ShoeGeometry

Hoka Bondi 9 vs Saucony Paramount Max

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneHoka Bondi 9: heel 43 mm, forefoot 38 mm (drop 5 mm); toe rocker 35 % of length, radius 41 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Hoka Bondi 9: toe rocker 35 % of lengthSaucony Paramount Max: heel 43 mm, forefoot 37 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 28 % of length, radius 27 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 30 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Saucony Paramount Max: toe rocker 28 % of length
  • Hoka Bondi 943/38 mm · toe rocker 35 % · heel bevel 12 %
  • Saucony Paramount Max43/37 mm · toe rocker 28 % · heel bevel 12 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offHoka Bondi 935 vs 28 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same43 vs 43 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same38 vs 37 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropHoka Bondi 95 vs 6 mm drop

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricHoka Bondi 9
Max cushion · Road
Saucony Paramount Max
Max cushion · Road
Heel-to-toe drop5 mmStated6 mmStated
Heel stack43 mmStated43 mmStated
Forefoot stack38 mmStated37 mmStated
Weight298 gStated300 gStated
Toe rocker35 %est.28 %est.
Rocker radius41 %est.27 %est.
Rocker rise angle27 degest.32 degest.
Rocker angle at toe58 degest.62 degest.
Toe tip over ground39 mm*est.35 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset78.5 %est.83.6 %est.
Toe spring (relative)18.3 %est.17.8 %est.
Heel bevel length11.5 %*est.12.3 %est.
Heel bevel height20 mmest.30 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)123.2 mmMeasured—
Midsole width (heel)104.2 mmMeasured—
Toe box shape75 %*est.—
Interior forefoot width94.1 mmMeasured—
Toebox width72.5 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness45Derived—
Midsole firmness87Derived—
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamSupercritical EVAIncrediRUN
List price$170$200

Key differences

  • Hoka Bondi 9's heel-to-toe drop is 5 mm, 1 mm lower than Saucony Paramount Max's 6 mm.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 43 mm for Hoka Bondi 9, 43 mm for Saucony Paramount Max.
  • Hoka Bondi 9's forefoot stack is 38 mm, 1 mm thicker than Saucony Paramount Max's 37 mm.
  • Weight is about the same: 298 g for Hoka Bondi 9, 300 g for Saucony Paramount Max.
  • Hoka Bondi 9's toe rocker is 35 % of length, 7 % of length longer than Saucony Paramount Max's 28 % of length.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Hoka Bondi 9

Saucony Paramount Max

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Hoka Bondi 9 details · Saucony Paramount Max details · Add more shoes