Customer Reviews Brooks Ariel®

Being very overweight, and just starting a Doctor-recommended walking program, I wanted shoes with great support, and these have been wonderful.

Brooks Ariel in a regular width runs a little bit shorter than Brooks Adrenaline (wide) and Brooks Addiction (wide). My foot is basically a C width... what I mean is it s right between regular and wide. This Brooks Ariel shoe fits me better than the wider sizes... but it does run a half-size shorter than expected. Good width...

Love them, but one issue... These shoes are super comfortable, very lightweight and have great support. I did have to return the first pair of shoes and get a pair half a size larger. My only complaint is that when the weather is cold, the air comes through the mesh and my feet are chilly. Probably not a problem for others unless you live up north like me. I'll use the shoes for three seasons out of the year and for winter; I'll have to get a different athletic shoe. Zappos absolutely rocks! Thanks for the shipping upgrade - shoes got here in one day! Amazing!

Brooks Ariel - I would have given this shoe 5 stars for comfort, but they changed the placement of the trim just enough to make it tighter in the front where I need the little extra space. Sometimes manufacturers should leave a perfect thing alone. The old style was perfect and comfortable from the first minute. I noticed that others complained about the same problem.

Good, comfortable shoe for work. I tried a few times to find a pair of shoes that would be comfortable for me to wear to work. I work in a hospital and am on my feet all day. Zappos was very good with giving me credit for my returns and worked with me to find this brand of athletic shoe. I found that this shoe worked best for me overall. I have a wide foot and this shoe was true to width, and had lots of room in the toe box. I was also able to fit my orthotics in the shoe. It is a very comfortable shoe and my feet do not hurt at the end of the day. I gave it a 4 rating in looks because it is a little clunky looking, but it works for me. I am very pleased with this shoe and with Zappos service.

Brooks are fabulous - I had been buying Brooks shoes for quite a while then stopped. I went back to them again this summer because I was walking a lot. They are great shoes. This pair is a little wider and longer than my other pair. In general they are the best tennis shoes I have found. Just double check your size. I could have gone down a ½ size and could have probably worn a medium in this style. Just my thoughts.

A little different than I thought - This is a great shoe. I already had a pair of Ariels in lime green and white and wanted a different color; however, I was disappointed that this pair seemed a little tighter than my original pair even though they are the same size! Perhaps they will stretch out a little as time goes by. They are not uncomfortable just a little snug. This is a fantastic shoe if you are flat-footed like I am. I must wear an orthotic in one shoe and a brace on the other so finding a shoe that fits and is comfortable is very tough. I am very pleased with this shoe in spite of the slight imperfect fit. Make sure your foot is measured by a professional if you have any foot problems.

This is my second pair of Brooks Ariels and these do feel different than the previous pair. They feel wider (although both are medium) and the back quickly broke down requiring use of a shoe horn to put them on. I loved my first pair but I do not like the new ones and would not buy them again.

If Brooks is going to redesign a shoe beyond all recognition, they must change the model name. The majority of the positive reviews for these shoes are from years past if you sort the reviews by date you will see what I mean. My Brooks Ariels from 2012 were fantastic, and after 14 months of heavy wear they had to be retired because foot pain was starting up again (my old Ariels had cured my plantar fasciitis and weird toe cramps). The new model is not as cushioned, I think they changed the last because not only are these shoes less stable, now in addition to having hurting feet I have hurting knees which was never a problem before. It is a crying shame that they are profiting from the false assertion that these are Ariels, because they aren't, they're something else under the same model name. And you can't just write "Audi" on a cheap Toyota and sell it as a luxury product. Nevertheless, here they are - doing just that. Not cool.

I have worn Brooks stability shoes for more than 10 years and thought I would forever -- until I got these. Perfectly comfortable, but after 3 months there is a hole in the upper where my toe hits. They have been worn very little, so I think this is a materials problem. Back looking fr new hoes, and they won't be these.

I am disappointed that they changed the way that the style fit. This was my favorite type of shoe, and the only one that I had tried that did not make my ankle hurt. Now the size 11 is too big and the 10 1/2 was too small. Disappointing.

This is not the same shoe it used to be and the many positive reviews on here do not reflect the changes since Zappos is showing reviews from back on 2008. The 5 stars are misleading since the shoe changes every year. I was probably one of the positive reviewers back in 2008 since it was a great shoe back then. Brooks decided to mess with perfection that didn't need fixing somewhere around 2009/2010. I had worn the Brooks Ariel for a few years because the fit was perfect. The width was always perfect since I need more room in the toe area. Many other brands of shoes give me blisters. I had to give in and try the latest Brooks back in November 2012. They didn't even last me 6 months and I am not a runner! I use these as an everyday shoe and I sit down most of the day. The material has gotten cheaper as it is showing signs of being worn out. I recommend reading the latest negative reviews on the official Brooks website because there are many of us not happy with the changes. I am now reconsidering other brands.

