sneakers reviews


Hoka Bondi 8 review

hoka bondi 8 review

pictured: Hoka Bondi 8 running sneakers /

Have you noticed these sneakers are everywhere? For several years now, more and more feet at the gym are sporting these sneakers. I had to find out what the hype was about! Everyone I spoke with told me their Hoka sneakers provided superior foot support, event those with planter fasciitis!

Then, my son went to get fitted for running shoes, they recommended a men’s pair of running shoes by Hoka to him, which he has found, are extremely comfortable. He has worn them to track practice, as well as football conditioning. All the signs were there for me to try a pair of running shoes by Hoka!

I did a little research, and found there were a few pairs of running shoes by Hoka which were highly recommended. I ended up going with the Bondi 8 since it seemed to provide both arch support and heel stability for my feet. So far, I love these shoes! For longer workouts, I do switch out the insoles with my orthotics, but for shorter workouts or walking, the insoles the Hoka Bondi 8 sneakers come with work just fine.

These are very cushioned shoes! I am not sure I have ever own a pair of sneakers which were so cushioned inside! If you are on your feet for a long period of time, these provide a very soft base which helps prevent fatigue. Even with orthotics, they are soft and very comfortable! Love that!

Shop my favorite fitness gear and the Hoka Bondi 8 sneakers online:

The Hoka Bondi 8 are available in an array of colors, I love this pair in shades of blue. It is so pretty! In addition to pretty colors, the comfort level is outstanding. These are my new favorite running sneakers! I am also using them in cardio kicking-boxing classes and on the treadmill. Love!

Have you tried Hoka sneakers? If so, what did you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy


Nike Dunk review

nike dunks review

pictured: Nike Dunk High in olive and white /

It is entirely possible I have been on a sneakers kick the past two years. Ever since I started to have foot problems, I found sneakers were better for my feet than all my fabulous, sky high heels. In moving towards sneakers, my daughter introduced to me to the SNKRS app and the fun street sneakers from Nike.

Nike Dunks are a popular street sneaker which have been in high demand for many years. If you look at people’s feet, you will find people from teenagers through to Generation X, and possibly some Boomers, wearing Nike Dunks. This is a sneaker style and street style trend which transcends age and demographic. Love that!

You can find a few different types of Nike Dunks on the street. There are Nike Dunk Lows which are a traditional, low top sneaker. There are also Nike Dunk Highs which are traditional high-top sneakers, and the SB line which is geared towards skateboarding. Oftentimes, most SB styles are sold in skate shops rather than the SNKRS app or Nike stores. Although, you can find SB styles through Nike sometimes. I did manage to snag one pair!

Once in a great while, Nike will offer the chance to create your own Nike Dunk sneakers! This is really fun because you have many colors available to you, and you can design your own pair with the color combo you want. I have done this twice. Once with Nike Dunk Highs, which I ordered in blue and white, and once with Nike Dunk Lows which I ordered in mint green and a greyish-white hue. Love!

Nike Dunk sneakers are easy to wear with a variety of outfits. Of course, they can be worn with the obvious casual looks such as jeans, chinos, and shorts, but they can also be paired with dresses and skirts for a dressy yet sporty look.

What I love about Nike Dunk sneakers is that they are available in so many different colors! Many are one color plus white, but sometimes you can find them in three or more colors mixed together. They can match a certain outfit or be their own standout piece in an overall look. It is fun to find a pretty color and match it with a look! I also love my black and white Pandas because they go with literally anything! I feel like everyone needs a pair of black and white Dunks, often referred to as “Pandas.”

One of the drawbacks to the Nike Dunks is that the leather is not very soft. It is often stiff and easily creases. If you don’t mind creases, like me, then this will be OK with you. If you want your sneakers to keep their shape out of the box, you might consider adding an insert to the shoe or store them with a shoe shaper. One thing to note, the Dunk’s Nike allows you to create yourself seem to use higher quality leather which does not crease as easily, although they seem to fit a bit more snug than the off-the-rack Nike Dunk’s.

If you are like me, and need to wear orthotics, this can be a bit tricky. The insoles are glued inside the shoes. If you don’t mind ripping them out, it is easy to do. Then you can insert your orthotics. If you don’t want to rip out the insoles, you can wear an arch support band or add additional arch support to the existing sole. I wear mine with an arch support band and I am able to walk pain-free.

You can find Nike Dunk’s directly through Nike, or on the secondary market. Sometimes you will need to enter a lottery or draw through Nike or on the SNKRS app in order to snap up a pair you really want. If you can’t find the color combo you are looking for, you can buy from resellers but be careful! You want to make sure you are buying a legit pair made by Nike. I have linked to my favorites on the secondary market below. These are from reputable resellers, but always inspect them when you receive them to make sure you got the real deal!

There are plenty of colors to choose from through Nike right now. Here are my favorites! Please note, when you click on the black, grey, white pair, you will be taken directly to the create your own Nike Dunk low. Have fun designing!

I hope you enjoy your new Nike Dunk’s! They are a classic sneaker which you can enjoy for years; so, don’t be afraid to invest in multiple colorways! You can splurge all at once or invest in pairs over time. Love that!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

pictured below: Nike Dunk Low in black and white, also known as “Pandas” /

nike dunk review

Nike Dunks review


adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes review

adidas ultraboost 21 running shoes review

wearing: sunglasses / lightweight fitness hoodie (under $100) / leggings / summer lipstick / summer nail polish / adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes /

I’m so excited to talk to you about my new running shoes! I bought the adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes back in early February, and I have fallen in love with them!

Every six months, I like to replace my athletic shoes in order to ensure they have optimum support. I am very protective of my feet! A solid, supportive shoe is a must not only when engaging in athletic activities, but on a daily basis. Nothing is worse for your feet than ill-fitting shoes and/or shoes which do not properly support your foot. Think about your feet as your foundation. With an unstable foundation, a building will fall; so will a human with an improper fitting shoe. When a shoe fits, and offers great support, your feet are happy, you have more energy, and you are less likely to injure yourself.

Now that I have semi-lectured you on shoes, let’s chat about my favorite new athletic shoes! The adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes are beyond amazing. They have an ultra-supportive sole which hits my footbed in all the right places. The arch support is perfect, and they protect my ankle in the right spots.

You might be wondering why I am talking about a running shoe when I am not a big runner. Well, I prefer running shoes for my everyday fitness activities. Running shoes tend to have optimal shock absorption, and they are flexible, which makes squats and lunges easy to execute. The sole is also on the wider side, which helps offer optimal stability when doing leg-work. I love doing squats and lunges!

My addias Ultraboost 21 running shoes are fabulous, not only for running, but for all of the fitness classes I enjoy taking. I wear them for cardio classes, kickboxing classes, and also several HIIT style classes. My adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes give me the exact support I need for all of those workout classes. Love that!

But wait, there’s more! The adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes also have some pretty cool specs I am excited to share with you. In addition to the adidas Torsion System, which provides a 15% increase in forefoot bending (love this for squats), they are made from PrimeBlue. PrimeBlue is a high-performance recycled material made partly with Parley Ocean Plastic. adidas does not use any new polyester in these shoes, only recycled. Love that!

Since grey and yellow are the colors of 2021, I chose my adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes in grey with a touch of yellow; the official color combo is Halo Silver/Grey Two/Solar Yellow. My feet need to be both fashionable and well-supported. If grey isn’t your thing, adidas offers the Ultraboost 21 running shoe in nineteen color combos! I am sure you will find one you love!

You can find the adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes online at adidas.com. They are available for both men and women. Love that!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

*I am a Brand Ambassador for adidas, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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