The ugly Bondi sneaker favoured by presidents, media moguls and Britney Spears

Demand for the Bondi 9, the latest incarnation of the sneaker launched in 2011, helping to drive the ugly shoe trend, should support future growth. It already has a step-up with an extra 2mm in stack height on its generous 43mm heel.

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“When I first saw Hoka I though OMG that is an ugly, chunky, dad shoe,” says former champion beach sprinter Katie Williams, wearing Bondi 9s. “Now, it’s such a fashionable shoe and such a functional shoe, built on running.”

The shoe’s name was inspired by Mermoud’s experience taking part in the City2Surf run, but this is the first time a Hoka shoe has been launched in Australia.

“It’s far from the Hoka birthplace in Chamonix or the company home in Santa Barbara, but we have never done anything like this,” Mermoud says, taking in the waves. “Everyone dreams of Sydney and Bondi and Australia in America and Europe so we named the shoe the Bondi B.”

“I think we got it right.”

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