The Brooks Anthem 8 is an affordable, firm daily trainer best suited to short, easy runs, walking, and gym workouts. It's the cheapest running shoe in Brooks' lineup, sitting below the entry-level Revel 9 and the classic daily trainer, the Ghost 18. Its firm platform is incredibly stable, and it comes in wide sizing. However, the shoe is poorly cushioned and does an awful job of returning energy, making it harsh and tiring to run in over any distance.
| ✅ Buy If: | ❌ Skip If: |
|
|
Our Verdict
The Brooks Anthem 8 is a bad shoe for marathon racing. Its sub-par cushioning offers inadequate protection for the legs, and its heft underfoot, combined with the lack of energy return, means it's not a shoe that can handle the distance.
Lack of energy return makes shoe hard to turnover at race pace.
Significant heft makes it cumbersome to run in over the distance.
The Brooks Anthem 8 is an unremarkable shoe for 5K/10K racing. It's much too heavy to be sprightly, and though it boasts an exceptionally firm forefoot, it does little more than make it stable, and the midsole's awful energy return makes it a tough shoe to turnover at race pace efficiently.
Lack of energy return makes shoe hard to turnover at race pace.
Significant bulk makes picking up the pace hard.
The Brooks Anthem 8 may look like a passable long-run companion on paper, but that's solely down to its outstanding stability. In practice, the midsole is inadequately cushioned and lacks the energy return for longer runs, so your legs will feel very beat up, and you'll tire quickly trying to turn it over at any pace.
Outstanding stability makes the shoe easy to trust.
Midsole offers poor protection over longer distances.
The Brooks Anthem 8 is a good daily trainer overall. Its fantastic stability provides a trustworthy ride and keeps the foot planted remarkably well. That said, it's not a propulsive shoe by any stretch, and its impact protection is sub-par, so it really only suits runners who like an old-school, firm ride for short, daily miles.
Outstanding stability makes the shoe easy to trust.
Old-school ride might be too harsh for some runners.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 02, 2026: We've updated this review to Test Bench 0.16, expanding our coverage with new tests for breathability, water absorption, and drying time. For more details, see the changelog.
- Updated Sep 17, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.15, which replaces Responsiveness with three specific performance usages: Bounciness, Snappiness, and Roll. To read more about the changes, see the changelog.
- Updated Aug 27, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.14, which adds new lace-specific results. We've included a close-up photo of the laces, as well as details including lace type, width, thickness, and stretch. To read more about the changes, see the changelog.
- Updated Aug 26, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.13, which identifies the different foams used in the shoe's midsole. We've included a microscopic image of the foam cells to give you an idea of what the microstructure looks like. To read more about the changes, see the changelog.
-
Updated Aug 07, 2026:
We've updated this review to add a link to the newly reviewed Brooks Revel 9 in the Forefoot Compression Energy Return box.
-
Updated Aug 04, 2026:
We've updated the Forefoot Compression Energy Return box to add a comparison to the newly reviewed Brooks Trace 4.
-
Updated Jul 30, 2026:
We've updated the Popular Comparisons section to tweak the wording and add a link to the newly reviewed HOKA Rincon 5.
-
Updated Jul 21, 2026:
We've added a table to the introduction to help you easily determine if this shoe matches your needs.
-
Updated Jul 08, 2026:
We updated the pros and cons in this article to provide more clarity on the shoe's main usages.
- Updated Jul 02, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Jun 29, 2026: Early access published.
- Updated Jun 15, 2026: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jun 11, 2026: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated May 26, 2026: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
We've bought and tested more than 300 running shoes. Every pair purchased with our own money, never supplied or sponsored by brands. Our data-driven tests are designed to go beyond marketing claims, and since every shoe goes through the exact same methodology, you can directly compare results to find the right pair for your needs.
Test Results
Design
The Brooks Anthem 8 is heavy for a daily trainer and adds considerable weight compared to the Brooks Anthem 7.
Energy Return
The Brooks Anthem 8 offers awful energy return throughout the midsole, with very little rebound to propel you into the next stride.
Midsole gives back hardly any energy when loaded.
Shoe offers terrible rebound.
Very inefficient ride means you'll tire quicker.
Much like the heel, the forefoot has truly terrible energy return, making toe-off feel sluggish and the ride muted. It returns much less than other lifestyle shoes from the brand, like the Brooks Trace 4 and Brooks Revel 9.
The heel rebound in this shoe is notably terrible. The foam is lifeless and dull, returning minimal energy under compression. Though common in budget daily trainers like the Nike Downshifter 14, it still lags behind classic daily trainers like the Brooks Ghost 18.
Stability
The Brooks Anthem 8 provides outstanding stability underfoot, and this is where the shoe shines. The firm heel and forefoot, combined with the generous outsole, low stack, and semi-gusseted tongue, make for a planted and predictable ride that is easy to trust.
Firm forefoot keeps toe-off very stable.
Wide outsole offers excellent security underfoot.
The forefoot of this shoe is also among the firmest we've tested. This provides a remarkably planted base that makes toe-off rich with groundfeel.
Cushioning
The Brooks Anthem 8 is an inadequately cushioned shoe overall. Though the heel is significantly more cushioned than the forefoot, it's still unremarkable at shielding your legs from impact. The shoe does a poor job on long runs as well.
Thin forefoot offers poor protection overall.
Heel cushioning inadequately absorbs impact so ride is harsh.
The cushioning in the heel is mediocre overall. The cheap EVA-blend midsole offers very little protection compared to shoes like the Brooks Ghost 18, and though it's passable, it still makes this a firmer, ground-feel-first experience.
