Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have been a Brooks Addiction Walker customer since 2012. These shoes are my number one shoe for everyday walking and standing around. In the last couple of years Brooks switched countries of manufacture from China to Vietnam. I have noticed a difference in the shoes between those two countries. In fact, I still have a couple of pairs of shoes that were made in China. The leather is softer and the toe box a bit wider. Also the shoes were not as short in the length. My normal size is 6.5W and I wear a 7W Brooks normally to accommodate a thicker hiking sock. When I purchase the shoes made in Vietnam, I notice that the shoes run a bit more narrow and they are shorter in the length. So I have been purchasing a 7.5W to make up the difference. The leather is a bit stiffer in the made-in-Vietnam shoe. That said, they are still excellent shoes if you are looking for a strong, supportive base for your feet. My suggestion to the regular Brooks wearer is not to give up on these shoes. You may need to go up a bit in size from your regular shoe if you find they run too short. Also, you may need to exchange the shoes because I have noticed manufacturing problems with stitching and attachment of the leather top to the sole. If you are new to this brand and want to try the shoes, I do recommend them. They will protect your whole foot and give you good support. Just be flexible with sizing and exchanging them as needed until you find the one that fits. Another change that has worked for me is to switch out the semi-round laces that come with these shoes for flat laces. I have replaced all the laces in my Brooks Addiction Walker shoes with size 54 inch flat laces that I purchase from a vendor on eBay. This allows the tongue of the shoes to lay flatter against the top of the foot. I have found that the semi-round laces that come with these shoes add a lot thickness and weight to the top of the shoe. Just an idea. It has helped me and I hope it will help others who have difficulty finding a good, sturdy walking shoe.