Brooks Revel 8 review

After completing our lab measurements and putting in several runs, we found that the Brooks Revel 8 is a solid pick for:

• Beginners who want a simple, no-frills shoe for a few short runs each week.
• Runners on a tight budget who need a model that performs well without a high price.
• Those who dislike max-stack shoes and want to experience a grounded, agile feel for both easy days and light tempo work.

We think the Revel 8 isn’t the best choice if you want a higher-stack shoe. Its low forefoot height gives a closer-to-the-ground feel that, in our experience, won’t suit everyone. If you prefer a fuller, more cushioned front, we believe the Nike Winflo 11 or the New Balance Fresh Foam 680 v8 offer better value.

We also found that the energy return feels modest for fast-paced efforts, and from our perspective this limits its performance for tempo days. If you can stretch your budget a bit, the Adidas Adizero EVO SL or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 provide a faster running experience.

The Revel keeps a low stack height by today’s standards, which naturally leads to limited shock absorption. This year we measured 116 SA in the heel and 88 SA in the forefoot, coming in even slightly lower than what we saw in the Revel 7.

One of the positive upgrades for the Revel 8 comes from the foam. Brooks finally moved away from the flat and dull BioMoGo DNA and moved to DNA Loft v2.

It’s not a breakthrough, and energy return stays below average at 51.6% in the heel and 59.1% in the forefoot, but we discovered during our runs that the shoe feels noticeably better than version 7, which is welcome news.

The heel of the Revel 8 lands close to the lab average at 33.2 mm, which is similar to many best-selling daily trainers from a few years back. For reference, the newer Ghost 17 measures 36.2 mm, so the Revel 8 sits just a tiny bit lower than that.

The forefoot stack of the Revel sits well below the average reading in our lab at only 23.3 mm.

This is great news, as the market right now is filled with maximalist trainers. We appreciate that brands still offer shoes with lower stack heights for runners who enjoy more ground feel and a ride that provides clearer feedback with less cushioning.

We discovered that the Revel 8 keeps its classic high drop, measuring 9.9 mm, which is slightly above the 8 mm stated by Brooks and works nicely for newcomers wanting an easy-to-use shoe.

And from the thin forefoot cushioning we tested, it’s clear that Brooks shaped this model with rearfoot strikers in mind, using the front mainly as a smooth transition area rather than a landing zone.

We discovered that the move to DNA Loft v2 doesn’t bring a softer feel, as the Revel 8 is actually a bit firmer than before—we measured 22.0 HA instead of the 19.5 HA of version 7.

While some runners may see this as a downside, the limited stack height makes a plush foam a bad pick, so this firmer setup works better for the shoe.

The Revel 8 keeps a classic feel through its almost-flat rocker, avoiding the curvy designs seen in many modern shoes. Instead, it delivers a no-frills, everyday-ready shape that echoes daily trainers from the last decade.

Just after unboxing it and taking our first strides, we found that the Revel 8 delivers a very standard fit that never pinches the toes but also doesn’t offer huge toe splay. It feels comfortable and straightforward, exactly what you’d expect from a simple daily trainer.

When we created our gel mould to take precise measurements, this impression started to show clearly with an initial reading of 94.6 mm. Let's check two more measurements.

The second measurement also landed close to the average at 73.1 mm, giving us clear confirmation that the Revel 8 offers a straightforward, standard fit.

In terms of height, the shoe leans toward a snug and secure fit.

We measured 25.6 mm, which isn’t uncomfortable, but it does mean the upper sits closer to the toes. The upside is a more locked-in feel while running.

One of the areas where the Revel 7 fell short was grip. It scored only 0.33 in our SATRA TM144 test, a result that created doubts, especially on wet days.

Fortunately, the Revel 8 improves this completely with a much stronger 0.57 score, and it delivers confident traction at the same price.

We noted that the Revel 8 uses a mix of exposed foam and rubber patches across the outsole, and loses some rubber coverage from version 7 but looks way more modern than before.

