Customer Reviews Brooks Ariel 14

I just bought these shoes and have been wearing the Ariel now for more than a decade. The problem I have with this version is that the tongue is sewn to the inside, on each side, and is not freestanding so it creates a fixed amount of room, thereby causing a feeling of too snug. I like my shoes loose, and by restricting the tongue, it creates a suffocating feeling on top of my foot. I compared it to earlier models around my house still and they do not have this restriction. I am not sure why they did this, but they should change it back.

After reading so many glowing comments, I had high hopes that my first pair of Ariels would be nice for my feet. Received today, wore them this evening, and they're going back tomorrow. My feet developed achiness in my arches as I wore them. Never had that happen with the Addictions or Adrenalines. I have fallen arches/flat feet. I wore them with my custom orthotics as I always do when I wear athletic shoes.

The redesign of the Ariel is a disaster for me. The newer model is far narrower than previously, and as a result, these shoes wear out for me and lose the motion control effectiveness in a matter of a few weeks rather than months. This is an extremely poor substitute for the Ariel 12, with its somewhat wider toe box. I'm heartbroken, because these shoes were life-changers for me. The arch support was perfect for my extremely flat feet, and the motion control kept my feet from sliding around. The redesign has caused the shoes to wear out much faster, and as a result, to be a very poor value for the money. Re-think your redesign of the Ariel, Brooks. Or at least bring back the '12 as an option. The current version is a vastly inferior product.

Agree with other commenters; snug fit is too tight and makes difficult to get shoe on and toe box is narrower. Order 1/2 size up for sure. Colors and shoe bed feel are nice.

These used to be my favorite walking shoes, not anymore. They are going back, too uncomfortable, very narrow toe box, not as cushioning as the 2012 model. I wore B in the 2012 model (3 pairs), and in reading the reviews I ordered B and D, neither comfortable. Hopefully, Brooks will fix these issues in 2016. otherwise I will not try anymore and look for another brand. Thanks, Zappos, for your excellent service and return policies.

So I have been a Brooks Addiction fan for at least a decade, size 8M (for my 7½M pronating feet). I had heard that the Addiction 11 was not the same as the 10 (of which I had stockpiled a couple of pairs). I wear through a pair every six months flattening the insoles (even using custom orthotics). I had read from a couple of sources that the Ariel was the closest in feel to the old 10. That was not true for my feet. They are cushy but are much more generous and flatter with not much support for pronation, I could not feel any built in as I could with the old 10 and even the 11. The 11 and new Addiction 12 are shorter and narrower in the toe box than the old Addictions including the 10. So now, the old size 8 are now 8½ hence I think you need to go up a half-size in these newer versions. I ordered the Addiction 11 which feel better than the 12 in that the heel cup fits better even in the same size and they have the right stiffness and arch support that the old 10 had. The 12 felt more generous all the way around. I tried the Asics Gels as well but found they were even bigger (although comfortable) than the Brooks.

This shoe runs very small. I wish it would have been stated more clearly up front so I would not be on my second return. I went up a 1/2 size from my normal running shoe size and my toes were still crammed into the front. After reading some more reviews I am now going to try out the Brooks Addiction.

Love these shoes but was disappointed to see that there is a small hole in the mesh part of the left shoe over the toes. I am not hard on these shoes, do not run in them, so this surprises me. I've worn Brooks for years with no problems. These shoes are not cheap and shouldn't already be developing holes in the material. Hope the hole does not get bigger. The shoe does run narrow but that's what I needed.

I have severely flat feet and overpronation problems, and Brooks Ariels are my go-to daily shoe. Combined with my orthotics, they have been life-changing for me: just a really good, durable shoe for motion control and offering great arch support. I was kind of disappointed, therefore, when I found that they had apparently redesigned the Ariel to be overall more narrow, especially in the toe box. I tried a slightly wider width than I was used to ordering, but this seemed to greatly reduce the motion control feature that I really need. So I went with the normal medium width. It s more snug, but it works better. It's a bit less comfortable and definitely less roomy my feet wear shoes out on the outsider side of the toe box first, and because these shoes are so much more narrow, the wear will be greater, and the shoe will probably lose its effectiveness a lot sooner. They still do the job, just not as comfortably or well as Ariel 12 did. Not all changes are for the better. The remodel of the Ariel did not result in improvement.

