REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable upper
Low-profile ride
Affordable
Designed for heel strikers
REASONS TO AVOID
Simple design won't suit all runners
Lacks energy return
Only moderately stable
Brooks Trace 3 - Women's Review
Grounded and streamlined, this road runner combines minimalism and reliability at an affordable price, ideal for runners seeking no-fuss daily use
Runners, especially heel strikers, who seek simplicity on a budget will enjoy the ground feel and ride of the updated Trace.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
Runners looking to keep their running gear simple and affordable should look no further than the Brooks Trace 3. This is a shoe for moderate paces, heel strikers, daily walking, and just general skipping around town. At 7.2 ounces, the Trace 3 is rather lightweight for a traditionally designed sneaker, further adding to its versatility. Noticeably grounded in the forefoot, standing at only 22 mm above the earth, the Trace is more streamlined than many of the more traditional shoes in our lineup, especially those made by Brooks. Runners who seek simplicity and reliability in their gear will enjoy the minimally-minded and budget-friendly Trace 3, though many runners will appreciate a shoe with a more tech-forward design.
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 This Product
Brooks Trace 3 - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Bang for your Buck | ||||
| Price | Check Price at Amazon | $120.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $70 List $54.95 at Amazon | $70 List $69.99 at Amazon | $75 List $56.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This shoe offers lightweight simplicity and affordability, making it a versatile choice for moderate paces, heel strikers, and casual outings | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | This affordable, low-profile running shoe is a good choice for beginners, offering a moderate stack, traditional drop, and a touch of bounce | While not suited for specified running, this shoe offers versatility and reliability for daily activities and moderate workouts | With its firm cushioning and 8 mm drop, this shoe is best suited as a dependable option for road runs and gym sessions |
| Rating Categories | Brooks Trace 3 - Wo... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... | Under Armour Charge... |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Brooks Trace 3 - Wo... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... | Under Armour Charge... |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US |
| Style | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 33 mm | 27 mm | 30 mm | 26 mm | 30 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 11 mm | 3 mm | 9 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Rocker Angle | 28.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 28.0 deg | 26.5 deg | 25.0 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 59.4% | 64.7% | 58.7% | 54.5% | 62.4% |
| Measured Weight | 7.18 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.26 oz | 6.90 oz | 8.14 oz |
| Upper | Mesh | Mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Mesh |
| Midsole | DNA Loft | PWRRUN | AMPLIFOAM+ | Fresh Foam | Charged Cushioning |
| Outsole | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | None | Finger loop |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Brooks Trace 3 is fairly minimal compared to most of the shoes in the Brooks family. With a moderate 33 mm stack in the heel and an 11 mm drop, the forefoot rides lower than many of the most popular shoes on the market. The DNA Loft midsole helps absorb the weight of landings, making this shoe a highly functional, affordable road shoe.
Performance Comparison
The Trace is one of the less impressive offerings from Brooks, but it does offer reliability at an affordable price.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Landing Comfort
Brooks incorporated a DNA Loft midsole into the Trace 3, which offers traditionally-styled landing comfort. The stack isn't especially high at 33 mm and the differential is steep, 11mm, so the forefoot side of the shoe rides low to the ground. The low ground feel is not plush, even though the rear of the shoe is well-cushioned. Heel strikers seeking an everyday running shoe will enjoy the ride of the Trace, but forefoot strikers who want a distance shoe might prefer something with a bit more forward cushion.
The steep differential makes the Trace best suited for runners who land heel-first.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Responsiveness
The rear cushion of the Trace effectively absorbs the impact of each powerful footfall, providing a soft and secure landing that makes it well-suited for casual runs or recovery days. However, the thinner forefoot fails to deliver the propulsion needed for dynamic toe-offs, leaving the shoe feeling flat during uptempo moments. While the DNA Loft midsole ensures a comfortable ride, it lacks the responsiveness that many runners seek in performance-oriented footwear. During our requisite speed-testing runs, the Trace felt underwhelming, offering minimal energy return and making it less ideal for those aiming to push their limits or achieve quicker turnover.
The Trace isn't built for comfort, and I definitely felt that as I tried to pick up the pace in it.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
The lateral walls of the Trace offer a decent level of stability, making it a reliable option for neutral runners. However, the slightly elevated heel stack detracts from a truly stable feel, particularly during sharp turns or uneven strides. The heel collar is dense and well-cushioned, ensuring a secure rearfoot lock that adds comfort and support. The midfoot design falls short in promoting overall stability. While the shoe isn't built for those seeking advanced stability features, it serves as an easy-to-wear, middle-of-the-road option for runners looking for a comfortable and straightforward experience without added support.
Offering only moderate lateral stability, the Trace's steep differential forces the heel to ride a bit higher than stability-seeking runners might prefer.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Upper Comfort
The upper of the Trace offers the classic Brooks comfort that our testers know and rely on. Its upper mesh is comfortably breathable while the well cushioned tongue provides protection from the tension of the laces. The heel collar is plush, comfortable, and rides like a classic running shoe. I don't have any complaints about the comfort of the upper, but I also don't have a great deal of praise for it. For the price, the upper of the Trace is well-executed, though it lacks the ultra-light, high-tech feel of the pricier shoes on the market.
The upper of the Trace is comfortable and simple, making it an easy choice for daily wear.
Credit: Laurel Morrow
Weight
A women's size 6.5 of the updated Trace 3 weighs 7.2 ounces. Since this is a stripped-back version of some of the more popular Brooks shoes, its lowered weight makes sense. The weight of this shoe is distributed evenly, allowing it to remain comfortable in motion. Otherwise, the weight and ride of the Trace are pretty unremarkable.
It seems like Brooks took some of their most popular shoes and simply removed a few elements. The result is a lightweight and lower-performing shoe.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
Brooks does have a tendency to release well-tractioned road shoes and the Trace 3 falls in line with that trend. The texturized outsole offers confidence in damp conditions and around tight corners. The traction on this shoe is impressive, but not exceptional enough to make it the sole reason to choose the Trace.
For a road shoe, the sharp and varied edges of the lugs provide confidence and grip on varied paved surfaces.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Brooks Trace 3
If you're on a budget and looking for a reliable, unfancy shoe that gets the job done, the Brooks Trace 3 is a solid choice. This budget-friendly option offers great value, a rarity in today's running shoe market. While it may not suit every runner due to its low forefoot stack and limited energy return, it delivers dependable performance without straining your wallet.
Though not a high-scorer, the Trace is dependable and affordable, presenting a good value to runners who feel inspired by what it offers.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
Our favorite budget buy to recommend is the lightweight and bouncy Saucony Kinvara 15. While the Kinvara costs slightly more, it outperforms the Trace in most metrics. The Reebok Floatride Energy 6 offers a similar-feeling ride but with more forward cushioning. The Floatride Energy costs about the same as the Trace, but outperforms it slightly. Otherwise, the Under Armour Charged Assert 10 is a wildly affordable shoe that delivers nearly unparalleled stability. Also not designed as a speed shoe, the Charged Assert offers the same amount of dependability but for an even more enticing price.
—Ally Arcuri
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