Fads come and go, but innovation is always in style
1914
Bath and ballet shoes
Brooks begins in a small factory in Philadelphia that makes ballet slippers and bathing shoes. While we can’t take much credit for revolutionizing the ballet or bath shoe industries, we remain just as committed to specialized gear for a specialized activity.
1921
Baseball cleats
We move into mainstream sports with the development of our first baseball cleats, which will go on to be worn by championship teams and famous athletes like Mickey Mantle. Our past business was America’s Favorite Pastime.
1929
Roller skates
You know that little bumper on the front of your roller skates that sometimes, but not often enough, prevents you from crashing into parked cars? That's us.
1930
Football cleats
Brooks makes one of its first innovations for serious athletes: Natural Bend Arch Support. It quickly becomes a favorite technology among players. Another patent, Lock Tight, helps reduce injury by preventing cleats from coming off during the game.
1938
Children's shoes
Many are surprised to learn we no longer make pint-sized ped-wear. At one point, we launched a line called “Pedicraft” that was scientifically engineered for children. We eventually grew out of them, as did all the children who wore them.
1940
Softball cleats
Brooks develops shoes with soft rubber cleats for softball. They become extremely popular, alongside an extensive and growing lineup that also includes ice skates, gym, bowling, basketball, baseball, soccer, boxing and wrestling shoes.
1962
A moment with Mickey
Long before Brooks could take part in major sports endorsements, then-CEO Jerry Turner made his way into the Yankees' locker room with a box of Brooks cleats under each arm. He asked Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle if they'd like to try them on. Maris declined, but Mantle tried them, loved them and bought both pairs with a check for $44.
1972
Things change in Munich
It could be said that Brooks' focus on running shoes actually began in 1972, when Yale graduate Frank Shorter won the Olympic marathon. Running suddenly captivates the world’s attention. Instead of making anything — from athletic shoes to combat boots — that would keep the factory turning, Brooks starts to think about limiting its focus.
1974
Villanova
Brooks begins its true commitment to innovation through runner insight by developing the Villanova with feedback from Olympic middle-distance runner Marty Liquori. The shoe puts Brooks in a league with the other big names in running of the time.
1977
Vantage
Brooks' first shoe to hit #1 in Runner's World. In addition to developing the industry-first use of EVA (which replaced slow-rebounding rubber in midsoles), the Vantage features a removable sockliner that molds to the runner's foot and the Varus Wedge. President Jimmy Carter orders a pair.
1980
Hugger GT
Despite its friendly name, the Hugger GT is an aggressive step forward in running shoes. The innovative shoe is the first to feature a breathable GORE-TEX upper; it also features a heel-hugging side strap that makes your foot “a more biomechanically efficient (and less injury-prone) structure.”
1981
Varus Wedge
Rated the best running shoe in the world by Running Times, the Brooks Nighthawk features the Varus Wedge, which solves a big problem for runners by reducing overpronation.
1982
Diagonal Rollbar
The Chariot uses two different density foams instead of the Varus Wedge — a denser foam on the inside of the shoe to keep runners from rotating inward and toward the outside, softer EVA to keep the shoe from tilting awkwardly for walkers. Brooks calls this innovation the Diagonal Rollbar. The Chariot also features an ultra-sturdy heel counter that wraps around the heel and extends to the ball of the foot. A third game-changer — a dual-density rubber outsole — features hard rubber on the edges for stability and softer rubber in the middle to absorb impact.
1987
Kinetic Wedge
Brooks releases a new cushioning technology designed to stabilize the forefoot: a piece of soft, flexible material under the ball of the foot. The Kinetic Wedge allows the foot to arch more naturally, reducing stress-related injuries. This development is said to be the first of several innovations that makes Brooks for Women the first shoes designed to be anatomically correct for women.
1989
HydroFlow
Like a hydraulic shock absorber, HydroFlow reacts uniquely to each runner’s weight and gait. This technology starts as a two-chambered system that moves silicone fluid from a rear chamber into a front chamber of the shoe with each heel strike and then springs back when the heel lifts. In 1991, HydroFlow wins the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance. Later, HydroFlow is improved to dampen impact by moving a silicone-oil compound from the center of the pad to the edges.
1992
Beast
Brooks’ next big shoe takes motion control to a new level with improvements to the Diagonal Rollbar. Doctors prescribe the Beast for runners with shin splints and other injuries. The Beast and the Addiction (the “Baby Beast”) go on to become some of Brooks’ most successful shoes.
1995
Podular Technology
A new Brooks concept makes the outsole more flexible than ever. Instead of linear grooves, Podular Technology introduces pods on the outsole, allowing the shoe to bend in every direction. The innovation is now so common, it seems strange to think of it as revolutionary so recently.
1999
Adrenaline GTS 1
One of Brooks’ all-time best sellers hits the market, marking Brooks’ first big move into the fast-growing stability category. The Adrenaline GTS (Go-To Shoe) is developed through feedback from running retailers seeking a go-to shoe that was supportive but more flexible and responsive than the Addiction. The Adrenaline adds flexibility to the forefoot, smoother transitions from heel strike to toe-off and flex grooves that offer the right amount of support and traction, among other innovations.
