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An Introduction To Brooks Running Shoes
- Sapphire Running Team
- Jul 20, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 19
Everything you need to know about Brooks running shoes
There aren't many running shoe manufacturers that only make running shoes. Brooks is one of them. They have seemingly been around for ever and most runners who have been pounding the miles for a while will have had a pair of brooks. The likes of Ghost, Glycerin and Adrenaline have been part of the running world for years and can always been be relied on. They are available in over 60 countries so if you love running the chances are that you'll try them at some point.
The history
The Quaker Shoe Company was where it all started for Brooks, after it was bought in 1914 by John Brooks Goldenberg. In 1920 it became Brooks Shoe Manufacturing Co. Inc., the new name being an Anglicized version of Goldenberg's wife's maiden name. Under the brand name Bruxshu the company made bathing shoes and ballet slippers, and moved into mainstream sports by producing baseball cleats in 1920 and football cleats in the 1930’s.
After further acquisitions and then restructuring they began to manufacture running shoes in the 1970s and by the end of the decade Brooks was among the top three selling running shoe brands in the US. Unfortunately, due to a number of issues, including quality problems and aggressive expansion the company filed for bankruptcy and was sold to Wolverine in 1981. During Wolverine's decade of ownership, Brooks racked up $60 million in losses, recording eight consecutive years of unprofitability and in 1993 the company changed hands again, marking the beginning of a new era for the troubled shoe manufacturer. Brooks's new parent company had the difficult task of re-energizing the business, energy that it had lost during the 1980s. More ownership changes followed, until it became an independent subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway in 2011. This is when it all began to change for the better.
The product line was reduced by over 50 percent and all the focus was now on running, with the company becoming Brooks Running. The changes worked and between 2011 and 2017 they had become the best-selling manufacturer in the specialty running shoe industry. It is now a billion dollar company. year. It reported a record $1.2 billion in global revenue for 2022, a 6% year-over-year increase from 2021, when it crossed $1 billion for the first time.
Who owns them?
Brooks is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, one of the top ten largest public companies in the world. Its European HQ is located in the Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam and the Global HQ is in Seattle, next to Lake Union.
What are they known for?
They are known for the foams that are used in the midsoles and a new and very recent approach to the naming of their range.
The foams are:
BioMoGo:
BioMoGo, created in 2008 is found in pretty much every Brooks shoe and importantly it's biodegradable. Regular EVA foam can take 1000 years to break down, whereas BioMoGo takes about 20 years, a vast improvement.
DNA Foam: DNA Foam, launched in 2010 is also in most Brooks Running Shoes. It adapts to your foot strike and delivers more cushioning where it's needed. It adapts to you, whatever your running style.
Super DNA Foam: This foam is an upgrade to DNA Foam and provides 25% more cushioning with no additional weight.
DNA Amp: This is at the heart of the Energized category of Brooks shoes and is a springy, responsive foam. It's in the Levitate shoe for example.
To make shoe choice easier they are adding 'GTS' to shoes with support. By adding GuideRails (under the name GTS, which stands for 'Go-To-Support') to a neutral style shoe like the Launch or Glycerin shoes these then become Launch GTS & Glycerin GTS (previously these were the Ravenna or Transcend). The shoe will have the same fit, cushion level, and experience as the Launch or Glycerin, but will have support through the GuideRails technology.
Pros and Cons
There are pros and cons with every shoe. Here are those associated with Brooks.
Pros
It has a long history and a great reputation in the running world.
It offers multiple options for numerous shoe options for road, trail, and distance running.
It is an industry leader” in research-based footwear, investing heavily in new technologies.
The Company is committed to sustainability and makes many shoes from recyclable materials.
Cons
Runners with flat feet or overpronation may not find the support they need.
Runners with knee or hip pain may need a shoe with more stability and support.
Those looking for minimalist shoe or those with narrow feet may find that the shoes are too wide or bulky
Most popular models
Brooks Ghost 15
The brand's best-selling running shoe has an air mesh upper provides comfort and breathability and super soft cushioning that make it a runner favorite.
Brooks Glycerin 20
Another best seller, it now has a widened platform that allows for increased stability and smoother transitions and offers supreme comfort.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23
One of the most popular stability shoes, they offer a great balance of support and softness, thanks to the signature Guide Rails and the excellent cushioning.
Brooks Hyperion Max
This is the brand's lightest training shoe, is perfect for speedy training days and often used as a racing shoe. It has ultralight cushioning and a new breathable upper.
Brooks Cascadia 17
A trail-running shoe, with stability, soft cushioning, and protection from the elements. The latest updates include enhanced all-terrain stability and improved traction.
On the up?
Brooks has always been considered a safe and stable brand and a little bit like Asics it has never challenged Nike and Adidas in the fashion stakes. The focus has been on the runner and developing new technologies that would increase their shoe's performance. However these technical innovations are beginning to be evidenced in the aesthetics of the shoe, as recently evidenced by the launch of the Aurora-BL. These could have a significant impact on Brooks' standing in the world of fashion sneakers.
Their midsoles are made of DNA LOFT v3, Brook’s composite cushioning compound that's on a par with the boost technology from Adidas, or Asics’ FlyteFoam. They are still a highly technical running shoe, but could they be part of Brooks evolution as a brand? This aspirational shoe is not cheap either, which makes them even more sought after, an important part of the fashion journey.
On and Hoka have recently joined Adidas and Nike in the fashion world and it will be interesting to see if Brooks attempt to join them. One reason why runners have stayed so loyal to Brooks is because they are running specialists. Lets hope that if they do attempt to head across to the mainstream that they continue the approach they've taken with the Aurora-BL and do it with a shoe that is 100% a running shoe.
With the finances in very good shape the future looks very bright for Brooks Running. With record global revenue, growth in all regions, and direct-to-consumer sales up 16%, supply chain challenges have been overcome and stores can get hold of the stock. Importantly the smaller independent stores can access the stock, a different approach to that taken by Asics.
In January 2022, Brooks was the top brand at U.S. retail in adult performance running.
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