Brooks Addiction 8 vs. Brooks Ariel review

Brooks Addiction 8 is a lightweight motion control running shoe that is suitable for people with flat feet who are looking for good support and cushioning. Brooks Ariel is a comfortable motion control running shoe that not only provides good stability, but is also very roomy. Learn what the differences are between these two Brooks running shoes.

In two previous articles I reviewed the Brooks Ariel and the Brooks Addiction 8 running shoes for women.

There are newer releases available of both these Brooks running shoes in the Brooks Addiction 9 and the Brooks Ariel 2010.

These two running shoes are from the same manufacturer (Brooks), so they'll typically have the same shoe technology applied to them. Nonetheless, these running shoes are different, so let's compare them and take a look at how they differ.

Looking at the Brooks Addiction 8 and the Brooks Ariel side-by-side gives a good comparison of these two motion control running shoes.

Both running shoes have a Rollbar in the midsole, which is a plate that is designed to keep the foot in a neutral plane during the gait cycle. However, the main differences between the two motion control running shoes are in the designs of their outsoles and uppers.

Looking at the outsoles it is clearly visible that Brooks Ariel is more suitable as a running shoe, while Brooks Addiction 8 would be best used as a walking or gym shoe.

Brooks Addiction 8 offers a more evenly distributed support throughout its entire outsole, while Brooks Ariel offers more support in the heel strike and inner foot areas, two areas which are heavily targeted by pronators, and which follow a common gait cycle pattern during running.

Looking at the uppers of the two running shoes, you can see that Brooks Ariel offers a more tighter fit than Brooks Addiction 8 through its bands, meaning that Brooks Ariel would keep your feet better in place as you run or walk.

Another big difference between Brooks Addiction 8 and Brooks Ariel lies in their weight. These two Brooks running shoes differ by 46 grams (1.6 oz) when you compare motion control running shoes by weight. So Brooks Addiction 8 can effectively be seen as a lightweight motion control shoe.

While Brooks Addiction 8 seems attractive price-wise when you compare motion control running shoes by price (the suggested retail price of Brooks Addiction 8 is US $100 vs. US $130 for a pair of Brook Ariel running shoes), if you’re looking for a motion control running shoe to run in, Brooks Ariel would be a better option.

However, if you have a flat arch and are looking for a shoe that provides great support and cushioning while you’re walking or at the gym, and which feels very light on your foot, you could go with Brooks Addiction 8.

Disclaimer: This running shoe review on www.motioncontrolrunningshoe.org is based on personal research and analysis, and is not claimed to be accurate and/or complete. While the information presented in this review is intended to help you better understand the differences between running shoes, we shall not be held liable for any purchasing decisions you make based on this information. Please use your own good judgment before making a purchase. The owner of this website receives a small compensation whenever you buy a product after clicking a product link on this website; that's how we keep this site online. Read our full disclaimer.