Brooks Transcend 7, Men’s Running Shoes

Product Information

Comfort and stability mix nicely here for a plush feel that allows you to enjoy a nice long run or an easy recovery day. The GuideRails, which enforce stability without intruding on the natural arch, ensure that you stay neutral. Heel fit is unchanged, mostly. The medial (arch) side feels a little more supportive because of the elongated heel counter, and the Achilles dip is slightly softer – that’s all there is to it.

The Transcend 3’s Guide rail rim and the lower midsole are now co-molded instead of being glued together. So all that saved glue seemed to find its way in form of smudges over the shoe. Guide Rails are the latest introduction in Brooks technology and like all the others, it seems to veer in the direction of “we don’t correct your stride, we let your body define how to run”. This latest is about providing some stability without traditional stability technology (ie. dual posts). I jumped right in with the shoe but they really didn't feel fluid and comfortable until after about 20 miles. They are very stiff at first but free up after some break-in time. Another tester, who is a self-described pavement pounder, said the shoe “had great push off and was equal to or better than my Adrenalines.” The GTS or ‘Go To Support’ models in the Brooks range offer additional stability through the use of GuideRails technology. GuideRails is a holistic support system that allows your body to embrace its natural motion path while limiting excess motion.Similar to past versions, the tongue is one with the shoe’s internal sheath, this year attached all the way to the top of the lacing system. Launched in 2010, DNA is a cushioning technology that is also present in most of Brooks’ running shoes.

Transcend is Brooks’ attempt to build a shoe focused beyond the feet: to the knees, and 2019 bring us a new and improved model, now with a 10mm drop, up from 8mm in past models. Stability” is essentially an effort to help the foot move efficiently, which guides the knees, hips, and overall movement toward injury-free performance, and Brooks has tried various technologies past into present. Unlike most traditional support shoes which depend on a dual density midsole design, the original Transcend aimed to deliver a supportive ride by means of an ultra wide midsole topped off with ‘Guide Rails’. This was the name of a firmer EVA rim which sat over the midsole periphery. This just in: the Brooks DNA LOFT midsole, which lives up to its claim of “soft, luxurious” comfort underfoot “without losing responsiveness or durability”.There is something to be said about conviction. Brooks built on the Transcend based on an idea that a highly cushioned shoe could be both supportive and smooth riding without relying on a medial post. They should have seen this through, instead of changing their minds midway and making the Transcend a Glycerin 13 cousin.

First walking around in Transcend 6 felt almost like flopping on those old waterbeds: Ooh, soft—but watch out for the wood frame! Transcend’s offset is 10mm, compared with Adrenaline’s 12, and Transcend features a full-length DNA LOFT midsole: it’s more plush and weighs about half-ounce more. Another excellent, in-depth review, exploring all elements – you really know what you are talking about (except the ‘medial post is rubbish’ thing!). Medial posts have proven unhelpful; GuideRails are the brand’s latest innovation, to begin again at the beginning with the basic design of a shoe, and change what had become industry standard for “stability.Turns out I wasn’t alone. “The shoe seemed softer than some of the other Brooks I’ve tested, but there seemed to be no issues with speed,” said a wear tester. “Actually, I think I may have improved my pace.” One component that can be attributed to that smooth, fast feel in spite of the Transcend’s weight is the full-length DNA Loft midsole, which is a combination of foam, rubber, and air. The midsole is lightweight without sacrificing cushioning, and more durable. The rubber in the DNA Loft ensures the midsole’s longevity, hindering breakdown over long mileage. A New Offset