Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 Performance Review

If you’re a wrestling fan, you know there are some wrestlers who are so damn good at what they do that we take them for granted and maybe don’t appreciate them enough – like John Cena before his US Championship Open Challenge, Randy Orton for most of his career as a bad guy, or even Cody Rhodes during his time in AEW (we’ll come back to him later). [Editor’s Note: We don’t need to do that.]

Brooks is much like John Cena in that it’s undeniably great and brings in record-breaking revenue year after year. But think of the Ghost and the respect that long-running (but non-Max) version gets…which is very little. You’ve probably even seen some of your favorite reviewers (not here!) clown on the shoe for being so reliable year after year.

But recent years have given Brooks a bit more of a cool factor – not unlike the aforementioned Cena joining forces with Travis Scott and The Rock (hey, boss, how’s that for SEO?) – with shoes like the Ghost Max 2, Glycerin Max, and Hyperion Max 2.

So it was with great interest that the WearTesters team opened up boxes containing the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, the company’s signature stability workhorse.

Can the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 continue the recent winning streak from Brooks? Let’s find out.

What is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25?

According to the tech sheet from Brooks, this shoe is for “Runners (and walkers) who need support and want a smooth, reliable ride. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 offers Go-To Support thanks to holistic GuideRails as well as soft and dynamic DNA LOFT v3 cushioning for distraction-free comfort.”

The company highlights new features, including “3mm of added DNA LOFT v3 cushion in the forefoot [and] 1mm of added cushion in the heel for added comfort and a 10mm offset.”

Yet overall, that sounds a lot like previous Adrenaline GTS models – but is that good or bad? Let’s jump in.

Cushion

Arune: The name of this shoe makes me think of Cody Rhodes’ entrance song “Kingdom” that essentially opens with the line “Adrenaline in my soul…Every fight out of control…” [Editor’s Note: And…there it is.]

Unfortunately, that does not describe my experience with this midsole.

I actually really do like what Brooks has done with its “premium nitrogen-infused” DNA LOFT v3, but there’s simply not enough of it in this shoe for a 210-pound, newer runner like I am who isn’t light enough in weight or gait to get the most out of this setup. The energy return feels completely neutralized every time I try to do anything faster than a light jog – which means the shoe isn’t a brick, but any bounciness is canceled out by the relatively slight stack height.

But you know where this shoe does excel? As a walking shoe. And I’ve worn this shoe every day since we got it for testing. I wear it for long walks with my wife, taking the dog on her favorite path by the LA River [Editor’s Note: Oh look, Arune is reminding us he lives in SoCal – shocking], and just for those times I need to clear my head with a cool evening walk to look at the stars.

I tend to like a slightly firmer midsole, and everything about the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 that works against me in running helps me in walking. The midsole doesn’t create the instability that can mess up my lower back (looking at you, Hoka Clifton 9), doesn’t get me moving too fast, and the more modest stack gives me a strong sense of groundfeel when I’m walking.

Drew: Arune is right that the DNA LOFT V3 in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 is firmer than expected, especially if you’ve run in a lot of the other shoes that use this foam (with the notable exception of the Ghost Max 2, in which the firmness is very similar).

While I felt the shoe was protective and did a good job muting impact, there’s no plushness or squishiness. That’s not typical of the industry these days but happens more in stability shoes, as the main job there is to avoid unnecessary or excessive side-to-side movement. We’ll talk more about that in support, but this midsole does well in that respect.

The midsole of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 can soak up lots of slower-paced daily miles (or walking miles) and will be durable. Only those who prefer minimal squish under their feet will truly love the way this midsole feels as the miles drag on. When I went past mile 8 on my runs in the shoe, I began to wish I’d worn something squishier. However, those that run six or fewer miles daily may find there’s plenty of impact protection to get the job done (pending runner height/weight of course, as that can change things).

The Adrenaline GTS 25 can pick up the pace a little bit. You don’t want to do intervals or a full workout, but you can use it for a fartlek-type workout and feel pretty fast whenever you start turning over your legs.

Support

Arune: I’ve never really been much of a stability shoe guy in the past because I’ve usually been chasing whatever the hot daily trainer of the day is, hoping a shoe might make me feel like a real runner (which is silly, because simply running makes me a runner…that and the Nike Zoom Fly 6…that’s my GOAT shoe).

But after reviewing the Saucony Guide 18 this year, I’ve realized how much I like a good stability shoe. And you can add the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 to that list.

Cody Rhodes’ song declares, “Hard times breed better men” [Editor’s Note: Again?], and that’s not only true of the GTS 25’s midsole but also of the GuideRails that refuse to let your foot move anywhere it’s not supposed to move. I’m one of those people who needs to resole his boots because I pronate outwards, wearing out the outer heel corners. But the GTS 25 makes me think I might actually know how to walk straight.

The Guide 18 remains my stability shoe of the year, but the GTS 25 is right behind it thanks to the way it eliminates any excess movement.

