Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15 Review

The best thing about the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15 is the generous stability it offers at a reasonable price. The posting is dense and dependable through every mile and the low cost coupled with excellent durability make this model an affordable stability option.

The Asics Gel-Kayano 21 and the Asics GT 2000 2 also provide a lot of support and stability when landing. They're designed for over-pronators. The Adrenaline GTS is the most affordable of these three models.

Performance Comparison

Responsiveness

We give the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15 the highest score in responsiveness of all the shoes in the stability category. Running shoes that are too heavily cushioned lack responsiveness. For example, the Asics Gel-Kayano 21 scores lower in the responsiveness category due to the soft and cushy ride which sucks up some of the bounce. The Adrenaline GTS strikes a good balance of cushion and firmness for a stability shoe, which allows it to maintain a higher sensation of responsiveness in the ride and feel faster than other shoes in its same weight class. If you're looking for the most responsive shoe we tested, check out our review of the ridiculously responsive and highly propulsive Mizuno Wave Rider 18.

Landing Comfort

We feel the Adrenaline GTS 15 has a reasonably comfortable ride, though it is definitely a step below the level of comfort of the Asics Gel-Kayano 21. We do notice the ride in the Adrenaline GTS 15 feels faster than its top competitors, the Asics Gel-Kayano 21 and the Asics GT 2000 2. We love the Caterpillar Crash Pad used, which makes the ride much more comfortable than the older versions of this shoe. This crash pad is also found in the Editors' Choice winning Brooks Ghost 8, which is our favorite shoe of all. Additionally, its wide landing platform gives a feeling of more control and stability when making ground contact. Brooks also uses the same Anatomical DNA technology in this shoe as they do in the Ghost 8. Because of the dense midsole posting, the ride is not as comfortable as the light and neutral Ghost 8.

Upper Comfort

The upper on the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15 scores quite low when compared to the rest of the road running shoes in the group. The upper fit feels to be a bit cramped, uncomfortable, and our feet just don't seem happy with the fit. We advise you to go up ½ size when compared to your regular running shoe size. On the plus side, it is very aesthetically pleasing. Another few things we do like on the upper is the small lace eyelet to keep the tongue in place, just like on the Brooks Ghost 8, and that the heel counter is not too rigid like the one found on the Mizuno Wave Rider 18.

Breathability

This shoe earns an average score on our breathability metric. We feel Brooks could have increased the breathability of the Adrenaline GTS 15 if there wasn't so much happening on the upper. It feels overloaded and we think there is an unnecessary amount of plastic flair on the upper that prevents the feet from adequately breathing. We do notice that Brooks trimmed down the upper overlays compared to the previous version, but they can still drop a few of the synthetic overlays used primarily for aesthetics. The Ghost 8 is way more breathable, doing a much better job at keeping feet dry and blister free during runs.

Weight

The Adrenaline GTS 15 weighs in on the heavier side at 11 ounces per pair in a size 9. Though, we definitely don't feel it runs like a clunker. It runs light and fast relative to its heavier weight and even more so than lighter shoes in the same class. If you want to see our killer review of the lightest stability shoe we tested, take a look at one of our favorites overall, the Asics Gel Kayano 21.

Durability

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15 receives a higher durability score than all the other stability road shoes. We notice very light wear on the outsole tread after logging significant miles in our test pair. Based on the super smooth and efficient ride when compared to the other shoes in the group, we believe this will only help its case for extended durability. It might not be as comfy as the plush Asics Gel-Kayano 21, but we expect it to last quite a few more miles than the Asics. The Mizuno Wave Prophecy 3 scores highest overall in durability with its crazy efficient and smooth ride.

Old vs. New Versions

Opportunely, we were able to test the three most recent versions of this shoe. Significant changes were made to the midsole on the 15, and we love it. We much prefer the ride and landing comfort in the Adrenaline GTS 15 over the 14. The 15 features a similar cushioning to the Brooks Ghost, the Caterpillar Crash Pad, which is one of our favorite features. The landing is now significantly softer in the updated version. The upper in the toe area is nearly 100% seam welded, which is always a welcoming upgrade.

Best Application

When you're looking for reliable, consistent stability in a road shoe, break out this classic Brooks model for your next training run. If you are looking for a stability shoe but want a more comfortable upper, try out the Ascis Gel-Kayano 21, which is notably more comfortable right out of the box.

Value

Being a wonderfully designed stability shoe with a $120 price tag, we give this shoe our Best Buy award. Its high durability score ensures that the shoe will last a long time for a road running shoe, making the investment in this pair a great value.

Conclusion