144 replies to this topic

[Dudley]

Don't get me wrong. I have been buying "top shelf" Brooks shoes for over 12 years, but the last 2 pairs have each lasted just 6 weeks. I sent the first pair back early December and bought another
Trance 8 as a replacement at the same time. I haven't had any feedback on the first damaged pair and the replacement ones have also broken. The webbing on the outside of the foot has torn and taken away all of the support. I read with interest an article in "Runners World" how green Brooks were in using recycled materials, but is this at the expense of quality? I have been loyal for years and don't want to be overly critical, but has anyone else had the same problem? Please comment.

[sarz]

Hi Dudley,

Do you mean the material on the upper that wraps up around the arch of the foot?

The "green" initiatives Brooks has adopted have primarily been in the materials of the midsole, and wouldn't effect the wear of the upper (if this is the bit that has torn for you).

I'm most happy to chase up that first pair you returned, and also investigate why this is happening for you. Please email me at our website - info@runhappy.com.au - if you would like me to assist.

We appreciate your loyalty - run happy!

[walshy2]

sarz, on Jan 27 2009, 08:00 PM, said:

Hi Dudley,

Do you mean the material on the upper that wraps up around the arch of the foot?

The "green" initiatives Brooks has adopted have primarily been in the materials of the midsole, and wouldn't effect the wear of the upper (if this is the bit that has torn for you).

I'm most happy to chase up that first pair you returned, and also investigate why this is happening for you. Please email me at our website - info@runhappy.com.au - if you would like me to assist.

We appreciate your loyalty - run happy!

wow thats what I call service!

I must say I am on my 2nd pair of Glycerins after being a long time user of another maker and I think they are great. Get good km's, good wear and feel great

walshy

Edited by walshy2, 27 January 2009 - 07:56 PM.

[Gadfly]

I love my Brooks Infiniti (on my second pair) after being in Radius before that. My first pair of Infiniti wore faster than I had expected, but still got a good 6 months from them and in that time I was 'experimenting' with my foot strike a little and I can see where and why they wore. Very comfy - love them!

[RunDave]

Dudley, on Jan 27 2009, 05:58 PM, said:

Don't get me wrong. I have been buying "top shelf" Brooks shoes for over 12 years, but the last 2 pairs have each lasted just 6 weeks. I sent the first pair back early December and bought another
Trance 8 as a replacement at the same time. I haven't had any feedback on the first damaged pair and the replacement ones have also broken. The webbing on the outside of the foot has torn and taken away all of the support. I read with interest an article in "Runners World" how green Brooks were in using recycled materials, but is this at the expense of quality? I have been loyal for years and don't want to be overly critical, but has anyone else had the same problem? Please comment.

I think a similar thing happened to my Cascadias. The upper on the outside of my foot where it flexes has worn and eventually blown out. Mind you, this was after over 700-odd km of off-road wear. I stitched it up and covered it in glue and it seems to be OK now. I've been very happy with these shoes and will likely get another pair in the future.

[Duffman]

I had a similar thing happen with the webbing/lattice on my Trance 7s but it was more just a cosmetic inconvenience.
Three cheers for Sarz for such awesome service though. I tech reps who are active in the running community.

Run Happy!

[sharpie]

I've had probably a dozen pairs of Brooks Adrenalines (5, 6 and 7) over the last 3 years and never had a problem with defects or abnormal wear. IMHO one of the best value shoes on the market.

Wouldn't mind trying the Infiniti although they do seem to be a bit pricier.

[Whippet Man]

I have had dozens of Brooks Addictions over many years. I swear by them and have never had any failure of the materials.

[Ourimbah]

I currently have 4 pairs of adrenalines in different stages of there life and I have never had a problem except they don't run fast enough.

On Saturday seen they were on special and bought another pair for a rainy day.

Pretty good value....I think

Darrel

[Running Angel]

I too am a big fan of Adrenalines, been wearing them for around 18 months so must be on my 5th or 6th pair now, never had a problem with them.

[bobbys]

Add me to the happy list of Brooks runners. Been using Brooks since 1989 one and off and they are the best shoe ever (apart from the Gel ones that burst on an overseas flight).

