Our team tests 120+ running shoes for at least 50 miles. These are the best running shoes from Brooks Running.
Updated: February 27th, 2021
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DAILY TRAINING
DAILY TRAINING
DAILY TRAINING
Brooks Ghost 13
Brooks Ghost 13
The Ghost 13 is one of our favourite running shoes of the year because of its great fit, comfort and cushioning.
The Catamount is built for speed and rivals some of the other top trail shoes with a similar focus.
Henry Howard
Ultra runner and certified running coach.
Brooks is moving away from using degrees of stability as the key differentiation for models in their range. Other brands are moving in this direction, with Nike being the largest example at this time.
"Run Happy" is Brooks motto and their running shoe philosophy is that there is no right or wrong way to run. That a running shoe is not intrinsically right or wrong for you, but that each runner should choose the shoe they want based on their individual preference and the experience they want to get out of a run.
They therefore split their running shoe collection into 4 "silos" that reflect 4 different kind of runs (Brooks calls them "experiences"):
Brooks "Cushion" Running Shoes
Don't let the name "Cushion" fool you into thinking these are Brooks neutral shoes. The Beast and the Adrenaline - two of Brooks most popular stability running shoes - sit in this category.
Cushion is about the feel the shoe has during the run. The emphasis is on delivering a soft landing of the foot to protect each step.
Here are the shoes that make up this category, and for clarity I will explain which ones are in the traditional "neutral" or "stability" class.
“The Ghost is the most popular neutral shoe from Brooks. It provides soft but responsive cushioning and it's one of the most versatile shoes in their lineup. ”
Recommended for
Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or a seasoned marathon runner looking for a dependable trainer to eat up training miles, the Brooks Ghost 13 is a reliable option. It’s an incredibly well-balanced trainer best suited to everyday easy-paced runs.
“The Adrenaline is the support/stability counterpart of the Ghost. As such, it is a shoe that fits a wide variety of runners and it's a great every day running shoe. ”
Recommended for
I would recommend the Brooks Adrenaline to anyone who is looking for a tried and true stability trainer that is built for miles.
“The Glycerin is the premium neutral option from Brooks. It fits and rides similar to the Ghost, but it has more cushioning and more premium materials used in the upper. We recommend it especially for heavier runners. ”
Recommended for
This shoe is made for any neutral runner looking to get some cushion for your runs. Great shoe for beginners or heavier runners.
GuideRails noticeably guide the foot without being obtrusive or feeling like an orthotic.
Stable Platform
Comfortable
Shoe's heavier weight is mitigated by the shoe's design = feels medium-weight.
“Like the Glycerin is the premium version of the Ghost, the Transcend is the premium version of the Adrenaline. Meant for runners looking for stability, but also needing a lot of soft, plush cushioning. ”
Recommended for
This shoe is superb for narrow-footed runners who want medium-high stability and a durable build yet do not want a shoe weighs them down (medium-width feet, order half-size up). It's a solid trainer for all types of runs, though the weight (despite the ride) makes it less-suitable as a speed...
Unique approach to stability. Guide rails provide dynamic support that give a smooth ride.
Breathable upper.
Rediculously comfortable for running and walking.
“As the name suggests, the "Beast" is a monster of stability. Originally one of Brooks' most successful shoes, it provides an incredible amount of support for the runners that need it the most, especially flat footed ones. ”
Recommended for
Ideal for a runner on the heavier side looking for an everyday trainer that offers the most amount of support they can find. It excels for those who are prone to injury or are just getting into running.
Jon Ober
Serial Marathoner and Stability Running Shoe Expert
“The Ariel is the female version of the Beast, with a similar function but engineered specifically for the woman's body. ”
Recommended for
The Ariel 20 is a women's running shoe for runners who have severe overpronation but are looking for a soft cushioned running shoe. It's recommended for runners looking for a traditional running shoe with a big heel to toe drop (this one comes in at 12mm). The Ariel 20 is available in 3 widths,...
