Brooks Revel 5
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By Tara Summerville Editor’s Conclusion
If you want the performance and durability without the high price point, the Brooks Revel 5 is worth checking out. Compared to other trainers in the Brooks lineup, this shoe is their budget-friendly option that performs well for shorter runs or long distances, sans the extra bells and whistles that warrant a higher price point. It still utilizes Brook’s high-end midsole cushioning and insanely durable outsole with simple and lightweight accents to make your runs like and peppy.
It is also incredibly versatile, which makes it the perfect option for running, walking, weight lifting, or cross-training. It boasts a sleek design, and some users even wear this shoe as a casual everyday sneaker. They provide runners with excellent grip for slick sidewalks, and the breathable upper works to keep feet cool and dry on those hot days.
Overall, I would recommend this shoe for neutral runners that are on the hunt for something durable, lightweight, energetic, and affordable.
It is also incredibly versatile, which makes it the perfect option for running, walking, weight lifting, or cross-training. It boasts a sleek design, and some users even wear this shoe as a casual everyday sneaker. They provide runners with excellent grip for slick sidewalks, and the breathable upper works to keep feet cool and dry on those hot days.
Overall, I would recommend this shoe for neutral runners that are on the hunt for something durable, lightweight, energetic, and affordable.
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
BioMoGo DNA midsole cushioning
Snappy and energetic ride
HPR Green rubber outsole is very durable
Affordable price point
Breathable Fit Knit upper
Great for short tempo runs or long distances
Cons
The outsole feels a little stiff at first
Slightly heavier than similar neutral trainers
Key Features
Key Features
MIDSOLE
This midsole is composed of Brook’s patented BioMoGo DNA midsole material. I did a little digging into the science behind this midsole material, and it is quite interesting. DNA cushioning isn’t your everyday EVA foam. It is composed of a Non-newtonian liquid to compose its unique midsole, similar to the cornstarch and water science experiment.
When you step into this shoe, the midsole material feels soft and squishy, almost like gel cushioning. However, when you start to run, this material starts to firm up to provide an energetic and responsive ride. Down to the molecular level, this midsole material performs like tiny trampolines under your feet and adapts to your unique gait cycle.
What I also love about the BioMoGo DNA midsole is that it is also kind to the environment when the day comes to retire your trainers. This midsole includes a nontoxic natural additive to the DNA material that dissolves 50 times faster in your standard landfill. This midsole is both cushioned and responsive and is also kind to the Earth as well.
UPPER
The upper of the Brooks Revel 5 is composed of their Fit Knit upper that contours to the shape of your foot. This upper provides runners with excellent lockdown without creating hot spots or chafing on your feet and also limits the overall break-in period.
It fits on your foot like a glove and doesn’t possess any synthetic overlays to lock you into a specific range of motion. The simple design of this fit knit upper provides runners with a great range of motion and allows you to turn on a dime as needed.
This design also boasts a small and slightly padded tongue for a boost of comfort, and a rigid heel counter that locks your heel in place. While the heel is made from stiff materials, it provides runners with plenty of plush padding that is comfortable, but not too bulky.
Overall, the upper checks all of the boxes of what neutral runners want out of a nice and easy daily trainer. It’s breathable, lightweight, and incredibly versatile without sacrificing lockdown.
OUTSOLE
While the midsole and upper are home runs, the outsole has a love/hate relationship with some runners. It is composed of a full-length HPR Green rubber outsole with an 8 mm drop for easy landings and speedy toe-offs. Many neutral trainers utilize a blend of rubber with exposed EVA foam to keep the ride lightweight and flexible.
By utilizing a full-length piece of rubber, some runners found that outsole to be a little too stiff for a versatile daily trainer. While it may prove to be a little stiff at first, this rubber outsole starts to loosen up as you rack up the miles.
The HPR Green rubber is also kind to the environment. Instead of using petroleum in the construction of their outsole, this rubber compound swaps out petroleum for sand to be kind to the environment. While many think that eco-friendly rubber isn’t as durable as petroleum-based rubber, they are very wrong!
In fact, the construction of the HPR Green rubber outsole is considered to be much more durable than classic rubber. This outsole may be slightly still, but it is built to last for well over 500 miles!
PERFORMANCE
The Brooks Revel 5 is your basic overachiever. This shoe is built to tackle quick and speedy sets, and the responsive BioMoGo DNA cushioning and durable rubber outsole are ideal for long distances as well. What I also love about this shoe is that it is also perfect for training in the gym as well. The flexible and simple design is perfect for weight training, HIIT, CrossFit, or just as a casual everyday walking shoe. Some users even opt to wear this shoe at work when standing on their feet all day.