They seem to last longer. I also agree - it'd be great if they could go faster - save me having to train harder

[Dudley]

Thanks for all the comments. I've been at work since I posted my frustration, so this is my first chance to catch up. I realised on my run this morning that I probably failed to mention that I am a 100km+ weekly runner, so the shoes had covered 700 - 800km in the 6 weeks. My focus is SFT in March. Am I being unreasonable, though to expect them to last this milage, because Brooks Trance have always done so in the past. I also appreciate Sarz offer to follow up, but I have always dealt with the Runners Shop franchise locally who have given great service for so long, so I expect results sooner than later. Tell me if I'm expecting too much from Brooks, but I don"t think so.

[southy]

I have used Brooks Adrenaline for several years as well. A good, stable long lasting shoe.
My only complaint is that they take longer for me to run in , it takes me about 6 weeks wearing them on short runs before I feem comfortable enough to wear them on a long run.
But they do last and I'm very happy with them.
I just keep a couple of pairs going at the same time as well as another pair of lighter trainers.

[Lynda]

My Brooks Cascadias are my favourite shoe. They last about twice as long as the Mizunos I also have. The last 2 pairs of Cascadias were recycled once the uppers were torn (on rocks/sticks).

[PlodBod]

Another Brooks fan over here. Love, love, love my Infiniti's. The first pair I had I took them straight out of the box and ran 22km in them (I know, I know....) but they were just fabulous. Never had a problem with them at all.

[langswm]

Love Brooks. Have run in Adrenaline's for past 4 years.

Recently, bought my first pair of trail shoes, the Adrenaline ASR's-straight out of the box and onto a 2hr+ very hilly trail run (Stalky's Horrible Half) and followed it up with a 4hr hilly bush run 2 weeks later. Absolutely no problems at all. Couldnt be happier.

[Didge]

Ironkid94, on Jan 29 2009, 11:18 AM, said:

Better off getting Asics they can last up to two years with running.

Well that all depends on how much running you do

[PEEKIE]

I'm a brooks vapour wearer for many years now, I have adrenalines also but they have been put on the back burner as I got injured around the time of wearing them more often, dont want to jinx myself. GO VAPOURS

[Leofisio]

start running with adrenaline's and found pretty good!

[Becky O]

Another loyal Brooks fan here. I have been wearing Brooks Adrenaline's for around 6 years now and the only issue I ever had was that I was stupidly wearing the wrong size

I wore the trail version of the Adrenaline's in Marathon des Sables last year and probably had feet that held up the best from anyone I saw, one tiny blister and there were some horrid feet out there. So, I wouldnt give up. I dont claim to know alot about the technical side of shoes, but to wear away that quickly, maybe you need to look to a more sturdier shoe for your running style or environment. Like the adrenaline trails (they are actually a hybrid that is half road and half trail) actually have a lot more support and material across the top.

Brooks tend to be a better option for those that overpronate and heavier runners (of which I am both). Aasics do seem to be popular more with the skinny whippets (of which I am not).

Cheers

[FitzCameron]

I have been a long time Brooks Adrenaline wearer as well - I do find that they get tired after a 30 - 40 minute run, so I am often forced to give them a rest.......

FC

[Dudley]

I can tell there are a lot of Brooks supporters out there, as I am. I rang my local "dealer" to order another pair, only to get a call back within the hour to tell me my original Trance (the reason for this thread) are to be replaced at their expense. I can only thank Brooks for that, but question their lack of quick response and quality control. I will continue to pursue their "green" policy to see if problems persist. And for the record. I have tried Asics prior to Brooks and they were rubbish. If Ironkid94 can do 133 posts in a week, then I can understand why they last 2 years.

[Jander]

I recently bought a pair of Adrenalines on recommendation from my pod. Loved the fit and the stability through the rear foot but found next to no support from the ball of the foot through the toe off. That's the area I actually need the support so didn't suit me at all. Other than that, I like the idea of a shoe that breaks down in 20 years instead of the 1000 which other shoes are supposed to. Hopefully this catches on with the other manufacturers.

Had to return them and swap for a pair of Asics 2140 which I'm reasonably happy with but the only option of a 2E width makes them less than ideal. Anyone know why they don't bring the D width into Aus? Do we all have wider than 'normal' feet?

[Whippet Man]

Becky O, on Jan 29 2009, 02:03 PM, said:

Aasics do seem to be popular more with the skinny whippets (of which I am not).
Cheers

O Becky I already pointed out I am on the Brooks band wagon, too.

[Kirko]

Hi All

I am into my third pair of Brooks Addictions 7 which I would rate as the best training shoe I have used. I briefly had a pair of addiction 8's but gave them away as the sizing seemed to change and was causing problems

I generally get about 1000km out of them and don't get blisters or sore feet.

