The RW Takeaway: The Aurora-BL isn’t meant for racing, but you’ll want to run faster than moonwalk pace in this lushly cushioned, highly responsive running shoe.
- Nitrogen-injected DNA Loft v3 midsole provides a soft feel and high rebound
- Mono-mesh upper and reflective 3D-molded collar enhances visibility
- A high stack height (37mm heel, 31mm forefoot) includes just a 3mm outsole
Price: $200
Type: Road
Weight: 8.5 oz (M), 7.6 oz (W)
Drop: 6mm
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s More Images
More From Runner's World
Go ahead—rub your eyes: the Aurora-BL is intended to disrupt everything you associate with cushioned running shoes. The Aurora-BL (BL is a nod to Brooks’s Blue Line design team, which works on futuristic footwear) was inspired by the Apollo moon landing—its aesthetic is based on space shuttles and astronaut suits. A soft midfoot sleeve is layered under the mono-mesh upper, and the 3D-molded swooping collar shines when caught in a headlight’s glare. The stack height is a whopping 37mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot. The price ($200) is elevated, too. There’s no carbon-fiber plate, and these shoes aren’t meant for racing. Polarizing? Yes. Gimmicky? Nope.
Not Your Average Max-Cushioned Shoe
Race shoes that match the Aurora’s price are usually set aside for competition and typically last 250 miles. For all those other days when you’re training and recovering, that’s where the Aurora comes in. What separates it from your average max-cushioned shoe is that it mimics the same turnover as a speedster. The midsole is sculpted to promote a gliding transition, while a decoupled heel and forefoot encourage flexibility and, according to Brooks, your foot’s natural movement. The nitrogen-injected DNA Loft v3 midsole is lighter, softer, more responsive, and more durable than traditional EVA foam or the brand’s original DNA Loft. “Initially, I was afraid it was going to be too soft, like I was running on quicksand, but it was not like that at all,” said a tester. “The cushioning allows for higher mileage and harder efforts without beating up your feet.”
Soft and Responsive
Even though the shoe isn’t meant for speedwork, that didn’t stop our testers—and me—from pushing the pace, whether intentional or not. I didn’t realize how fast I was going on several easy runs until I uploaded my workouts on Strava. “This shoe definitely has the most cushioning of any shoe I’ve ever run in,” said another tester. “It was certainly adequate for long runs, but still had enough spring that it felt quite quick on shorter, faster runs.”
A Precursor to Future Brooks Shoes
Blue Line senior manager Nikhil Jain is aware of how crazy a $200 moon shoe sounds. “We know there are going to be a lot of people who roll their eyes and criticize us,” Jain said. “But I think there are going to be a lot of people who are very excited about the newness and freshness.” Jain told us the Aurora is merely a preview of what is yet to come. Will there be a future Glycerin with DNA Loft v3 foam? Only time will tell.
Tester Feedback: “I call them my Moon Shoes!”
Alex P, tester since 2021
Arch: Medium | Pronation: Neutral | Footstrike: Forefoot
Previously tested: Nike Zoomx Vaporfly Next% 2
“I’m sold. When I first picked up the shoe, I thought to myself, ‘What the heck??’ I had never seen a shoe quite like this one. It reminded me of the Nike Free that had some separation on the bottom. In all honesty, I call them my Alien or Moon Shoes! With all that being said, once I put them on and went on my first run in them, I immediately felt what all the hype was about. It took a few runs to get used to the softness of the shoe, but once I got a feel for it, I was a fan. The shoe, even though it offers a lot of support, the lightweight allows for you to have strong turnover in them.
“I wanted to see how a longer effort would feel. Yet again, the Aurora passed the test. It was a 13-mile long run, in this lovely heat wave, with an avg. pace of 6:05/mile. When I started to get tired, it felt like the shoe was helping me keep my cadence up and kept me moving forward. I think similarities can be drawn between the Nike ZoomX Foam and the Nitrogen Injected foam. Both are very lightweight yet responsive and give a lot of energy return off of the ground. I by no means think the Aurora is as fast as the 4% or Nest %, but the foam has similar qualities. It’s just missing a carbon fiber plate and they have a racing shoe!”
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
