Review: Brooks Defyance 4

I had the pleasure of getting fitted for running shoes by the Brooks gurus while I was at the Rock-N-Roll Las Vegas expo. I had been experiencing some foot pain, so I was anticipating the need for a stability shoe or something of that nature.

The Brooks employees there were exceptionally knowledgeable, helpful and informative. One consultant spent a lot of time explaining my running patterns while performing a videotaped gait analysis. I ran barefoot on the treadmill for several minutes. Surprisingly, my gait was quite neutral, so they suggested Brooks running shoes such as the Adrenaline, Defyance, Ghost or Pure Connect as my best options.

One by one, I tried on all of their suggested running shoes. When I put on the Brooks Defyance 4, I knew almost immediately that these were the ones. My feet felt completely enveloped by the shoe. No uncomfortable stability contours, just my foot in a supportive, yet lightweight shoe. Finally.

I’m not alone in my admiration for the Brooks Defyance 4, Runner’s World had this to say about the Defyance 4 after selecting it as one of the Editor’s Picks, “…this update is flexible yet firm underfoot and snug in the heel. The upper provides a secure, articulated wrap through the arch that testers absolutely raved about.”

When searching for a running shoe, I wanted the lightest, most neutral shoe that still provided enough support for long-mileage runs. I found it in the Defyance 4.

Running in the Defyance 4 still allows my feet to feel like they are working, getting stronger. Additionally, the balanced feel of the shoe allows me to focus on a mid-foot strike, because the heel is not over-sized. Overly supportive shoes have worked against my running form in the past, but the neutral Defyance 4 works with my natural gait.

As a Washington resident, I’m also happy to support a local business like Brooks…especially when they produce fantastic products like this! One last note, I don’t want to jinx the beautiful relationship I have with my Defyance 4 running shoes, but I did just see a pretty nice looking pair of the Brooks Defyance 5 running shoes…