What have they done to the Ariel? I have run in these for years, and with the changes they have made, I now have plantar fascitis, which I never had before. The arch support does not feel the same and the shoe seems narrower. I am so upset. I can not afford another pair of shoes, I am a special education teacher. I can't run in them, and I can't return them because I have run in them. I am absolutely at a loss. I love to run. Now what?

These are GREAT shoes for people who must wear orthotics. My custom orthotics fit in here beautifully, and these shoes have lasted me a year - I know I should replace them sooner, but am amazed at how well they have held up. I wear them every day, and have taken them on overseas trips where I did a lot of walking. My feet never hurt! I am buying a new pair now.

I was going to swear off Brooks after they changed the Trance I wore and loved for walking/jogging on a treadmill and then graduating to daily wear. As far as I was concerned, they ruined the Trance after the 10 model. I need a wide toe box for a Morton's neuroma, so I studied the various alternatives and narrowed them down to 2. I then called Zappos customer service and the always-helpful representative directed me to the one that she felt would best meet my needs. I'm happy with it and will continue to order it (unless Brooks "improves" it with future "upgrades"). I usually wear size 8.5 and these are 9.5D. The Brooks tennis shoes seem to run a bit small. They accommodate my partial insert comfortably.

I think the Ariel has been redesigned. I've ordered this same shoe for years and have always enjoyed the out of the box comfort. This new pair, though, seems too tight, resulting in swollen feet by the end of the day. I kept them and wore them thinking it was just my feet, but several months later, I'm still having the same issue. So, buyer beware, these are much more stiff and narrow than in the past. I'll continue to buy them but will have to tinker with the size and width next order.

I keep coming back to Brooks as my favorite sneaker. They are the most comfortable and give the best support for walking and cross-training. I have a wide foot and these fit perfectly. I've owned many pairs and have never regretted the investment. My only suggestion would be to make these a little more stylish - they're a little 80s. But I'll sacrifice fashion for comfort.

It's been 3 months since I bought these. I chose them as a replacement for Brooks Trance, which I loved when it was a model 9 and 10 and returned when they "upgraded" it into something so uncomfortable I couldn't wear it and even returned model 12. A Zappos rep (I love Zappos) helped me choose the Ariel because I have a Morton's neuroma and need a wide toe box. I ordered the Wide (D). I use these for walking/jogging on a treadmill, and they have been comfortable. I think I read reviews complaining of heel slipping, but I have not had that problem. I am able to use a partial insole for extra metatarsal support. The Ariel seems a teeny bit shorter than the Trance was, but I think a larger size would be too long. The style is less bulky than the Addiction 10s I tried. I plan to buy another Ariel when I need to replace these.

Absolutely love these shoes! My daughter is a severe over-pronator on both feet and these shoes stabilize her feet perfectly!

I switched to Brooks Ariel and have been very satisfied with its support. It's a light weight shoe with good grip. I use them for walking and aerobics.

I work in retail and I'm on my feet around 9 hours every day. Brooks has become my go-to brand for shoes that stay comfortable all day and help with foot pain. The only thing I dislike is are the colors. You either have to get flat black/beige/white, which is boring, or bright funky colors that don't match everyday clothes. I would prefer something more neutral.

Brooks Ariels are the only shoes that I will buy for all around support for walking. I work in a warehouse and am on cement floors a lot. I change out the linings every other day with another support liner. I am buying a new pair because my feet, knees, lower back, and hips fair better doing this. So if you are having pain in the areas that I mentioned then these are the shoes that you need. I was told by the person who sold me my inside arch supports that the best walking shoes are ones I that cannot twist the arches when the shoes ate sole side up and there is no way that I can even move these! I love them.

I love Zappos! And I love these shoes. The order process is super easy, the website is clear and easy to navigate. I knew exactly what I was getting because this mail order company is the best I've dealt with to date. I tried these shoes at a store but knew I could find them here for less money, and I was right. Thanks, Zappos. You rock!

Great shoe for running, especially if one has poor arches and over pronates. The shoe has little tabs that help to cinch the shoes tighter which works for me since I have a narrow foot . Do wear thicker socks. My foot stay cool with these shoes as well.

Great sneakers! Really helped my plantar fasciitis! True to size! Great price too!