Details
Brand
Brooks
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
9/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Dynamic Hammock System keep the foot snug and supported• High Propulsion Rubber makes up the perimeter of the propulsion pods found on the outsole• Gearing mechanism on outsole and midsole for maximum flexibility• Rounded heel helps the foot stay in better alignment• Removable insole
Upper
Although some have touted the Neuro 3 as not changing much as far as the upper goes compared to its predecessors, others have sung the praises of the fact that Brooks nixed the space-age-looking upper in this version of the Neuro. Along with that pleasant fact is the use of a Woven Mesh Air upper, designed to accommodate supreme amounts of airflow into the foot chamber. This material is also rather tightly constructed, despite being breathable, and helps make the shoe durable and aid in foot security. This Woven Air upper can be found on the forefoot of the upper, while the heel section is more of an open mesh material, with larger ventilation holes to prevent your foot from overheating. The heel collar of this sneaker is very cushiony and will help keep your foot in place as well. One excellent feature of this shoes upper is the Dynamic Hammock System that wraps around the front and midfoot of the shoe. This system is designed to adapt to the tightening and loosening of shoelaces, keeping your foot snug and secure. The cords of the Dynamic Hammock System run from the bottom part of the upper to the instep and contain loops to act as eyelets for the laces. This allows for a secure and unrestricted fit, as well as acting as a means to prevent hot spots on the top of the foot that may come from lacing issues.
Midsole
Made of environmentally friendly materials, the Neuro 3’s BioMoGo DNA can be found in the shoe’s midsole. This material is engineered to mold itself to the curves of the foot and will help deliver a more customized underfoot experience. This sneaker is more built for speed so Brooks stripped down a little bit in the cushioning department. However, this shoe still offers a great amount of cushion with its responsive outsole pods, BioMoGo midsole, as well as the top layer of the midsole called the S-257 Cushsole. This is a soft, flexible top layer that will not hinder the rest of the flexible midsole from bending naturally with the foot. As mentioned in the explanation of the outsole, the gearing mechanism, where the shoe splits into the rear and forefoot sections, extends to the platform of the midsole. This will enable maximum flexibility and will aid in shock absorbency upon heel strike and allow for a smoother heel-to-toe transition. The midsole’s propulsion plate supports the platform of the shoe, giving it more durability. This sneaker also has a soft removable insole that adds additional cushioning. Another excellent feature of the midsole is the rounded heel, which will allow for better alignment while running.
Outsole
The outsole of the Brooks Neuro 3 is pretty unique in design. It is made using High Propulsion Rubber, otherwise referred to as HPR Plus. This compound is designed to be sturdy and resist the abrasiveness of asphalt running. You will find propulsion pods placed throughout the outsole, of which the perimeter of each pod made of this HPR compounded and they are engineered to give you a responsive ride, from heel strike to toe-off. At the center of each propulsion pod, you will find a foam material designed to heighten underfoot cushioning and aid in supplying responsive energy return. You will also notice that the sneaker’s outsole is separated into the forefoot and heel section, allowing both parts of the foot to act independently, helping aid in flexibility – this is referred to as the shoe’s “gearing mechanism”.
Breathability
The Woven Mesh Air upper, complete with its Dynamic Hammock System, is designed to be breathable as well as supportive. The mesh allows air to flow efficiently into the foot chamber while supporting your foot. The heel of the foot looks like it might be hot based on the generous soft heel collar, but instead, it is also very breathable. The large mesh opening on the heel portion of the shoe is designed to help prevent your feet from overheating throughout your run.
Comfort
Brooks is known for their comfort because of their responsive and springy midsoles. Even though this model has scaled down on the amount of material for the midsole, that doesn’t mean it is scaled down on comfort. Due to its supportive mesh upper, it keeps your foot cradled in comfort. The heel collar and padded tongue make it soft on the feet, not to mention the extra comfort supplied through the additional removable insole. Many users comment on how comfortable, yet supportive and fast, this sneaker is.
Style
The Neuro 3 is, obviously, the third generation in this Brooks model of shoe. The first two were a little space-age looking and got some flack for that. Because of this fact, Brooks chose to back off the out-of-this-world look and go with a more typical race shoe coloring motif. Both the men’s and women’s shoes only come in one colorway, which may be a downside to some, but both colorways are tasteful and attractive. They do not have an overly bulky midsole so their design is a little sleeker than some of the company’s other shoes.
