Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Review
By Matthew Klein
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10 oz, 283 g (men's size 9), 8 oz, 227 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 25 mm / 13 mm (not including insole)
Drop: 12 mm
Shoe Purpose: Moderate Stability Daily Trainer
Pros: Smoother Heel Transition/Ride, More Accommodating Toe Box, Stable
Cons: Low Volume, Difficulty Locking Down Upper, Heavier Than Necessary for Stack Height,
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 is a moderate to high-level stability daily training shoe that maintains its place as a rare medially posted shoe. A wider but lower volume upper provides a comfortable fit that requires a little extra lockdown. A new posterior lateral heel bevel makes for the smoothest heel transition in years, which makes the 12mm drop feel lower but no less protective. The new DNA Loft v3 midsole feels cushioned but slightly firm. Finally, a larger, more prominent medial post makes this shoe even more stable with the continued GuideRail, making it a great option for those who want a stable and supportive ride through the heel and midfoot. While the new Adrenaline is a complete redesign from prior versions, it maintains the aspects that made it great while improving many things that should please long-term and new Adrenaline users.
SIMILAR SHOES: ASICS GT-2000 13, Nike Structure 25
PAST MODEL: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 fits me mostly true to size in my normal men's size 10. I thought the shoe fit slightly short, but this has been due to the lower volume upper and slight taper at the toe box. The toe box is slightly tapered but opens into a slightly wide forefoot. The forefoot is lower volume, so it doesn't feel as wide as it really is initially. This transitions into a slightly wide midfoot with a non-gusseted, moderately thick tongue. I did have to both tighten the laces and lace lock the shoe as the slightly wider fit and lack of a gusset caused my feet to slide forward and hit the end of the shoe. This made the shoe feel slightly short until I was able to lock down the upper. The heel fits normally with moderate heel collar padding. There is a stiff heel counter in the rearfoot that was noticeable and occasionally bent while I was putting the shoe on. I was able to mostly fix this but those with heel sensitivities will not do well in this shoe. Those wanting a stiff counter will do great. Outside of the toe guard, the inner aspect of the upper is incredibly comfortable against bare skin. I found going sockless to be a solid option once I locked the shoe down on shorter easier runs but the toe guard required some break-in. Those with experience going sockless may be fine but those without experience should probably use socks.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Somewhat
How Flexible is the Shoe: Somewhat
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Somewhat
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: Somewhat
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 is a daily training shoe. While it is still a rare 12mm drop stability trainer, the revamped ride makes it feel different from prior versions. The midsole now features DNA Loft v3, which provides a cushioned, slightly firm and shock-dissipating feel. The cushioning feels softer compared to prior versions but is still slightly firmer and stable. The midsole is not the most responsive but does a great job dissipating shock and cushioning landings. The stack height is on the moderate side, making the Adrenaline GTS 24 feel more nimble than its listed 10 oz weight. There is a 12mm heel drop, but it does not feel as high as prior versions. This is due to the addition of a solid posterior lateral heel bevel that makes for fairly smooth heel transitions at initial contact and by far the smoothest heel transitions of any Adrenaline in recent years. This transitions into a stable and slightly stiff midfoot, which adds to the additional stability. The forefoot is moderately flexible, although the forefoot rocker is a little late. Those with toe mobility problems will not do well in this shoe while those wanting a little flexibility will do well. This also makes for a slightly snappy ride up front, which is consistent with prior Adrenalines that felt faster the farther forward you land.
The Adrenaline GTS 24 does best at easy paces though. The forefoot does allow for some uptempo paces and I have done several fartleks in this shoe. However, the midsole is more shock-absorbing than responsive, so those wanting a faster shoe should check out the Launch GTS or Hyperion GTS series. The Adrenaline GTS 24 can handle long runs but those used to more cushioning in this shoe may want to look at the Glycerin GTS for longer efforts.
The outsole traction is great on wet road and smooth trail. This is not a great option for technical trail but on roads it has been incredibly durable. I have 40 miles on my pair without any major wear on the outsole. The cushioning and feel of the shoe have remained consistent, suggesting that most people will be able to get an above-average number of miles for a trainer out of the Adrenaline GTS 24.
See a comparison between the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 and ASICS GT-2000 13 here.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 is a moderate to high-level stability shoe. It is a rare posted stability shoe, featuring a long medial (inner side) post with a wider sole and GuideRails (sidewalls). The most prominent stability measure is the medial post that runs from the heel into the midfoot. This doubles as a large medial sidewall and is the medial aspect of the GuideRail. This provides noticeable pressure along the inner side of the heel and midfoot. There is also a lateral sidewall at the heel, which makes up the remainder of the GuideRails. The posterior lateral heel bevel keeps transitions stable with slight lateral bias that is controlled by the lateral sidewall. This makes for centered, moderately stable and smooth heel transitions. The midfoot is quite wide, which adds to the additional stiffness from the medial post. This makes for a highly stable midfoot overall. This transitions into a mildly stable forefoot secondary to a mild medial sidewall. The forefoot is borderline neutral, so those with heel and midfoot stability needs will do best.
