The Brooks Addiction Walker is a casual walking shoe that is made of full-grain leather for its upper and BioMoGo foam for its midsole. At roughly 397 grams for men and 363 grams for women, the Addiction Walker is a fairly heavy pair of shoes due to the high-quality leather used to build the upper. However, this weight tends to be light and unnoticeable for the most part.
It also has a heel-to-toe drop of 12mm, which makes it great for heel landings as it takes some of the pressure off of the heel and distributes it out towards the arch and forefoot a bit more.
Arch Support
The Brooks Addiction Walker is a motion control shoe that’s designed for people who have flat feet or over-pronation issues. It works well for those who are suffering from plantar fasciitis as well. It has a cushioned insert that’s soft enough to provide you with the support you need. However, you cannot easily remove it in the event you want to place a custom orthotic.
Apart from its cushioned arch support, the Brooks Addiction Walker also has the Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar located at the medial arch to provide progressive pronation control. As a result, you can enjoy a more natural heel-to-toe transition. It also offers protection to your arches due to its shock-absorbing capability.
Meanwhile, the midsole area is made of Brooks’ proprietary BioMoGo DNA foam which is a biodegradable material that’s capable of retaining its cushioning for a long period of time. This technology is capable of providing excellent support throughout the entire sole of the Addiction Walker shoe.
Another excellent feature in the shoe’s midsole is the HydroFlow technology which enhances its overall cushioning and shock absorption capability, thereby providing enhanced comfort and support to your feet. This is made possible with the dynamic gooey fluid units which are placed in the forefoot and heel section. When subjected to excessive force, these units will become firm to keep your feet properly protected. It also helps with your overall stability.
Heel and Ankle Support
The Addiction Walker features a heel cup that is a bit solid which adds to the shoe’s overall stability and support. It also comes in narrow which makes it perfect for those with narrow feet. The ankle support is pretty good and helps keep you comfortable while wearing the shoe all day long.
At a 12mm drop, the Addiction Walker can be considered a high-drop shoe that works best for moderate heel strikers. However, midfoot strikers can also benefit from this, though it’s more likely that the high heel can get in the way of their regular gait cycle.
Meanwhile, the shoe’s outsole is slip-resistant and helps to absorb shock and help stabilize your feet even on rough and uneven terrains. It’s also quite durable and can withstand walking on pavement and concrete. Additionally, there are flex grooves that are capable of providing added motion control and flexibility. The outsole’s forefoot section has the MC Pod construction which makes sure that your feet can achieve full ground contact, thereby keeping you balanced and stable while walking.
Overall Shoe Feel
As mentioned earlier, the Addiction Walker is a fairly heavy shoe, though it mostly feels light when used. There’s also enough toe room to allow for toe splaying. However, if you have wide feet, you can choose from a variety of Wide sizing options to accommodate your wider feet.
Unfortunately, due to its full-grain leather upper, the Addiction Walker doesn’t do well in the breathability department. It does have a somewhat breathable lining in the upper’s interior. However, there’s no denying the fact that it’s not really excellent in terms of breathability. Then again, that should be more than enough to make sure that your foot chamber won’t get uncomfortably hot.
Also, since it’s used for casual walking, you will use less energy, thereby resulting in less sweat and steam inside. This simply means that even though it’s not that breathable, your feet won’t suffer too much from it.
There’s no break in period required for most, though a few users might need to break it over a few days or so. Overall, the Addiction Walker does offer a really comfortable walking experience, not to mention it provides relief to those who suffer from heel pain and support for those with over-pronation.
Use
The Brooks Addiction Walker is almost strictly a walking shoe. As such, it can be used on daily walking activity and as everyday wear. It can work well on a variety of surfaces, though it’s not recommended for hiking and running.
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Online User Reviews Overall Experience
- Works great for those with flat feet
One of the best shoes for flat feet. For overpronators, you will surely benefit from the support and cushioning that that Addiction Walker offers. According to several users, the shoe has given them a good deal of comfort and support for their flat feet. As a result, they can no longer feel the discomfort and pain which they used to feel before. This is definitely rated as one of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis.
- Durable and long-lasting
Another impressive feature of the product is that it’s made of durable materials which make it quite long-lasting. Even though it comes at a higher price tag than other walking shoes, it can certainly make up for it since it can last even longer.
- Fits accordingly
The Brooks Addiction Walker shoe fits accordingly based on user reviews. However, there were some who recommended that you order a half size up to make sure that you can get a comfortable fit. Fortunately, there are Narrow and Wide options, so you can certainly get the right fit for your feet.
Pros:
- Quite supportive and comfortable for flat-footed individuals and plantar fasciitis sufferers
- Ideal for heel strikers due to its high heel-to-toe ratio
- Offers adequate support in the arch and heel area
- Very durable and perfect for everyday use
- Comes in both Narrow and Wide sizing options
- Features a biodegradable midsole which adds to the shoe’s overall stability, cushioning, and shock absorption
Cons:
- Not totally breathable due to its leather upper
- Sizing can run a bit small
- Its robust design is not for everyone
- Can be a bit heavy at times
- A bit more pricey compared to other walking shoes