“The Revel is a lower-priced neutral option. It is meant for the more casual runner that wants a shoe that is meant for running, but can also be worn casually or for other workouts. ”
Recommended for
The Brooks Revel 3 is for those who want a well-developed shoe at a good price. It is flexible, provides a smooth ride, and is durable on the asphalt. This shoe performs well for everyday wear and short to mid-distance runs.
"Energize" shoes are characterized by a more responsive cushioning and higher energy return compared to the "cushion" shoes.
They place an emphasis on speed and fast foot turnaround and are generally more lightweight than their counterparts in the "cushion" category. They are meant for faster training or racing.
“The Ravenna is the stability counterpart of the Launch: if you like the Adrenaline but are looking for a faster, lighter version for speedwork or race day, look no further than the Ravenna! ”
Recommended for
Like past models, this version of Ravenna is well-suited for speed workouts and mid distance runs for neutral to light stability runners wanting a streamlined shoe; the tread holds up well in light snow and rainy conditions. A narrow foot can probably wear its regular-size shoe, while the...
“The Levitate uses a new foam compound from Brooks in order to deliver the same soft cushioning as the Ghost, but with more responsiveness for faster efforts. Unfortunately many runners are turned off by the higher weight. ”
Recommended for
This shoe is for short or long runs and possibly some speed work. The shoe should work for beginners or experienced runners.
“The Ricochet uses the new DNA AMP foam from Brooks and a very nice knitted upper. ”
Recommended for
The Ricochet 2 is recommended for runners looking for a shoe with a sock like upper and light firm cushioning for faster longer runs, or longer runs with tempo work. If you're a fan of Brooks, and looking for a shoe that give a firmer rider than their usual soft cushioning the Ricochet 2 could be a...
“The latest in Brooks' Bedlam line, the Bedlam 3, is an everyday road running shoe, offering stability, plush cushioning and a bouncy ride. ”
Recommended for
The Bedlam 3 is recommended for runners looking for a stability shoe to use on everyday runs and training. Premium technologies in the Bedlam 3 demand it's premium price tag. For a more neutral ride, consider the near identical Levitate range. If you're looking for the ultimate bouncy ride, the...
“The Brooks PureCadence 7’s fantastic sole unit and decent upper prepare this lightweight, low-drop shoe to support you over many miles, all for a great price. This version has (just) a touch more room in the width, but going up a half size is still recommended for the length.”
Recommended for
PureCadence fits a narrow to medium-width foot best, for long-distance training and daily runs; it doubles as a racer with a touch of stability. The supportive midfoot with GuideRails encourages foot-knee-hip alignment but bends under forceful pressure, not holding up for those with higher...
“The Brooks PureFlow 7 are a lightweight trainer that can log miles. At a very reasonable price, this could be a go-to shoe for experienced runners.”
Recommended for
This shoe is for experienced runners. It is not for the heavier runners as the stack height is not substantial and the low drop (4mm) can be a bit of a stress for some early runners.
“The Hyperion Elite 2 is the most premium and fastest running shoe in Brooks' road racing line up. Packed with technology and improvements, it is designed with feedback from world class athletes to get you that marathon personal best time. The Hyperion Elite 2 sits amongst the ranks of the Saucony Endorphin Pro, Nike Vaporfly and Alphafly, Sketchers Speed Elite, and New Balance Fuelcell TC when it comes to running shoes designed to get you on the marathon podium. ”
Recommended for
The Hyperion Elite 2 is recommended for marathon runners on race day who are serious about shaving seconds off their time. For lovers of a high stack height, cushioned, carbon plated race day shoe, this is the one for you. If you tried the Hyperion Elite 1 and found it lacking, the improvements in...
“The Hyperion Tempo is a brand new shoe in the Brooks Speed range, designed for faster training runs and tempo runs. It was designed in partnership with Brooks fastest pro athletes to maximise the effects of your training runs. ”
Recommended for
The Hyperion Tempo is recommended for runners looking for a training shoe for tempo runs (hence the name) who are willing to spend a little more for premium, technologies in a lightweight shoe. It will see you through training, giving impact cushioning to protect the joints, and will also be...
