Brooks Womens Running Shoe

Do you want to know about Brooks, why they are superior, how to find a perfect fit, and save money? Here is the info from two insiders: My husband and I both used to sell high end athletic apparel and shoes, so we are quite familiar with the confusing amount of options out there. Virtually everyone has a clever gimmick or marketing campaign that sells an idea more than the shoe, but not really Brooks. They don't need to sell their shoes because they are the best. They do quite well on reputation and word of mouth alone because of their excellence year after year. If you ask virtually any Podiatrist or Orthopedic Surgeon, they will all tell you that if you have any problems with your back, hips, knees, or feet, you should invest in Brooks. When our feet are unhappy, the pain tends to travel up. They ARE an investment compared to most competitors; however, you are investing in your health and they are excellent for athletic performance where it matters too. I can't begin to tell you how many we have owned in our home. While most athletic shoes breakdown (Salespeople call it breaking in) rather rapidly and you begin to feel that "comfort" level we are taught shoes should have, you are loosing the form and function of the shoe. It is becoming worthless and can cause issues later that cost thousands of dollars in medical expenses, lost wages, and it is just plain depressing. Painful blisters are the least of your worries at this point when faced with surgical options because you wore the wrong shoes. Our feet take us everywhere. We should give them the best! Oh, and those memory foam shoes you like, I am sad to say are bad for your feet. If we had a quarter for every time someone said, "BUT they have memory foam." It breaks down too. Brooks is right in the middle. They don't sacrifice what you want -or- need. Plus, chances are, they even added some items in that aid in comfort as well which will ultimately remove stress and aid in comfort. While Brooks boasts many styles and colors, the Ghost has consistently been my favorites throughout the years. They have a shoe that is sure to meet anyone's needs. I like that most of their styles are unisex because it is more efficient with athletic shoes, but then they will add in a "girly" color to the mix for the divas. They come in leather, canvas, and a combination of uppers. I haven't ever had any issues with mine discoloring, but I thoroughly waterproof them twice prior to wear and after each cleaning. I do not recommend putting them in the washing machine. They spot clean well and you can use a denture brush to get tough spots in the sink or use a Magic Eraser on tough spots as well. Whether you have severe orthopedic issues, arthritis, gout, diabetes, bone spurs, plantar fasciitis, corns, claw toe, mallet toe, hammer toe, metatarsalgia (stone bruise), neuroma, neuropathy, sesamoiditis, calluses, or are a competitive athlete looking to improve your game, we have sold all of you Brooks for this very reason. They are phenomenal. I won'r wear anything else and neither will my husband unless it is semi-formal attire. ** If you enjoyed my extremely long and in depth review, please click "Helpful" to motivate me to write more! ** If you want to save some money when you buy Brooks, they usually role out a new "version" of the same model annually, so prices drop on the older ones significantly. You can also save on the less popular colors. Depending upon wear and athletic activities, our typical buyer would wear a pair for three months to three years. While the uppers are still in pristine condition three years later, these shoes go by the mile. Thus, the more mileage you put on them, the faster they will need to be replaced. If you are having difficulty finding a perfect fit, hop into your local retailer, try some on, take a photo of the info of the box, and come back here. You can save a lot of money. If you add the prior years' models to a Wish List or setup alerts, it will even alert you when there is a price drop. Every penny counts! Happy shoe shopping!!! *** If you liked my review, please hit "Helpful" to motivate me to write more. ***