Brooks vs New Balance for Women: How They Compare and Which to Try

Brooks and New Balance come up in our exam rooms all the time. Women want to know which brand is better for a long shift, a daily walk or a day of errands. The honest answer is that both make reliable everyday shoes. The better choice is whichever one fits your foot.

Still, the two brands are not identical. They build support in different ways, they offer different width ranges, and their shoes feel different underfoot. This guide explains those differences. Then it pairs up women's models worth trying, one from each brand, and explains how unisex sizes work.

Brooks vs New Balance at a Glance

Neither brand wins for everyone. If you already own a pair that feels great at the end of the day, that tells you more than any chart.

Fit and Width: Where the Brands Differ Most

Fit matters more than the name on the sneaker. Buldt and Menz (2018) reviewed the research on shoe fit. In that review, between 63 and 72 percent of people wore shoes that didn't match the length or width of their feet. Poorly fitting shoes were linked to foot pain, corns and calluses.

Women are especially likely to be in the wrong size. In a 1993 survey of 356 women, Frey and colleagues found that most were wearing shoes smaller than their feet, and few had had their feet measured in years. Feet also change over time, so last year's size may not be this year's.

Shape matters too: Wunderlich and Cavanagh (2001) found that women's feet differ from men's in shape, not just in size. At the same foot length, they differed most at the arch, the outer edge of the foot, the big toe and the ball of the foot. That's a good reason to try a women's version first.

Both brands sell most of their everyday women's shoes in several widths. Brooks makes most of its core models in narrow, medium, wide and extra-wide. New Balance covers more ground on some models, from extra-narrow to extra-wide. A few of its walking shoes come wider still.

One trap catches many shoppers. The width letters don't mean the same thing for women and men. In women's shoes, B is standard and D is wide. In men's and unisex shoes, D is standard. Brooks's size guide says to go by the width name, not the letter, when you switch between the two.

Brooks also notes that its narrow, medium and wide versions share the same footbed and differ in the upper. Its extra-wide version has a wider base. So if your foot spills over the edge of the insole, or your orthotic is wide, try the extra-wide.

A few habits help with either brand:

• Shop late in the day. Feet swell as the day goes on.
• Measure both feet while standing. Fit the bigger one.
• Leave a thumb's width in front of your longest toe. That toe isn't always the big toe.
• Bring your orthotics and your usual socks. Both change the fit.
• Walk around the store. Your heel should stay put, and nothing should rub.

Support: Guide Rails or a Firmer Inner Side

Both brands make neutral sneakers and supportive sneakers, but they build the support differently.

Brooks uses what it calls guide rails, which are firmer walls of foam along both sides of the heel. Brooks says the rails limit how far the heel rolls in or out, to cut down on extra twisting at the ankle and knee. You'll find them in the Adrenaline GTS, the Glycerin GTS and the Ariel GTS.

New Balance's support trainer, the 860, uses firmer foam and a stiff layer on the inner side to slow how far the foot rolls inward. Its motion-control and walking shoes go further. The 1540 and the 928 add a firm post in the heel.

Does the extra support actually help? The research gives a mixed answer. Knapik and colleagues (2010) found that matching shoes to arch shape didn't reduce injuries in Marine recruits. In a 2016 trial, Malisoux and colleagues gave 372 recreational runners either a standard shoe or a motion-control version of the same shoe. The motion-control group had fewer injuries, mainly among runners whose feet rolled inward.

On the other hand, Nielsen and colleagues (2014) followed 927 new runners who all wore neutral shoes for a year. Runners whose feet rolled inward a little were not injured more often than the others. These were running studies, so treat them as a general guide for everyday shoes, not as proof.

Our practical take is simple. If your feet roll inward a lot, or a supportive shoe simply feels better, wear the supportive shoe. If a neutral shoe feels good and your feet don't hurt, you don't need to force a supportive shoe. And if you wear custom orthotics, a neutral shoe with a firm heel usually works well, because the orthotic is already doing the guiding.

Cushioning and Heel Height

Brooks sneakers tend to feel balanced and a little firm underfoot, with plusher cushioning in the Glycerin. New Balance runs from steady in the 880 and 860 to very soft in the 1080. Soft cushioning feels wonderful in the store. What really matters is how your feet feel after a long day.

