Customer Reviews Brooks Defyance 5

I have narrow heels, high arches and bunions. I average 25 miles a week but run up to 45 miles a week when training for a road race. I liked the original Defyance and #2 and 3. I hated the Defyance 4. I love the Defyance 5. It fits supportively around my arches, has plenty of toe and bunion room. It feels light and when I first ran in them I felt like it was easier to run faster - a great feeling! Good cushioning. I really like these running shoes. I wear a size 10 in non-running shoes, a size 11 in these.

These were selected for me by a run specialist in a local running shop here in Brooklyn. After watching me run on the treadmill, she suggested that I could use a shoe with light support. I purchased these and proceeded to do a runner's no-no by running a half marathon just two weeks later -- but they felt great! I would definitely recommend these to someone who tends to pronate slightly and could use subtle correction. I got a size 9, usually wear an 8.5, and was looking for some more room in the toe for those longer distances. Interestingly, these are almost the exact same fit as my Adidas 8.5 -- so I think they may run a little small...but not sure. Either way, they were quite comfortable during my half!

I have to be in a Defyance shoe for 4 years (since the 3) because I am a 10 narrow and have orthotics. That being said, the 5 is better than the 4 as it has more toe room and I get a slightly different and better strike pattern. I seem to drag my one heel with the 4's. Also the colors are much prettier in person. I think with time I will love them just as much as my original Defyance 3's.

First let me say I've never owned a pair of Brooks; I'm not even sure I had heard of them before I found them on Zappos. At the beginning of this year my physical therapist recommended Asics Nimbus for their great cushioning because I have bad knees and walk on a hard hospital floor all day long. She recommended Zappos as a place to buy them as I was having a hard time finding them. I bought a half size bigger but they still did not fit that well and hurt my feet a little even after getting used to them. But after wearing them all my other sport shoes felt like I had concrete blocks on my feet. So I was looking on Zappos for a shoe that had great cushioning but hopefully would fit better. I started looking at Brooks. They had my size; which is 10.5W. I liked a lot of their colors and styles but they don't have 10.5w or 11w in a lot of them. I decided to try them after reading some reviews which were very positive. I ordered an 11w feeling I would probably need it. I love them. They fit me better than any sport shoe I have bought in the last several years. Looking at them I was afraid the cushioning might not be as good as the Nimbus but I think it is. They are super comfortable and I wear them at work and never once did they hurt my feet even while I was getting used to them. I have definitely found a new brand (for me) that I will come back to. I hope their quality stays this good because when I need some new shoes I'm going to get more Brooks -- I probably won't even look at anything else. In fact I like them so much I bought a pair for my sister for Christmas because she said she wished she could find some new good shoes. I got her regular size and they fit her. She loves them too and is using them to train for her next marathon. And what can I say about Zappos? I think they are awesome. I get my order in a day and a half. Their site makes it so easy to find what you are looking for without having to look at a lot of stuff you're not interested in and wasting you're time.

My second pair of this great shoe. One of my ankles pronates. Brooks has turned out to be the only shoe that keeps my step stable. (I use an off-the-rack orthotic with it.) The wide size accommodates my bunion. The Brooks Addiction Walker opens up a little more at the toes, but the Defyance is lighter and overall fits very well.

The shoes are beautiful and fit like a second foot skin. The lightness helps me run for days and the internal shape is comfortable and works muscles in my foot that need some support, now that I've gone Brooks I'm never going back!

Had this shoe fitted for me at the running store, and I trained for a half marathon with this. Loved the shoe throughout training and the race. I am now buying a second pair for this season! I highly recommend this shoe if you have high arches, need extra support and enjoy road running.

I love these! I was a Saucony Shadow 6000 fan (for decades). With the end of the Shadow, I've been searching for something else, and the Brooks Defyance 5 has proven to be the best for me -- comfortable, supportive. Just terrific.

This is my second pair of these shoes and probably not my last. I just hope they keep making them. But my first time ordering from Zappos. The shoes were the same price as many other places online (but way cheaper than in stores) but I really like Zappos as a company and was glad at last to be able to support them. They arrived quickly and were exactly what I expected. Yes, they feel wider than marked but that is what I wanted and it works perfectly for me. I only said "no arch support" because I take out the liner and put my own Good Feet orthadics in. That works great.

