On Cloudrunner 3 Max vs Brooks Beast / Ariel GTS 26
Cloudrunner 3 Max or Beast / Ariel GTS 26? Here’s how they compare on feel, fit, brand specs and price, from the fitting team at The Run House.
The short answer
Want a highly stable support shoe with lots of cushion? Get the Cloudrunner 3 Max.
Want maximum support and structure? Get the Beast / Ariel GTS 26.
Get the Cloudrunner 3 Max if
- You want more foam underfoot (7mm more at the heel)
- You have slimmer feet and like a snug fit
- You like a stiffer, rocker-style forefoot that rolls you forward
- You prefer a lower drop (10mm vs 12mm)
Get the Beast / Ariel GTS 26 if
- You need a roomier fit
- You like a less rigid forefoot
- You like a higher heel-to-toe drop (12mm vs 10mm)
- You need an extra-wide width
On the run
Cloudrunner 3 Max: Highly stable max-stack support. Highly stable, with a broad platform, raised sidewalls and a heel clip, plus decent impact protection. Heavy, with little bounce, so it’s best for easy runs and walking.
Beast / Ariel GTS 26: Maximum support for walking and easy miles. Very supportive, with front-to-back GuideRails that are prominent but well integrated. Best for walking and heavy heel strikers; the midsole feels limited for running.
The Cloudrunner 3 Max hasn’t been lab tested by RunRepeat yet, so its feel ratings are estimated from RTINGS’s lab test and the Cloudrunner 3 lab test (RunRepeat).
The Beast / Ariel GTS 26 hasn’t been lab tested by RunRepeat yet, so its feel ratings are estimated from the Beast GTS 24 lab test (RunRepeat) and Doctors of Running’s review of the 26.
Specs side by side
| Cloudrunner 3 Max | Beast / Ariel GTS 26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $180 | $170 |
| Stack height (heel / forefoot) | 45 / 35mm* | 38 / 28mm* |
| Drop | 10mm* | 12mm |
| Weight, men’s | 12.14 oz* | 12.5 oz |
| Weight, women’s | Not available | 11.2 oz |
| Support | Stability | Stability |
| Plate | None | None |
| Widths | Standard | Standard, Wide, Extra wide |
| Built for | Easy days, Walking & all-day wear | Walking & all-day wear, Easy days |
| Expected life | 400–500 miles | 400–500 miles |
Stack, drop and weight come from each brand’s own website. Numbers marked * aren’t published by the brand and come from other published specs. Weights are for the size each brand quotes. Expected life is our estimate.
Fit
Cloudrunner 3 Max. True to size.
Beast / Ariel GTS 26. True to size with a very secure, structured upper. Called the Ariel in women’s sizes. Wide and extra-wide available.
Try them on
Come try on both at The Run House in Walpole, Needham or Falmouth. Gait analysis is always free.
Shop the Cloudrunner 3 Max · Shop the Beast / Ariel GTS 26 · Compare other running shoes
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