For several years now, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS has been a category leader in the maximum support category. Shoes in this category offer support just beyond moderate over-pronation but not so much that they become motion control shoes. This niche is filled by other shoes like the Mizuno Alchemy and Saucony Omni (Ultimate now 8), but the Adrenaline has been the sales leader and is one of the most popular shoes in the industry. Thus any update to this shoe is always critical.What’s New
1. The heel design has greater decoupling and a beveled angle to slow the rate and degree of pronation while also providing a smoother ground impact and transition.
2. The medial TPU support has been removed, as it is no longer needed as a result of the heel redesign.
3. Asymmetrical midfoot wrap has been added to provide a better fit.
4. Profile Sockliner replaces standard sockliner for greater cushioning and enhanced arch contour.
Does this version run better than last years?
No longer just about good pronation control and a reliable fit, The Adrenaline GTS provides a noticeably smoother ride compared to past models. Our wear testers were all in agreement that the ride of the shoe was fairly smooth and, in comparison, the ride of the Adrenaline GTS 9 was a bit abrupt. Jonathan and Phil felt the shoe was a bit softer than average, whereas Bonnie noted the shoe was a bit firmer than average. All wear testers assessed the energy return as good but felt there was a slight delay in the energy return. Another consistent evaluation was the flexibility of the shoe was a tad toward the stiffer side.
How is the fit?
The fit of the shoe tends to be geared toward lower volume feet, but the medium width accommodated a good range of feet. Phil has slightly wider, flatter feet and noted that his feet hung over the base of the midfoot but overall fit was not an issue. Jonathan has a slightly narrower foot and felt the shoe hugged his foot nicely without too much excess material. Although it did not cause a problem, Jonathan noted the tongue was a bit short. Bonnie has normal width foot and commented that the fit seemed tailored for her feet. All testers noted the toe-box height was a bit lower than medium. Bonnie said the heel collar was low, so it did not cause irritation but the resulting fit with orthotic inserts was not ideal.
Bonnie says: The shoe has great step-in feel. For a support shoe, it feels a bit light and the shoe keeps me in touch with the road. I am concerned that the loss of TPU reinforcement may result in less pronation control than previous versions.
Phil says: I think the shoes feel comparable to other shoes at this price. The midfoot could be a bit wider to better accommodate my flat feet. I liked the low arch feel and the feel for the road.
Jonathan says: Best Adrenaline to date. The 9 was a bit firmer than the 8 and I feel like the 10 is probably a bit softer than the 8. I liked the heel-to-toe transition and even though the shoe is a bit softer than other versions it has a pretty good road feel. I just wish the tongue was longer.
Symmetry is usually good, what about asymmetry?
With the Adrenaline 10, the Brooks’ designers were challenged with making a top-selling shoe better without losing its current customer. We feel the designers were successful. Fit is always a critical component of any shoe update. Although a new, asymmetrical midfoot wrap has been introduced to better specifically fit the medial and lateral sides of the foot, the overall impression of shoe fit remains consistent with the Adrenaline GTS 9.
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