I have recently reviewed two shoes from Brooks, the Glycerin 13 (which received Runner’s World’s Best Update Award for 2015) and the PureFlow 5. They are both great shoes that I use on a regular basis in my training.
Brooks is
headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Brooks’ motto is to “Run Happy” but
they also try to “Live Green.” Brooks has four categories for their
shoes.
- Cushion Me – Soft and protective shoes
- Energize Me – Responsive and springy shoes
- Connect Me – Light weight and flexible shoes
- Propel Me – Fast, low-profile shoes
The Propel
me series is the newest in the Brooks
lineup and the Brooks Neuro
is the first shoe in this category. Shoes in the Propel Me category are built for
speed. They are streamlined to propel
your performance to the next level.
Let’s get
the basic specs out of the way. The Neuro
has an 8mm heel drop, is a neutral shoe, and weighs in at 9.3 ounces. While the Glycerin
13 and PureFlow
5 were made with similar materials and technologies, the Neuro
heads off in its own direction.
My favorite
feature of the Neuro
is the lacing system. Brooks calls it the “Dynamic Hammock
System and it is awesome! It wraps the
underfoot and tightens though the eyelets. It really provides a secure fit and the shoe hugs
your feet without being too constrictive.
This is the best lacing system of any shoe that I have ever tested. The round laces are great too.
The upper
material is made of a mesh material and it allows for enough air flow to keep
your feet cool and dry. The tongue is
padded and protects the top of your foot from lace pressure. The difference really comes from the mid sole
and outsole. They were designed to allow
your foot to flex and provide a powerful toe-off.
When you
look at the bottom of the Neuro,
you will see 24 (14 white and 10 black) Propulsion Pods. The white pods are
made out of a harder material and the black pods are a softer material. The Propulsion Pods are made of Brooks’ BioMoGo DNA material that is
encapsulated into blown rubber. This not
only provides cushioning, but a rapid return of energy as well.
The Dual Toe
Flex design allows your foot to work as it is intended to, engaging a more natural
balance so it is easier to push-off.
There is a Propulsion plate that creates a stable platform and provides a
more powerful push off as well. Together
these really let you put more power into your stride.
My first few
miles in the Neuro
were interesting. I felt like my feet
were hitting the ground with more impact than normal. After the about 5 miles I got the hang of
running in the Neuro
and really liked what I was feeling. The
shoes almost felt like they softened up and everything felt great after
that. I noticed that I was able to run
with a more efficient gait and had more energy at toe-off. The shoe really fit like a glove. I can’t say enough about the lacing system either. The Neuro
really fit like it was a part of my foot.
It performed well on my long run, tempo run, and intervals as well. This is my favorite Brooks shoe to date. The one downside is that it does run about a ½
size small, so make sure to order a ½ size larger than your normal shoes.
Pros:
Best lacing system I have tried
Heel drop at 8mm
Great price $130
Looks awesome
Light weight at 9.3 ounces
90 Day Trial at Brooks.com (Free Returns)
Cons:
Runs a little short so I had to get a ½ size bigger.
Brooks Social Media Links
Brooks has put out another shoe that
is sure to impress. I really like that
it is a lighter weight shoe that provides cushion and gives some energy back at
toe-off. The lacing system is awesome
and I hope they incorporate this into all of their shoes. The price point is great as well at $130 on
the Brooks website. You can also find them at your local retailer
(click here for
locations). Brooks might have broken the mold with the Neuro! Go to your local running store and give it a
test run. I don’t think you will regret
it.
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