The Brooks Ravenna 8 is an everyday trainer offering mild support from overpronation. Underfoot the Ravenna 8 exhibits a nice mixture of soft cushioning with a hint of corrective transition guidance. Designed with Brooks BioMoGo DNA for cushioning the Diagonal Roll Bar aids and corrects the foot through a smooth transition. A newly updated outsole and forefoot with their Midfoot Transition Zone and Segmented Crash Pad features create fast heel-to-toe transitions.

Comfort
Typically shoes that cater to runners needing support will feel firm and rigid, however, that was not the case with the Ravenna 8. Each ground strike is protected with a soft cushioned feel. Plenty of soft padding around the heel collar and tongue result in a very comfortable daily trainer.

Fit 
There was varying tester opinion on how the Ravenna 8 fit. Some felt the Ravenna 8 fit perfectly, while others experienced serious issues, such as hot spots. Overall the shoe last does seem to favor a narrow foot. 

Responsiveness 
It’s hard to find a shoe that’s this responsive with support. The BioMoGo midsole has a nice firm, snappy feeling. The supportive Diagonal Roll Bar in no way dampens the Ravenna’s ability to respond. The sole of the Ravenna 8 feels cushioned but firm, which allowed the Ravenna 8 to have responsiveness better than some of the other comfort trainers. 

Speed
The Ravenna 8 is hands down the fastest supportive trainer we’ve ever tested. Our testers were pleasantly surprised with how the Ravenna 8’s performed at higher speeds. Despite a 10mm drop, getting up on the toes is easy and smooth. There is almost a hint of the Brooks Launch (Brooks lightweight best seller) under the forefoot.

Ride Quality
The Brooks Ravenna 8 was easily the smoothest stability shoe tested. The mild medial support in no way hinders the Ravenna’s ability for smooth transitions. As one tester put it, “As a neutral runner I actually found the ride quality pretty enjoyable. The amount of stability is not overwhelming in this shoe. The ride was stable and transitioned pretty nicely throughout my stride.”