Overall, I would recommend this shoe for neutral runners that need something that is versatile, but also affordable. It boasts plush cushioning that helps to protect your joints when running on hard sidewalks, and the durable outsole gives you an extra kick of energy to shave a few seconds off of your PR.
Due to its simple design and limited stability features, I would only recommend this shoe for neutral runners. If you are a heavy striker or overpronate but still want to achieve high speeds, the Brooks Launch series is your best option (although it comes in at a much higher price point).
FIT
Previous users have found that this shoe runs true to size. If you are a size 10 in other Brooks’ training shoes, the same can be said for the Revel 5. The upper boasts a wide forefoot that gives your feet plenty of room to breathe without sacrificing lockdown.
Some runners felt that the upper fit was a little too loose on some days, but the dynamic lacing system allows you to make small adjustments to the fit as needed. It also has a nice and roomy toe box that allows your puppies to naturally splay inside of the shoe for added comfort as well as stability.
If you have never worn a pair of Brooks trainers before, be sure that you take ample measurements of your feet and compare them to Brook’s sizing chart.
Overall, the fit of this shoe is wide enough to accommodate most sizes of feet, and there were very few runners that found any issues with the overall fit. If you are unsure, it’s never a bad idea to head down to your local shoe store to try them before you make your purchase.
STYLE
The style of the Revel 5 is sleek, modern, and simplistic. It boasts a low profile that fits snugly below your ankle bone and doesn’t possess any big or clunky additional features in the heel collar or the outsole.
It is offered in a few neutral color options that are modern and unique but lack bright and poppy colors that some runners are often drawn to.
PRICE
The performance and comfort features are great, but my favorite aspect of this shoe is the super affordable price point. Brooks’ running shoes can get a little expensive, which is why the Revel 5 is so unique. While it may come in at an affordable price point, it is still composed of high-performing materials that are found on some of the more expensive designs.
Plus, while the price point is low, the durability of the outsole is just as reliable as the more expensive designs in the Brooks lineup. Overall, the Revel 5 allows you to get the biggest bang for your buck.
This midsole is composed of Brook’s patented BioMoGo DNA midsole material. I did a little digging into the science behind this midsole material, and it is quite interesting. DNA cushioning isn’t your everyday EVA foam. It is composed of a Non-newtonian liquid to compose its unique midsole, similar to the cornstarch and water science experiment.
When you step into this shoe, the midsole material feels soft and squishy, almost like gel cushioning. However, when you start to run, this material starts to firm up to provide an energetic and responsive ride. Down to the molecular level, this midsole material performs like tiny trampolines under your feet and adapts to your unique gait cycle.
What I also love about the BioMoGo DNA midsole is that it is also kind to the environment when the day comes to retire your trainers. This midsole includes a nontoxic natural additive to the DNA material that dissolves 50 times faster in your standard landfill. This midsole is both cushioned and responsive and is also kind to the Earth as well.
UPPER
The upper of the Brooks Revel 5 is composed of their Fit Knit upper that contours to the shape of your foot. This upper provides runners with excellent lockdown without creating hot spots or chafing on your feet and also limits the overall break-in period.
It fits on your foot like a glove and doesn’t possess any synthetic overlays to lock you into a specific range of motion. The simple design of this fit knit upper provides runners with a great range of motion and allows you to turn on a dime as needed.
This design also boasts a small and slightly padded tongue for a boost of comfort, and a rigid heel counter that locks your heel in place. While the heel is made from stiff materials, it provides runners with plenty of plush padding that is comfortable, but not too bulky.
Overall, the upper checks all of the boxes of what neutral runners want out of a nice and easy daily trainer. It’s breathable, lightweight, and incredibly versatile without sacrificing lockdown.
OUTSOLE
While the midsole and upper are home runs, the outsole has a love/hate relationship with some runners. It is composed of a full-length HPR Green rubber outsole with an 8 mm drop for easy landings and speedy toe-offs. Many neutral trainers utilize a blend of rubber with exposed EVA foam to keep the ride lightweight and flexible.
By utilizing a full-length piece of rubber, some runners found that outsole to be a little too stiff for a versatile daily trainer. While it may prove to be a little stiff at first, this rubber outsole starts to loosen up as you rack up the miles.
The HPR Green rubber is also kind to the environment. Instead of using petroleum in the construction of their outsole, this rubber compound swaps out petroleum for sand to be kind to the environment. While many think that eco-friendly rubber isn’t as durable as petroleum-based rubber, they are very wrong!
In fact, the construction of the HPR Green rubber outsole is considered to be much more durable than classic rubber. This outsole may be slightly still, but it is built to last for well over 500 miles!
