Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 Review

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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