Thoughts as a DPT: What Do Medial Posts Actually Do?
By Matthew Klein
Brooks is one of the few remaining mainstream running companies that still using medial posts. This has been an interesting shift in the market, where most companies are now using different and unique ways of stabilizing/guiding the foot in their stability (and sometimes even neutral) running shoe lines. Although Brooks is using a more traditional method, they are still incorporating other methods like sidewalls, internal geometry and more. A medial post is defined as a firmer piece of material integrated into the sole on the medial side of the foot. This is usually in contrast to a softer foam surrounding it, with the idea that the foot will move away from the firmer foam and toward the softer foam. This is supposed to provide resistance to pronation and facilitate forward motion. While posts can facilitate forward motion, their primary function is to add stiffness to a certain part of the sole. This has been shown to not necessarily "stop" pronation or even modify how much pronation occurs but rather slow it down (Nigg et al., 2015). Medial stability mechanisms can be beneficial for those with difficult controlling the motion or who have a history of pronation related injuries (Willems et al., 2021).
The thought behind slowing motion down may be that it reduces the amount of eccentric load on the muscles that help control this motion. Fast eccentric loads create the highest levels of stress through muscles and tendons, which may be beneficial in a controlled rehabilitative or strength setting but problematic when uncontrolled or unprepared for. Slowing down the motion reduces the stress on the tissues and makes it easier for the individual to actively control the motion. Medial posts are still a relevant method for creating stability but they do not work for everyone. Those who like the pressure and stiffness on the side of the foot will do well but those who are sensitive to that may need other alternative methods. Fortunately, there are now a variety of different ways companies have created stability on the market and hopefully that means there is something for (almost) everyone).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The addition of a posterior lateral heel bevel has made a massive difference on the heel transition of this shoe compared to prior versions. This is a far better transitioning shoe both during walking and running. The midsole design is still classic Brooks, meaning it works better at slower paces to provide a cushioned ride but firms up with anything beyond a moderate pace. This means it will continue to work best for walkers, slower runners and easier efforts. While things have improved, the upper is where some work is needed. The material is comfortable, but far thicker than needed. I also had difficulty with the lockdown despite the lower volume. I highly suggest using some thinner materials, gusseting the tongue and adding a little more volume to this upper. The thinner materials will help drop the weight, which is already heavier than I would expect for a moderate stack trainer in today's age. The gusseting of the tongue will help with lockdown, so laces don't have to be tied as tight. Adding a little more volume will make this shoe more accessible to those with different foot shapes. Brooks is one of the few companies to offer their shoes in both narrow and wide versions, but a little more volume in the forefoot especially may provide more room and reduce the feeling of my toes hitting the end of the shoe (along with better security by gusseting the tongue).
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 is for those who want a moderate-to-high level stability posted shoe for walking and running. The upper will work best for those with lower volume feet that still want a bit of width in the midfoot and forefoot. The sole will work best for those who want a higher drop, a decently smooth heel transition and a shock absorbing, moderate stack midsole. The ride works best for those running at easier paces with a little bit of an ability to pick up the pace to uptempo efforts. The ride is slightly firm but protective with a stiffer heel/midfoot and a moderately flexible forefoot. This redesign is still an Adrenaline, but is one of the smoothest versions that made improvements without becoming a maximal shoe. This is likely to appease previous Adrenaline wearers who are afraid of change in addition to newcomers. It is unique in its traditional use of a medial post in today's market while looking sleek. The cost is quite good for a shoe that has such good durability and it is imperative that this shoe stick to its roots even while moving forward. This is one of the best transitioning Adrenalines in a long time that will likely continue as a Go-To-Shoe for many.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B (Wider but lower volume upper. Difficult to lock midfoot down due to lack of tongue gusset)
Performance: A- (Good heel transition despite higher drop. Best for easier efforts but forefoot allows some uptempo stuff)
Stability: A [Moderate to High] (Medial post in midfoot to heel combined with wider shape, lateral sidewall in heel, create a stiffer but centered/stable heel/midfoot)
Value: A- (A highly durable and now unique option on the market for those who want a high drop, medially posted shoe)
Personal: B+/A- (The heel transition makes the sole so much better for me but the upper creates some issues with security. Still a top option on the market for moderate stability but heavier than some of my other options)
Overall Design: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORBrooks Adrenaline GTS 24Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
A mild stability guidance trainer with nitrogen foam.
A mild stability, firmer sole trainer best for walking and light runs.
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