Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 Review: The Anniversary Edition

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS has been a trusted support shoe for a quarter of a century. Now in its 25th iteration, it’s celebrating its silver anniversary with a touch of extra cushioning and the same GuideRail™ technology runners know and love.

Does the latest Adrenaline GTS, available 11/1, live up to its illustrious legacy? We laced up and put it to the test — read on to find out what our reviewers think.

Last year, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 was updated with Brooks’ premium DNA Loft v3 cushioning. This innovative foam is injected with nitrogen to make it light, soft and durable. This year, the Adrenaline GTS 25 gets even more DNA Loft v3 cushioning — 3 millimeters, to be exact.

While DNA Loft v3 foam is soft, in theory, the Adrenaline 25 maintains the sturdy, supportive feeling that’s made it so popular over the years.

“The Adrenaline feels firm on the run, which is standard for a traditional support shoe,” says Kate. “It has some nice flexibility in the forefoot, while the midfoot and heel are quite rigid.”

In addition to a firm underfoot feel, Brooks uses their proprietary GuideRails™ technology, firm reinforcements on the sides of the shoe, to offer support for runners who put more pressure on the insides of their feet as they move.

These reinforcements are much more rigid on the medial (inside) side, but can be seen and felt laterally (outside), too, delivering reliable durability for runners with varying gait patterns.

“The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 strikes a good balance between stability and flexibility,” says Mason. “I feel plenty of structure as I transition through my midfoot due to the GuideRails™, yet it doesn’t impede my natural gait cycle. As I transitioned to my forefoot, the shoe had a surprising amount of flexibility, leading to a very confident and natural toe off. I believe the combination of the midfoot structure and forefoot flexibility adds to the Adrenaline 25's ability to handle various types of runs and paces.”

While Mason mentioned the Adrenaline can hold up to a variety of paces, other wear testers felt this shoe is best confined to easy efforts.

“The underfoot experience feels fine but not inspiring,” Tom says. “The cushioning under the midfoot and forefoot delivers a smooth ride, but it doesn’t give much feedback or energy return. The ride felt relaxed and, as a result, I found myself defaulting to easier efforts even when I tried to pick up the pace.”

I enjoyed the feeling of the Adrenaline, and I actually found it a bit softer than previous versions. I’m going to agree with Tom here, I think this shoe is best used for daily miles or even long runs when you’re not planning to pick up the pace.

Mandy and I also really enjoyed the Adrenaline for walking. We both have the same walking pad under our desks, and have been reaching for this shoe throughout the workday.

“The Adrenaline felt best on my walking pad, where I don’t like a super soft, squishy shoe because of the pad itself being soft,” Mandy says. “I also enjoyed wearing it around all day because of the comfortable upper.”

The comfortable upper Mandy referenced is an engineered mesh material, designed to be as breathable as possible while still holding you in. A plush tongue and a padded heel collar add extra security, while a stretchy pull tab in the back makes it easy to slip in and out.

“There are times when you slip into a shoe and just feel luxury, and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 delivered that for me,” says Mandy. “The upper wrapped around my foot and hugged it like it was an old friend. I love the pull tab on the heel as I frantically run out the door to go for a run, pick up my kid or basically do anything. I really like the new heel collar — it’s stretchy, yet structured and plush all at the same time.”

However, there were a couple of gripes about the materials used in the upper.

“While the tongue and padding around the heel are plush and soft to the touch, I wasn’t a fan of the stretchy knit material along the top of the heel. It brought the height of the shoe too high up and rubbed my ankle occasionally,” says Tom.

Mason, who enjoyed the overall fit for his high-volume feet (feet that take up a lot of room within the shoe), found the upper material to lack breathability.

“During most of my runs, I noticed that my feet felt warmer than usual. I usually prefer a thinner, more breathable upper, especially since I live in a warmer climate.”

Despite this, all of our reviewers found the fit to feel true-to-size, despite having differently shaped feet. Not sure about the width or volume of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 remains true to form as a trusty, reliable support shoe that can go the distance. The latest version boasts an extra 3 millimeters of DNA Loft v3 midsole foam, specifically 2.5 millimeters in the heel and 3.5 in the forefoot. Not only does this add a touch of extra protection underfoot, it brings the heel-to-toe drop from 12 millimeters to 10.

A shoe’s heel-to-toe drop is the distance in height between your heel and forefoot while wearing the shoes. 12 millimeters used to be pretty standard, but it’s more common to see running footwear with a heel-to-toe drop between 4 and 8 millimeters now. This reduction in the Adrenaline brings it more in line with industry standards and creates an overall smoother ride.

“I think fans of the Adrenaline line will be happy with the improvements made to the newest version that marks the 25th anniversary,” says Tom. “The fit is as on-point as ever and the cushioning is slightly softer than the previous version.”

However, some reviewers noticed that the 25 feels quite a bit heavier than the 24, which is worth noting if you prioritize weight savings in your running shoes.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the Adrenaline GTS 25 stacks up. Here’s what we found.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, Saucony Guide 18 and Altra Paradigm 8 are all trusted by runners to deliver reliable support for daily miles.

The Adrenaline and Guide both provide a hefty dose of cushioning, while the Guide feels decidedly softer. The Paradigm has a bit less cushioning, but uses similar support technology as the Adrenaline. Altra’s GuideRail™ technology is a firm material that sits on the medial side of the shoe for extra reinforcement. This material delivers added durability for runners and walkers who place more pressure on the medial sides of their feet, ensuring the shoes wear out evenly. Sound familiar?

With ample DNA Loft v3 cushioning and GuideRails™ technology, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 delivers a smooth, supportive ride.

“I recommend the Adrenaline to walkers and runners who like a traditional support shoe with a firm feel,” says Kate. “The Adrenaline offers gentle guidance in a comfortable package.”

Tom agrees, saying, “The ride is extremely consistent and stable, which is why I think it’s a great option for beginner runners and walkers when comfort is key as they work up to more mileage and faster paces.”

Don’t forget to have your feet scanned at your local Fleet Feet so you can find your perfect fit!