It isn’t the most plush shoe on the market, and its high drop may feel uncomfortable for some runners. But the Ghost does a great job of absorbing impact forces, and the footbed feels supportive—ideal for a day-to-day training shoe. Its upper is made with a breathable engineered mesh for good temperature regulation, and the shoe has a great overall fit: The midfoot is relatively wide, so it won’t constrict your feet. The padding around the collar creates a comfortable feel. Testers reported no issues with hot spots or rubbing. Overall, the Ghost 15 is an approachable, capable shoe that works well for a wide range of runners.

Brooks has developed four main cushioning foams for its shoes. Each one is optimized for different traits, like soft cushioning or low weight, which play a large role in defining the distinct feeling of Brooks’ “Cushion,” “Speed,” and “Energize” experiences. DNA Loft is formulated to provide a plush ride in “Cushion”-style designs, including Brooks’ trail shoes. It comes in two variations–DNA Loft v2, a rubber-EVA blend, and Loft v3, which is made with a nitrogen-infused rubber-EVA. The Catamount 2 is a streamlined trail shoe that offers a peppy, responsive ride with plenty of protection for your feet. The key to its energetic feel is in the midsole: Like the original, it features a thin layer of Brooks’ highly responsive DNA Flash cushion, as well as a new and improved SkyVault midsole plate made with thermoplastic polyurethane. Unlike traditional support tech, like a medial post, which adds a layer of firm foam within the midsole, GuideRails cradle your feet from the sides, so they don’t interfere with your stride if you don’t overpronate.

Shopping for affordable running shoes often feels like scraping the bottom of the barrel, which makes the affordable Revel 6 feel like a hidden gem. It’s a well-made neutral trainer that just happens to have a very attractive price point. Part of Brooks’ Energize cohort of high energy return shoes, the Revel 6 serves up a bouncy ride that field testers compared to the Hyperion Tempo, one of the brand’s premium speed training shoes. In RW testing, the Hyperion Max proved itself to be a capable performer in a variety of scenarios: “I could wear this shoe for almost every aspect of training,” said one tester. Need one shoe that can keep up with a variety of workouts? The Hyperion Max should be at the top of your list. Cushion shoes, as the name implies, are designed to create a soft, pillowy feel underfoot. The Glycerin 20 is the flagship shoe in this category and Brooks’ most cushioned trainer. If you like plush, maximalist shoes that provide plenty of padding for your feet, this is where to start. Whether you overpronate or you just want some extra support when your feet get fatigued, the Launch is a solid choice—and proof that stable doesn’t have to mean slow. In addition to its foams, Brooks has a key design feature called GuideRails for runners who need stability and support. GuideRails shoes have additional layers of firm, high-density foam on the medial and lateral sides of the midsole, which creates a bumper around your foot to keep it aligned in the shoe and counter overpronation. (When your foot rolls too far inward during your stride).

Brooks has been around for over 100 years, but its story as a running company began in 1974, when the brand released its first running shoe, the Villanova. The shoe was a revelation: It was the first to use ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam padding, which was lighter and softer than other midsole materials used at the time. The Villanova set a new standard for running shoes–EVA is still widely used in running midsoles today. The Hyperion Max is difficult to categorize, but that’s exactly why it’s one of the best Brooks running shoes: It does many things very well. The “max” in Hyperion Max refers to the hefty wedge of nitrogen-infused DNA Flash foam in the shoe’s midsole, which is very light and creates a plush, highly responsive ride. That makes the Hyperion Max an incredible dynamic shoe: You can lace them up for a long, mellow run or put them on for speedwork. The best part of the fit is midfoot where Brooks uses a Midfoot Stretch Saddle for “a personalized and secure midfoot fit.” It is most definitely secure. In the Revel, one is not restricted to either running close to the ground or to lifting the feet high up. The Revel is happy to facilitate either running style. Reasonably-priced shoe The Revel can be used on standard training days, and the Launch – which is lighter and more neutral, can be used on short race days or for fast tempo sessions. Both models are quite durable for trainers.The grip was good on dry hard surfaces. There’s a ton of micro siping on the outsole so it should do fine in wet conditions as well but I was not able to test in the rain. The Adrenaline GTS 23 offers a moderate amount of support and a soft, well-cushioned midsole, which makes it a great choice for easy runs and long distance efforts. Cushioned with DNA Loft v2 foam in the midsole, the Adrenaline serves up a highly cushioned heel and firm forefoot.

Together, the DNA Flash foam and SkyVault create an energetic ride, and enough responsiveness to get a good feel for the ground underfoot, which can be helpful for navigating obstacles on technical trails. The upper comes with a toe cap for protection against trail debris, and it also features drainage holes to shed water, so your feet won’t slosh around in the shoe after a creek crossing. In RW testing, the Catamount 2 won praise for its excellent grip, even in wet and wintry conditions.Like other shoes with the GTS moniker, this version of the Adrenaline 23 features GuideRails on either side of the footbed. These extra layers of foam cradle your foot and promote proper joint alignment as you run, without interfering too much with your stride. DNA is the brand’s most basic EVA foam. Its primary attribute is softness, which it brings to entry-level shoes across all three shoe categories. While DNA doesn’t have the pillowy feel or high energy return of Brooks’ more advanced foams, it’s a tried-and-true option that creates dependable cushioning. If you just need a basic trainer and don’t want to spend a lot of money, DNA will work well for you. Like the Ghost, it has a high drop, which may feel a bit clunky to runners used to lower-drop shoes. Even so, the plush heel cushioning softens impacts, and the thinner forefoot has good flexibility for snappy toe-offs. The air mesh upper breathes well and features lots of padding around the collar for comfy fit, and the high-coverage rubber outsole is grippy and tough enough to withstand high-mileage training routines.

The Revel’s heel drop is an unexpected 11mm, but it does not feel like it. It feels like a 6 to 8 mm drop. After initial runs in the shoe, I would have confidently said 6mm. DNA Flash, like DNA Loft v3, is nitrogen-infused EVA foam, but it’s optimized for low weight and high energy return. It also offers some softness to absorb impacts. It’s Brooks’ lightest cushioning material, giving shoes like the Hyperion Tempo their propulsive, energetic ride. It’s the foam you want under your feet if you’re focused on speed training or racing. The Ghost has been a favorite in the Brooks lineup for years, and the latest design is one of our favorite shoes of 2023. This versatile cushioned trainer is a go-to for everyone, from beginner runners to experienced marathoners looking for a reliable workhorse shoe. In RW testing, the Ghost 15’s DNA Loft v2 cushion served up a firm feel underfoot, or “an excellent ride with firm yet spongy cushioning,” as one tester described it. With the Revel, you can save money without sacrificing performance. While it doesn’t have quite enough cushioning for long-distance running, it’ll be a great workhorse trainer for speedwork and short day-to-day runs.

Brooks organizes its road shoes into three categories: “Cushion,” “Energize,” and “Speed.” (The brand’s trail shoes technically fall into their own separate category, but they use the same midsole foams as the “Cushion” and “Energize” shoes.) Throughout my test runs, there’s no evidence of wear on the outsole or midsole creasing at all. No issues on dry surface