Brooks

Defyance 7

Defyance 7
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Good (75/100)

Shoe details

Weight
11 oz
Release
2025
Stack Height
29mm heel - 20mm toe
Drop Height
9mm

Ratings & Reviews

Good (75/100)

Better than about 49% of shoes

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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This score rates worse than 51% of shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes score out of 100. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central score range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Good (75/100)

Overall ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (75/100)

Rank

Ranks above 49% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Value

Excellent (92/100)

Value ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Excellent (92/100)

Rank

Ranks above 88% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Durability

Above average (88/100)

Durability ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Above average (88/100)

Rank

Ranks above 82% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Above average (84/100)

Cushioning ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Above average (84/100)

Rank

Ranks above 67% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Good (73/100)

Comfort ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (73/100)

Rank

Ranks above 41% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Below average (58/100)

Appearance ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Below average (58/100)

Rank

Ranks above 7% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

25%

2/8

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Worse than 51% of 2,526 running shoes ranked.

Good (75/100)

Daily Trainers

Worse than 51% of 1,847 daily trainers ranked.

49%

Brooks

Worse than 71% of 220 Brooks shoes ranked.

29%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated among the top 25% of shoes overall.
  • Rated above average on comfort.
  • Rated above average on cushioning.
  • Rated among the top 25% of shoes on durability.

Cons

  • Several of reviewers reported getting injured in this shoe.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Newest / Best durability / Best value
Lightest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
11 oz M
11.1 oz M
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
29/20mm
40/35mm
Drop
9mm
12mm
5mm
Release
2025 Newest
2017 Q3
2023 Q1
MSRP
$120 Lower MSRP
$165
Best price
$164.99
Ratings
Overall
Average (49%)
Below average (38%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Average (41%)
Below average (34%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Above average (67%)
Below average (32%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Very good (82%) Best durability
Above average (65%)
Good (80%)
Appearance
Bottom tier (7%)
Bottom tier (7%)
Very good (81%) Best appearance
Value
Very good (88%) Best value
Above average (64%)
Good (74%)
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

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Better alternatives

Higher-rated shoes similar to this one

More from Brooks

Reader Ratings

7 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 7 written reviews

Reader review

BilltownRunner · Mar 23, 2015

5/5

Overall

Durable, can get up to 500 miles with legs still feeling fine.
Comfort
4/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

rivabanks · Mar 22, 2015

4/5

Overall

I liked it a lot. I like a shoe that is not too cushioned and is responsive. I injured my Achilles' tendon at the end of this shoe's life cycle and the Hoka Clifton has felt better on it as I have been coming back, so I have switched for now.
Comfort
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Mar 21, 2015

5/5

Overall

For some reason I always have a difficult time finding the Defyance, but it is my all time favorite shoe. I've never had any problems with it and they seem to last forever.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Sep 10, 2014

4/5

Overall

This shoe works well as a good day-to-day trainer as well as a solid shoe to use for tempo runs, threshold work, and even does a serviceable job off the roads. I have a relatively flexible arch and despite the fact that this is a neutral shoe, it has enough structure built into it that it actually prevents me from overpronating. As a result, the shoe feels a lot less bulky and significantly lighter than its listed weight may otherwise suggest.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Sep 1, 2014

4/5

Overall

Comfort
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5