Stablzing, dependable, and predictable journey: John
Accommodating match: John
Cushioning: John
Cons:
Introduction
John: There’s one thing poetic for me about testing the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25. Twenty-five years in the past, once I first laced up trainers as an entire novice, my first pair of coaching footwear was the Brooks Adrenaline. Again then, I had no idea of heel-to-toe drop, stack peak, or midsole foams – I simply knew these footwear felt safe, steady, and helped me uncover a love for working. Now, 25 years later and numerous miles down numerous trails and roads, I discover myself reuniting with this iconic stability workhorse, curious to see the way it has advanced and whether or not it might probably recapture that preliminary magic that hooked me on working.
The Adrenaline has been Brooks’ flagship stability shoe since 1999, and model 25 represents not simply incremental enhancements but additionally the accrued knowledge of many years of runner suggestions.
Brooks highlights this newest iteration as providing Go-To Help (GTS) due to holistic GuideRails in addition to delicate and dynamic DNA LOFT v3 cushioning for distraction-free consolation.
It will get notable enhancements together with 3mm of added DNA LOFT v3 cushion within the forefoot and 1mm of added cushion within the heel for added consolation and now has a 10mm drop, down from 12mm. However does extra cushion mechanically translate to a greater shoe?
Stats
Spec Weight: males’s 10.6 oz / 300g girls’s 9.5 oz / 269g US8
Stack Top: 37 mm heel / 27 mm forefoot
First Impressions, Match and Higher
John: Out of the field, the Adrenaline GTS 25 is strictly what you’d count on from Brooks: understated, purposeful, and constructed with function slightly than flash (although I really like the colorway!). The shoe highlights new options, together with 3mm of added DNA LOFT v3 cushion within the forefoot and 1mm of added cushion within the heel for added consolation and a 10mm offset. The higher development instantly feels extra substantial than its trail-focused siblings just like the Catamount, which is smart given the totally different meant use circumstances.
The engineered mesh higher strikes a pleasant stability between construction and breathability. The toe field supplies ample room with out feeling sloppy, and the midfoot lockdown is safe with out being restrictive. I notably admire the flat-knit collar development, which eliminates stress factors.
The GTS 25’s higher is extraordinarily comfy – the tongue is well-padded, although I do want it had been gusseted to stop migration throughout longer runs. The heel collar supplies wonderful construction and safety, with sufficient padding to stop any scorching spots or irritation.
Match-wise, I am testing these in my common dimension 9, they usually really feel true to dimension with simply sufficient room within the forefoot for pure toe unfold through the toe-off section. The higher accommodates my barely slender foot effectively, although Brooks is nice about having a number of widths accessible for many who want lodging.
Midsole & Platform
John: This model of the GTS makes use of Brooks’ DNA LOFT v3 foam, including 3mm of added DNA LOFT v3 cushion within the forefoot, 1mm of added cushion within the heel for added consolation and a 10mm offset. The entire stack peak measures 37:27 with a 10mm drop.
On the highway, the midsole feels extra substantial than its trail-oriented cousins however maintains a way of floor connection that I admire. The nitrogen-infused foam supplies ample influence safety with out feeling overly delicate or unstable. There is a firmness to the journey that some may discover limiting, however I really discovered it fairly applicable for the meant use case.
The vitality return feels utterly neutralized each time I attempt to do something quicker than a light-weight jog, however I am okay with this as I’m utilizing this for a supportive restoration shoe.
Throughout my testing on Boulder’s diversified terrain – from the graceful bike paths to roads to the marginally rougher surfaces of the Marshall Mesa path system – the midsole struck me as predictable and confidence-inspiring. It’s not going to win any awards for vitality return or bouncy responsiveness, however it supplies precisely what most runners want for his or her every day coaching miles: constant, sturdy cushioning that will not fatigue your legs prematurely.
The 10mm drop feels pure and promotes a clean heel-to-toe transition. In contrast to some high-drop footwear that may really feel back-heavy or encourage overstriding, the Adrenaline GTS 25 maintains good stability all through the gait cycle.
