Hoka Bondi 9 vs Brooks Ghost Max 3:
Which to Choose

These shoes are closer than most head-to-heads, and it's worth saying that plainly before splitting hairs: both are 5-6/6 on cushioning, 3/6 on responsiveness, 5/6 on stability, top out usefully around 5:30 min/km, and both go a little muted and dead when you try to accelerate. The clearest real difference is stack and geometry. The Bondi 9 is a true maximalist at 43mm heel / 38mm forefoot with a 5mm drop, riding on supercritical EVA; the Ghost Max 3 sits a step lower at 38mm heel / 31mm forefoot with a 7mm drop, on nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3. So the Bondi gives you more raw foam and a plusher, more insulated-from-the-ground landing, while the Ghost Max 3 keeps deep protection but a slightly more grounded, lower-profile feel and a steeper 2mm-taller ramp that many heel strikers find easier to settle into. Weights are near-identical — roughly 297g for the Bondi and 303g for the Ghost Max 3 in men's US 9 — so the Bondi actually carries its taller stack without a weight penalty. Both use a rocker to smooth transitions (Hoka's signature geometry versus Brooks' GlideRoll), and both run neutral without a medial post, leaning on width and sidewalls for their planted, stable-neutral feel. In short: the Bondi 9 is the more extreme cushion with a lower drop; the Ghost Max 3 is a touch less stack, a higher drop, and a broad, roomy forefoot.