Comfort turns out to be a valuable guide. Nigg and colleagues (2015) reviewed years of running-shoe research and proposed a simple idea they called the comfort filter. People tend to pick the shoe that feels best, and that shoe usually works for them.

Heel height is the other major difference. Drop is how much higher the heel sits than the ball of the foot inside the shoe. Most of Brooks's everyday trainers sit higher at the heel than New Balance's newer trainers.

Is one heel height better than another? Not on its own. In a randomized trial of 553 leisure runners, Malisoux and colleagues (2016) found that overall injury risk was about the same with a high, medium or zero heel drop. Regular runners did worse in the medium- and zero-drop shoes, though, while occasional runners did better.

Ryan and colleagues (2014) assigned 103 runners to a regular shoe or one of two minimalist shoes. The minimalist groups had more injuries, and one of them reported more shin and calf pain. Minimalist shoes differ from regular trainers in more than heel height. Still, it's a reason for caution: if you've worn a higher heel for years, move to a much lower one slowly.

Your symptoms can also offer clues. A sore Achilles tendon or tight calves may not tolerate a sudden drop to a low heel. Pain in the ball of the foot is a different story. Mandato and Nester (1999) found that pressure under the front of the foot rose as heel height went up. Their study compared sneakers with much taller dress heels. So the effect of a sneaker's heel is likely much smaller. Even so, if the ball of your foot hurts, a lower heel is worth a try.

Unisex Sizes, Explained

Many New Balance classics, like the 990 and the 2002R, are sold in unisex sizes. You'll often see a U at the start of the model code. Unisex sizes follow the men's scale.

Brooks's size guide describes the usual rule. Take your women's size and subtract one and a half to find the men's or unisex size. So a women's 8½ is a men's or unisex 7. Remember the width letters, too: a unisex D is a standard width, not a wide.

The shape comes from a men's pattern. When Krauss and colleagues (2008) scanned the feet of 847 people, men's feet were a little wider and higher than women's feet of the same length. Compared with foot length, though, the differences were small. So unisex sneakers fit many women well. Just check that your heel stays put and the shoe isn't loose over the top of your foot.

Brooks and New Balance Shoes for Women to Try

No shoe company pays for placement here. No brand sponsors this article. Every shoe here is our own pick, based on the features above and on what we see in the office.

We do run a separate website, footshop.cc. Patients kept asking where to find the products we talk about in the exam room. So we built a separate site that keeps the links in one place. It includes links to Amazon and other retailers. Every affiliate link over there is disclosed where it appears. If you buy through one of those links, we earn a small commission. It costs you nothing extra. We run it as a convenience for our patients, not as a condition of care. You are free to buy any of these shoes anywhere you like, at whatever price you find, with or without our links. Our advice is the same either way.

Medical footwear is not part of that. Prescription shoes, inserts, boots and braces are never on our affiliate site. They are not a shopping link, and we will not treat them like one.

We've paired the shoes by purpose, so you can try one of each and compare.

Neutral Daily Trainers: Brooks Ghost or New Balance 880

• Brooks Ghost: Smooth, steady and a little firm. Sold in several widths.
• New Balance Fresh Foam X 880: A dependable neutral shoe, sold in a wide range of widths.

Both are sensible first choices for work, walking and errands. Try them back to back and choose whichever holds your heel better.

Plush Cushioning: Brooks Glycerin or New Balance 1080

• Brooks Glycerin: Brooks's plush everyday trainer. The Glycerin GTS adds guide rails.
• New Balance 1080: Very soft and light, with a lower heel.

If your feet roll inward, or very soft foam makes you feel unsteady, the Glycerin GTS or the 860 is the steadier choice.

Mild to Moderate Support: Brooks Adrenaline GTS or New Balance 860

• Brooks Adrenaline GTS: Guide rails on both sides and a higher heel. Sold in several widths.
• New Balance Fresh Foam X 860: A firmer inner side and a lower heel. Sold in several widths.

Both suit women whose feet roll inward, or who simply feel steadier in a supportive shoe. Some women prefer the guide-rail feel, and others the firmer inner edge.

