Brooks Revel 5 - Shoe Review

First impressions 

Gilly says: The Revel 5 has a relaxed knitted casual subtle look.  Looks lovely and breathable and even though it is black, it’s still great in summer.  It feels nice and light in the hand and when placed on the foot is lovely and springy. 

Mo says: I was extremely excited to test out the Brooks Revel 5 as this shoe is specifically focused on the idea that a running shoe can be fashionable, a quality trainer, and sold at a lower price. The Revel 5 fresh out of the box seems a very smart and stylish running shoe. I love the simplicity of the design which allows you to wear the shoe as an everyday trainer. 

Our thoughts 

Gilly says: The Brooks Revel 5 is a comfortable, springy responsive feeling shoe. I enjoyed wearing it for quick tempo sessions as well as steadier 10k runs.  It’s a reasonably simple shoe, but with enough tech features to know you’re wearing a proper running shoe. It ticks a lot of boxes, it’s versatile, priced so so that it is accessible to a wide range of runners and won’t disappoint.  If you’re looking for a shoe for running, strength and conditioning workouts as well as being a great casual shoe, then the Revel 5 is a winner. 

Mo says: I really enjoy the ride of the shoes and cushioning. They offer a responsive and softer feeling for daily training and longer mileage.  

I was pleasantly surprised to feel the noticeable difference in comfort in comparison to previous iterations of the Revel. This new Revel 5 feels much softer and lighter. 

Fit and width

Gilly says: Good in length, true in size.  Lovely fit around the heel counter, a little wide & baggy around the arch for my very narrow foot, but the laces hold well. 

Mo says: I personally feel the fitting of these shoes is slightly on the wider side on the toe box. Applying the additional lacing lock around the ankle would give you tighter fit. Once on, the Revel 5 is very light and breathable on the foot for my longer runs.  

The upper of the Revel 5 is a snug fitting, seamless all knit material. The heel area and tongue are highly cushioned, as in most Brooks shoes, and the laces are thick and durable. The upper is comfortable but thicker than you would expect from an all-knit shoe due to an internal bootie that hugs your foot, giving a snug feel in the mid-foot. 

Where it works best  

Gilly says: This road shoe could be worn up to around half marathon distance, if you are happy with a firmer and more responsive ride.  I enjoyed using it for 10k ish runs, of around an hour. I’m really happy to have them in my rotation and to run every other day in them. The cushioning always feels fresh to step into even if I am wearing a few times each week. 

Mo says: I would certainly say the Revel 5 is a good all-rounder. I have managed to test them for longer distances of up to 15 miles. It’s a great shoe for easy running, the gym and everyday lifestyle. 

Any sticking points...  

Gilly says: For my foot, it is a bit baggy around the arch area, but I do have a narrow shallow foot.  For over 10 miles a little firm for me, but not uncomfortable, I just prefer something a bit softer over higher millage. 

Mo says: The only thing I was initally unsure about was the durability of the cushion. As a long-distance runner, training consistently, I was not sure if the shoes would give me enough miles due to their lightness. However, I have run the shoes on asphalt, gravel and treadmill decks without issue. After about 35 miles of test, there is not even a hint of wear on the outsole, so I am confident that this shoe will be really good for 5k runners who are just getting into their running, and they will have a huge benefit from the experience this shoe will give them. 

This shoe has been tested by Gilly and Mo. They have run in the shoes for a minimum of 4 weeks or about 50 miles before submitting their reviews. The scores they have given the shoes are based on their experiences, their running styles and their training types. These shoes were gifted by Brooks for the purpose of this review, however this has not influenced the review; the views are entirely that of our testers.