Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Review

Comfort and Fit

Many of Brooks' shoes focus on providing classic comfort for feet, starting with a comfortable upper, and the Adrenaline is no exception. The materials are high-quality, but they are also a little thick and heavy. At the heel, the Adrenaline features a very stiff, yet generously padded, heel cup. Despite the plush padding, we still noticed the rigidity of the heel cup while running. While not necessarily uncomfortable, our heels felt like they were pressing against a wall. Additionally, there's some padding on the exterior of the heel cup, which seems like a superfluous addition, serving only to make a heavy shoe unnecessarily heavier. Unfortunately, there's no pull tab or loop to help pull the shoe on without crushing the back.

There are soft-touch materials along the heel collar and around the ankle. The tongue is well-padded but not gusseted; however, we didn't experience any issues with it moving while running as expected. The upper has two layers at the forefoot. There's an airy mesh on the outer layer, and a tighter weave on the interior against your foot. The overall running experience works well; we didn't have trouble with rubbing or blisters, and were able to achieve great lockdown pretty easily.

The fit of the Adrenaline is pretty darn good, with a length that is true to size. The toe box width is average, tapering to an average width at the midfoot and heel. Brooks offers the Adrenaline in Narrow, Medium (which is what we tested), Wide, and Extra Wide fits to help runners dial in an ideal fit.

Runners who prefer a very supportive feel will likely enjoy the way the Adrenaline feels. While the heel cup is extremely stiff, it was designed to help control motion, and it does this well. For many, this control and stiffness are desired and even appreciated, but for others, it can feel uncomfortable. In the shoe, our heel and midfoot sat slightly recessed into the midsole. It's like the shoe is a bucket seat, with sidewalls along the inside and outside of the foot. The walls are most pronounced on the interior of the foot to help prevent the feet from collapsing inward. For the same reason, there is also a chunk of different-density foam under the arch of the foot, but it also creates significant pressure when running. Overall, the Adrenaline does what it sets out to do. If you like a shoe dictating where and how your foot should move, it's likely to be a good fit. If not, you probably won't enjoy running in it.

Cushioning

The addition of Brooks' DNA Loft v3 midsole foam is a welcome improvement over the previous version. It's a little more compliant and slightly more resilient than the previous foam. However, it isn't soft and is one of the firmer midsoles we tested. Alternatively, it felt very insulating, providing good protection for our legs on longer runs.

We measured 39 mm of foam at the heel, and a 13 mm drop to the forefoot. This is a pretty significant drop, and it could feel unnatural for many runners. During our runs, the higher drop was noticeable, but not uncomfortable. Higher heel-to-toe drops place a slightly greater load on the knees and hips, and runners with known issues in those areas may want to consider lower drops to help prevent soreness or potential injuries. However, for runners who struggle with pronation-related lower leg injuries, it may be a good thing.

Landings in the Adrenaline are comfortable but slightly firmer than we are accustomed to. Rolling through the foot feels pretty smooth, though the midfoot area is a little uncomfortable due to the harder arch foam.

We feel the Adrenaline is best for running at slow or steady paces. While faster paces are possible, it feels somewhat clunky as speed increases. Runs where we tried to pick up the pace required more effort than we would typically expend.

Breathability

The Adrenaline runs warm, thanks to the comfortable and more plush upper. Often, comfort and breathability are at odds, and compromises need to be made. Our feet got pretty sweaty in the Adrenaline on summer runs, and still ran a bit warm even in 50-60 degree evenings. How much of an issue this is depends on where and when you run and how hot your feet typically get.

Traction

Brooks gave the Adrenaline a rectangular pattern rubber outsole at the forefoot, with coverage in other key contact patches. The rubber compound is solid, providing good grip on cold and wet pavement. The lugs also do a good job providing traction on crushed gravel paths or on snow.

Should You Buy the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24?

The Adrenaline is a fan favorite shoe. This is the 24th version, so Brooks is clearly doing something that a lot of runners like. However, we don't think this shoe is a great choice for the majority of runners. Why? Because it's a stability shoe with pretty noticeable medial guidance. For runners who don't need extra support, it can feel uncomfortable and invasive. Second, the shoe lacks the overall value of key competitors. Other options have better cushioning or better responsiveness. However, if you want a simple stability shoe, the Adrenaline should make your shortlist.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?