Customer Reviews Brooks Ariel®

I have worn this exact style for years and years. Normally I LOVE this shoe! It is just about the only shoe I can find that feels good because it addresses all of my problems: an extremely high arch, a disgustingly wide ball of the foot area, and tiny, narrow heels. However, I am just about to return the second pair of shoes to Zappos in less than six months because of a flaw. Each time, the two rows of threads over the left toe area begin to come out. This problem manifested itself within about a month of beginning to wear the new shoes and just get worse to the point where it looks terrible. Has Brooks made any significant changes in the way they are manufacturing their shoes? Are they using different materials? Am I the only person who has run into these problems? My feet have not changed sizes. I keep my toenails short. My socks are not showing any signs of wear on the toes. And, I am not doing anything unusual with my left foot, like kicking things or dragging my toes on tarmac! I am giving three stars because of this problem although I would normally give this shoe five stars. I am REALLY happy that Zappos has such a wonderful return policy. I have always LOVED this company!!!

It's a great shoe...for someone else. I'm a flat-footed overpronator, and these really didn't give me enough stability or arch support. My arches hurt after about 10 minutes of walking in them. They also slid up and down as I moved, even though I had them laced tightly & close to my ankle; maybe they weren't flexible enough? As some other commenters have noted, they were also a little narrower than I'd expect for the size.

This is a great shoe with terrific support. The rollbar keeps my feet straight. I do wish the toebox were more rounded as my toes don't fit the shape.

Basic shoe, not what I know to be "Brooks." I had to upgrade to the "Ghost" and there was not only a price difference but definitely quality and arch support. Being in my 20s I always wear when I'm at the gym but this shoe just isn't top quality.

This is my typical size but the heel keeps slipping out. I will be sending back.

This was simply one of the most supportive and cushioned shoes I have ever put on my feet. They felt wonderful to walk in. Unfortunately, the excessive cushioning results in much less room (vertically) for your foot. They caused the top of my right foot to hurt because there was not enough depth in the toe area. If they could redesign this shoe and add just a tiny bit of depth to it, it would be the most comfortable and supportive running shoe out there.

This shoe is a mystery. Brooks calls it a "motion control" shoe and it is anything but. Wide, sloppy, with a large foot volume are - so large that when you step the shoe breaks oddly across the ball of the foot and is painful. Unfortunately I have such odd & hard to fit feet that I have to wear shoes several times before I can tell if they will work for me or not. These are well made, just on a strange last, unlike any Brooks I have had before. I love my Brooks Adrenaline GTS10 but they are nearly three years old and I was looking for a replacement. This is not it - I will have to keep looking.

These are the most expensive, comfortable yet poorly made shoes that I own. The mesh is so weak that I have to reenforce it on the inside with duct tape. That is the only way I have been able to wear them without putting holes in them.

Comfort and style wise, these are great, but they are terrible for longevity. I've had them for two months and they're already falling apart - the mesh around the ankles has frayed so there are holes, and the stitching at the toes is coming out. Really not worth the money.

Wore the shoes for two days around the house and they felt fine. Once I started running with them on the street they felt like I was wearing bricks. Very heavy. Zappo's won't let me return them because they have been worn. Now I'm stuck with expensive shoes I won't wear.

I was really excited to get these after the wonderful reviews. I have plantar fasciitis in my right heel. At first they felt great. I wore them around the house off and on for a few weeks. Then I made the mistake of throwing out the box. I wore them to my first boxing class. At the end of the class, my heel hurt so badly that I had to walk tiptoe to get home. My heel hurt worse wearing these than it does flip flops. I wish I could return them. I am so disappointed.

I have flat feet and this was the wrong shoe for me. Cause pain and shoe wore out within 2 months of wearing...not happy at all!

I have worn the Ariel, or its predecessor, for 14 years. What a disappointment this last pair was! Within a month there were holes in the uppers over my big toe -- never had this problem before. I don't know what changed with Brooks, but I had to switch brands.

This shoe fits and feels completely different than the last pair of Brooks Ariel. The last pair was much more comfortable. The right shoe seems to twist my foot wrong. I am going to have to return these shoes and hope the next Brooks Ariel in the future returns to old style.

I was so impressed by the reviews I decided to try these. They were way too small and narrow. Sent them back- not sure if I will try another size.

There is something different in the fit of this newer Brook Ariel. I have tried 4 different orthontics made for me and these shoes willnot let me wear them. Agonizing. I am back to the old ones and ordering different brands.

I have been ordering Brooks Ariel shoes for years as recommended by my podiatrist.I have orthodics I must wear in all my shoes so a removable insole is essential. For my feet, the extra support in the instep is fortified in all the right places. If I wear any other tennis shoe, after awhile they start to hurt my feet. I just wish they weren't so pricey as I wear them daily and need to replace them often. Although it felt true to size, I have to order the wide and one half a size bigger for my feet.

Awesome shoes and my feet are very happy! Most comfortable shoes I have worn in years.

So disappointed! I'm a long standing Brooks customer and have purchased Brooks Ariels for many years. I usually buy them at our local shoe store and have often been able to purchase last year's model for a reduced price. Not this year as my store didn't have any Brooks (hard to find in stores). I've always gotten the Brooks Ariel and always in the same size. So...I went looking online for them and came across what I wanted (or so I thought) at Zappos. I have no qualms with Zappos but I do with my shoes. They don't fit, I can't use my orthotics in them because the shoes are too big and the orthotics don't set in the heel right. So, I tried wearing them without my orthotics and the heals keep slipping and causing my socks to bunch up under my foot. They also squeak like mad, causing me embarrassment and annoyance. Brooks has failed me!

This shoe seems to be an entire size too small. Very disappointing for Brooks. The material feels cheap and it's ugly; very clunky.

I have bunions and have a very hard time finding shoes - any shoes, that fit without pain. I tried different brands. And then I found the Brooks Ariel. I'm in love. I can wear sneakers to work because of foot problems so I've been wearing these all week with compression socks. It feels like they were molded to fit my feet. No bunion pain, no heal pain. It's like walking on air. I have arthritis in my knees and that even feels better. I tried the Saucony and they did fit without pain. But the cushioning and support was nothing compared to the Brooks. I just ordered a 2nd pair. I wish they came in more colors but you can say that for just about any sneaker. So if your feet need some comfort, go for Brooks.

These are not wide enough in the toe box. I have been wearing Ariels for years. This is the first time with a toe box design change. The shoes are uncomfortable.

I've been wearing the Brooks Ariel 11 for the past two years. I ordered the Brooks 12 and am not happy at all. Brooks modified the Ariel style: the shoe at the toe is narrower, different sockliner, different control of the foot. Please tell Brooks that if it isn't broken, then don't fix it. I'm returning the shoes.

Horrible shoe. Stay away unless you can endure pain. Used for less than 1 month. Called the company for assistance and they were of no help offered no refund or exchange $140.00 down the drain.