Adrenaline Rush: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Upgraded

Looks

The Adrenaline is pretty much a staple shoe for Brooks. I mean, there’s a reason it has 24 versions. That also means that it’s really simple to talk about looks here—basically, my perspective doesn’t really matter because there are 15(!) colorways already up on the Brooks website. We received the “Chateau Grey/Portabella/Green,” but honestly, you’re sure to find something that strikes your fancy with their various options.

Construction and Fit

The main thing I noticed right off the bat was it seeming to have a lower profile. Maybe it’s the fact that the running world is inundated with max stack and voluminous options—or the fact that it came packaged with the new Brooks Caldera 8 (a wonderful max-stacked trail shoe)—but it just looks and fits a little lower on the foot/ankles than I can remember trying recently.

I don’t think I am that far off because a midsole stack of 25mm/13mm is almost unheard of nowadays.

Specs

• Sample Weight: 10 oz (Men’s 9)
• Prior Version Weight: 9.1 oz / 261 g (women’s US 9)
• Midsole Stack Height: 25 mm heel / 13 mm forefoot
• Drop: 12 mm

Upper

The upper is new, though visually it doesn’t appear too far off from the aesthetic in our previous reviews. However, the upper is breathable with an AirMesh construction that is soft and holds the foot nicely without being constricting. It’s a very comfortable fit.

The heel is super padded, the thick tongue gusseted, and the whole ride feels super locked in and sturdy as a result.

Midsole

In addition to the super low stack height, the sturdiness also comes from the GTS (GuideRails) system. Simply put, this is an internal guiding system designed to offer stability through your feet hitting the ground and, as a result, keep those important parts of your stride aligned (think hips, knees, and ankles). I know many people swear by this stability in staying injury-free.

But while the GTS remains consistent, the midsole gets an upgrade to DNA LOFT v3—a supercritical midsole foam. It gives it a nice cushion. Overall, the shoe feels light and cushioned—but it’s still not really something for pushing pace overall.

Outsole

The outsole was surprisingly unique to look at. There’s a lot of coverage, but still some cutouts along the way that expose the foam midsole and cut weight. It’s also a new RoadTrack rubber that is made with recycled materials. Speaking of recycling – the shoe is made with 62.7% recycled materials in the upper and diverts 8.32 plastic bottles from landfills. Traction has not been an issue, and it seems like it will hold up.

Overall

I am not sure where this is going to fit in my running rotation, to be honest. I mean, my review is anything but critical, and overall I have enjoyed it well enough when running. However, it seems like something I am going to end up wearing interspersed with running and walking.

It’s a predictable feel in a close-to-ground package. It’s just not snappy enough—for me—to get the most out of my daily runs, where I aim to keep slowly improving my pace (FYI: I’m generally an 8 min/mi pace when running casual and try to keep things in the 7:30/7:45 range during most daily training runs).

The Adrenaline GTS 24 can handle it well enough—but it feels like I have to work a bit harder to keep it there. In reality, I think it may find a nice spot as a travel shoe now that I think about it. Our pair is a simplistic creamy brown color that can pair well and can easily transition into vacation miles (which are much slower miles—it is vacation, after all!).

We definitely recommending heading into your local running store and trying on a pair!