Customer Reviews Brooks Ariel®

Beware of these shoes! I bought the Ariel a few months ago, and as I first tried them on, they felt wonderful. They were supportive, cushy, very lightweight. I was in love with them! After the first time I wore them for running, though, I ended up with Plantar Fasciitis in my left heel. I have been running and doing light weightlifting for over 20 years and never had problems until the first time I used these shoes. I actually think there is a defect in my particular pair of shoes, because my right shoe feels really great, while my left is consistently giving trouble and simply doesn't feel right. I had put them away for a while, until my heel pain cleared up a bit (it still has not completely cleared up after a few months of only swimming and bike riding!) and just tried them again with some inserts that I purchased for an exercise class this morning. Unfortunately, I can feel the pain coming back. So much for these shoes and the wasted money, I am going back to my old Brooks until I can research a better brand.

These are so much more attractive than the ugly very comfortable New Balance W1540 that I ended up with. I now need stiff 2E shoes and these say 2E but the toe box is tapered. Really changes the fit. I saw another review that indicates this is new, I wish they would go back to a rounder toe box if this is what they had before.

Wow, Brooks has really messed with a good thing! I have depended on Ariel for years and it always delivered excellent arch support that I needed and a roomy toe box. Brooks has, "New and Improved", for 2013 aka as the "Ariel 12" - and has completely changed! The arch support is gone; the toe box has shrunken; tight and uncomfortable. Thank you Brooks; now I have plantar fasciitis that I haven't had the hideous misfortune of having in over 4 years! Back in therapy for shin splints and aching split arches! Next stop custom made Orthotics - cost - $500.00!

Brooks quality has deteriorated. They no longer have the squared toe box which fits wide feet perfectly and they have cut corners with making their shoes shorter. After years of wearing an 11; I had to go into a larger size so the shoe would be long enough. While they continue to charge high prices for these shoes, I will have to start looking for another sneaker; possibly one made in the USA.

I have been buying Ariels for years, the latest pair did not feeling right the first time I put them on and they continued to disappoint me the more I wore them. I finally returned them to the store for an exchange for an old model. The new model(with turquoise) tended to turn my feet out and make the muscles on the outside of my lower legs ache. Upon comparison I realized the depth of the sole of the shoe around the little toe side was noticeably thinner than the older model Ariels. This was a big disappointment as I have been in these shoes for years now what do I wear.

I found the tongue of these too long, or the sides too high, so my ankle felt strangled. Because I'd already worn them, I ended up calling the Brooks company and exchanging them for Adrenalines.