Brooks PureFlow3 Review

Overview

I was attracted to Brooks’s Pure series right away. The emphasis on lower drop, anatomical fit, and more natural gait resonates with me. Ultimately, I’d love to move towards a barefoot minimalism, but jumping back into marathon training and trying to get a lot faster for a big goal do not lend themselves to much experimentation. The PureFlows fit my need well, providing a less built but well-cushioned shoe that will allow me to continue moving in the minimalist direction at a safe pace. Below I’ll discuss my progression in shoes and what I like and dislike about the PureFlows.

Strengths

With a 4mm heal-to-toe differential, anatomical curve, and rounded heal, the shoes feel less clunky than standard running shoes (e.g. Asics 2100s in my experience). Upon initial try-on, those features were discernible. It almost felt like I was leaning slightly backwards without a raised heal to support me. 

The shoes are comfortable all around, hugging the foot nicely with ample toe room. The upper is secure and soft, and I find the burrito wrap tongue stays in place well and provides more of a sock/slip-on type feel. The laces have that sort of hour-glass shape or waviness that makes for more secure tying, as well. Brooks advertises the mid-foot band, but it is not even noticeable to me beyond initial try-on.

I bought these shoes intending to use them as daily trainers and to ultimately use as a marathon shoe. I’ve put over 200 miles on them, including track work, tempo runs, and easy and long runs. They have performed well across the board. Light, cushioned, and secure, I can use them for everything.

Criticisms

I have been very happy with the PF3s, but they are just missing something. It’s like having a crush on someone or dating someone who has so many positive qualities but with whom you just don’t connect. You could be happy with that person, but would you be settling? I love many things about the shoes, but they don’t feel made for me. They are not my soul mate of shoes.

Specifically, I tend to wear on my shoes most in the medial ball of the foot right inside the bony joint where the big toe connects to the foot. Maybe that means I over-pronate. Sometimes in the Pures, my foot seems to slide/fall off the inside of the insole, pinching or irritation the skin there. It’s not a big deal but annoying. Maybe it’s purely my gait, or maybe the shoes don’t have enough inside support, or maybe it’s an anomaly. Regardless, I would not be excited about running 26.2 with that irritation. Probably not a make or break, but enough to make me want to try the Saucony Kinvara 5s.

Take-Away

In the case of the PureFlows, I believe less is more. I initially ran in Asics 2100 series 6 years ago. They are super soft and secure. Then I moved to the Asics DS-Trainer, a faster light cousin for a few years. This past year I’ve run a decent amount in some zero drop Altra Instinct 1.5s. I can no longer run in the 2100s. They feel like bricks, like my feet are being immobilized. It is strange to even walk in them. Why do I say all this? I’ve worn shoes scattered throughout the spectrum of minimal/zero-drop to traditional built up. There are some glaring differences between the Asics 2100s and the other shoes (i.e. overbuilt and bulky). Even the Altras stand out for their unique design (i.e. wide loose forefoot, zero drop, thick cushioning). I found them too sloppy for my liking though - like running with waffles on my feet. Surprising to me, I can’t tell much difference between the DS Trainers and the PureFlows despite large differences on paper. Both are slightly curved to be more anatomical, lightweight, and moderately cushioned. There is a huge difference in drop though - something like 6mm.

In some ways, I think I prefer the DS Trainers, but I may just be partial. After all, I’ve had my pair of DS Trainers since 2011, and have likely put over 1000 miles on them. I still run in them occasionally, and while feeling flat, they still perform well. That has taught me a few things: (1) Shoes last longer than advertised and the condition is not all that important, (2) Differences can be pretty minimal - there is no substitute for how a shoe feels and fits.

Overall, I recommend the Brooks PureFlow 3s. I think they are well-designed, do-it-all shoes, that have performed well in everything I’ve asked of them. If you are looking for a lightweight trainer and/or moving towards a minimalist/zero-drop future, these may be a good shoe for you. Try some on, compare with other shoes, and give them a go.