REASONS TO BUY
Great stability
Comfortable upper
Decent traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Not particularly responsive
High drop will feel odd to some runners
Some runners will feel pressure under the arch
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Review
A comfortable and reliable stability-oriented shoe for eating up mileage
Credit: Natalie Kafader
RELATED: The Best Running Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
With the Adrenaline GTS 24, Brooks completely reworked a very popular stability shoe. It was a needed update, and we think Brooks did an excellent job of bringing the Adrenaline up to more modern standards without compromising what so many users liked about previous versions. The new DNA Loft v3 midsole foam is a significant upgrade. It still runs firm, but it is protective, and the new midsole design allows for much smoother transitions. The Adrenaline has never been a workout star, and that hasn't changed. This is a shoe for logging daily mileage, as the midsole lacks resilience and the geometry is not aggressive. The Adrenaline is a stability shoe that utilizes a variety of approaches to provide some direction and support. We think some of those approaches, namely the pronounced medial support, may make this shoe a no-go for some runners. We think it's best for runners who have been fans of previous versions, as well as those who value stability above all else.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Men's Road Running Shoes |  Excellent Performance without a Plate |  Best Value Men's Road Running Shoes | Another Great Value Road Shoe | |
| Price | $138.38 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $135 List $111.49 at Amazon | $130 List $127.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Stability in a comfortable and approachable package | A versatile and comfortable option we think most runners will love | Bouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatile | A daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price | One of the best value daily trainers we’ve tested |
| Rating Categories | Brooks Adrenaline G... | Asics Novablast 5 | New Balance FuelCel... | Puma Velocity Nitro 3 | Adidas Adizero SL2 |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5.0%) | |||||
| Specs | Brooks Adrenaline G... | Asics Novablast 5 | New Balance FuelCel... | Puma Velocity Nitro 3 | Adidas Adizero SL2 |
| Sizes Available | 7 - 15 US, narrow, regular, wide & extra wide | 6-15 US, regular & wide | 7-16 US, regular & wide | 7 - 14 US, regular | 4-19 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 39 mm | 41 mm | 30 mm | 38 mm | 38 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 13 mm | 5 mm | 7 mm | 11 mm | 9 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Rocker Angle | 25.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 19.5 deg | 18.0 deg | 21.0 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 58.3% | 56.0% | 62.2% | 66.7% | 53.3% |
| Measured Weight | 10.70 oz | 9.50 oz | 7.98 oz | 10.07 oz | 9.36 oz |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered jacquard mesh | FantomFit | Engineered knit | Engineered mesh |
| Midsole | DNA Loft v3 | FF Blast Max | FuelCell | Profoam | Lightstrike Pro, Lightstrike |
| Outsole | Rubber | AHAR LO | Rubber | PumaGrip | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | None | Finger loop | None | None | Pull tab |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
With the Adrenaline GTS 24, Brooks completely revamped one of their most popular daily trainers. It's a great update, bringing more modern features to a shoe some people will love. Still, we think its target audience is limited.
Performance Comparison
The Adrenaline GTS 24 brings a much-needed update to a popular trainer.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Landing Comfort
The new Adrenaline gets DNA Loft v3 foam, which is softer and slightly more resilient than the foam in the previous version. The shoe is still firm, but landings are better insulated than in previous versions. In our standardized testing, we measured 39 mm of foam at the heel and a 13 mm drop to the forefoot. That is a pretty large drop, which may make some runners uncomfortable.
Landings in the Adrenaline are comfortable, if firmer than we're used to. Compared to the similar Brooks Ghost 16, we found the ride smoother in the transitions and more insulated from the ground. However, the significant amount of medial support could be uncomfortable for some runners.
The midsole update is good, if a little firm.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Responsiveness
As a daily trainer designed to handle mileage, the Adrenaline works well. It isn't very responsive, though. Thanks to the relatively firm ride, it worked for lighter pickups, but the midsole lacked the resilience or geometry to make it feel good at faster paces. Thus, this isn't a shoe we would choose if we wanted to regularly push faster than marathon pace.
The Adrenaline is not a responsive daily trainer.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Upper Comfort
The Adrenaline GTS 24 has a very comfortable, soft mesh upper that provides an easy fit. However, it ran a little warmer than average. Overall, we have no complaints about the upper. It works and is reasonably plush, which is a good fit for a shoe designed to simply log the miles.
The upper isn't very breathable, but is comfortable.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
This is where the Adrenaline scores very well. Thanks to the GuideRails (pronounced sidewalls), there is significant medial support, with some less noticeable lateral support. We found most of the stability to be through the heel and midfoot. While Brooks doesn't advertise the Adrenaline GTS 24 as having medial posting, the shoe feels as though it has a pretty significant medial post — right under the arch of the foot. While this won't bother many runners, some may be sensitive to the pressure.
Here, you can see some of the different density foam at the midfoot that provides medial support, as well as the lateral sidewalls.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
The Adrenaline GTS 24 is a little heavier than average in our lineup. We measured it at 10.70 ounces. That's fine for a daily trainer that isn't meant to handle faster work, but we wouldn't mind seeing the shoe lose a few ounces. On the other hand, it might be a worthwhile tradeoff for runners who are less concerned with all-out performance and want the increased traction and comfort.
It's no lightweight, but the Adrenaline will work for easy to steady mileage.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
Traction is above average, with the outsole rubber grabbing well on wet and cold pavement. We found the lugs to provide a decent amount of traction on loose surfaces. Overall, outsole coverage is great, with enough rubber for every footstrike type. We also love that getting rocks stuck in the outsole is hard. Plus, the coverage suggests that the outsole should be very durable.
Outsole coverage is excellent, and the design of the lugs is effective.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24?
This has been a popular model for a long time, and the 24th iteration is arguably the best. However, we don't think the Adrenaline GTS 24 is a phenomenal choice for many runners. That's due to two factors. First, it's a stability trainer with significant medial support. For some runners, that will be great. For others, it will feel uncomfortable. That makes it necessary to try before you buy (Brooks does offer a 90-day test guarantee for their shoes, which is incredible). Second, the shoe isn't that versatile. There are better options if you want a stability trainer that can handle faster paces and feel fun. So, should you consider the Adrenaline? If you like stability shoes or are a previous fan of the Adrenaline, then yes. It's a great workhorse daily trainer, but there are better options if you want premium comfort or decent responsiveness.
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If you know you prefer a stability trainer, we love the Saucony Tempus 2. It's more cushioned and responsive than the Adrenaline, making it more versatile. You also might want to consider the Asics Gel-Kayano 31, a stability-oriented max-cushioned trainer. Finally, if you're looking for a reliable daily trainer that feels planted and is versatile, we think it's hard to beat the Puma Velocity Nitro 3.
—Nathaniel Bailey
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