Brooks Men's Revel 6 Sneaker

Product Information

The Revel has a flat knit upper which is styled in the latest urban-suburban “work and play” look trend. It’s a style that draws comments and compliments if you like that sort of thing. Secure, comfortable fit The Revel is based on a BioMoGo DNA biodegradable midsole that is intended to be responsive. And, surprisingly, the entire sole is made of high abrasion-resistant rubber. DNA Loft is formulated to provide a plush ride in “Cushion”-style designs, including Brooks’ trail shoes. It comes in two variations–DNA Loft v2, a rubber-EVA blend, and Loft v3, which is made with a nitrogen-infused rubber-EVA.

The Revel offers a near-perfect fit. There’s room up front for one’s toes to comfortably splay, and yet the fit is nicely snug around the heel. The real comfort comes from the upper though. Super flexible, very breathable. The laces are nice and stretchy over the top of your foot avoiding any lace bit. I found myself running around town in it after a workout, no need to hastily get out of them after a run. The Ghost has been a favorite in the Brooks lineup for years, and the latest design is one of our favorite shoes of 2023. This versatile cushioned trainer is a go-to for everyone, from beginner runners to experienced marathoners looking for a reliable workhorse shoe. In RW testing, the Ghost 15’s DNA Loft v2 cushion served up a firm feel underfoot, or “an excellent ride with firm yet spongy cushioning,” as one tester described it.DNA Flash, like DNA Loft v3, is nitrogen-infused EVA foam, but it’s optimized for low weight and high energy return. It also offers some softness to absorb impacts. It’s Brooks’ lightest cushioning material, giving shoes like the Hyperion Tempo their propulsive, energetic ride. It’s the foam you want under your feet if you’re focused on speed training or racing. Like other shoes with the GTS moniker, this version of the Adrenaline 23 features GuideRails on either side of the footbed. These extra layers of foam cradle your foot and promote proper joint alignment as you run, without interfering too much with your stride. Unlike traditional support tech, like a medial post, which adds a layer of firm foam within the midsole, GuideRails cradle your feet from the sides, so they don’t interfere with your stride if you don’t overpronate.

The grip was good on dry hard surfaces. There’s a ton of micro siping on the outsole so it should do fine in wet conditions as well but I was not able to test in the rain. The Revel can be used on standard training days, and the Launch – which is lighter and more neutral, can be used on short race days or for fast tempo sessions. Both models are quite durable for trainers.In RW testing, the Hyperion Max proved itself to be a capable performer in a variety of scenarios: “I could wear this shoe for almost every aspect of training,” said one tester. Need one shoe that can keep up with a variety of workouts? The Hyperion Max should be at the top of your list. The Hyperion Max is difficult to categorize, but that’s exactly why it’s one of the best Brooks running shoes: It does many things very well. The “max” in Hyperion Max refers to the hefty wedge of nitrogen-infused DNA Flash foam in the shoe’s midsole, which is very light and creates a plush, highly responsive ride. That makes the Hyperion Max an incredible dynamic shoe: You can lace them up for a long, mellow run or put them on for speedwork. Like the Ghost, it has a high drop, which may feel a bit clunky to runners used to lower-drop shoes. Even so, the plush heel cushioning softens impacts, and the thinner forefoot has good flexibility for snappy toe-offs. The air mesh upper breathes well and features lots of padding around the collar for comfy fit, and the high-coverage rubber outsole is grippy and tough enough to withstand high-mileage training routines. There’s quite decent forefoot flexibility due to four pronounced flex grooves, and the Revel has enough stability to meet the needs of mild to moderate pronators. While the shoe facilitates the midfoot striking runner, the heel drop is large enough for heel strikers. It isn’t the most plush shoe on the market, and its high drop may feel uncomfortable for some runners. But the Ghost does a great job of absorbing impact forces, and the footbed feels supportive—ideal for a day-to-day training shoe. Its upper is made with a breathable engineered mesh for good temperature regulation, and the shoe has a great overall fit: The midfoot is relatively wide, so it won’t constrict your feet. The padding around the collar creates a comfortable feel. Testers reported no issues with hot spots or rubbing. Overall, the Ghost 15 is an approachable, capable shoe that works well for a wide range of runners.

Shopping for affordable running shoes often feels like scraping the bottom of the barrel, which makes the affordable Revel 6 feel like a hidden gem. It’s a well-made neutral trainer that just happens to have a very attractive price point. Part of Brooks’ Energize cohort of high energy return shoes, the Revel 6 serves up a bouncy ride that field testers compared to the Hyperion Tempo, one of the brand’s premium speed training shoes. With the Revel, you can save money without sacrificing performance. While it doesn’t have quite enough cushioning for long-distance running, it’ll be a great workhorse trainer for speedwork and short day-to-day runs.The Revel’s heel drop is an unexpected 11mm, but it does not feel like it. It feels like a 6 to 8 mm drop. After initial runs in the shoe, I would have confidently said 6mm. The Hyperion Elite has a relatively wide footbed compared to other elite racers, such as the Nike Vaporfly, which gives it a more stable ride (especially when cornering) and a more accommodating fit. Overall, the Hyperion Elite 3 is the best choice for longer races and marathons: You get a comfortable ride without compromising on weight or energy return.

Whether you overpronate or you just want some extra support when your feet get fatigued, the Launch is a solid choice—and proof that stable doesn’t have to mean slow. Throughout my test runs, there’s no evidence of wear on the outsole or midsole creasing at all. No issues on dry surface DNA is the brand’s most basic EVA foam. Its primary attribute is softness, which it brings to entry-level shoes across all three shoe categories. While DNA doesn’t have the pillowy feel or high energy return of Brooks’ more advanced foams, it’s a tried-and-true option that creates dependable cushioning. If you just need a basic trainer and don’t want to spend a lot of money, DNA will work well for you.

If that sounds helpful, look for Brooks models with a “GTS” in the name, which stands for “Go-to Support.” Brooks makes GTS versions of many of its shoes, including the Glycerin and Launch.