Hoka Bondi 9 vs New Balance Foam X More v6:
Which to Choose

Start with how similar these two really are, because it's striking: the Bondi 9 stacks 43mm at the heel and 38mm at the forefoot, the More v6 sits at 42mm heel and 39mm forefoot, and they weigh almost the same — about 297g for the Bondi versus roughly 302g for the More in a men's US 9. Both are max-cushion (6/6), medium-responsiveness (3/6), stable-neutral (5/6) shoes with no plate, and both top out around 5:15–5:45 min/km before the soft foam starts to feel dead. The real separators are drop and ride character. The Bondi runs a 5mm drop with Hoka's signature rockered geometry: that lower forefoot and pronounced rocker actively tip you forward, so transitions feel like a smooth roll even at conversational pace. The More v6 uses a flatter 3mm drop and a taller, more even forefoot, giving a more grounded, midfoot-friendly, "sink-in" feel that leans on the Fresh Foam X slab rather than on shape to carry you through. Foam differs too — the Bondi's supercritical EVA is plush and protective, while the More's Fresh Foam X delivers that deep, pillowy, ground-isolated sensation — but in practice both prioritize comfort over rebound and feel muted when pushed. Neither has posting; both stay stable purely through a wide platform and sidewalls.