Drew: I really enjoyed the support the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 provides. It’s in the upper echelon of currently available stability shoes. If you don’t need it, it disappears. But if tired legs or poor form start mucking things up, the GuideRails get to work and keep you moving straight ahead by curtailing unnecessary motion.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 also comes with a wide base, an ample internal heel counter, and higher sidewalls at the heel and midfoot. This combo, alongside the GuideRails, keeps the foot firmly in place and fully supports knees and ankles without controlling too much of the foot’s natural motion path.

Traction

Arune: I’ve taken this shoe on gravel paths, hot pavement, wet grass, and…well, that’s about as much weather as we get in LA, unless you count the storms of impatient smoothie customers at Erewhon. [Editor’s Note: I mean, that sounds plenty grisly to me…]

This outsole looks built to last, and I’m already 100 miles into this shoe without any traction issues. What more could I want?

Drew: While I’m seeing some solid wear in the forefoot of my Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, the rubber is so thick that it’ll take me hundreds of miles to make a true dent. This is a shoe nicely built for durability, and buying it will arm you with an outsole that will last.

And even though all my runs were in dry conditions, I found the outsole to grip as I’d normally expect on any mainline Brooks model. I’d expect some slippage in wet, mildewy conditions, but rain and other typical running conditions won’t pose a problem.

Upper

Arune: I know that Brooks gets a hard time for its “boring” uppers, and I’m not here to argue that assessment. There’s nothing about the visuals of this shoe that makes you say, “WOW”, but I also think much of the Brooks customer base sees that as a positive. I’d love to see a few more chances taken with design to allow for some collabs or limited colorways that could appeal to a fashion-focused audience, but who am I to question Brooks when the company is achieving such record-breaking success?

Aesthetics aside, this engineered mesh upper is incredibly accommodating for a wide variety of feet – like my Hobbit feet with a slightly wider forefoot. That’s paired with some exceptional breathability that you might not expect from an upper with so much padding, including that thick tongue (that really needed to be gusseted at some point).

Drew: I’ll echo Arune in that the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25’s upper is extremely comfortable. Some of it is typical Brooks construction (toebox, heel collar), but I found the tongue and pull tab to be an upgrade over Brooks’ standard engineered mesh uppers. The laces, which were a perfect length [Editor’ Note: Wait a second, is this Drew – not Arune – talking about laces…? The world truly is upside down these days.], are also luxurious and stay tied without double-knotting.

While I’d love for the tongue to be gusseted and maybe wish for a little more style, I appreciate the gradients and pops of color Brooks used on my pair (the one in the pictures). The Adrenaline GTS 25 will be a hit among all Brooks fans.

Is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 wide foot friendly?

Arune: Yup. Brooks is great about having multiple widths available, but the standard sizing will be a breath of fresh air for folks like me.

Drew: Yes, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 is wide-foot friendly, and I’d bet there will be a wide option for release day.

Is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 worth $145?

Arune: Hell yeah…kinda.

As a running shoe, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 isn’t really for me; but if it’s for you, then you’ve got a damn reliable running shoe that’s gonna take you through a lot of daily runs at $145.

But as a walking shoe, this is my favorite pair I’ve laced up in years. And I’m probably going to buy a second pair when these officially release (unless Brooks wants to send me that slick Black/White pair). This feels like the kind of shoe I’m going to buy multiple pairs of during the next year and then stock up on more when the 26 hits.

There are more versatile running shoes around this price point – like the Asics Novablast 5 or adidas Evo SL – so those are worth considering, depending on your usage.

Drew: I too would recommend the $140 Novablast all day over the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, but anyone who needs stability and a reliable daily trainer will get their money’s worth with this shoe. It provides everything needed to soak up lots of miles. 

The only question will be what kind of underfoot feel do you want? Because if you want more squish underfoot, you’ll be happier with something else from our list of best stability running shoes. But the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 will make it onto that list too…so I don’t anticipate price being a big factor in the final purchasing decision.

How to use the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 is a durability-focused daily trainer with enough support for those who need some motion control and is best used for easy and recovery runs. The Adrenaline GTS 25 thrives on daily miles.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 Summary

Arune: There’s no walking shoe I’ve enjoyed more in recent years (and it’s probably second only to the Asics Gel-Kayano 14, which is my favorite shoe – of any kind – ever). So the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 is a can’t-miss stability shoe option.

It’s not a shoe I’ll use for running myself, but Brooks smartly identifies it as a good walking shoe too – and boy does it excel at the latter for me.

Drew: The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, assuming you enjoy the underfoot feel, is in the top tier of stability shoes. It’s built to last, comfortable, and has unobtrusive support that makes slightly controlled feet feel natural with every footfall. I’d recommend trying it on if you’re in the market for a stability shoe. It’s simply the best way to know if it’s the shoe for you.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Arune Singh (age 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming from Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Disclosure

While Brooks did provide pairs of the Adrenaline GTS 25 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.