Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 - Women's Review

Our Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 Experience

We were nervous the first time we put these shoes on. They didn't feel quite right. The toe box felt wonky and the padding around the ankle seemed odd. Still, we laced them up and set off on our walk. It took about a mile for us to get used to them, and when we did, we were very comfy. The fabric loosened, and the stability features began to shine through.

Our tester, who tends to overpronate, wore these on a long day to the museum with her young kids (think: running around, dodging meltdowns, and standing in place to gaze at something seemingly amazing to a little one). To her delight, her feet weren't aching by the end of it. The shoes' stable base provides a solid landing, and they felt great to stand in for extended periods. The arch support is obvious and helps keep the foot from rolling inward.

Our biggest gripe is that the extra-padded ankle tends to pull down no-show style socks. We had to dig in our shoes to pull our socks over our ankles a few times throughout the day. This was remedied by wearing longer socks, but we would prefer to wear our normal socks with these.

A smaller detail that we loved was the stretchy heel and tongue tabs. These let us slide our feet in the shoe without feeling like we were going to yank our fingers off. It also meant that we didn't have to lace up the shoe everytime.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Comfort

Out of the box, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 was awkward. The shoes feel more “built up” than others, which can be attributed to their stability features, including GuideRails. Padding lines the ankle, which keeps your heel securely in place, but it's not a common feature seen on shoes, and it can take some getting used to. Support along the arches and outside of the heel is obvious, cradling the foot almost like a canoe. If you haven't worn a shoe like this before, this can feel different. We weren't sold on them at first, and we even packed an extra pair of shoes in our bag just in case they were that uncomfortable. Luckily, we never had to reach for them, as the Adrenaline broke in and proved itself.

We ended up surprised at how good these felt for walking and going about the day-to-day. They cradle the foot just enough to keep it from rolling inward or outward, and our heels stayed securely in place with the padding that wraps around the Achilles. The 39 millimeters of foam under the heel serves as both a comfortable standing platform and a shock absorber at heel strike. From heel to toe, the shoe transitions smoothly and stably, even with the 10-millimeter drop.

The stretchy knit upper is one of our favorite features. While still secure, the fabric has some stretch. We appreciated this small amount of allowance when our feet swelled during extended walks. This knit fabric is also breathable, with plenty of vents across the toe and midfoot.

Support

The Adrenaline is a stability shoe. If you need a stability shoe to prevent over- or underpronation, these will hit the sweet spot. If you do not need a stability shoe, these might still be comfortable, but you will have the stability features and extra weight to get used to. If you do not need a stability shoe, you will likely be more comfortable in a neutral shoe.

The Adrenaline GTS notably includes Brooks GuideRails Technology System (aka GTS). This is hard foam strategically placed within the midsole around the inside of the heel and arch and along the outside of the heel. As you step, the GuideRails prevent your foot from rolling too far inwards or outwards (overpronation and underpronation). Brooks explains this like a bowling lane bumper, gently nudging your foot back into alignment if it goes too far in one direction. In our experience, the GuideRail system kept our feet from pronating too far in either direction. While it felt odd at first, this became the reason we enjoyed them so much, especially during long days out. One tester, who overpronates when fatigued, could feel the difference in her knees, noting, “After I adjusted to these, I wasn't lying in bed at midnight thinking about my aching knees and ankles.”

Aside from the GuideRail system, the ankle is generously padded, which kept our heels securely in place. The laces can be cinched down tight for a more athletic feel or loosened for a more relaxed fit. While they have a large 10-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, we didn't find this to detract from their support or stability.

Durability

Throughout the duration of our testing, we didn't experience any durability concerns out of the ordinary. The shoes have a knit upper that feels high-quality and is resistant to holes. The rubberized outsole offers a better lifespan than similar shoes. As the tread wears down, it won't be eating away at the foam, as other road-style shoes might.

The foam midsole is susceptible to packing in, like most others of this style. You should get a normal walking season in these, ranging from 300-500 miles.

Traction

The Adrenaline GTS is best suited for concrete and pavement, though it can handle most surfaces.

The RoadTack rubber outsole is fairly grippy on outdoor surfaces. Indoors, it grips onto tile, wood, and linoleum. However, wet flooring is still slick as these bottoms aren't specifically slip-resistant. For most situations, you should have enough traction.

Weight

When we ordered the Adrenaline for testing, we expected it to be heavier than the rest. To our surprise, it wasn't. In fact, it was on the lighter side of average at 8.1 ounces per shoe (US 6.5).

We love when a shoe balances weight, structure, and support. The Adrenaline executes this perfectly. The DNA Loft v3 midsole is effective, yet light. The mesh and flatknit upper also cut back on weight and aren't bulky. This also makes for a lighter shoe. Less weight often means less chance of fatiguing from moving heavy shoes over and over. The Adrenaline gets it and keeps your feet supported without adding the extra ounces.