Customer Reviews Brooks Ariel '16

I have worn Brooks shoes for a long time. The Ariel16 are the best! My orthotics fit perfectly inside and there is plenty of room for my bunions. I love these shoes!,

These shoes offer excellent arch supports! I have trouble with pronation also, and they immediately correct and help that. I use these for my everyday shoes! They go well with all colors, I have worn them with both dress pants and capri's! I would recommend these to anyone who wants a comfortable shoe that needs extra support!

Not a fan of the colors! Navy blue and vivid turquoise! I wear a lot of black so this isn't ideal and I wear the Ariel every day, not just for time limited athletic pursuits. Way too much of the turquoise is showing- I would've preferred the more subtle Addiction in dk gray with hints of color. However, fit wise, the new Ariel is a big improvement- wider toebox (or less constriction on top and on the sides). Very structured- pronounced pronation support which I need. These feel almost like an orthotic shoe. I hope they will come out with some more colors before next year. For those of us with problem feet, we are totally dependent on Brooks and their designers- no other brand comes close in terms of comfort and support. As before, the heel feels a bit big so you have to cinch the multi colored laces tightly!

These shoes are very wide in the toe box. I ordered a wide and received an extra-wide. I have already worn the shoe or I would return them.

Really cute shoes, except that I didn't like the shiny, plasticky look of the detail in the back of the shoe. Insole has great padding. My orthotics fit pretty well. I loved the built-in rubber padding on the inside bottom of the shoe, under the extra cushy insole. And there seems to be lots of support with this shoe. However, I returned because they did not have a deep enough toe box for me. I have wide fore feet because of bunions, with narrow heels, and EE is not wide enough.

Loved the shoe but was too narrow and to short. I have a problem finding a shoe that my ankle brace fits in comfortably. I also need the platform sole.

Great cushion, seemed like a lot of shoe, does run small.

Just recently purchased the Brooks Ariel and just completed my first walk with them. So far they have given me excellent support and comfort on the foot strike. I did have to return the first pair I ordered as they felt narrower than other Brooks I have. The return was very easy. I think that if you are on the fence about width, choose a wider width, especially with summer coming.

I am a nurse and wear these for my 12-14 hour shifts. I absolutely love them. They are so comfortable. By the end of the shift my feet, ankles, knees and back don’t hurt. It also helps with my plantar fasciitis. I normally wear a size 10 in tennis shoes but ordered up a half size because the toe box is to small. They definitely aren’t the cutest looking however how comfortable they are is worth it.

Wow! These shoes are SO padded! Their claim to be soft, comfortable and padded sure is true, but it cuts about a whole size from the shoe! I can barely get my foot in, and then my entire foot is suffocated and squeezed. The wide is narrow and the length is truly compromised because of all the extra material. They would probably be very comfortable if you order a size up, and do not mind a very tight fit. Unfortunately for my nerve damage, weak ankle and tendon trouble, these definitely will not work. Thank you Zappos for being awesome!!!

I'm a hospital nurse of 41 years and wear these at work with a orthotic insole. They fit in here very well. I've worn this particular style and brand for about 5 years now. I've had broken toes and foot surgery, and have osteoarthritis and halux rigidus bilateral feet. I've a very hard time finding shoes that I can wear comfortably. These keep my feet straight and aligned. I'm taking one star off.. as the colour is a bit much, but this colour is better than the last pair I got. And a bit of thread has come loose on the toe of one shoe, after wearing these shoes about 3 months. My ortho and my foot MD recommend these as well.

These shoes are very cushy with some flexibility! They do run small so I am sending back for a half size larger. Hopefully, they will fit! They really do need some better colors though....

I have the Brooks addiction 13 and love the double wide aspect, so I ordered these in 9ww. I’m usually 8.5 ww but the reviews said these ran short. They didn’t run short for me, they were actually a bit long. The width was great and the sole has great stability. It’s petty but I just really wanted a shoe that made my feet look smaller. Don’t get me wrong, the purple and grey was very sharp and they look good. They do look, on my feet, a little “orthopedic” considering all the popular streamlined Nike’s out there. I also ordered the New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo 2 and those in wide fit the toes well and they are stretchy and comfortable but most of all looked very fashionable and streamlined so I kept those and sent the Brooks back.

