Customer Reviews Brooks Ariel '16

Was waiting for the 16 as the 14 ran narrow. Also, was hoping they would beef the shoe up with more leather-like material along the forefoot sides. (If you have wide feet, the mesh tends to bulge out over the edges of the 14....)...ALL shoes are getting made more cheaply it seems with BROOKS being one of the last holdouts...However, the 16 is disappointing in that there are only thin, decorative side bars on the sides and the rest is all mesh!! How can this support wide feet or heavier users? I'm disappointed....and, the other reviewers are right....These colors are bad....They don't look good with anything....colors of 14 much better.....Let's get some options and more upper forefoot stabilizers!!

After 2 foot operations I only wear brooks ariel. The 2012 was great and the 2014 fit even better. The 2016 though is going back. It's shorter than the 2014 and my big toe touches the tip. And the color combo really has to be rethought. The 2012 was light blue and silver, great. The 2014 dark grey and violet and the 2016 is darker grey and turquoise. Really?

I wear a wide range of sizes in shoes but I have never worn a size eight but that's what I ordered after reading the review. It runs a half size smaller and that's what Brooks says in their description of this shoe. It might be helpful to read what they say in their description about it so you are not surprised. About this shoe: this is the very first shoe I have ever worn except Birkenstock sandals that were comfortable from the first wearing. Last pair of Ariels I had were a 14 and I had the 12 before. Perhaps I should have gotten a larger size those times but this time I'M IN LOVE WITH THESE SHOES. I was able to wear them the whole day and walk on my treadmill without ANY FOOT PAIN. I did put my Foot Leveler orthotics in them. The only downside is this is the only color they come in. Sob Why can't they make dressier shoes so those of us with foot problems will look great all the time and be pain free?

Love the '16 compared to the '14! Perfect support for my flat feet, and this version has a little more room in the toe. I used to wear arch support inserts, but don't need them to run with these shoes. If you need a very supportive shoe - the Ariel '16 is for you!

Had to return. Super comfy but this shoe is shorter than previous Ariels I have worn. They are bulky but the most padded and supportive shoes ever. Order a half size up

I love the color of these, and the EE width makes them very comfortable for me. Brooks are one of the best running shoes I've worn, and one of the most expensive, but worth it. Without my feet I won't have my health, and without comfortable shoes I won't be as active.

I recently developed plantar fasciitis and this shoe has enabled me the ability to walk with no heel pain. Right out of the box I wore to an outside standing event without any heel pain and no pain from the shoe that day or the next. I am an overpronater and do not need an orthotic in this shoe. I tried 11 other shoes... this 1 was it! Most stable, supportive, squishy shoe I found. This is the 2nd Ariel shoe I have owned. I am able to wear my old pair to go walk my woods trail so these stay clean for awhile.

I have heel spurs, an arthritic big toe joint, morton's neuroma, am recovering from plantar fasciitis, and majorly overpronate, which seems to aggravate everything -- in short, my feet are a mess and something always hurts because I refuse to give up volleyball and long walks. These shoes have saved me, eliminating almost all of my foot pain and allowing me to live the active life I am used to. The support and cushioning are great -- I have to wear orthotics with a metatarsal pad because otherwise it feels like I'm walking on a rock, but if it weren't for that these shoes would be comfortable enough to wear as is, without orthotics. As with all Brooks shoes, I order these a half size up because they seem to run a little small. I'm not in love with the navy blue and teal color scheme but if that's what it takes to make my feet feel better I can live with it.

really was desperate for these to work out for my problem feet, underpronation and mild bunion but for the price the fit just didnt work. I ordered 2E width and that is very roomy indeed so recommend that for others, but the height of the shoe did not allow for using my inserts even with the other one removed. overall the fit just was not comfortable and at almost 200 bucks I wanted perfection. as others have said this is an ugly shoe which i would have put up with if it felt good. the shiny blue plastic bits look incredibly cheap and contrasted with the teal flashy bits its very tacky. just really unappealing. again, for 200 bucks i would want to adore these shoes. give em a try if you have problem feet and are desperate

I've been an Ariel wearer for many years. These shoes have saved my life. My feet are very flat and with Ariels I can walk miles. HOWEVER, I cannot wear Ariel '16s at all. The fixed fabric strips on the outside of the shoes irritate bunionettes on both of my feet to the point that I've tried medium and wide and neither worked and I have returned both. I wore the medium for about a month hoping that my feet and the shoes could reach a detente. No luck. The wide was just too wide in the redesign for me to wear. It feels like both medium and wide are overcorrecting in that Ariel '16s are throwing my foot to the outside so there's no way to prevent the friction between bunionettes and shoes. I ended up buying several pairs of the distastefully colored pink Ariel '14 to wear until Ariel '18. IMO, the Ariel '14 was the absolute best of all of the Ariel designs I've worn over the years. Please bring back Ariel '14!!!