Wet & Warm Weather
The Brooks Anthem 8 has sub-par wet- and warm-weather performance. Though there's some ventilation through the upper and your feet won't overheat on short daily runs, it performs middlingly in the rain. It does an unremarkable job of limiting water uptake, and once wet, it takes well over a day to fully dry, so it won't be ready for your next run.
Acceptable breathability for short runs.
Takes well over a day to fully dry once soaked.
Shoe is even more cumbersome if running in the rain.
Bounciness
The Brooks Anthem 8 has poor bounce. Neither the heel nor the forefoot compresses deeply enough to create much spring, and the terrible energy return means there's very little rebound once the midsole is loaded.
Heel and forefoot barely compress, limiting bounce.
Terrible energy return leaves the ride flat rather than springy.
Snappiness
The Brooks Anthem 8 has an acceptable amount of snap. Its exceptionally firm forefoot provides a very solid base at toe-off, and it takes a bit of force to bend, giving some leverage through push-off. However, the forefoot returns very little of the energy stored as it bends, and the tame rocker angle provides limited assistance through toe-off.
Exceptionally firm forefoot provides a solid base at toe-off.
Forefoot provides an acceptable amount of leverage when pushing off.
Poor bending energy return makes toe-off inefficient.
Tame rocker angle provides little assistance through push-off.
The forefoot resists load well but doesn't snap back efficiently, meaning it lacks the snappiness found in more performance-focused shoes like the 361 Flame 4 and relies on its rocker profile to drive forward motion.
Roll
The Brooks Anthem 8 rolls reasonably well through the stride. Its heel and forefoot rockers do an adequate job of transitioning you from landing through toe-off, and the forefoot is stiff enough to provide some structure as you move forward. However, neither rocker is particularly assistive, so transitions are gradual rather than fast and smooth. The low forefoot stack also means there isn't much material to maintain a pronounced rolling shape, so the shoe tends to flatten rather than roll through toe-off.
Heel and forefoot rockers provide adequate guidance through the stride.
Forefoot stiffness adds some structure through push-off.
Transitions are gradual and not smooth.
Low forefoot stack flattens rather than rolls.
The rocker is much stiffer than the Brooks Anthem 7, keeping its shape under load to provide a more fluid, assisted experience as you roll over.
We measured a significantly higher stack in the Brooks Anthem 8 compared to the Brooks Anthem 7. This change marks a notable departure from the shoe's identity, as it now stands much closer to classic trainers like the Brooks Ghost 18, something previous generations of the shoe seemingly avoided.
True To Size
The Brooks Anthem 8 fits mostly true to size. The length is spot on, and the forefoot has good width, but the arch is very narrow, so runners with a wider midfoot or taller toes may want to go for the wider sizing.
Length is spot on.
Excellent forefoot width.
Very narrow arch.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Brooks Anthem 8 is a no-frills daily trainer that suits walking and gym work as much as running. It occupies similar territory to the Nike Downshifter 14 and HOKA Rincon 5. The Brooks is the most stable, while the HOKA is lighter and much more cushioned, making it the better pick if protection is the priority. The Nike retails for much less than either, however, so it's the pick if price matters most. Within Brooks' own lineup, the Anthem 8 feels like what the Ghost line once was: firmer, simpler, and more traditional underfoot. Old wine in new skins, perhaps, but for those who want a more traditional version of the Brooks Ghost 18, the Anthem 8 is very close in spirit.
If you're looking for more options from Brooks, check out our picks for the best Brooks running shoes. If you're a beginner runner looking to buy your first pair, our best beginner running shoes article is a great place to start.
The Brooks Ghost 17 is a better choice than the Brooks Anthem 8 for runners who want comfort on easy days and longer runs. It's more cushioned, has more bounce, and fits better through the arch. The Anthem 8 is lighter, more stable, and cheaper, so it's the better option for budget-minded runners who want a firm, steady shoe for shorter runs, though it's very narrow through the arch and has a low toe box.
The Brooks Anthem 8 is a better running shoe than the Brooks Revel 8. Though the Revel 8 is the more nimble of the two, they're both similarly cushioned, and the Anthem 8 is more stable, making it the more reliable shoe overall.
The Brooks Anthem 8 is a slightly better daily trainer than the Brooks Revel 9, thanks to its significantly better stability and smoother ride. This makes it a good choice for short, easy runs if you prefer a firm, steady feel underfoot. However, the Revel 9 is lighter and offers slightly better cushioning and more energy return with each stride. It also has a more accommodating fit, particularly through the arch, making it the better option if you find the Anthem too restrictive.
The Brooks Ghost 18 is a better daily trainer than the Brooks Anthem 8, despite being less stable. It's significantly more cushioned, particularly in the heel, so your legs get much better protection from road impact during regular runs. It also returns more energy per stride and offers a more accommodating fit. That said, the Anthem 8 is considerably cheaper and offers a smoother, more stable ride. If you're mainly doing short, easy runs, walking, or gym work, it's a decent way to save money.
The Brooks Anthem 8 is a better running shoe than the Brooks Anthem 7. It's taller, more cushioned, and significantly more stable, giving you better protection from road impact and a steadier ride for short, easy runs. Both shoes can handle a mix of running, walking, and gym work, though neither offers much energy return for faster efforts. The Anthem 7 is lighter and sits closer to the ground, making it the better choice if you prefer a traditional, low-stack feel.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Brooks Anthem 8 in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label of our pair. The color featured on the shoe we tested is Black/Grey/Green, but you can also get it in other colors, depending on the region. This shoe is available in two widths: Medium and Wide. The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect other sizes and genders to perform similarly.