Maximum Support: Brooks Ariel GTS or New Balance 1540

• Brooks Ariel GTS: Brooks's most supportive women's shoe, with a wide base and a roomy fit for orthotics. Sold in medium, wide and extra-wide.
• New Balance 1540: A motion-control shoe with a firm heel post and extra depth for orthotics.

These suit feet that roll inward a lot, and women who wear a bulky custom orthotic. Both feel heavier than a regular trainer.

Extra Cushion and a Rocker Sole: Brooks Ghost Max or New Balance More

• Brooks Ghost Max: Thick cushioning, a rocker-shaped sole and a lower heel than the Ghost. Worth a try if you have heel pain or a stiff big toe.
• New Balance Fresh Foam X More: Very thick and wide, with a low heel. Stable for its height.

A rocker sole is curved, so the shoe rolls you forward instead of making your toes bend as much. Menz and colleagues (2016) ran a randomized trial in 102 people with arthritis in the big-toe joint. Rocker-sole shoes and shoe inserts eased their pain by a similar amount. The rocker group wore their shoes less and reported more side effects. In the same patients, the rocker shoes lowered pressure under the big-toe joint, the ball of the foot and the heel.

Leather Walking Shoes: Brooks Addiction Walker or New Balance 928

• Brooks Addiction Walker: A leather walking shoe with firm support along the inside and a removable insole. Sold in several widths.
• New Balance 928: A leather walking shoe with a firm heel post and a removable footbed. Some women's colors come in widths up to extra-extra-wide, and there's a hook-and-loop version if laces are hard on your hands.

Both are built for long days of walking or standing. Both feel heavier and stiffer than a running shoe, which many people find steadying.

Unisex Sneakers and Everyday Classics

• New Balance 990: The classic gray sneaker, with a firm heel, a higher heel height and a removable insole. Sold in women's and unisex sizes. Of the classics, it's the one we'd choose for a full day on your feet.
• New Balance 2002R: A retro running look with running-shoe cushioning underneath. Firmer than the trainers above. Fine for errands and travel, and often sold in unisex sizes.
• New Balance 9060: Soft and chunky. The wide, flared sole feels stable to some people and clumsy to others.
• New Balance 550: Fashion first, with a firm court-shoe sole and little cushioning. Fine for short outings, not for a long shift.

The Brooks shoes in this guide come in separate women's and men's versions, so there's no unisex size to convert.

If You Have a Foot Problem Already

Heel pain: a cushioned shoe with a firm heel counter often helps. The Ghost Max, the More and the Glycerin are good places to start. If the pain has lasted more than a few weeks, read our guide to heel pain that won't go away and come in.

Bunions: look for a wide or extra-wide size and a toe box that doesn't narrow at the front. A shoe can make a bunion more comfortable, but it doesn't straighten the joint.

Flat feet or feet that roll in: start with the Adrenaline GTS or the 860, and step up to the Ariel GTS or the 1540 if you need more. A neutral shoe with an orthotic works well for many women too. Our flat feet shoe guide covers this in detail.

Stiff big toe or pain in the ball of the foot: a rocker sole like the Ghost Max or the More can take pressure off the front of the foot. Read more about a stiff big toe and ball-of-foot pain.

Balance worries: Menant and colleagues (2008) reviewed the research on footwear and falls in older adults. They recommend shoes with low heels and firm, slip-resistant soles, both indoors and out. Very thick, soft soles can feel wobbly. If balance is a concern, the Ghost, the 880 or a walking shoe may be a steadier pick than the Ghost Max or the More.

Diabetes or numb feet: an international guideline on preventing foot ulcers in diabetes (Bus and colleagues, 2024) advises people at risk to wear properly fitting shoes. It also advises them never to walk without suitable foot protection. Seams, tight toe boxes and worn insoles can injure skin you can't feel. Have us check your shoes with you.

When to See a Podiatrist

See a podiatrist if a new shoe causes pain that doesn't settle within a short break-in period. Come in, too, if you have heel pain in the morning, numbness or tingling in your toes, or a bump that keeps growing. A blister or sore that won't heal needs a visit as well. Those are not shoe problems alone, and the right shoe is only part of the answer.

For more help choosing, read our guides to everyday athletic shoes for women and narrow athletic shoes that fit orthotics. If you're shopping for a man in your life, see our Brooks vs New Balance guide for men.