Which Hoka Black Friday deal should you buy? I've tried three top options—here's what I recommend

(Image credit: Future/Lou Mudge)

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Black Friday Hoka deals
Which Hoka should you buy?

published 29 November 2024

Hoka makes excellent shoes that are perfect for all sorts of athletic activities. I've been fortunate enough to test several models, and every single one has made it into my guide to the best walking shoes.

The Hoka Bondi 8 topped the list for most of 2024, only recently supplanted by my new favorite the Brooks Glycerin Max. I also tested the Hoka Clifton 9, which I rate as the best shoe for walking on concrete, and the Hoka Transport, which is my favorite slip-on shoe.

All of these models have been reduced in the Black Friday fitness sales, which is excellent news if you need a new running or walking shoe. But which one should you choose?

Black Friday Hoka deals

The Bondi 8 is one of my favorite walking shoes because it is chunky and supportive while remaining flexible, plus it has a soft, breathable upper. It has a wider crash pad than the other Hoka shoes, giving it a “walking on air” feeling, even if you are clocking up the miles on hard surfaces. Most of the Bondi styles are reduced for men and women. This is the shoe I would recommend for anyone who works on their feet all day.

Which Hoka should you buy?

Both the Clifton 9 and Bondi 8 are designed to be road running shoes, but if you're a keen runner, I think the Clifton 9 would be a better choice of the two.

When running in the Bondi 8, I found the wide crash pad (which I love as a walker) tended to clip the side of my leading leg. The Clifton 9 is a slimmer shoe and doesn’t have this problem. The Clifton 9 also comes further up the back of the heel and is marginally lighter than the Bondi 8, making it good for speed runs.

The Transport is a hybrid hiking and running shoe, with a more rigid sole and stiff upper, so it's well-suited to rough terrain. There's less cushioning in the shoe, but stacked sneakers (like the Bondi) can make you unstable when you're hiking, which is why it's better to opt for something with stability and grip like the Transport.

Despite having less cushioning and bounce, the Transport is still comfortable and the toggle fastening makes it easy to get on and off. It's more of an everyday sneaker than the other Hokas I've tested, too, with an understated style that some people might prefer.

Lou Mudge is a Health Writer at Future Plc, working across Fit&Well and Coach. She previously worked for Live Science, and regularly writes for Space.com and Pet's Radar. Based in Bath, UK, she has a passion for food, nutrition and health and is eager to demystify diet culture in order to make health and fitness accessible to everybody.

Multiple diagnoses in her early twenties sparked an interest in the gut-brain axis and the impact that diet and exercise can have on both physical and mental health. She was put on the FODMAP elimination diet during this time and learned to adapt recipes to fit these parameters, while retaining core flavors and textures, and now enjoys cooking for gut health.