I have tried various types and brands of shoes (mostly for running) over the years and I want to share my opinion of each. Hopefully, it will help some of you when deciding which to buy.
First let’s talk about running shoes. My quest to find the perfect shoe came when I found out I have plantar fasciitis. I was wearing Asics gel Kayano for most of my daily needs. At this point I thought fallen arches were my only issue. I was told they have a good arch support, which I believe they do compared to other running shoes in that price range. I had tried various versions of Nike and Adidas and Under Armor, none of which had the support I needed for my arches. I talked to others about running shoes and I was told to try Brooks Adrenaline GTS.
With Brooks, I thought that I found the perfect shoe for my needs. I trained for and ran a half marathon race in these. Eventually I ended up tearing the fascia on one foot and had surgery to tear the other years later. I thought I was done running, but then was introduced, by my podiatrist, to Hoka.
I wear a version of Hokas that seem to last forever, which I keep thinking will wear out and I can justify buying the Hoka Bondi 8. I love the cushion, stability, and support I get from these. They are great for your middle distance running and also for walking. I even do my weight training in them. I thought this would be the only shoe I buy for the rest of my life and then I was gifted the OnCloud Cloudmaster.
After wearing them for a couple weeks, I decided to start alternating them with my Hokas. This is where I am set. I did not care for the color as most of my running gear did not match (vanity), so I bought the Cloudmaster in another color. So now I have 3 pairs of running shoes that I alternate daily. This helps them last longer. Make no mistake, the next pair I buy will be the Hoka Bondi 8 and I will keep alternating these daily.
Briefly I want to weigh in on walking shoes. If you are looking to help your running shoes last longer and you want to rotate in a good pair, try the New Balance Fresh Foam X. I still alternate the Hokas and OnClouds for walking as well. Both have the cushion and support to go the distance. If you want to add resistance to your walk/run, try some ankle weights. These shoes have enough support to withstand the added pressure.
I believe everyone has different needs/wants in footwear, so try some for yourself and decide. My opinion is that for middle distance running, the Hoka Bondi 8 is tied with the OnCloud Cloudmaster for best overall shoe. Both have the cushion, support and stability needed for a good run/walk/workout.