MERCER: A lot of people wear Brooks shoes. Like a lot. So much so, that they’re the number one running shoe brand in the United States. And honestly, they have a lot of great choices to accommodate all kinds of runners. That’s why, despite being a running brand, you’ll see them on the sidewalks, at the mall, at Starbucks, pretty much anywhere. But where are all of the Brooks spike runners?
The Wire v6 got a major update in the upper, giving it more of a sleek and breathable feel than the last iteration, but the weight was kept the same at 3.4 oz. This spike also uses the same BioMoGo midsole for some light cushion.
With any running shoe, I always go with the more cushioned of two shoes (i.e. HOKA Clifton over Rincon, Nike Matumbo over Victory, so I was excited to see what the long-distance spike has to offer over the bare-bones Brooks ELMN8.
MERCER: I’ve got to give it to you Brooks, you didn’t fall into the carbon plate trend with this spike and I respect you for that. The Wire v6 has a nice pop without being too fast, and it allows you to control the pace. This spike also performed while flying around curves.
The versatility of this spike is wonderful for young and emerging elite athletes. If you’re running good times as an underclassman but still trying to find your event, this is a great spike for you. It has enough pop for a 400 and the ability to bang out a 10k (if you’re running a 10k in high school, mind you).
Shop Wire v6MERCER: The Wire still holds the same spoon-like shape as the ELMN8, and for me, it just doesn’t work the longer I went in this shoe. If you’re a Brooks fan and train forever in these, your calves are going to feel a bit tight after the first half of a race.
When running a longer event, it’s always nice to have some cushion and the Wire just doesn’t have that. I like the BioMoGo foam, but there just isn’t enough of it to keep you fresh throughout most of the race.
I have the same problem with the upper – it’s just not as breathable as I’d like. Taking this over longer distances, the upper gets a bit sloppy throughout the race.
Shop Wire v6MERCER: The Brooks Wire v6 is an odd spike. For high school athletes, it can technically work for any of your races, but newer long-distance runners are going to have a difficult time without the cushion. If Brooks can add a little more underfoot, then we have a very nice spike on our hands.
You can pick up the Brooks Wire v6 at Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) by using the shop link below.
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