Brooks newbie - which should I try?

[ktzmoh]

Between the sales at REI and Nordies, I think I'm going to try a new running shoe and I'm hearing more and more about Brooks. Which ones would you recommend?

I'm going to try one of their trail shoes (I train mainly in trails on weekends), but I"d also like road running shoes too.

Adrenalines? Glycerins? Ghosts?

Currently, I'm a Saucony girl and I've been having great success with my Guide 7s for a few years. But I'm wanting to branch out and experiment this summer so that when my training amps up in the Fall, I know I have the best shoe for me.

What do you think?

[libbygrl109]

I second getting fitted. I wear Glycerins, and wanted to try another neutral shoe, hoping to save on cost. I tried the Ghosts, and they did not fit me near as well.

[Deleted]

If you know what kind of stride you have (pronate, neutral, etc) and what kind of drop you like, you could probably pick something close to the Sauconey guide. Based on the guide, it's an 8mm drop with stability, that's more like the Ravenna than anything else, though it has much more drop. The Adrenaline might also work.

But still, I'd try them on before buying. Brooks makes great shoes, but they're not for everyone.

[shelbyann]

I would suggest the Ravenna too, or maybe the Pure Cadence, for a Guide wearer.

[runblondie26]

Like @sessalee said, you can take a gamble basedon your stride type. I wear the Saucony Guide, and from experience I know the Brooks Ghosts (with or without an insert) and Ravenna 6 don't work for me (even though the Ravenna 2 did). In a side by side comparison, the Ravenna 6 now has a lot less support than the Saucony Guide. I have the PT bills to show for it
 
I'd probably take a quick look at any shoe you're considering in person first if you can. Shoes can change quite a bit even from one model to the next.

[ktzmoh]

I'm pretty meh on my LRS. Sometimes I wonder if those dudes even hear what I'm saying sometimes - and a kid-free shopping trip is kind of a rare luxury for me.

I'm going to give some a try. I'm interested in trying something with a lower drop than my Guides - and with the REI sale, I can try out the Pure Cadence or the Pure Flow for only $80 with little risk (god i love REI).

I'm kind of excited to try out trail shoes too - I've always just worn my Guides on the trails, so it'll be interesting to see if there is a real difference (read: if the frequency of the 'i almost killed myself' experience goes down).

[ktzmoh]

May 21, 2014 11:22:02 GMT -5 runblondie26 said:

Like @sessalee said, you can take a gamble basedon your stride type. I wear the Saucony Guide, and from experience I know the Brooks Ghosts (with or without an insert) and Ravenna 6 don't work for me (even though the Ravenna 2 did). In a side by side comparison, the Ravenna 6 now has a lot less support than the Saucony Guide. I have the PT bills to show for it
 
I'd probably take a quick look at any shoe you're considering in person first if you can. Shoes can change quite a bit even from one model to the next.

That's good to know - I'll definitely pay attention and listen to my body when I take them out for a few spins.  My plan is to try them for a long run or two and then decide if I like them or not based on how I feel.

[runblondie26]

May 21, 2014 11:29:51 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

May 21, 2014 11:22:02 GMT -5 runblondie26 said:

Like @sessalee said, you can take a gamble basedon your stride type. I wear the Saucony Guide, and from experience I know the Brooks Ghosts (with or without an insert) and Ravenna 6 don't work for me (even though the Ravenna 2 did). In a side by side comparison, the Ravenna 6 now has a lot less support than the Saucony Guide. I have the PT bills to show for it
 
I'd probably take a quick look at any shoe you're considering in person first if you can. Shoes can change quite a bit even from one model to the next.

That's good to know - I'll definitely pay attention and listen to my body when I take them out for a few spins.  My plan is to try them for a long run or two and then decide if I like them or not based on how I feel. How do I really know

You can do a scruch/squeeze test to see how much flexibility there is the forefoot, midfoot, heal counter, etc.

Had I done a closer side by side comparison before taking the Ravenna 6 out for a run, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble. Silly me thinking there wouldn't be much difference. It's amazing how much you can bend and twist around the sole of the Ravenna 6 vs. the Guide.

Edit: It's the Ravenna 5, not 6, that I have!

[mrsjthompson]

Pure Cadence at rei for $80? Tell me more.

ETA. Different models of the same shoe can be different too. For example pure cadence 3s are my dream shoe, but the 2s and 1s. give me aweful shin splints.

[ktzmoh]

May 21, 2014 11:46:39 GMT -5 mrsjthompson said:

Pure Cadence at rei for $80? Tell me more.

ETA. Different models of the same shoe can be different too. For example pure cadence 3s are my dream shoe, but the 2s and 1s. give me aweful shin splints.

oops sorry, pure cadence is more than the pure flows i am going to try. But they have 20% off any reg price item for members right now.

[Deleted]

May 21, 2014 12:20:21 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

May 21, 2014 11:46:39 GMT -5 mrsjthompson said:

Pure Cadence at rei for $80? Tell me more.

ETA. Different models of the same shoe can be different too. For example pure cadence 3s are my dream shoe, but the 2s and 1s. give me aweful shin splints.

oops sorry, pure cadence is more than the pure flows i am going to try. But they have 20% off any reg price item for members right now.

Try out the pure flow, but remember that they are more flexible and lower drop so don't run out and do 15 miles in them on the first day. Alternate them in for a few miles here and there until you're used to it. FWIW, I liked the Pure Flow but I need more drop or I get ITBS.

[andrealynn]

I wear tested a pair of cascadia 9s and I loved them so much. They may or may not work for you, but if you are looking for trail runners maybe give them a try on a treadmill.

[katyintx]

May 21, 2014 12:20:21 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

May 21, 2014 11:46:39 GMT -5 mrsjthompson said:

Pure Cadence at rei for $80? Tell me more.

ETA. Different models of the same shoe can be different too. For example pure cadence 3s are my dream shoe, but the 2s and 1s. give me aweful shin splints.

oops sorry, pure cadence is more than the pure flows i am going to try. But they have 20% off any reg price item for members right now.

Which Pure Flows?  I had the Brooks defyance for marathon training, but I prefer a lighter shoe the rest of the time so I switched to the PF 3s.  I LOVE them.  

[Susie]

I had a pair of Ghost 5's that I was fitted for at my LRS, and they weren't the right fit for me. I wear 7B's in every other running shoe, but was swimming in Brooks 7B's. I got them in 7AA, which felt fine, but I'm not a true AA and I think it wasn't just right for me. Neither width was good. It took me a while to come to that conclusion, but I've been happier in other shoes where the width that I actually measure is the one that fits me best.

[ktzmoh]

May 21, 2014 15:14:39 GMT -5 katyintx said:

May 21, 2014 12:20:21 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

oops sorry, pure cadence is more than the pure flows i am going to try. But they have 20% off any reg price item for members right now.

Which Pure Flows?  I had the Brooks defyance for marathon training, but I prefer a lighter shoe the rest of the time so I switched to the PF 3s.  I LOVE them.  

I got PF3s online. And I also got sweet talked into meeting my h for a coffee and a fitting at rei over lunch... And walked out with a pair if pure cadences too. I'll try them both side by side to see which I like- but the cadences felt amazing on! And radically different than my guides. So light and cushy.

I feel bold and excited to get something so different. I'll take it slow of course, but I almost feel like I'll either crash and burn (and limp back to guides) or I'll find a whole new world of running shoes! But what the hell, how can I know what works best for me if I never try anything different.