Durability
Although these aren’t super sturdy shoes in terms of materials, there are fairly durable. Some users have concerns about the outsole possibly wearing down quickly because of the foam encapsulated by blown rubber making up the propulsion pods. However, this is really just a concern for possible wear and nothing has been reported as far as the outsole wearing quickly. The propulsion plate found in the midsole will also help protect its platform, adding increased durability. These sneakers are meant to be worn on the road for everyday running and should hold up to the typical 300 to 500-mile mark.
Protection
The rubber encapsulated foam pods will keep your feet from too much ground feel but they are meant to still give you a little. Compared to some highly cushioned and bulkier shoes, these will give you a little more of a minimalist shoe feel, although they are not minimalist sneakers. The mesh upper is engineered with Brooks’ Dynamic Hammock System, which correlates to added protection for your foot. The rounded heel design will keep your heel in line and protected from injury because it allows for better heel strike.
Responsiveness
One exceptional responsiveness feature of the Neuro 3 is the gearing mechanism found in the outsole and midsole. This is a separation between the forefoot and heel part of the shoe, which allows for a more reactive push off since both the heel and forefoot are allowed to move independently. The BioMoGo midsole and S-257 Cushsole, also found in the midsole, will help absorb some level of shock and help you achieve a responsive, quick, and cushy heel strike and push off.
Support
The most supportive part of this shoe is found in its upper. The Dynamic Hammock System cradles the foot by wrapping around and under it and tightens through the attached eyelets creating improved alignment and a better fit. The rounded heel on this sneaker also promotes better alignment and helps to minimize joint stress. These two features make this sneaker reliably supportive for the neutral runner.
Terrain
The Neuro 3 is ideally suited for the everyday neutral runner and is designed to be used on the road, sidewalks, or even the treadmill. They do not boast an aggressive lug system so they are not the best choice for trail running. However, if you use them for what they are designed for, on the road, you will most likely have a fast and comfortable ride.
Price
These daily running sneakers are priced fairly, especially because they bear the well-known and reliable Brooks name. They are known for producing quality running shoes, and these are no exception. For the price, they are a great deal.
Drop
Since the Neuro 3 is designed to be a daily road running sneaker, it has a neutral drop of 6mm in both the men’s and women’s models.
Stability
While the Neuro 3 is not engineered to be a stability sneaker, it does provide a decent amount of stability for the neutral runner. The Dynamic Hammock System and rounded heel help to keep your feet in better alignment, which will help you achieve a more efficient run. However, if you are an overpronator or have flat feet, you may want to consider a sneaker with a little more stability features to help you achieve your best run.
Flexibility
The Brooks Neuro 3 definitely gets high marks in terms of flexibility. One user commented that you really need to see them flex in person to get a full appreciation for how flexible they really are. The Gearing Mechanism found on the outsole and midsole gives these sneakers maximum flexibility capabilities. Both the heel section and forefoot are allowed to act independently of one another which will help you get an incredible amount of flexibility out on the road. The mesh upper also hugs the feet really well and aids in helping to make these shoe supremely flexible.
Traction
The strategically-placed propulsion pods on the bottom of the Brooks Neuro 3 will help push you forward on your runs. They are made up of High Propulsion rubber which is designed to resist wear while running on asphalt. They will also help you gain traction whether you are on wet or dry running surfaces. Many users have commented on how sure-footed they felt in these sneakers, even when running in the rain.
Bottom Line
The Brooks Neuro 3 is ideally suited for the neutral everyday runner. It isn’t built to carry you over dozens of miles at a time but it may help you train. The HPR-laden propulsion pods on this shoe’s outsole will deliver a lightweight, fast, and responsive ride. Because the gearing mechanism enables these sneakers to be amazingly flexible, you’ll be able to tackle your next run without feeling like you’ve got stiff, overly supportive sneakers strapped to your feet. The sneaker’s midsole propulsion plate will also add some pep to your step and help you propel forward faster from landing to take-off. Its BioMoGo DNA midsole will adapt well to any foot shape and will allow for a more customized and comfortable feel. Your feet will feel comfortable, not too overly squishy, and supported thanks to the Dynamic Hammock system that will cradle your foot. In the end, if you are looking for a sneaker that will give you a supportive, fast, and responsive ride without too much spring or weight, then the Neuro 3 might just be the shoe for you.
