Since Hoka seems to have destroyed my go-to shoes - Bondi 4 for training, Claytons for racing - I’m in the market for new kicks. Has anyone converted from the same to NBs? I have no clue about their numbering/naming scheme and damn they have a lot of models.
Probably the Zante or the 1080…I loved the original Bondi. If you’re not drop sensitive, consider the glycerin or Vomero for good cushioning.
i’ve had good luck w/both 1080s and, like the other poster, Brooks Glycerins, which , obvs, aren’t NBs. I also wear Bondis.
They’re not Hoka replacements, any more than Hokas are NB replacements. Very different shoes.
I was in NB but tried Brooks Ghost and have never gone back - great shoes.
I myself own only Hoka and NB shoes. The 1080 is a really heavy, and very hard, daily trainer, more so than the Bondi 4. And I don’t think NB has any equivalent to the Clayton (now the Mach), maybe the Vazee but that one is heavier and less cushioned. The NB1500 is one of my favorite shoes ever, but its more a low-cushion racer than anything Hoka produces.
All above mentioned shoes are great shoes that I use all the time for different purposes, but I don’t think that one can directly replace the other. Mix it up a little =)
I know it’s not what you’re asking, but consider Skechers Go Run Ultra and Go Run Ride. Despite being butt ugly they’re awesome shoes. Lighter and better cushioning than Bondi 5 (which is also in my rotation and, in my opinion, is just a big dumb shoe) and Clifton (which I used to have in my rotation) More flexible and responsive too. 4mm drop on both models. I also have the NB 1080 Fresh Foam, which I don’t like at all…7mm drop and the heel is just way too prominent.
I did most of my runs in Clifton 3 and when I ran out of pairs I owned and couldn’t find more I tried the 4s. Didn’t like them at all and now I do most of my running in NB 1400. May seem like an odd move but they are surprisingly cushioned and I like the bigger drop (10mm). I also recently started running in Zoom Flys and wow those are great.
Currently, closest shoes I’ve found to a Hoka are Nike Zoom Fly and Altra Paradigm; both are lightweight, very cushioned, and have a similar “meta-rocker” design to the midsole. The Altra Duo is their take on a lightweight/long-distance racing shoe, very comparable to the Clayton in terms of stiffness and cushioning.
Those Skechers look promising. Just ordered a pair.
I too wonder WTF has Hoka been doing? They’ve completely nerfed their line. I became a fan with the Bondi B, and loved the Bondi 2, Bondi 4, and Clifton 1 and 2. But subsequent iterations of those shoes have just been plain awful. Or the shoe that’s actually similar gets completely new name. It’s baffling.
I too wonder WTF has Hoka been doing? They’ve completely nerfed their line. I became a fan with the Bondi B, and loved the Bondi 2, Bondi 4, and Clifton 1 and 2. But subsequent iterations of those shoes have just been plain awful. Or the shoe that’s actually similar gets completely new name. It’s baffling.
Couldn’t agree more, and I can’t imagine what Decker is thinking with all the changes. I know manufacturers are always looking for new models/improvements, but the way they’ve decimated the whole line up is beyond me. Unless I’m a unique flower and nobody else was actually buying Bondis and Claytons…
… than Bondi 5 (which is also in my rotation and, in my opinion, is just a big dumb shoe)
Funny, that’s exactly what I told my wife after I wore them around for a bit. They’re just…dead.
I too wonder WTF has Hoka been doing? They’ve completely nerfed their line. I became a fan with the Bondi B, and loved the Bondi 2, Bondi 4, and Clifton 1 and 2. But subsequent iterations of those shoes have just been plain awful. Or the shoe that’s actually similar gets completely new name. It’s baffling.
Couldn’t agree more, and I can’t imagine what Decker is thinking with all the changes. I know manufacturers are always looking for new models/improvements, but the way they’ve decimated the whole line up is beyond me. Unless I’m a unique flower and nobody else was actually buying Bondis and Claytons…
Nope. Not you. Just idiotic stuff.
I love the Clifton 2. I’d stocked up on enough that missed needing the Clifton 3 (can’t comment on it). Tried the Clifton 4. It sucked.
So ordered the Hoka Napoli off Runningwarehouse. It has EXACT sole as the Clifton 2, just with a different upper. It’s great. I love the shoe. But all I can think is WTF??? It makes zero sense and just further confuses their line. Why release an identical shoe with a different name and not explain it at all.
As someone who works in the CPG industry, making your line understandable and easy to shop is paramount. Hoka is becoming a case study in what not to do.
… than Bondi 5 (which is also in my rotation and, in my opinion, is just a big dumb shoe)
Funny, that’s exactly what I told my wife after I wore them around for a bit. They’re just…dead.
X3. They’re on my feet now and “big dumb shoe” and “dead” are the best descriptions I’ve read so far. I will check out the Skechers next.
I would highly recommend the sketchers GoRunRide 7 for all the Hoka fanboys. It has everything you are looking for in a $90 package which is unbelievable. I don’t know why they don’t do some updating to their logo for the performance shoe unit as it would help. They have got a legit shoe line up now. Even Lionel wears them. The upper runs a little higher up the ankle than normal, but that is the only negative I have noticed. I have run a bunch of miles in mine and it’s durable as well.
The reviews of this shoe are amazing but it scares me that you say they rise high, do they rub your ankle bone at all? (Bony protrusion at bast of ankle)
I would highly recommend the sketchers GoRunRide 7 for all the Hoka fanboys. It has everything you are looking for in a $90 package which is unbelievable. I don’t know why they don’t do some updating to their logo for the performance shoe unit as it would help. They have got a legit shoe line up now. Even Lionel wears them. The upper runs a little higher up the ankle than normal, but that is the only negative I have noticed. I have run a bunch of miles in mine and it’s durable as well.
I am going to jump on the SKECHERS train here. I love my Skechers GoRun5 shoes. You can also get them below MSRP on amazon consistently.
I moved from the Adidas Ultra Boost (I had three marathons in the Ultra Boost) and now I run in the Skechers GoRun5 and the Hoka One One Clifton 3.
thanks for the Skechers recommendations - I’ll give them a look. anyone care to comment on sizing? I’m normally a 10.5 in most running shoes.
I went from Clayton’s to NB Zante and really like them. I found the Clayton’s were stiffer and slightly more cushioned but the Zante’s have proven a great alternative.
“The reviews of this shoe are amazing but it scares me that you say they rise high, do they rub your ankle bone at all? (Bony protrusion at bast of ankle)”
There is zero rubbing. The collar seems to be slightly higher than what I am used to, but the only time you notice it is putting on the shoe not when you are wearing it. I think the purpose from a design aspect is for a better fit. The upper material is nice mesh. You should not get any hotspots from the upper.
NB Zante is a great shoe, but if you are doing long runs in this shoe you need to be either a highly efficient runner or light. Frankly, I wore this shoe for two seasons in Tri and it was great for 10k and under. I would struggle with some foot pain when I would go longer. I would not consider this a high stack shoe. I have not tried the Zante 4 yet, but the changes appear mostly cosmetic.