PERFORMANCE
The Brooks Revel 5 is your basic overachiever. This shoe is built to tackle quick and speedy sets, and the responsive BioMoGo DNA cushioning and durable rubber outsole are ideal for long distances as well. What I also love about this shoe is that it is also perfect for training in the gym as well. The flexible and simple design is perfect for weight training, HIIT, CrossFit, or just as a casual everyday walking shoe. Some users even opt to wear this shoe at work when standing on their feet all day.
Overall, I would recommend this shoe for neutral runners that need something that is versatile, but also affordable. It boasts plush cushioning that helps to protect your joints when running on hard sidewalks, and the durable outsole gives you an extra kick of energy to shave a few seconds off of your PR.
Due to its simple design and limited stability features, I would only recommend this shoe for neutral runners. If you are a heavy striker or overpronate but still want to achieve high speeds, the Brooks Launch series is your best option (although it comes in at a much higher price point).
FIT
Previous users have found that this shoe runs true to size. If you are a size 10 in other Brooks’ training shoes, the same can be said for the Revel 5. The upper boasts a wide forefoot that gives your feet plenty of room to breathe without sacrificing lockdown.
Some runners felt that the upper fit was a little too loose on some days, but the dynamic lacing system allows you to make small adjustments to the fit as needed. It also has a nice and roomy toe box that allows your puppies to naturally splay inside of the shoe for added comfort as well as stability.
If you have never worn a pair of Brooks trainers before, be sure that you take ample measurements of your feet and compare them to Brook’s sizing chart.
Overall, the fit of this shoe is wide enough to accommodate most sizes of feet, and there were very few runners that found any issues with the overall fit. If you are unsure, it’s never a bad idea to head down to your local shoe store to try them before you make your purchase.
STYLE
The style of the Revel 5 is sleek, modern, and simplistic. It boasts a low profile that fits snugly below your ankle bone and doesn’t possess any big or clunky additional features in the heel collar or the outsole.
It is offered in a few neutral color options that are modern and unique but lack bright and poppy colors that some runners are often drawn to.
PRICE
The performance and comfort features are great, but my favorite aspect of this shoe is the super affordable price point. Brooks’ running shoes can get a little expensive, which is why the Revel 5 is so unique. While it may come in at an affordable price point, it is still composed of high-performing materials that are found on some of the more expensive designs.
Plus, while the price point is low, the durability of the outsole is just as reliable as the more expensive designs in the Brooks lineup. Overall, the Revel 5 allows you to get the biggest bang for your buck.
Comparison to Previous Versions
Comparison to Previous Versions
There isn’t a lot to discuss when comparing this shoe to previous versions. All of the performance features, such as the BioMoGo DNA midsole and HPR Green rubber outsole remain unchanged. The only real change made between Revel 4 and Revel 5 is the construction of the upper.
Brooks ditched the internal bootie found in previous versions and instead added an all-new Fit Knit upper for a more lightweight and breathable design. This upper contours to the shape of your foot, and the materials are slightly more breathable than previous versions.
Overall, this change helped this newest addition to the Revel lineup have off around an ounce of weight to make it more lightweight as well as breathable.
Brooks ditched the internal bootie found in previous versions and instead added an all-new Fit Knit upper for a more lightweight and breathable design. This upper contours to the shape of your foot, and the materials are slightly more breathable than previous versions.
Overall, this change helped this newest addition to the Revel lineup have off around an ounce of weight to make it more lightweight as well as breathable.
Verdict
Verdict
If you want to give a pair of Brooks running shoes a try but you are a little reluctant to spend the big bucks, the Revel 5 is an excellent place to start.
This shoe comes in at a budget-friendly price point and allows you to sample the high-performing BioMoGo DNA midsole material as well as the HPR Green rubber outsole. It’s a great shoe for running long distances or shaving a few seconds off of your PR.
Plus, this shoe is so versatile that many runners wear it when hitting the weight machines at the gym, or simply wearing it as a sleek and modern casual shoe when you need to stand on your feet all day. If you are in the market for an affordable and durable daily trainer, the Brooks Revel 5 is worth checking out!
This shoe comes in at a budget-friendly price point and allows you to sample the high-performing BioMoGo DNA midsole material as well as the HPR Green rubber outsole. It’s a great shoe for running long distances or shaving a few seconds off of your PR.
Plus, this shoe is so versatile that many runners wear it when hitting the weight machines at the gym, or simply wearing it as a sleek and modern casual shoe when you need to stand on your feet all day. If you are in the market for an affordable and durable daily trainer, the Brooks Revel 5 is worth checking out!
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