Welcome to Retail Therapy by Prevention! In this series, our editors provide thoughtful, honest reviews of what we’ve been testing lately that we want you to know about—because we refuse to keep these game-changing finds all to ourselves. Whether you’re on a mission to find something specific or simply need a little retail therapy in the form of an impulse purchase, consider this your insider’s shopping guide to everything our team thinks is worth the buy.
I am a huge fan of Brooks sneakers, specifically the Ghost line, so much so that I wrote a love letter to them in the form of a gushing review this summer. But I am always curious to see what new tricks and features the brand is releasing on their latest silhouettes. So when I heard Brooks had put out a brand new iteration of Adrenalines (a go-to of Jennifer Garner and our Deputy Digital Director at Prevention, Emily Goldman), I was curious to try them.
After all, the pair boasts that hits the perfect sweet spot between support and comfort with an updated upper and insole, and I am always in the market for a new versatile sneaker that can get me through icy commutes to power walks and more. But do the Adrenaline GTS 25 live up to the hype? And how do they hold up to previous iterations? Here are my thoughts.
The fit
I typically wear a size 9.5 in athletic shoes, and these fit really well. I have previously worn the Adrenaline 24 and I was surprised at how much roomier the toe box was. It did not add too much length to the shoe, but it offered overall more space for my toes to wiggle around, which I found particularly helpful as my feet tend to swell a lot during my more intense cardio workouts.
The heel collar comes up slightly higher than the prior model and also offers a heel tab for easy on-off, which I appreciated. And the upper has been updated with a new stretchier (and more breathable) mesh that helped keep my feet well ventilated, even after putting them through the wringer at an aerobic dance class. Because of these updates I found them super easy to pull on, and the laces felt extremely secure. I typically have to retie my shoes a few times during my first workouts (and inevitably end up ordering new, flatter laces), but these were immovable throughout. A huge plus in making my feet feel secure.
The feel
The Adrenalines have been updated with a new responsive cushioning in the insole, and I was surprised at how much I liked them. The 24s felt pretty bouncy to me (which has its time and place, but I prefer a plusher cushion), and these gave me all the comfort I desired and more. The blend of dynamic and soft cushioning helped keep my stride smooth while offering a light and efficient feel. I can honestly say this is the best update on this model, as it made walking long distances much more comfortable. Though soft, the dynamic cushion provides the perfect amount of arch support to keep me feeling grounded and stable.
The performance
Brooks’ signature GuideRails® technology makes this shoe a standout. If you are not familiar with the brand’s support system, it is designed to protect your feet and knees by using padding on the inside and outside of the edges of the heel and sole to help prevent rolling. As someone with weak ankles (I sprained both of them a few years back at the same time and they have yet to reach full strength again), I love the extra assist in keeping my knee and ankle aligned to prevent injury.
In fact, I wore these on a long walk only 24 hours after a snow storm and was genuinely shocked at how stable I felt in them. The grippy outsole combined with the GTS made sure that each step was smooth and aligned, even when tip toeing across ice. I was particularly impressed with them during my cardio dance class, too. I often leave with aching knees and hips, but due to the dynamic cushioning felt no residual joint pain. I think the roomier toe box also helped a ton, as I felt I was able to spread my toes and not strain my foot during any of my activities, from standing to walking to cardio.
One last thing
I give this pair top marks across the board for cushion, arch-support, and stability. It’s a true standout in the Brooks’ lineup of walking shoes—and as a mega fan of the brand, that’s saying something. (There’s a reason it boasts an American Podiatry Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance for foot health!). But, if you are looking for a deal and not necessarily the best Brooks shoe, the prior model—the Adrenaline GTS 24 is currently on sale for $109. Given how incredibly this pair performed, though, I am inclined to tell you to shop the 25. It really is worth it, given its updated insole and upper.
SHOP BROOKS ADRENALINE NOW
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