Jon Batiste Stayed Comfy in These Cushioned Hoka Sneakers Ahead of the Met Gala 2024 Red Carpet
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While there’s always tons of buzz around what the stars are wearing from the Met Gala red carpet to the late night after parties, there’s rarely any conversation about how they’re staying comfy in the hours leading up to the big event. Before dressing up in his elegant tuxedo and patent leather loafers, Jon Batiste was spotted at the The Carlyle Hotel in a laid-back cardigan with ultra-cushioned, supportive Hoka sneakers that undoubtedly prepped him for long hours on his feet.
The Hoka Bondi 8 Running Shoe is a staple in celeb street style, as seen on the likes of Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Batiste’s all-black colorway makes the style look extra sleek, and paired well alongside white trousers and colorblocked pieces.
Designed for casual runners and all-day comfort, the Bondi 8 is an updated sneaker model from Hoka, boasting supremely lightweight foam cushioning that absorbs impact and evenly distributes weight for bouncy, buoyant strides. Its footbed gives a super soft underfoot feel from plush Ortholite insoles, while the brand’s signature Bucket Seat Midsole streamlines stability with a four-millimeter heel-to-toe-drop for balanced arch support. A standout feature of the shoe is its extended, geometric heel, equipped with high-traction five-millimeter lugs that grip to the ground, whether you’re scaling city sidewalks or hitting the trails.
Pillowy tongue padding adds to the all-over comfort of the Hoka Bondi 8, alongside breathable mesh uppers and roomy round toe boxes that make the model suitable for the range of foot types, like wide feet, flat feet, and high arches, and foot conditions such as plantar fasciities and bunions. The shoe has also been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, making it an ideal recovery shoe before or after a special occasion when you’ll be strapped into stiff shoes for hours at a time, like an upcoming summer wedding or graduation ceremony.
Whether you’re in the market for a celeb- and podiatrist-approved cushioned running shoe or a daily sneaker that delivers on serious comfort, the Hoka Bondi 8 sneaker is a stellar model to have at-the-ready in your rotation.
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Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. At Foortwear News, she regularly reports on celebrity style.