I really really wanted to like this shoe, so I've tried it 2 different times, but it just hugs my foot until it hurts. Sad they are not like previous model. Will have to find a new go to shoe.

This use to be my go to shoe. I had been purchasing it for years. This new model Ariel 14 changed its stack hight by 5mm from the previous model, which unfortunately did not fit the same!!!! It is always such a let down when shoe companies alter a good fitting shoe. I will not longer buy this model.

Sadly, these are not the same excellent shoes as the Ariels were previously, before this latest redesign. I have previously been very pleased with Ariels. The stability has been key, as I have severe overpronation. Now, though, Brooks has redesigned the shoe and the size I bought felt too narrow. It also just did not have the same good feel as the previous Ariel model. I'm disappointed with Brooks. Luckily, I ordered from Zappos so returned the shoes with ease. I'm now sadly in the position of trying to find a new brand of running shoe that meets my needs.

So disappointed Brooks! I've worn Ariel for years, and the changes you made for the 14 will result I'm me seeking another brand for my motion control. Sitting down I thought it was super comfy, more cushion than previous models, but what this amounts to when you stand, try to walk or run is a smaller, tighter shoe. Which for me, resulted in cramping and having to take them back. With my orthotic added in I'm sitting not even an inch into the shoe. I'm searching everywhere to find a 12. I agree with the other poster(s). The 14 is narrower in the toe box then the Ariel 12. For one thing the tongue is sewed in place so it feels chunky and thick, and too short. Because of the rise in height (I assume due to a change/increase in cushioning?) the laces hardly are long enough, and with the thick tongue I looked like I had a swollen foot and it was still bursting at the seams. Regardless, when I tried to move I cramped up. Loosening the laces worked somewhat, but ultimately I had to take them off to get relief. Boo Brooks. I will make sure to post the same review on their site. If you've never had them before, they might work for you, but if you're looking to replace a previous pair or Ariel's you'll be disappointed.

Kind of ugly, extremely narrow so I had to buy a wide running shoe for the first time ever and very different than the last version of this shoe. I don't think I'll buy another pair of this model. Sigh, what is a gal in need of motion control to do?

Been wearing the Ariel for a few years now to help with overpronation and foot issues. Unfortunately I have a wide foot, and the new design with the 14 doesn't fit at all! It is far more narrow. If you are able to go up a width, you will need to. I was already in the 2E and now I'm stuck looking for something else that might fit, though nothing else works as well for the pronation issue.

I have to agree with other reviewers. The toe box on this shoe is now so narrow it is uncomfortable to wear. No amount of loosening of the laces made it feel better. It's unfortunate because they finally came out with a color that was actually stylish. Saucony makes a stabilizing shoe that I'm wearing now and it feels just as nice.

I got the same size I got last year in the Ariel and now they are too tight. years ago I wore Brooks and the same thing happened and I had to switch brands. Brooks did it again and you may have to go up 1/2 size or order the wider size. I am going to try the WW or whatever the widest is and and that is crazy going form medium width in everything else. I think the shoe last year looked better too.

Sizing issue! I bought this last year in a 8.5 wide and has been a good shoe. In the past when I had bought brooks I had gotten a 8.5 but the shoe last year felt small so I got the wide. Well same thing this year it got more narrow? What is up with the sizing changes Brooks?

I thought I would love this sneaker. When I tried it on it was tight over my instep. I then saw a web of material on each side of the tongue which the previous version didn't have. It constricted my foot and for the cost of the sneaker I was not going to cut that webbing. Bring back the previous version which I loved.

I have plantar fasciitis and these shoes were great for that problem. However, the Ariel 14 are definitely narrower at the front than older models, such that after a few minutes my feet felt numb then they just plain hurt. I plan to get wide width and try my luck again.

Ridiculously narrow. Definitely not the same fit as the 12. Order up a size in width!

I've had 3 pair of Brooks shoes over the last 2 years. This pair, while the same size and width, and too small. They are short and tight around the foot. Disappointed!

I've had problems with foot pain and also knee issues, last year I was fitted with the Ariel 12, and was pleased with the feel and comfort. Recently ordered the Ariel 14....doesn't fit/feel the same at all. I have a wide foot, these are narrower and not comfortable. So disappointed they've changed them. Going to have to return them and search for a different shoe.