THE BROOKS BLOG

Greenbiz.com, a leading online news source for the “greening of mainstream business” recently posted a review of our environmental efforts. The article, titled “The Running Shoe Leading the Race to Sustainability,” gives us props for the Green Silence, BioMoGo, and our very cool, very green shoe box among other things.

An excerpt:

As a social responsibility professional who enjoys trail running, seeing more athletic companies pick up the pace on sustainability is a welcome trend. One business at the front of the pack is Brooks, whose modest marketing approach has left its efforts less known than peers.

It’s likely that will change with the launch of the Green Silence, a shoe that exempifies its commitment from heel to toe, bringing visibility to a successful example of sustainability leadership.

>>Read the full article.

>>Visit our Green Room.

Monday’s Seattle Times gave us a shout out in an article about how eco-conscious retailers and shoppers are influencing the marketplace. The Green Silence was featured as an example of Brooks’ contribution. Here’s a teaser quote from our CEO, Jim Weber:

“The Green Silence really is a concept shoe in sustainability,” said Weber. “It’s our latest attempt, and every stitch of the shoe has a sustainable story, without compromising the performance or aesthetic appeal. We are going to bring the elements of this shoe into our core shoe line.”

>>Read the full article here.

T6 Racer (6.1 oz, Unisex): Our lightest racing flat is great for the biomechanically efficient runner. Hyperpod construction on the outsole gives this shoe maximum flexibility, while a minimal socklike upper keeps it light. Ford Ironman World Champion and new Brooks-sponsored athlete Chrissie Wellington won her third consecutive world title in Kona last year in Brooks T5s—setting a new course record in the process. Many members of the Hansons-Brooks ODP team, including Brian Sell, sport the T6 when they race. The new 2010 color (shown here) debuts 2/1.

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Green Silence (6.9 oz, Unisex): The Green Silence is our most environmentally sustainable competition shoe. Like the T6, it has flexible hyperpod construction in the forefoot and minimal overlays. A wider based aids stability. Post-consumer recycled materials, BioMoGo midsole, water-based inks, and non-toxic dyes are just part of the package we’ve put together in the Green Silence. Learn more about the Green Silence here .

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Racer ST4 (8.6 oz, Unisex): Light enough for the 5K, but sturdy enough for the marathon, the Racer ST4 is the racing flat for those seeking added support. A Diagonal Roll Bar (DRB®) in the midsole and a rigidity piece (DRB® Accel) on the underside midfoot add stability and encourage correct body alignment. The new 2010 color (shown here) debuts 2/1.

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Launch (Men’s 9.3 oz, Women’s 7.5 oz): The Launch is substantial enough to be included in our neutral training category, but minimal enough to be considered by those who want a light shoe for tempo runs and races. Compared to the other shoes in this list, the Launch offers a greater energy return enhanced by its highly resilient midsole and sockliner. The outsole provides constant ground contact and also includes blown rubber in the forefoot for added grip. The Launch has received kudos from Brooks ID members, elite runners, and was awarded "Best Debut" by Runner’s World in its Winter 2009 Shoe Guide.

>>Unisex and Men’s weights are based on a Men’s size 9. Women’s weights are based on size 7.

>>NOTE : Women ordering Unisex racing shoes should size down 1.5 sizes.

We’re proud and excited to announce the (slightly) early release of the Green Silence . This shoe represents the culmination of years of planning, research, and asking ourselves again, "is there anything more we can do?" The result is a groundbreaking racing shoe that sets a new standard for environmental stewardship.

Innovations include:

• 75% post-consumer recycled materials
• BioMoGo midsole
• Biodegradable biobatch collar foams
• 38% less solvent in glues and overlays
• Water-based adhesives
• Non-toxic dyes and colorants
• About half as many components as a comparable shoe—meaning less energy used in manufacturing

Although the environmental story behind the Green Silence is very important to us, it’s just as important that the Green Silence meets our high standards for performance—and it does. At 6.9 oz, the Green Silence is ideal for road racers looking to tread lightly and swiftly.

