Customer Reviews Brooks Beast '20

It would be nice to have some actual shoe lace for tying my shoes. Does this company give the same shoe lace length regardless of size? By the time I'm done loosening my shoes up to properly fit my foot, I don't have enough length to tie my shoes. Maybe consider making the laces longer in general, or for the extra side sizes? I think its time I start looking around elsewhere for proper extra wide shoes.

I have been using Brooks Beast over 10 years. The quality of the material used in Beast 20 is dismal, already cloth covering the toe is coming apart. I am fine with the guiderail and the sole which are only the positive about the Shoe. All other materials lack quality. I liked the Beast 18. Please bring back features of Beast18.

The shoe itself: I was initially drawn to the Beast model back in 2014 because of its structure, support, and weight (15.2 oz. for one size 11.0 Beast shoe). It was the four-wheel drive s.u.v. of sneakers for which I had been seeking to alleviate my plantar fasciitis. Alas, the Beast model over generations 2016, 2018, and 2020 has become lighter, less structured, less supportive, and more streamlined. One Beast 20 shoe now weighs in at an unbeastlike 11.7 oz. I do not know the thinking behind the significant changes to the Beast model, but I miss the old versions, which I found to be both unique and functional. I recognize that the Beast 20 is Brooks? maximum stability shoe, but it has transformed over time from 4x s.u.v. to luxury sports coupe, and is now virtually indistinguishable from many other models in the Brooks line. The soft, fabric upper wraps the foot like a sock, and if walking/running sock is what you are after, the Beast 20 is the perfect shoe for you. Do not get me wrong: The Beast 20 is a great shoe for one new to the Brooks line, but sadly a disappoint to those long familiar with the Beast. Laces: One of the best features of Brooks shoes when I first came to the brand was its laces. Thick, cushioned, stylish, and functional. And by functional I refer to the 54? length that adorned my first pair of Beast shoes (Beast 14), affording easy use of the heel-lock feature. And now over time that ?best" feature is gone as well. First it was the length?shortened from 54? to 48", which no longer accommodated the heel-lock feature. It took 54? laces to use the heel-lock feature in my Beast 18, and to my surprise even 54? laces would not accommodate the heel-lock in my newly-purchased Beast 20. And that is because the eyelets in the Beast 20 are spaced approximately 1/4? wider than the eyelets in the Beast 18. And now I find that it takes 60? laces in order to use the heel-lock feature in my Beast 20, and then just barely. The approximate 50?-length laces that came with my Beast 20 are, for lack of a better word, silly. Not only is the length insufficient, but also gone is Brooks? trademark thick, cushioned, and stylish laces, replaced by run-of-the mill flat laces. I have had to go after-market to buy laces for my last two generations of the Beast model, and those after-market laces do not come close in style and quality to the laces that Brooks used to offer. Bottom line: Brooks should consider renaming this model "Beauty," as it certainly is no longer a "Beast."

This is my third pair of Beast 20's. I absolutely love theses shoes. I LIVE in them. The only other shoes I wear are for serious hiking off-road. These are SO comfortable. I actually feel like I'm walking on air - well, almost. I'm 75 and do NO running, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy them for all the extras Brooks puts in these shoes for runners. Wifey and I are serious walkers. Weather permitting, we put in 3-5 miles a morning. I would seriously recommend these shoes to anyone. Period. I have a bunion thing going on so I get the Extra Wide version. I am SO happy with these shoes.

This is my first pair of Beast20. I?m 6? 3?, 320 lbs, and actively walking 3-5 miles everyday. I walk on roads and trails, in rain and snow. I have 1200+ walking miles on my Beast20?s. They still feel great. I will certainly get another pair. They are the best shoe out there for walking/jogging ?Big Guys.?