Here's the deal: great cushioning, great antipronation, but too short by at least a half size. I wear a 10.5 N or AA and this only came in a Medium width, thereby making it a good choice not to got up a half size to an 11 M, which I would have walked out of. Also, materials seem much cheaper than 2 style #s ago. Please make more 10.5 narrows. In America, the longer your foot is, the narrower it is thereby precluding ordering up a size which makes the shoe too wide to be feasible in most cases. Otherwise, good shoe.

Bring back the 14!!!! This is a comfortable but clunky shoe in most respects. Unable to tighten laces enough to keep heel from slipping. Gimme the 14 any day!

I ordered a full size larger. The toe still feels a little short. But I'm not rubbing the end. The styling us a bit clunky but it's a sturdy shoe. Recommended by my podiatrist for the foot pain I am having, and it seems to help so far.

I decided to shop on Zappo's after hearing several reports of their great customer service. I did have a slight problem and contacted customer support. I'm pleased that their reputation is warranted; my problem was resolved quickly and very satisfactorily. My podiatrist recommeded Brooks shoes to me (I have good arches and wide feet), which I've been wearing for two years now. I like their style, comfort, and support. I intend to continue using Zappo's for all my internet shoe shopping, and will probably keep ordering Brooks.

Great shoe for walking and running where a great arch support is needed. I have bought this style of several years and am always glad I did.

I'm glad I read reviews. I really wear a 5.5 shoe which for the most part is no longer being made by any shoemaker. I buy the current Ariel twice a year in a 6. I ordered 6 and a 6.5 because of comments. 6 pinched my toes, 6.5 fits. Now about the color. These have to be the ugliest shoes made! The only ones I've ever liked were the last ones , the pink ones, cute! Brooks, lose that huge white band! Not every one who buys your expensive shoes is a runner looking for something wild. I'm a stylish grandmother. I buy your shoes because they are so good for my feet. I wear them every day. Please offer a toned down choice in addition to your too many colored runner inspired shoe for us faithful customers who love your shoes but hate your color combinations

Like the other reviews i miss the old Ariel, but i had to replace them. These do run small i usually an 8,5 and had to get the 9. Sadly the 9 is s little loose in the heel (Boo) but im keeping them.

This is the only sneaker I've worn for years, after being fitting at a running shoe store. Overall, I always wear a size larger than usual in a running shoe, but that has remained consistent. I haven't noticed any other changes in the recently released '16 model other reviewers have mentioned. This new model, however fashionable in black, is just ugly. And if you have large feet? Complete shudder. Not that these were ever fashionable. But at least in the gray with pink, or gray with blue, you could also wear them with your jeans, etc. But black? Ugh. These can only be worn with my black workout pants. So I am out looking for a second, more jeans-friendly sneaker. All I can do is wait ou the ugly.

I have been wearing Brooks Ariel for years because I have foot problems. The Ariel 16's seem to be running 1/2 size smaller than the Ariel 14. I don't know why Brooks keeps changing the way they manufacture. For example, around 2014 the width was tighter because of some stitching or something had changed on the side in the front of the shoe, so now many, many people started ordering extra wide shoes. This year it's the length that seems to be shorter (based on a number of reviews including mine) so people have to order a half size larger. What's up Brooks? DON'T you understand that manufacturing changes are making for some unhappy customers.

Brooks Ariels are good for the feet and knees! Although others have not liked the darker color, I think it's a nice change. Come on Brooks.....manufacture some brighter colors for a change like other styles!! This sneaker runs 1/2 size smaller than stated and narrower than marked. Check out Brooks website for confirmation!

I love the motion control Brooks Ariel, but this year Brooks is off their mark! I usually take a 10 EE to accommodate my full length orthotics but this sneaker is definitely a snugger fit. My toes couldn't move. I looked at the Brooks website and wish I looked before ordering because they recommend ordering 1/2 size larger. DUH....why don't they make their product to fit the stated size??? Thanks to ZAPPOS excellent customer service I ordered 1/2 size larger and it fit well! So....take it from me....order 1/2 size larger and make your feet happy!!

Due to Plantar Fasciitis I have worn the Brooks Ariel for many years. I feel that this version is a bit shorter than others in the past. I have a narrow foot but with my custom orthotic the shoe works for me.