Aeonic Recovery

I bought the Aeonic Recovery in UK 8, my actual size, and tested it indoors for three or four days before deciding. I am returning it. The brand calls it a recovery running shoe, but in my opinion it is not meant for running. All the softness comes from the dual-density insole, not the midsole. With the insole in, the heel felt decently soft. With the insole out, the midsole felt very flat and hard, with no softness or energy return at the heel or the forefoot. The forefoot is stiff and only bends at one point. The brand claims 35 mm at the heel and a 10 mm drop, but it felt more like an 8 mm drop to me. They market it for tempo runs too, which makes no sense at this weight. The upper, lace, gusseted tongue and heel padding are excellent, and I would rate the design and material quality 10 out of 10. No Indian home-grown brand has done this level of finish. The width was fine for my normal feet, but the toe box is not extra wide as claimed, and the medial midfoot is actually narrow. The arch support is real and holds the arch softly, which helps flat feet. A thick inner lining means there is almost no breathability. The 3.5 mm outsole rubber is thick and anti-abrasion, so I expect it to last a long time, but it is a big reason the shoe weighs 390 g in UK 8. At my 72 to 75 kg, I could only run about 5 km in it before feeling the weight. It launched at ₹8,000 to ₹9,000 and has sold at ₹6,000 since day one. At 390 g I would try it under ₹3,000, but not at ₹6,000. For walking, casual wear and all-day comfort with arch support, it is a premium, comfortable option.