With a midsole heel thickness of 18mm and forefoot thickness measuring 10mm, the Green Silence has among the lowest heel-to-toe drops for Brooks at 8mm. That’s compared to 11mm for the Launch and an average heel-to-toe drop of 12mm for most of our regular "trainer" running shoes.

>> Read more about the Green Silence .

>> Take an interactive tour of the Green Silence components .

>> See what wear-testers have to say .

With the recent release of the Glycerin® 8 , Brooks introduces a new cushioning system called Brooks DNA. Materials Engineer Derek Campbell lets us in on this new technology and what we can look forward to in it.

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What motivated you to reinvent the cushioning system?

Several years ago we recognized the need to make our cushioning systems more adaptable to the ever-widening range of body types and training levels of the runners who use our products. Working from the mantra "A Perfect Ride for Every Stride" we searched for technologies and designs that could improve performance and at the same time make the experience of running more enjoyable. We also wanted to find ways to embody the concept of Running Responsibly that guides our design and development. Current cushioning solutions in the running industry were too inefficient in process, materials, and assembly. We wanted to find a better way.

Brooks DNA is a "non-Newtonian liquid." What does that mean and why is it good for running shoes?

Non-Newtonian liquids are simply materials that do not have a linear relationship between stress and response. Many materials in your daily life have a linear response to stress but a surprising number don’t. Examples include ketchup, Silly Putty, quicksand, and concentrated starch solutions. Brooks DNA reacts in a non-linear way by providing a firmer structure at high stress and a more conformable one at low stress. In other words, when you are walking or don’t weigh very much you get soft comfort. When you are running you get the support you need, the proper dispersion of impact energy, and good resilience or energy return.

What kind of underfoot feel can a runner expect from DNA? When DNA responds to a foot strike, is the response firm or soft?

There are two aspects of underfoot feel that Brooks DNA enhances. As mentioned before, a shoe with Brooks DNA will feel comfortable and conformable when standing or walking. When a person begins to add more energy, such as in running, the underfoot feel will be more resilient, returning energy to you, and feel slightly firmer. Soft when you want it and responsive when you need it. We also recognize that different runners have different preferences in underfoot feel and don’t want to have to make manual corrections to get what they want. That’s where the value of a truly adaptable material comes to the fore. The second aspect is transition. This is the smooth movement of the foot between impact and propulsion. Because of the design and structure of Brooks DNA, the transition of shoes using this technology is much more efficient and comfortable.

Does Brooks DNA affect the expected lifespan of a shoe?

Brooks DNA is a highly durable material that does not affect the expected lifespan of a shoe. In fact, it much more closely matches the other materials in the shoe than other cushioning technologies.

Brooks has been making an effort to become more environmentally responsible. How does DNA contribute to that goal?

Brooks DNA was designed from its conception to meet our Design for Environment goals. It cuts the number of different materials in our cushioning system down from four to a single one. It uses less steps in the manufacturing process to make and requires less volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) to bond into our shoes. The material itself is also completely recyclable in our manufacturing process to eliminate waste.

What makes you Run Happy®, Derek?

Getting outside in clean air in a beautiful place and leaving the stress behind without having to worry about what my footwear is doing.

The Cascadia 5 for Men and Women is now officially available. Special thanks to Brooks-sponsored ultra runner  Scott Jurek for his insight into the design process and insider’s view on this award-winning trail shoe’s updates.

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Trails offer more obstacles and uneven surfaces than roads. How does the Cascadia 5 help keep a runner stable while staying flexible and light?
The low profile design of the midsole and outsole, base of support through footprint surface area, and the independently stabilizing Pivot Posts in the Cascadia 5 create a very stable trail shoe. The spacing in the one-piece outsole lug design, minimized outsole thickness, flexible Ballistic Rock Shield, and light BioMoGo midsole all contribute to a flexible and light ride.