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Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 Review

If you're after stability, this is one of the best all-around options in our lineup
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Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 Review (The sidewalls of the Adrenaline GTS 23 help guide your foot and provide stability to runners who need it.)
The sidewalls of the Adrenaline GTS 23 help guide your foot and provide stability to runners who need it.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $140 List
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Manufacturer:   Brooks
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2024
54
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#29 of 30
  • Landing Comfort - 30% 4.0
  • Responsiveness - 20% 5.0
  • Stability - 15% 7.5
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 7.0
  • Weight - 15% 4.6
  • Traction - 5.0% 7.0
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 is a reliable, stability-oriented daily trainer. Thanks to its GuideRail technology, it has a supportive ride that helps keep your motion directed forward without feeling invasive. Paired with a comfortable upper and good traction, this is a good option for runners who want a daily trainer that can help cue good mechanics without sacrificing all ability to pick up the pace. That said, we found the Adrenaline to be stiff, heavy, and not meant for speed. It all depends on your preferences, but with a competitive lineup of top-of-the-line contenders, this one just wasn't our favorite. See the best pairs we tested in our men's running shoe review.
REASONS TO BUY
Stable ride
Comfortable upper
Decent cushioning
REASONS TO AVOID
Stiff
Heavy
Not the best at speed

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
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Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Men's Running Shoes
Top Pick Award
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Best Buy Award
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Price $99.95 at Amazon
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$140.00 at REI
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$135 List
$135.00 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
54
73
72
71
70
Star Rating
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Bottom Line A great option for stability and all-around reliability, though stiff and heavyAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Brooks Adrenaline G... Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Landing Comfort (30%)
4.0
8.0
8.3
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (20%)
5.0
8.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (15%)
7.5
5.7
7.0
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
7.0
7.5
8.0
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
4.6
6.8
5.8
8.4
5.3
Traction (5.0%)
7.0
5.0
4.0
6.2
9.0
Specs Brooks Adrenaline G... Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Measured Weight 10.57 oz 9.03 oz 9.76 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Measured Heel Stack Height 35 mm 38 mm 43 mm 30 mm 38 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 13 mm 11 mm 7 mm 7 mm 11 mm
Plate Type None Nylon None None None
Rocker Angle 24.0 deg 25.0 deg 22.5 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 69.9% 67.7% 66.5% 62.2% 66.7%
Style Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer
Upper Engineered knit Engineered mesh/knit Engineered woven/knit FantomFit Engineered knit
Midsole DNA Loft v2 PWRRUN PB FF Blast + Eco FuelCell NITROFOAM
Outsole Rubber Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type None None Finger loop None None
Sizes Available 7 - 15 US, narrow, medium, wide & extra wide 7-15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Adrenaline has been around for a long time as a go-to for runners looking for support and stability. Obviously, shoes are a very personal thing, but we just don't think they hold up well from a performance standpoint — the cushioning is harsher than most modern shoes, and they aren't as responsive. That said, it's a solid option that we still recommend if you're in need of something that can help cue healthier running mechanics.

Performance Comparison


brooks adrenaline gts 23 - forefoot cushioning is extremely poor compared to most other trainers.
Forefoot cushioning is extremely poor compared to most other trainers.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Landing Comfort


In a lot of ways, this is a very similar shoe to the Ghost 15. Both shoes have a similar heel-toe drop (the Ghost has a 12 mm drop, and the Adrenaline has 13 mm) and an identical 35 mm stack height in the heel. The DNA Loft V2 foam is similarly firm in this application, although we think it is a little more forgiving. The GuideRails along the inside and outside of the heel and midfoot add some sidewall structure to provide motion support. Often, we find most support to feel intrusive. On this shoe, that wasn't the case.

