Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 review

We tested the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 and concluded that:

• It is a safe update for owners of a previous generation, as Brooks made small but positive refinements.
• It works well for runners seeking a comfort-focused daily trainer with excellent support.
• Anyone who found version 24 too firm should try this update, as the updated DNA Loft v3 foam now feels softer.
• Heel strikers seeking a workhorse with outstanding durability and excellent stability need to try this one.

Weight remains a clear issue with the Adrenaline GTS 25. We found that many rivals keep getting lighter and adding new tech, while this shoe still feels heavy. If you want a lighter option, we recommend the Adidas Supernova Solution 2 or the Hoka Arahi 8.

We also think the midsole feels a bit dull, and our lab results supported that with modest rebound numbers. For runners who want a more lively ride at a similar price, we believe the Saucony Tempus 2 is a much better choice.

Brooks responds to market demand with an increase in shock absorption compared to the previous version, making it more capable of handling longer runs.

We found in the lab that the GTS 25 now reaches 138 SA in the heel and 101 in the forefoot, which are still somewhat average numbers but better than previous generations.

One thing that stays unchanged in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 compared to the GTS 24 is the DNA Loft v3 foam. And that means moderate energy return, as we found last year, reaching now 52.1% in the heel and a slightly better, yet still below-average, 59.2% in the forefoot.

We found the heel stack height at 36.1 mm, which seems to us like a good compromise for a daily trainer that does not aim to enter the maximalist group, which makes sense given its stability-focused nature.

We took another measurement of the stack height, but this time in the forefoot area. Here we found another result that lands near the current lab average, making the Adrenaline GTS 25 easy to recommend for those seeking a versatile running shoe.

Another trend in the running shoe industry is that most brands are moving away from ultra-high drops, and we think it is a good move for almost everyone.

Brooks states a 2 mm drop reduction for an official 10 mm heel-to-toe offset. We measured a 13.2 mm drop in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24, and now we found only a minimal deviation of 0.2 mm for a final 10.2 mm drop, making it a much better option for runners who are not heel strikers.

The first thing that is really noticeable when using the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 is that it feels much softer than version 24. Despite still using DNA Loft v3 foam, Brooks has clearly tweaked the formula here because the underfoot feel is completely changed and no longer feels as firm.

Now it is much more balanced, hitting 34.5 AC in our Asker C durometer. To put that into context, that is 27% softer than the previous generation.

Something we really liked is that Brooks keeps the Adrenaline GTS 25 with a very mild rocker, something that we support for this shoe. This model is not about a rolling feel, but more about a predictable ride that also feels good when using the shoe as a casual sneaker.

In order to give you the best possible data about fit, we created a gel cast of the interior so we were able to take multiple measurements and compare the Adrenaline GTS 25 with other shoes.

The first one delivered 96.0 mm of width, which unsurprisingly lands close to our lab average once again. Brooks wants this shoe to bother as few runners as possible, that is obvious, so staying away from the extremes makes sense to us.

We noted the same idea with the toebox width, as it hit 72.8 mm. Maybe a bit more room for the toes would be nice here, especially for runners tackling long runs, but it still delivers the familiar Adrenaline feel anyway.

The toebox height felt sufficient during use, and our measurement confirmed that.

Another conservative design choice here with 26.6 mm, and again, we think that Brooks did the right thing.

With a friction score of 0.61, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 improved its traction on wet concrete in our custom lab test. Last year we found 0.48, so it is a solid step forward and another reason to upgrade.

The outsole has been fully redesigned to follow Brooks' latest design ideas, now featuring more rounded shapes and flex grooves throughout. The most important zones for runners with stability needs are well covered, and we think this is a very good update from last year.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 is a bit stiffer than the previous generation at 14.3N, but it still lands below the current lab average. And for a stability shoe, having a bit of rigidity is not a bad thing, as it helps create a more planted feel.

One area where the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 is not improving is weight. In fact, it is a bit heavier than last year, now hitting 10.4 oz or 295g.

