Brooks Transcend 7, Men’s Running Shoes

Product Information

Brooks maintained support in this upper while stripping away the overlay stripes that made Transcend 4 so unbreak-in-able, for me, which were partially maintained into the 5. The care and attention devoted to running shoe development carries across to all other Brooks products. Brooks clothing and Brooks run bras are made with distraction-free comfort in mind, using fabrics and technologies which are chafe free, creep free and constriction free – to keep you moving in comfort. The Brooks Run Visible collection is a family of high-contrast reflective gear that makes it easier for drivers to see you when you are running in the dark. We don’t particularly like this new feel of under-arch reinforcement. We’ve put over 40 miles on the Transcend 3, which included a single 15 miler. During that run, we felt that the pronounced under-arch support was too much of a good thing. The third factor isn’t easily apparent, but it significantly reduces the top-down pressure right around the last two rows of eyelets. The Transcend 3 has a firmer tongue flap than the T2 – the tongue-top loop moves towards the rearfoot by a couple of lacing rows. The Rails on 6 are softer (on the lateral side only) and put more emphasis toward the lateral heel, thereby working together with the upper’s heel counter to rein in movement.

When running you will feel the weight which will limit the pace. On avg, I like to stay around the 8:00/mile mark. With these, I caught myself being comfortable at around 8:30/mile. I certainly didn't mind that though. When getting these, know that you will only use them for easy-paced effort.The Transcend 3 (on right) has an exaggerated heel edge angle. This is clearly noticeable during runs, compared to the subdued edge of the T2.(left)

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.Have you tried past models and can tell us what you think of the changes? New to Transcend? Let us know in the comments.