These are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, bar none. I bought my first pair years ago when our podiatrist recommended Brooks. I now have the new version and had all the prior versions. I have not been bothered by the differences among the versions, as some others have been. Maybe because I am not a runner -- I just walk and go about normal activities. Honestly, I have to force myself to wear other shoes. One improvement between 4 and 5 that I have noticed. The tongue of the shoes on version 4 tended to slip to the side. The new version has a little loop close to the top of the tongue that seems to prevent the slippage. While I would like a choice of color (pink, for example), I just buy whatever the current color is.

I had been looking for a new pair of wide width sneakers that I could wear all day and finally found them! I love these shoes. I bought them a few days before going to an 4-day event with a lot of walking and my feet never hurt. Highly recommend!

For people with mild pronation as I have, this is the perfect shoe; mild medial support but not too much. Runs a bit narrow, and I wear orthotics, so did have to order a wider size than normal. But, that taken into consideration, it fits wonderfully well and hugs the foot, including narrow heels.

I was a die hard Adrenaline fan for several years until they changed the shoe to a support shoe awhile back. My go to shoe now is the Defyance and the Ghost. I like the Defyance b/c it is built on the same last as the Adrenaline but the Defyance is a neutral shoe and the Adrenaline is now a support shoe. The Ghost is very similar to the Defyance (also a neutral trainer) but it seems to have a wider toe box. I have a wide fore foot anyway. I run long (ultras) on roads, trails etc. and this shoe (and the Ghost) both are able to cover the miles.

Post-surgery I was advised to buy Brooks to help with support and provide extra width due to swelling. I had never owned Brooks before and these shoes are heavenly in regards to comfort. The shoe does look a little bulky but I will sacrifice looks for comfort anytime when I am in sneakers.

Loved these shoes right from the start. No issues breaking them in and very comfortable on long runs training for my 1/2 marathon.

Love these shoes! I have a super high arch and they fit perfectly with my orthotics. I appreciate the higher toe box too. Bought two pair as I hear they are changing the Defyance soon and I can't beat the fit for my feet!

The Defyance has been my running shoe of choice--this was my third pair. After visiting my running store, I ended up buying Brooks instead, because they don't sell enough of the Defyance to keep it in stock. After wearing the Brooks a few times, I had some rubbing and decided that it was time to just switch back to my standard. I have a wide toe box and narrow heel, and these fit me very well. I wear orthodics, so I can't comment much on support in that way. I esp. like Zappos' exchange policy!

I was nervous about trading up from Defyance 4 - which served me well through 3 half marathons and many months of training. The Defyance 5 is a step up. Even more comfortable and stable.

Very comfortable shoes. I have large and wide feet and it is hard to find shoes that fit. These are my first pair of Brooks and I will be buying more.

I'm not a runner--cycling, yoga, water aerobics and strength training are more my speed. After a stress fracture in my 2nd metatarsal, my podiatrist recommended a good running shoe for support. These shoes immediately provided the support I needed to minimize the pain. They are so comfortable, that when I am healed I may go back to running!

These shoes fit great and feel great. This is the second pair I have purchased. They are durable and I recommend them to anyone who is on his/her feet for hours at a time.

This is a great shoe for walking. This particular shoe fits differently from earlier models, so I needed to order narrow width. This is my 3rd pair of Defdyance shoes, I find it a good walking shoe.

I just bought these from a local running shop that helps you determine what type of shoe best works with your gate (neutral / pronation) and these feel like a pillow they are amazing! plenty of room in the toe box. Absolutely awesome! I have a neutral gate, I demand an excellent sneaker that won't give me blisters or irritate the tendinitis in my foot. I run about 20 miles a week and will be running up to 40 -

I love these shoes. I feel like they were made just for my feet. The only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is that I think they're ugly and look like boy shoes, in my opinion. I always get super bright shoes though, so to each their own. I guess it's further evidence that they're great shoes since I just bought my second pair, regardless of the fact that I don't like the colors.

I usually get Brooks Adrenaline but thought I'd try these. They didn't work out so well. Not enough cushion for me and caused pain in my two outer toes on my smaller foot. They worked better with insert but I can't wear them all day. (I walk for a living). I'd say these are probably fine running shoes for someone else.