Customer Reviews Brooks Addiction Walker 2

I keep trying these shoes because the original Addiction Walker worked well for me. They had good support, and I liked the overall fit and comfort of the shoe with very good support. I received prescription orthotics and at the same time the Addiction Walker 2 came out. I wore 10.5 AA in the original Addiction Walker, but ordered 10.5 Medium to accommodate the orthotics. The shoes fit well, but after a couple of hours my toes felt cramped. I kept checking to see if they were too short, but that really wasn't it. Nevertheless, I order an 11 Medium as others said they ran small. My feet were swimming. So just recently I ordered the 11 Narrow, and the shoes fit well, but my heel kept slipping a lot as I wore them two mornings around the house. The fit is just weird. I had to keep my first mistake, the 11 Medium, as I wore them outside, but these are going back. I will return to my New Balance 928v3, which aren't perfect, and my heels slip a little, but are overall a better fit and have better support. If Brooks redesigns again, I may return to them. For now, though, the Addiction Walker 2 just doesn't work out.

Regrettably, after many years this is my last pair of Addiction Walkers. I took a chance with them even after reading reviews of the design and fit deterioration of the 2 over the originals, and these are a distinct disappointment. The toe box seems smaller, and the construction material seems inferior. I've been wearing this pair for walking for five months and they still show no sign of being broken in. The biggest negative for me is the new insole - thin and minimally supportive compared to the original Walkers. Fortunately I have the insoles from an older pair, and they make the shoes more wearable. The soles, however, may have greater grip than the originals, as the tread is deeper and more complex. I've already begun looking for a replacement for the Addiction Walker 2.