THE BROOKS BLOG

Brooks Defyance 2: Inside Scoop for Shoe Geeks
12/30/2008 | Meredith

Recently added to the Brooks neutral shoe lineup: the Defyance 2. The shoe is an update to 2008’s Defyance, which (despite a love-it-or-hate-it lime-green men’s color scheme) won the Runner’s World Editor’s Choice Award in 2008.

Now some inside scoop for the shoe geeks:

The Defyance can be thought of as the the “neutral cousin” to our Adrenaline GTS. Our most popular shoe series, the Adrenaline is widely praised for its brilliant fit and ride for runners in the Support category. So the Defyance (and now the Defyance 2) takes this same fit and ride and translates it to a different foot type. The result is a flexible, cushioned, “go-to” neutral shoe with the instant fit, mid-foot wrap and famed ride of the Adrenaline.

How’d we do it? By removing the Progressive Diagonal Roll Bar (PDRB), and combination board last (used for additional support in the Adrenaline), the Adrenaline GTS series was “neutralized”. The Adrenaline GTS series and Defyance series live together in harmony, with the Defyance inheriting the previous year’s Adrenaline GTS, purposefully devoid of the stability features.

So what’s new with the Defyance 2 vs. the original Defyance?

- Uses the Adrenaline GTS 8 tooling and upper construction.
- Bulit with the environmentally-friendly BioMoGo midsole.
- New shoe laces are comprised from 100% recycled materials.
- Increase in the amount of flex grooves on the outside of the heel encourages a smoother transition and decreases the forces rotating inward at impact.
- A slight expansion in the opening of the heel geometry allows for better cushioning scores and flexibility.
- The metatarsal window openings on the upper have been reduced in size, improving forefoot capture and complimenting the secure midfoot wrap.
- Last but not least: new colors for men and women!

Filed in Footwear, Products, Sustainability, running shoes

6 Responses to “Brooks Defyance 2: Inside Scoop for Shoe Geeks”

mike pollice Says:
July 11th, 2009 at 3:57 am
just bought my first pair of Brooks shoes Defyance 2 and am in love with them. Been running in Miz shoes and the running store (up ‘n running) did not have the Miz I wanted so they suggested the Brooks Defyance 2 and woweeeeeeee. Thanks Brooks you guys & gals rock.
mark stubenfoll Says:
July 28th, 2009 at 11:30 am
have there been any complaints about the defyance 2.

just does not seem to work for me like the defyance 1 did.

Am I imagining things?
brian Says:
August 12th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I put over 500 miles on two pairs of Defyance 1 and I thought they were the best shoes I have ever had. I bought a pair of Defyance II and I wish I could still get the Defyance I.
bob Says:
August 19th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
i just recieved a card that says you are discontinuing the defyance2.i hope it is not true,it is the third shoe from brooks that i have gotten used to and like the others now its going.it is very hard to keep up.
michelle Says:
October 6th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I’m a faithful runaholic, 6 days a week on paved road. The Defyance 1 is the most incredible shoe I have ever experienced. After wrongling fitted in a heavy stability shoe, subsequent debilitating foot pain, a month in a boot with unexplained nerve/ligament strain, a great sales person in a specialized running store persuaded me to go VERY nuetral and sold me the Defyance 1. All pain an problems were solved for good! 2 years later, I never slow down thx to Defyance 1 (I’ve had several pair!) Just broke down and bought the new Defyance 2, 3 months ago, & it does NOT feel good! Foot numbness, less comfortable ride altogether. I am buying up Defyance 1’s online on clearance until Brooks wises up and brings the orginal back!
Asaf Says:
January 10th, 2010 at 2:40 am
I had the Defyance 1 and loved every mile of the 400 I did with them. They were very comfortable: soft and flexible. After 400 miles they started giving less support than I needed, but that was expected from a natural shoe. The Defyance 2 feel stiffer and much less comfortable overall. After 200 miles they feel completely “ruined” and I don’t want to run in them anymore. A shame. Bring back Defyance 1!