The only problem I do have is that my little toe on my left foot wears a hole right through the side of the shoe after about 4-500km. The shoe is still good to use as long you don't mind the hole and the odd rock getting in.

I am about to buy another pair so I am going to see if I can reinforce the shoe to prevent it from happening again

Regards

Kirko

[julia]

Perhaps it is the Trance model? My Trance runners fell apart quite quickly, I think I ran in them for less than 2 months - and I actually injured myself in the pair. After a few weeks the gels on the bottom were out of shape, but it was quite near the start of using them that I sustained injury.

However I'm now wearing Adrenalines and have not had an issue. I'd really like to go back to the Trance model but I'm afraid they'll just fall apart or that I'll get injured again...

[BigAl5000]

Big on the brooks this is third pair 1 beast and two Trance, They are the only shoe that fits my big big foot. Never had a pair break. If you want a real bad shoe ADF Runners. Think they were slashenger/dunlop rejects. No cushioning, no glue. toes went right through them.

[sarz]

Hi Kirko,
Thanks for being a Brooks wearer!

The Addiction is available for both men & women in extra-wide fittings (men's 4E & women's D) - this may help prevent your little toe rubbing through.

Run happy!

[sarz]

The new Trance 9 (tech update from the current Trance will be available in stores from June 09 - look out for it!

Run happy!

[julia]

sarz can i just point out that i though the brooks adrenaline gts 9s are really ugly (no offence to anyone who wears them, i just wouldn't like wearing them myself!). it really put me off buying them - to the point where i actually purchased them, then took them back the next day. i know, i know, vain right? but yeah, i switched from kayanos to brooks because i thought the 14 release were ugly, but now i might switch back and get the 15s because i'm not particularly attracted to the adrenaline 9s!

Edited by julia, 04 May 2009 - 12:50 PM.

[Paul Every]

Whippet Man, on Jan 28 2009, 05:40 PM, said:

I have had dozens of Brooks Addictions over many years. I swear by them and have never had any failure of the materials.

My experience is similar to Whippet. Many pairs. No complaints.

I've been running, pretty much exclusively, in Brooks for the last 25 years. Currently Addictions, but the Chariot before that.

For a period in the early '90s when Brooks weren't importing into Australia, I would stock up on a year's supply of Chariots when I went through Honolulu. I'd just purchase 3 to 6 pairs and throw them in my bike box for the journey home.

Nowadays, my laundry looks like the shoe retirement village where all trail-flogged Brooks shoes go to peacefully live out their final days.

I'm a happy Brooks customer. They have taken me to all sorts of amazing places.

Edited by Paul Every, 04 May 2009 - 01:13 PM.

[Paul Every]

julia, on May 4 2009, 12:49 PM, said:

sarz can i just point out that i though the brooks adrenaline gts 9s are really ugly

After a few hours on muddy trails, ALL running shoes are really ugly.

Nothing like pulling on a new pair of shoes on a damp day. "As comfy as you are my pretties, prepare to be defiled."

[Melruns]

I have to balance the price of Adrenalines with the comfort of Trance every time I purchase. Ugliness notwithstanding!

Quote

Noadays, my laundry looks like the shoe retirement village where all trail-flogged Brooks shoes go to peacefully live out their final days.

I know, they are so hard to part with.

[julia]

mine don't get muddy - i don't run on trails or in mud
because i replace my shoes so often, they still look fairly new when i stop wearing them - and give them to my friends afterwards who don't need the same amount of cushioning and stability as me, or who use it for other things than the gym.

so yes...making sure they look nice is important to me because i keep them looking nice and shiny the whole time i have them!

(ps Melruns, I once bought the Trance because they looked really nice and I thought they would be ok - I don't know what it is about them...but I just can't use them. I ended up using my Trance shoes for about 2 months. The first week I wore them, I got injured - after that, they just fell apart so even though I think they look sooo nice, I'm too scared to ever wear them again.)

Edited by julia, 04 May 2009 - 01:24 PM.

[sarz]

Each season (Autumn - Jan-Jun; Spring - July-Dec) we do 2 colours of Adrenaline, so there is a little bit of choice! We have just release the new Spring colour of the Adrenaline GTS 9 - women's is a light blue/grey and a white/mint green; men's is a deep blue/silver and a copper/black.

Men's is also available in an all black mesh option, and there is an off-road "trail" version of both the men's and women's Adrenaline - "Adrenaline ASR"(All-Season-Running). The trail shoes have more aggressive outsoles, and water resistant uppers.

