Fits Do Gear Reviews: The Brooks Ravenna 6

I have been a Brooks girl since I started running long distances. Occasionally, I have tried other brands, but why fix what’s not broken right? Those other shoes never worked out for me, for a variety of reasons. I always find my way back to the Brooks.

For most of my 17 marathons, I wore the Brooks Adrenaline, until a physical therapist told me I probably didn’t need quite that much stability. She suggested that I rotate in a pair of Ravenna’s with the Adrenalines for a while to see how they felt. That was 2 years ago and 5 marathon training seasons ago and many miles of running. By now, I have worked my way through multiple pairs of the Ravenna 5’s, including the ombre pair that was with me all through my training in Singapore.

That pair has over 400 miles on them now, so it was time to replace. It was perfect timing as the Brooks Ravenna 6’s just came out!

“Step into the Ravenna 6 women’s running shoes and step into a whole new world of cushion and stability. Riding the line between Neutral and Support with adaptive BioMoGo DNA cushioning in the midsole for custom comfort and an extended Segmented Crash Pad for full ground contact and seamless heel-to-toe transition. The adjustable saddle wrapping from heel to midfoot provides a snug fit so you can get up and zoom.”
From Brooks

The Ravennas are considered a guidance shoe for mild pronators.  Of course, I wouldn’t recommend the Ravennas to someone who needs more stability or has a much higher arch. Generally, the Ravenna is a good option for someone who falls in the middle for those requirements. I definitely recommend going to a running store (so many options in the Twin Cities area- TCRC, Marathon Sports, Gear, Mill City Running, Run n Fun, etc) to get fitted for the right shoe for you. BUT if you ARE looking for a shoe in that category, I definitely suggest the Ravenna!

What’s the difference between the 5 and 6?
The 6 is actually a little heavier- 8.8 oz vs. 8.5 oz. Otherwise, I haven’t noticed much of a difference, other than the fancy new colors (I bought the pink and the green)

The shoes seem a little stiffer than my previous pair, but that’s probably because they are new and need to be broken in. Though the stiffness might also be because the 6’s are supposedly “hardier”- i.e. they should hold up well for the distance runner!

Want another fun fact?
Dustin wears Brooks Ravennas too! He has different shoes for racing, but he generally trains in Ravennas. Twinsies 🙂

One thing I like about Brooks is that they seem to hold up pretty well with a lot of miles. I am diligent about tracking my miles, so I replace my shoes after 400-500 miles, even if they aren’t that worn down yet, and my Ravennas normally aren’t. Of course, I try to take my shoes to Marathon Sports to recycle them!

My Ravennas treated me well today on a 22 mile training run for Tokyo. I think I’ll continue to be a Brooks girl for many more marathons to come!

Brooks Ravenna 6
Shoe Category: Guidance
Pronation: Mild
Arch: Medium, High
Surface: Road/Track
Weight: 8.8 oz