“The Brooks Hyperion is a very lightweight racing flat that is stripped down to the bare essentials to give you maximum speed with moderate durability for fast workouts and important races.”
Recommended for
The Brooks Hyperion is designed for road-racing runners looking for a neutral shoe that can keep up at elite speeds. Due to the lightweight construction of the shoe, it’s not recommended for daily training.
“The Brooks Catamount is built for speed and rivals some of the other top trail shoes with a similar focus. While the Catamount is ideal for pushing the pace and handling road-to-trail transitions, it is clearly not meant for more than moderate or challenging terrain or climbs.”
Offers combination of being lightweight yet very stable
Comfortable after initial break-in period
Can handle roads to trails
“The Brooks Caldera 4 offers a significant upgrade from its third-generation predecessor. But there is still a lot to like. The new Caldera is lightweight, stable comfortable, though it is stiff and takes longer than its peers to break in.”
“The Brooks Cascadia 13 gets a modern upper in the latest iteration while maintaining its midsole, outsole and other details from the previous version. The shoe is relatively heavy, which drags down the responsiveness and overall feel of the ride.”
Recommended for
For those who love previous versions of the Cascadia, this shoe will be pleasing with its comfort and durability. Additionally, it’s a good starter shoe for trail and ultra runners, who aren’t gunning for a fast time.
Launched in 2008, BioMoGo is the material found in virtually all Brooks midsoles. Due to its formulation, BioMoGo is completely bio-degradable. While a standard EVA foam will take approximately 1,000 years to fully degrade in a landfill, BioMoGo can biodegrade in roughly 20 years when placed in the same environment.
What makes this technology incredible to me is that Brooks decided not to patent it, but to offer it as a “open source” innovation for any other shoe producer to use. Way to go!
Brooks DNA
Launched in 2010, DNA is a cushioning technology that is also present in most of Brooks’ running shoes.
Brooks claims that DNA is the first cushioning technology that dynamically adapts with each foot strike to the ever-changing amount of force placed on the foot during the run. No matter what the age, weight, gender, gait… DNA adapts itself to deliver the right amount of cushioning.
How’s that possible? DNA is a non-Newtonian compound.
Isaac Newton is the 17th century English scientists that brought to us the laws of motion, universal gravitation and coincidentally is the name of a competing running shoe company.
A non-Newtonian material is a material that behaves very differently from what we expect, based on the impact applied to it. Although it sounds crazy at first, it is a real thing! Please watch the video below. It’s from Brooks, it’s quite cheesy, but the demonstration give it justice more than I could by writing about it.
Brooks Super-DNA
Super-DNA is the latest version of DNA and we can expect in the near future most of Brooks’ running shoes to be featuring this new compound. Still based on the same principle of the DNA, a non-newtonian based material offers different amount of cushioning based on the force of the impact applied.
This new version adds 25% cushioning to the previous BioMoGo DNA material while preserving all the other specs, including the bio-degradability.
Segmented Crash-Pad
Brooks Segmented Crashpad
Shaped like a caterpillar, the Segmented Crash Pad is a midsole made up of independent, yet fully integrated shock absorbers.
As your foot strikes the ground, the segments work together to customize your individual lay down to provide the right amount of cushion and seamless heel-to-toe transition for you – making the most of all that effort you put into each stride.
Guide Rails
Guide Rails are the latest introduction in Brooks technology and like all the others, it seems to veer in the direction of “we don’t correct your stride, we let your body define how to run”. This latest is about providing some stability without traditional stability technology (ie. dual posts).
Guide Rails are specialized plates built into the midsole that allow your hips, knees and joints to move along their unique motion path while you run – all without any traditional posts. What they do is to wrap around the edge of your foot in order to keep it aligned. The illustration below, from the Brooks website, might help clarify what they are.
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