The Beast 20 does not provide the support that previous models were known for. I first started wearing the Beast after a recommendation by a doctor to help with a neuroma problem in the bottom of my foot. I eventually had surgery to help with the problem. Although the surgery did help, the Beast was the only shoe that I could walk and hike in comfortably. Although the previous model Beasts helped with my foot issue, they did over correct for pronation, but I put up with that issue because of the other benefits I received from the overall support of the shoe. I had read many other comments complaining about the Beast 20 lack of support and cheap feeling compared to previous models. The response often provided is that the shoe now uses guide rails to provide support instead of the under arch roll bar. I actually prefer the guide rails however, I think you are missing the point of these comments. The Beast 18 has support structure built throughout the shoe. There is plastic support web/structure built throughout the shoe as well as a supportive toe that together provides the foot a cradle of protection which also contributes to the cushioning under foot. The Beast 20 is like a sock stuck on a flat sole which provides little to no support for the foot and even detracts from the cushioning that I benefited from. In addition, the structure under the ball of the foot as well as the lack of arch support does not provide the cushioning of previous models. The Beast is now a light weight shoe not much different than many of the other Brooks running shoes. Please bring back the features of the older model Beasts (stick with the roll bars) in the next version to provide the cushioning and support many of us previously enjoyed.

The Beast is the only shoe I wear & I've gone through only 3 pair in 45 years & only replaced them recently. I've worn the Addiction as well but far prefer Beasts, as it makes my body feel better, ie: Knees, hips & feet feel much better wearing these. Also my brother who is an orthopaedic surgeon recommend them 45 years ago & I've never regretted any of the beasts I bought. Yeah they are pricey but worth every penny

I have worn the Beast for many years. My favorite pair is 12 yrs old and though i only use it for mowing, it still has heel support, arch, heel, and front side support. I bought a new pair last year--most of the support is gone--the part that comes up vertically behind teh heel is completely softened, no longer stiff. I tried on a new pair and was not impressed, the price should be MUCH lower, by half. There are no other shoes to offer in the brand, so the product for me has ended. Sorry Brooks, but it was great while it lasted.

The shoe itself: I was initially attracted to the Beast model back in 2014 because of its bulk and weight (15.2 oz. for one size 11.0 Beast shoe). It was the four-wheel drive of sneakers for which I had been lookinga great complement to my luxury sport coupe ASICS Gel Kayano. Alas, the Beast model over generations 2016, 2018, and 2020 has become lighter, less bulky, and more streamlined, and is now virtually indistinguishable from the Gel Kayano. One Beast 20 shoe weighs in at an unbeastlike 11.7 oz. I habitually purchase new pairs of both Beast and Gel Kayano every two years, but Brooks has over time lessened my reasoning behind purchasing both models. I do not know the thinking behind the significant changes to the Beast model, but I miss the old versions, which I found to be both unique and functional. Now the Beast has become virtually indistinguishable from comparable models in many other brands. Laces: One of the best features of Brooks shoes when I first came to the brand was its laces. Thick, cushioned, stylish, and functional. And by functional I refer to the 54" length that adorned my first pair of Beast shoes, affording easy use of the heel-lock feature. And now over time that "best" feature is gone as well. First it was the lengthshortened from 54" to 48", which no longer accommodated the heel-lock feature. It took 54" laces to accommodate the heel-lock feature in my Beast 18, and to my surprise even 54" laces would not accommodate the heel-lock in my newly-purchased Beast 20. Did you know that the eyelets in the Beast 20 are spaced approximately 1/4" wider than the eyelets in the Beast 18? And now I find that it takes 60" laces in order to use the heel-lock feature in my Beast 20, and just barely. The approximate 50"-length laces that came with my Beast 20 are (excuse my rudeness) a joke. Not only is the length insufficient, but gone now is Brooks' trademark thick, cushioned, and stylish laces, replaced by run-of-the mill flat laces. I understand and appreciate Brooks' desire to keep its costs down in order to maintain its retail price for its shoes, but I, for one, would gladly pay the small increase in retail price for those phenomenal laces that Brooks used to have, and of length sufficient to easily accommodate the heel-lock feature. I have had to go after-market to buy laces for my last two generations of the Beast model, something that I do not have to do with my Gel Kayano. Even my after-market 60" laces do not come close to the laces that Brooks used to offer, and that combined with lack of desired bulk/support is causing me to look elsewhere for that four-wheel drive sneaker that I want and need. Brooks should consider renaming this model to "Beauty," as it certainly is no longer a "Beast."

I love these shoes. I have had two knee replacements and a badly broken ankle within the last four years. These shoes have corrected my gate and gotten the mechanics of my stride correct. They have relieved the numbness I have in both feet. For the first time in years I have shoes I can stand and walk in all day without experiencing any discomfort during or at the end of the day. They are so comfortable they are my everyday shoes now, and I bought a second pair so I could alternate and keep them fresh.