It is great to get feedback on colours, designs, etc, as it definitely does help us to plan future product lines (I am working on 2010/2011 colourways right now!).

Run happy!

[julia]

I've always thought that the men's shoes have better colour options - like that all black option, I'd love that! I'm so tired of shoes being very white. It's a big turn off for me when buying shoes if I notice there is a lot of white, or a lot of plastic on them. This is why I bought the Trance 7s, I liked that they weren't all white and plastic-y - and so breathable! (Big turn off on kayanos 14 - the ones in stock at the time were so WHITE!)

but yeah, sometimes I wish I was a guy because they have shoes available in better colours a lot of the time...I'm tired of all these light coloured pastel type girly shoes. I want them to stand out! Not just look like any plain old sneaker.

Pleaseeeeeee choose some nice colours Sarz! I would love to stick to Brooks but...I will be skipping the Adrenaline 9s...I'd rather spend that amount of money on some bright red kayanos

But I do love Brooks...!

Edited by julia, 04 May 2009 - 02:45 PM.

[RodN]

Do Brooks do a racing flat? Hangon I found them nevermind.

Edited by RodN, 04 May 2009 - 03:48 PM.

[Rico]

I wore Adrenalines for years and loved them for the way they protected my feet over all kinds of distances and terrains. I thought I would never wear another running shoe. But then they seemed to get skinnier and in the end I realised they were hurting my feet just because they were too narrow to fit my feet in. So I have been trying everything else since then and haven't found a satisfactory replacement yet.

[socialrunner]

I used to buy Asics but when I uped the kms per week uped the shoes. Had a few Trance 7 which seemed to last a lot longer and loved them. Got conviced to buy the 8 and took ages to run in and was quite disappointed, however they now lasted longer than the 7's and am sorry to see them go (really need to buy a new pair).

[Melruns]

Quote

sometimes I wish I was a guy because they have shoes available in better colours a lot of the time...

Julia, I've found the men's Brooks fit me as well as the women's (obviously in different sizes). The extra weight isn't really noticeable. And as far as Adrenaline vs Trance goes, I seem to be lucky enough to be able to happily wear either type. The Trance "feel" firmer or harder or something, but once I'm off and running they are fine.

[wozzam]

favourite pair of adrenalines were the gts 6 in the white and gold, they felt fast, had the trance and they didn't seem to have the same cushioning but still can't go past adrenalines although the infiniti is a great shoe to have as a second pair to rotate and if anyone is worried about price check out {www.wiggle.co.uk} the adrenalines come in the standard D width and arrive in less than a week

[Paul Every]

sarz, on May 4 2009, 02:18 PM, said:

Each season (Autumn - Jan-Jun; Spring - July-Dec) we do 2 colours of Adrenaline, so there is a little bit of choice! We have just release the new Spring colour of the Adrenaline GTS 9 - women's is a light blue/grey and a white/mint green; men's is a deep blue/silver and a copper/black.

Sarz, just where do all those unwanted and unloved, last season's colours and models go to?

As a Brooks advocate for a quarter of a century, I'd love to know.

Are there ever any neglected, dejected and superceded size 9 Addictions in need of a loving home?

Edited by Paul Every, 04 May 2009 - 06:50 PM.

[Chelbub]

I have had two pairs of Brooks Trance now 6/7 and have found them to be fabulous for my needs....I was recommended them by a physio after I injured my achilles. They have good ankle support. No problems with wear and tear - I wear the originals for walking now and they are still fine. I even wore the 7s on a two hour trail run yesterday (first trail run which I loved) and they were fine - the trail wasn't over hard underfoot due to rainfall (having said that the calves are sore today- but I think that is more to do with it being my first trail run and a long one at that) I am looking for a trail shoe now and am leaning towards the Brooks Cayannes - just from what people have posted on the CR site. I made the transition into the 7s without a problem and am keeping an eye for future specials.

[scurry711]

My favourite light weight trainers are my Brooks Burn 3 which are no longer made. I have been scouring the internet but can't find any more. Does anyone know what shoe Brooks now makes that replaced the Burn 3???

[serena]

I have run in all sorts of shoes, whatever my local sports shop recommends has been good. The last few pairs have been Brooks Adrenalines Narrow and they are perfect for me.

Just wondering, for anyone who knows - is there a big difference between the GTS 8 and 9?

Serena