paces then you will be rewarded with a shoe that can handle workouts, long runs, and everything in between.