Outsole
Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions
John: The journey is totally different from what I’ve come to count on from at the moment’s cushioned trainers. As an alternative of bouncy, energy-returning traits that dominate footwear at the moment, the Adrenaline GTS 25 presents one thing that makes me keep in mind why I cherished the shoe once I began working: a steady, predictable platform that merely will get out of your method and allows you to run.
The GuideRails stability system is the important thing. For those who do not want it, it disappears. But when drained legs or poor type begin making issues tough going, the GuideRails maintain you transferring straight forward by curbing pointless movement. This completely captures my expertise with the shoe and why it was such entry stage shoe for me way back. Throughout contemporary legs morning runs alongside Boulder Creek, I barely seen the steadiness options. However throughout drained runs after lengthy runs the prior day, I might really feel the refined steering conserving my type in verify.
The general journey high quality is clean and managed. There’s a way of being planted and safe that I keep in mind from trainers of a earlier period – earlier than everybody turned obsessive about maximalist cushioning and carbon plates. It’s not thrilling in the best way that trendy tremendous footwear are thrilling, however there’s one thing to be mentioned for a shoe that merely does its job with out fanfare.
Throughout tempo segments and the occasional fartlek on my common routes, the shoe responds decently with out feeling sluggish. It’s not going to make you are feeling quick, however it gained’t maintain you again both. The Adrenaline GTS 25 can choose up the tempo a little bit bit. You don’t need to do intervals or a full exercise, however you need to use it for a fartlek-type exercise and really feel fairly quick everytime you begin turning over your legs.
For those who’re searching for a shoe that may deal with every day coaching miles with out fail, present stability assist, and final for tons of of miles, the Adrenaline GTS 25 delivers on these guarantees. The $145 value level feels applicable for what you’re getting – a well-built, sturdy coach that may deal with critical mileage. Anybody who wants stability and a dependable every day coach will get their cash’s price with this shoe.
Who ought to think about the Adrenaline GTS 25? Runners who prioritize stability and sturdiness over vitality return and bounce. Those that put in constant every day miles and want a shoe that will not break down or shock them.
Trying again on my 25-year journey from that first pair of Adrenalines to this newest model, I’m struck by how a lot the working shoe trade has modified, but how the core mission of the Adrenaline stays fixed. It’s nonetheless a shoe for runners who worth substance over model, reliability over novelty.
General Rating 8.7 / 10
Experience: 8.5 – Secure and predictable, although missing trendy vitality return
Match: 9.0 – Accommodating and true to dimension with wonderful lockdown
Worth: 8.5 – Stable development and sturdiness justify the value level
Model: 9.5 – Conservative and clear design, love the colorway
Smiles: 😊😊😊😊and ½
Comparisons
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 (RTR Overview)
John: I didn’t evaluation the 24 however Allison, becoming a member of the evaluation quickly did, and can examine intimately
Mizuno Waver Rider 29 (RTR Overview)
John: Whereas each are stable every day trainers, the Wave Rider 29 and Adrenaline GTS 25 cater to totally different runners. The Wave Rider 29 presents higher vitality return and a extra elastic, dynamic, and responsive really feel attributable to its Power NXT foam and impartial cushioning. It is usually lighter. In distinction, the Adrenaline GTS 25 supplies stability-focused GuideRails expertise for runners requiring movement management and a firmer really feel. The Wave Rider 29 is right for these searching for a softer, extra energetic every day coach, whereas the Adrenaline GTS 25 is healthier suited to runners needing stability assist.
Index to all RTR critiques: HERE
The Adrenaline GTS 25 can be accessible Fall 2025
Tester Profile
John Tribbia (5′ 6″, 130lbs) is a former sponsored mountain/path runner who has run with La Sportiva, Brooks/Fleet Toes, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon. Although he competes much less ceaselessly as of late, you may nonetheless discover John having fun with the every day grind of working on any floor, although his favourite terrain is 30-40% grade climbs. He has gained races resembling America’s Uphill, Imogene Go Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Sequence; and he is held a number of FKTs on a number of iconic mountains in Boulder, Colorado and Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. For those who comply with him on Strava, you will discover he runs at various paces between 5 minutes/mile to 12 minutes/mile earlier than the break of daybreak virtually each day.
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