While we thought the heel cushioning was fine, our lower legs took a beating from the lack of cushioning in the forefoot when landing mid to forefoot. We don't love the limited cushioning of this shoe. It feels both firm and dead. However, in a stability shoe, we expect a bit of added firmness to support the foot. We think the Adrenaline works much better for heel strikers than it does for runners who land farther forward. Similarly, we found it was uncomfortable landing at high speeds, where the foot often first strikes on the outside and then moves inward as we roll through our gait.

brooks adrenaline gts 23 - the rocker angle of a shoe can affect how responsive and smooth it...
The rocker angle of a shoe can affect how responsive and smooth it feels underfoot.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Responsiveness


Because of the dense and firm foam, there isn't much bounce to the Adrenaline 23. There's no rocker to promote a snappy toe-off, just a slab of foam under the foot that isn't very responsive. While this isn't a responsive shoe, that typically isn't your biggest concern when you're looking for a stability shoe. The features that make the Adrenaline stable also reduce its responsiveness, so it's a reasonable tradeoff.

The Adrenaline won't win any awards for a responsive shoe, but it's reasonably firm which allows for decent toe off.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


It's a stability shoe that gives lots of support, performing very well in this metric. The GuideRails do a great job of keeping your foot feeling planted, and the very rigid heel cup keeps the foot locked in. While the shoe scored highly for support, we think that the stiffness actually was a bit of a drawback when it came to lateral stability. On uneven surfaces, we found that the rigid heel cup and narrow base forced our ankles into awkward positions. This isn't a shoe we would recommend for anything other than smooth surfaces.

The GuideRails are the main stability feature of the Adrenaline.
The GuideRails are the main stability feature of the Adrenaline.
Two different approaches to stability, the GuideRails of the Brooks...
Two different approaches to stability, the GuideRails of the Brooks Adrenaline 23 (top) and the wide base of the Hoka Clifton 9 (bottom).
This is one of the most stable shoes we've tested, though it isn't perfect for lateral stability.

Upper Comfort


The upper of the Adrenaline is quite comfortable. It's a traditional design that works well. We didn't experience any slippage, regardless of pace, and got no hotspots even on our longest runs. The padded tongue does a good job, and the gussets keep it well-planted. The footbed feels snug, as we would expect from a stability shoe, and we experienced great lockdown throughout the foot. Our only complaint about the upper is that we found it to be a bit warm on hot days. A little more breathability in the mesh would be a welcome addition.

brooks adrenaline gts 23 - a plush upper with great lockdown makes this a comfortable shoe to...
A plush upper with great lockdown makes this a comfortable shoe to spend time in.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Weight


This is one of the heavier shoes we tested, which is to be expected. It packs a lot of motion support features and a comfortable upper, so weight penalties are par for the course. Weighing in at 10.57 ounces (per shoe) for a US men's 10.5, this is clearly not a light daily trainer. But we were impressed by how similar in weight the Adrenaline is to the non-stability Ghost 15 (which weighs 10.31 ounces).

brooks adrenaline gts 23 - this isn't the heaviest shoe we tested, but it's up there.
This isn't the heaviest shoe we tested, but it's up there.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Traction


The rubber outsole does well on wet surfaces, and the shape of the tread allows the Adrenaline to bite well on loose surfaces. It's one of the few daily trainers with noticeable lugs from the side profile.

Should You Buy the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23?


We think that this is the best all-around stability shoe in our lineup. If you want stability and support features, this is a good choice. If you don't need or want those supportive features, there are far more enjoyable shoes out there. The Adrenaline works well for longer and easy runs, but other neutral shoes offer decent stability that our testers prefer for workouts. But if you just want one shoe and need reliable stability, this is a good option.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


The Asics Gel-Kayano 31 is also a great stability shoe. It offers a wider base and less firm support, which we felt made it more enjoyable from a comfort standpoint. The Hoka Clifton 9's wide base and plentiful cushioning feel quite stable when fatigue sets in and mechanics begin to break down. It could be a great choice that's more enjoyable as a daily trainer.

Nathaniel Bailey