Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 Review – The Most Comfortable Stability Running Shoe?


The Brooks Adrenaline GTS lineup is a proven and tested reliable shoe in the stability category. While all the previous year’s iterations were great, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 has been rumored to be the best of the best in the lineup.

In this Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 review, we will find out if this shoe is a worthy successor of the Adrenaline GTS line.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 Full Review

Grey/Tradewinds/Deep Cobalt

GTS stands for Go-to shoe and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is exactly what it says it is.

This shoe has a nice, simple design element that could be worn in and out of training.

It has a comfortable and snug overall fit that does not allow a lot of movement of your feet inside the shoe. It is a very important quality for a shoe, especially if you’re going to spend a lot of training miles in it.

Its hard heel counter and the guide rails on both sides keep your foot stable and help prevent overpronation during your gait cycle, making it perfect for runners that overpronate.

It has a balance of softness and responsiveness that is vital for an everyday training shoe. Very similar to how the Ghost 13 feels.

To describe this shoe in a sentence, ‘This running shoe is the most versatile stability shoes’ which is exactly what I’m looking for for a training shoe.

If you’ve used the Brooks Ghost line before, this shoe is much like the comfort you’ll feel at the Brooks Ghost 13, only this shoe gives more stability and is 2 Oz heavier versus the same size.

Courtesy of Brooks Running

Specifications

  • Support level: Stability
  • Running feel: Soft
  • Stack height: 32mm heel / 20mm forefoot
  • Heel-toe drop: 12mm
  • Weight: 10.4oz / 294.8g
  • Surface: Road

Who are these for?

This shoe is recommended for both beginners and pro looking for a Go-to stability shoe for every day use.

Its soft, cushioned landing feel makes it perfect for long distances, somewhere around a half marathon at a steady pace.

Although you can use it as a 5-10k distance, this is not a fast shoe. It’s a little bit heavier to use for a race.

What’s included?

The package includes a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21.

Overview of features

Extended DNA Loft Midsole

Brooks DNA Loft midsole now extends from the heel to the forefoot giving the shoe a softer feel from landing to toe-off. This feature is a huge improvement from the previous iteration’s DNA loft which is present only in the heel.

BioMogo Sockliner

The BioMogo sockliner helps reduce landfill waste by up to 30 million pounds in a 20-year period while not sacrificing the performance.

Guide Rails

The guide rails at both sides of the shoe gives the runner more stability within his/her gait cycle.

It prevents the foot from overpronating during the gait cycle which could help reduce the impact on the joints.

This shoe is perfect for runners prone to overpronation and those with a low arch.

Blown Rubber Outsole

The blown outsole rubber gives the shoe a softer landing feel while providing good traction.

According to pro runners, the blown outsole has shown no signs of wear and tear even after 50 miles of running distance with the shoe. This indicates that this shoe will last a lot of running miles before it will need replacement.

Engineered Mesh

The engineered mesh gives the shoe just enough breathability which helps cool your foot without keeping it too open for your toes to get wet.

Pros

  • Soft landing feel
  • Very durable shoe
  • Snug fit all around
  • Gusseted tongue helps provide a better fit
  • A lot of flex in the forefoot
  • Has a nice, stable heel counter
  • Very comfortable around the foot
  • Thick, durable yet light outsole

Cons

  • 12mm drop is a little tall for my liking
  • It’s heavy

FAQ

In Summary

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21

Runners Get Up

Upper
Midsole
Outsole
Comfort
Fit
Durability
Stability
Price for Value

Summary

What I like most about this shoe is its well-balanced soft feel throughout the shoe. It’s very comfortable to use for long runs at a steady pace.

I highly recommend this shoe for runners needing stability shoes to use daily.

4.6

Best Alternative

Saucony Endorphin Shift

While the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is a great option if you’re looking for a soft, long-distance stability shoe, runners who are used to a lesser drop may feel alien when they wear a 12mm drop running shoe.

This is where the Saucony Endorphin Shift comes in. It has a minimal 4mm drop that will make you feel more connected to the ground. Plus, it is more responsive and light. A good alternative for runners looking to be fast in a stable shoe.

While running shoe preference vary from person to person, there’s a guide on choosing the perfect running shoe for you. I’ve made an entire article just for that. Check it out!

Nicho Mauricio

Running wasn't always my favorite sport. I was a CrossFit athlete and I loved every bit of it. But since the pandemic began, I was forced to stay away from the gym and train at home instead. Things got boring. That's when I decided to trail run with my friends. I instantly got hooked. So I started training and researching all things running. As a beginner, I want to buy only the best running gear and do only the best practices. This blog is where I share what I've learned in my journey and my experiences as a runner.

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