Ariel has been my go-to for years now! I have tarsal coalition and severe overpronation. I don't even need to break these shoes in beforehand, I know they're going to work for me. It's like walking on a cloud!!

As a VERY active runner who has had foot surgery and posterior tibial tendinitis, this is by far THEE best running shoes! It has helped PTTD immensely in just two weeks! I am now a huge fan of these shoes!!

This is my second pair of Ariel '16. I wear them for walking, averaging about 4-5 miles a day with some mild hiking thrown in. I've worn Ariels for years but went through a period when they ran small, or were too narrow (and one year Brooks had an attached tongue which I hated)--so I finally figured out my size, thanks to Zappos, and love the '16s. I wear a half-size larger than my normal 9, and I order a wide toe box. The great thing about the '16s is that they're $60 less than last year. Win win all around! They're very comfy and accommodate my orthotics. Good stable shoe.

Great shoe this is my fourth pair.

This is the first shoe I have found that is friendly to orthotics. I took it to my Orthotic guy and was so surprised when the good fit I had felt without the orthotic stayed a good fit WITH the orthotic. I think Brooks Ariel 16 has solved a lot of problems for me. Thank you!!

Great shoe. Can wear without orthodics. Flat feet plantar issues. These shoes keep my energized on my feet at work. I thought they ran small, but i think it is that i am over weight so that could be my problem.true to size I have a pair of Hoka but as good of arch support, sore feet after work.

Brooks Addiction are my daily shoe for everything. I was hoping the Ariel might expand the field for my foot issues. I need a stiff-soled shoe and the Ariel had a little more give to it than I was comfortable with. The fit and width were all good but I'm returning.

Color Issue!! Why oh why doesn't Brooks offer the Ariel in more colors? Please make it in the same color family as the Brooks Levitate: black/ebony/silver. Many of us need this shoe as almost a medical device and must wear daily- not just for specific exercising- we need something neutral yet a bit stylish so an all black is out. Please offer something without the bright, colorful stripe on the bottom sides. I guarantee it will sell out quickly!! Others have the same complaint. Listen to your customers!

Though I'm normally not considered to have wide feet, with the redesign of many shoes getting slimmer, I have upgraded to a wide width. This seems to have definitely helped with roominess in my toe-box area. These are so stylish, my 14 year old said "I LOVE these, mom" and he's pretty choosy! Fit is great, style is great, and so far seem quite comfortable.

Finally, Brooks made the Ariel 16 with the toe box large enough to make me happy and keep me away from New Balance for now. I find the Ariels are better for my various knee problems, but have struggled with the narrow toe boxes. This seems to have been solved with the 16. Would definitely buy again. Just wish there were different color schemes to choose from

I have been wearing Brooks Ariel shoes for years. They were recommended for me when I was having severe hip pain. The pain was becoming seriously debilitating. A friend noticed that I overpronate and suggested seeking out shoes that would correct that. I researched and found that this shoe can help overpronators. Amazingly, when the shoes came in and I put them on...no hip pain. When I walked or ran, no hip pain! Hallelujah! Recently, I was told that there was a New Balance shoe that also was designed to help with overpronation. It was pink and I needed a pink shoe for an event. I ordered the New Balance, and when I put them on the first day, they felt great. But the next day, I had serious hip and foot pain. That continued every day until I remembered what originally drew me to the Brooks Ariel. I ordered a pair of my old stand-by, and...the hip and foot pain disappeared. Wow. I’m in trouble, I guess, if Brooks ever stops making this great shoe.

Yes, they are ugly. Yes, they are extremely comfortable...but no, can't keep 'em, the heel is too big and slips. :(

Amazingly solid and sturdy shoe. Has excellent arch support for my ankle injury that caused my arch to nearly collapse. They take some getting used to, almost feel like boots due to the lack of flexibility in sole. I don't have the time to break these in properly before a trip next week, but if I did, I would give these shoes a chance.