Customer Reviews Brooks Ariel '20

compared to past versions of Ariel, this seems much wider. The toe box seems huge; it's wide and tall. My toes are swimming. Not sure I like having that much space. Also bought Adrenaline GTS 20 at the same time and the adrenaline feels more like Ariel's of the past. Will see how they work after a few months of wearing them.

I should have listened to the reviews and ordered a 1/2 size up, need to return as they dont have size I need

I wear 8.5 in athletic shoes. These seemed to fit, and felt fine walking around the living room. So, taking advantage of the 30-day runlimited guarantee, I wore them to walk up the road. The last part of this walk (actually my driveway) is a short steep hill. By the time I got to the top, these shoes had eaten my socks! Tall crew socks, yet they ended up entirely inside the shoes, just walking up the driveway. I noticed that my right toe (right foot is larger) was almost at the end of the shoe, so I thought perhaps the shoe was flexing at the wrong point, and I needed a larger size. So I ordered a size 9. Unfortunately, this pair also rubbed up and down on the heel, and just in the living room started to eat one sock. Back they go. Disappointed; years ago Brooks shoes were my favorite.

The fit and size was great. I have pretty severe overpronation and very flat feet. These shows feel good on my daily 4 mile walks.

I have worn Brooks Ariel almost exclusively for about 20 years after a physical therapist recommended them to me as the best stability shoe. Every season they are a little but different but they are still the best shoe out there. The Ariel '20 is quite different than the "18. It is much squishier underfoot and feels almost like a NB Vongo or Fresh Foam. Certainly less a rigid sole than my Ariel '18s. So, that will take some getting used to. I might add a super feet sole to stiffen up the arch support and support. I purchased a wide width for the first time ever because as I get older my feet seem to be spreading but also needing more vertical space. I think with this style which is stetchy fabric I could have stayed with the regular width. But that's fine. I just lace them tight. Speaking of laces, I saw review complaints that the laces are "cheap". I don't agree, but it's true the laces on the '20 are not the fancy round cushiony ones that my Ariel '18s had. The look of this shoe is obviously more modern and sleek, which I like very much. I have a professional job which is some desk but also on my feet about 4 miles per workday so I'd rather be a bit more fashionable while being comfortable. I wish these shoes came in ALL black as I don't like to advertise that I wear sneakers to work but oh well. The Adrenaline GTS does come in all black but it's not as roomy in the forefoot and makes my feet hurt after awhile, so I will stick with Ariel whatever design they have I take. Overall the Ariel '20 is another win from Brooks and I am very grateful that they still make the Ariel after all these years. If you have any doubts, go get a foot assessment from a Physical Therapist and have them advise you on what type of sneakers to get for your specific feet! Everyone is different.

As other reviewers have said, these are very different from the Ariel 18. The arch seems to be in a different place vs. the same size in the Ariel 18, and it does not seem to provide the same level of stability. Additionally, I tend to scuff the toes of my sneakers and would be concerned that I would wear holes through the front of the fabric toes vs. the stitched on rubbery material on the Arial 18s. I was lucky to find a pair of Ariel 18s in my size on another site, but next time I need new sneakers I have a feeling I'm going to have to try on a whole bunch to find the right fit and stability. Hopefully Brooks recognizes the popularity of the Ariel 18 and brings it back!