My Brooks PureCadence 6 shoes were my first pair of actual running shoes instead of cross-trainers. I picked my first pair up in grey/pink after getting fitted at my local running store, and have since bought a second color.
I’ve clocked about 150 miles on my first pair of these, so I’ve gotten to know them pretty well. Here’s how they’ve done.
The PureCadence 6 is billed as a road shoe, but I’ve snuck in some trail miles in mine. I’ve worn them for single-track as well as flat, aggregate urban trails. They feel great for both. These days, I typically run road and aggregate trails in these and switch to trail shoes (currently, Brooks PureGrit 6) for single-track.
I have high arches and need a stability shoe, but I don’t like a lot of cushioning. I’m not about the moon boot feel. What I like about the PC6 is that it feels like it hugs my foot to provide stability without being overly bulky. You can see in the photos that the shoes are pretty low-profile.
The PC6 does not provide a ton of cushioning, which may be a negative for others but is a plus for me. It’s just enough cushioning to keep my feet happy while still feeling very responsive. I also tried the PureCadence 5 in store, but the tongue rubbed awkwardly on my foot, and the 6 felt a little better overall.
While conventional wisdom states that you should go up half a size in running shoes, these were actually best for me in my normal shoe size, 6.5. The running store fitter agreed with me that that size had the appropriate amount of room versus a size up. So, you may need to go down half a size versus your typical running size.
The flexible knit upper means these are comfortable and ready to go right out of the box. There’s no digging or pinching whatsoever and I had no break-in period with mine. The heel cup is nicely padded and does not slip. The shoes are quite lightweight with a short 4 mm heel drop.
Some have said that they don’t like the stretchy shoelaces these come with, but the stretch actually goes away pretty quickly. You could also swap out your own shoelaces if you prefer.
The only downside I have found with this shoe is that it is not especially durable. The knit upper of my older pair has gotten a bit torn up from trails. The pair pictured is my second pair, and the sole feels noticeably more cushioned versus my relatively worn-in, 150-mile pair.
Due to the lighter material, Brooks recommends replacing these shoes around 250-300 miles, rather than their normal recommendation of 300-500 miles. If durability and longevity are important to you, these won’t deliver on that front.
Overall, I’ve been really happy with these shoes and have had no problems with them–obviously, since I went back for a second pair! If you need a stability shoe and aren’t looking for a lot of cushion, you might like these.
The PureCadence 6 is currently out in 3 colors. Note that the castle rock/diva pink color is not a true hot pink, but more of a coral, orange-toned pink. I like to wear it with lululemon’s neon pink or flash when I’m feeling matchy-matchy. Evening blue (pictured) is a dark, purple-blue tone that’s a little more versatile.
You can find these shoes at a whole host of online retailers, such as Zappos, Nordstrom, and Road Runner Sports, to name a few, or head to your local running store for a fitting.
Also wearing: lululemon forme jacket in mini check pique and speed shorts in spring has sprung (both past season)
I generally like Brooks a lot. I went through 2 pairs of Pure Connect before they discontinued them. After getting a recommendation from a local running store, I went with On Cloud and couldn’t be happier. Except for when I come across gravel. Then I hop around on one foot while trying to pick rocks out of my soles.
I might give these a try as a secondary pair, since I’ve put quite a few miles on my current pair.
Yes, for whatever reason, Brooks seems to fit my foot better than any other shoes I’ve tried so far. Don’t know why! I’ve never seen On Cloud though, I don’t think they have them at my local store. I like the look of their trail shoe!
Same story for me. I loved the pure connect and was upset they discontinued it. I still use the pure grit and love it but the cadence is too stiff for me. Store also recommended on cloud as a good replacement for connect and I love it.
I love this colour way in these shoes. I too need stability shoes but hate over cushioned shoes where I actually feel like I’m going to fall over in. I’ve been debating between brooks and asics for road running and I may just have to try these on now! Thanks for the review!
The purples and blues are so pretty! And I was thrilled that I have a pair of magenta socks that match the pink accents perfectly, haha. ;)
This may be a goofy question, but what would be a good store to get properly fitted for a running shoe? I’m finally serious about running again and am training for a race for the first time ever – I never bothered getting fitted before and just bought whatever looked good/felt comfortable on try-on.
Also I should thank you for inspiring me lately with your run themed posts! They made me miss running and gave me that final impetus to sign up for a race!
In my case, I got recommendations from other local runners I knew from work. The store here has a good reputation for having knowledgeable employees. So, if you can ask around or do a little research, that might be a good place to start. :)
I like my Brooks too (Launch 2), but similar to Christine, I just bought a pair of On (cloudflow). It’s only been two runs, but love them so far. Might just also check out On’s trail runners.
Eek, this isn’t helping my desire to give On a try. But, I also need a pair of waterproof runners. How many trail shoes is too many?? :)
Thanks for your review! I have been a fan of Brooks Glycerin for awhile now, and haven’t tried another shoe in several years. I think I’ll take a look at these! They look really comfortable!
These are a lot less cushioned than the Glycerin, but if you’re willing to go a little lighter with cushion, you might like them. :)