The forefoot uses black rubber patches with angular shapes arranged in several segments. White exposed foam appears between these zones as narrow channels and small geometric cutouts, giving the front a clearly divided pattern. Towards the heel, the outsole shifts to orange rubber pods with a curved, almost horseshoe-shaped section.

Thanks to its moderate stack height and the cutouts in the outsole, the shoe remains more flexible than the average, reaching 13.1N in our 30-degree bend test.

Despite having more foam underfoot, Brooks’ efforts to reduce the weight of the Revel 8 have paid off. With the switch to DNA Loft v2 and an outsole that uses less (but better) rubber, the shoe drops a bit of weight and now comes in at 8.6 oz or 244g, which is excellent for an affordable model.

The upper of the Revel 8 is one of the places where you can clearly tell it’s a 100-dollar shoe. It’s not bad at all with a 3/5 score in our breathability assessment, but it doesn’t deliver a premium feel overall.

It uses a simple engineered mesh that provides some ventilation, though it’s far from ultra-breathable. This becomes obvious when very little smoke escapes and light barely passes through.

Under the microscope, we saw exactly why airflow is limited.

The upper lacks large ventilation holes, which keeps it from reaching a 4 or 5 in our breathability test.

Even so, the materials and build feel appropriate for the price, and the padding is placed where it’s most useful.

Overall, we’re pleased with the upper at this price point. It looks durable, offers moderate airflow, and works well for most of the year.

The Revel 8 is clearly a neutral shoe and isn’t a good match for runners who need help with pronation. Its firmer foam and moderately low stack height create a somewhat stable feel, but the compact shape and absence of support elements keep it strictly in the neutral category.

The new outsole design also brings more torsional flexibility, with the Revel 8 scoring 3/5 instead of the previous model’s 4/5. This feels like a helpful update for the shoe in terms of feel and comfort.

The heel counter feels slightly stiffer than we expected at 4/5, adding a touch of extra support in the rear. Still, the difference from a more standard design is minimal, as we usually rate those at 3/5.

We mentioned earlier the compact design of the shoe, which feels very different from the max-width models that have become common lately, such as the ASICS Novablast 5.

Here, the Revel 8 measures just 111.5 mm in the forefoot, creating a more nimble feel for running and adding versatility for daily wear or light gym sessions.

The rear of the shoe follows the same compact approach as the forefoot and also sits below the average in heel width. Our measurement came in at 88.5 mm.

The dense upper pays off here with a solid result in our first durability test, earning a 3 out of 5 and starting strong in what is usually the toughest test of all.

The heel counter fell a bit short even though it matched the toebox with a 3/5 score. We usually hope for a 4 or 5 here, but a 3 is still safe and offers solid resistance to abrasion.

We were pleased with the outsole’s grip and flex, so it’s great to see that durability also holds up. Our test showed only 1.0 mm of wear, which sits close to the average and is enough to ensure a solid lifespan.

Brooks also ensured dependable durability by using 3.4 mm of outsole thickness.

The insole contributes 5.0 mm of cushioning to the overall setup, which is a generous amount considering this shoe is far from maximalist.

Replacing the stock insole with an aftermarket option works without any issues.

One of the advantages of switching to DNA Loft v2 is the improvement we saw in this test. Instead of last year’s 26% increase, the foam changed only 18% after 20 minutes in the freezer.

There are no reflective elements for added night visibility on the Revel 8, which is the same situation as last year.

The lacing system offers good adjustability, and we found it impressively solid for the price with no obvious drawbacks.

The tongue feels comfortable with its 8.5 mm thickness. It might even be a bit much, and for the next Revel we’d love to see a slightly thinner design to reduce weight while keeping enough comfort.

The tongue isn’t gusseted, but that’s expected at this price point. However, this can be a problem because version 7 had it fixed to the sides.

With most shoe lines increasing in price, it’s refreshing to see the Revel get a foam upgrade while keeping the same MSRP as last year. That matters a lot, since its low price point remains one of the shoe’s biggest strengths.

The Revel 8 features a refreshed heel design with an extended collar that makes it easy to grab with your fingers.