Running shoes are getting lighter overall, but it seems that for Brooks this is not a priority here, and we can understand why. If losing weight means less comfort and durability, we are also not interested. But maybe in 2026 it is time to start thinking about a foam upgrade for this shoe that can shed some weight without any diminishing returns.

With Brooks tending to prioritise comfort in the Adrenaline line, we wondered if ventilation could suffer because of that.

After running our tests and evaluating the results, we decided on a 3/5 score. That leaves some room for improvement, but it should still work well during most days of the year unless you live in a hot and humid climate.

It is easy to see that Brooks went with a thick and plush upper here, focusing not only on a comfortable feel but also on structure and support to contain lateral forces.

Using our microscope, we were able to see even the tiniest detail of this knit-based upper, and it looks great from up close.

The upper will be amazing for those of you who prefer knit over mesh. It is plush, soft, comfortable, and stretchy, featuring a three-layer design that should also provide good durability.

But if there is one area where the Adrenaline GTS shines, it is stability.

The iconic, decades-old Go To Support system featuring GuideRails is here once again to provide a solid run for those with pronation issues, and with this model Brooks keeps refining the formula. It still works very well, delivering subtle yet effective stability without any harsh feel.

Thanks to the outsole design featuring multiple gaps between the rubber pods, the Adrenaline GTS 25 feels nice for everyday use and easy runs. It has some rigidity that works well for stability without overdoing it, hitting 14.3 Nm in our lab test.

The heel counter strikes a good balance between the comfort of a daily trainer and the support of a stability shoe, offering high but not maximum stiffness with a 4 out of 5 score.

The midsole width of the forefoot remains reasonable at 117.7 mm, and we would even say that it is on the narrower side for a stability shoe.

However, that comes with upsides, as heel strikers do not usually need that much width up front, and the shoe feels more agile in the toe-off phase.

The biggest change in the midsole design comes in the heel, as Brooks has expanded this area to 100.7 mm. The reason is very simple: they tweaked DNA Loft v3 to make it softer, so the shoe now needs to be a bit wider to counter that inherent instability.

However, we think this should be near the limit for this shoe. Going wider would make it too clunky, and that is not what you want from the Adrenaline series.

With a 3 out of 5 in our toebox durability test, we were satisfied here. It is not a brutally good outcome, but it is very reasonable if we take into account how comfortable it is.

Same story with the heel padding, as it outperforms the current lab average and should not pose any issue with early wear. One less thing to worry about.

Outsole durability is one of the main concerns for runners with pronation because they tend to concentrate wear in specific areas and wear out certain shoes quickly. But the Adrenaline GTS 25 responds well here, as we found only 0.5 mm of outsole wear.

In fact, the long-term durability of the Adrenaline GTS 25 has the potential to be simply legendary. With the previous result and now us measuring 4.1 mm of outsole thickness, this outsole is built to last for a very long time.

The insole included with the Adrenaline GTS 25 is pretty much standard, with a thickness of 4.9 mm.

It is possible to take out the insole and use another one with no problems at all. And given the light grey colour of this one, we predict that it will show dirt and wear pretty soon.

The DNA Loft v3 may not be the bounciest foam, but it showed good behaviour here. We put it in our freezer for 20 minutes and found only a minor 11% change in softness afterward. Not bad.

We did not find any light reflecting back at us during the reflective elements test, and that is always a bit of a letdown.

There are minor refinements in the tongue and lacing system when it comes to the materials used, but the core design remains in place, featuring the same dual lace loop that helps keep the tongue centred by pulling from both sides at the same time instead of using the usual single unit.

We also found that Brooks increased the tongue padding by 3.4 mm to reach an astonishing 12.5 mm. It is the ultimate demonstration that Brooks does not care much about weight on this shoe and wants the most comfortable experience possible.

The tongue does not come gusseted, and while the double loop works well to keep it centred, we would still love to see it attached to the sides at this price point.

The heel comes with a neatly integrated finger-loop heel tab that rises directly from the collar, similar to premium designs from other brands. We have found in the last few yaers that Brooks now excels with upper quality, and that strength shows once again here.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 carries a small $5 price bump, but it is still priced reasonably, and we think it offers good value, especially when taking into account the high-quality upper that elevates comfort.