Reader review
5/5
Overall
A great shoe! Very happy with my Brooks shoes
Anonymous runner · Jun 21, 2024
60 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike Pegasus 41
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 8.6 oz · 12mm drop · 32/20mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 replaced it
How it ranks
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Durability and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 10 runner reviews and 12 other rated shoes in the Adrenaline GTS product line. Another 2 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.
Excellent
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
90/100
What runners say
“Refused to blow out at the toe-box, unlike other brands, even after heavy use.”
“Wore down quickly and started reinforcing overpronation instead of preventing it.”
“After 12 more months of weight room use, they still refuse to break down.”
“Not overly cushioned but offers enough for long runs on pavement.”
“The fit is very good, especially in the forefoot, where I've had issues.”
Prefer this shoe over another
58% 7/12
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- All ten reviewers so far rate it 4 out of 5 or better overall, averaging 4.8.
- One reviewer uses it for easy miles, tempo and progression runs and speed work.
- The Adrenaline GTS 20 before it scores 70 on ten reviews.
Cons
- Appearance is the weakest dimension at 4.0 out of 5.
- One reviewer sees it wear down quickly and stop controlling their overpronation.
- Cushioning averages 4.3 out of 5, and one reviewer calls it moderate.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
50
60
70
80
90
100
25
50
75
100
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS
Each dot is one version of the Adrenaline GTS, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2025 · 4 reviews
81 Good
61 Confidence
-
2024 · 16 reviews
93 Excellent
89 Confidence
-
2023 · 60 reviews
97 Exceptional
97 Confidence
-
2021 · 55 reviews
91 Very good
95 Confidence
-
Adrenaline GTS 21 This shoe
2020 · 10 reviews
95 Excellent
90 Confidence
-
2019 · 10 reviews
70 Decent
78 Confidence
-
2018 · 40 reviews
82 Good
95 Confidence
-
2017 · 38 reviews
86 Good
96 Confidence
-
2016 · 12 reviews
83 Good
87 Confidence
-
2017 · 9 reviews
77 Decent
85 Confidence
-
2014 · 34 reviews
73 Decent
94 Confidence
-
2013 · 78 reviews
94 Excellent
98 Confidence
-
2012 · 57 reviews
76 Decent
96 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.6 oz
- Release
- 2020 Q4
- MSRP
- $130
- Stack Height
- 32mm heel - 20mm toe
- Drop Height
- 12mm
Runner reviews
Very solid training shoe
4/5
Overall
I've run in at least three generations of the Brooks Adrenaline. For many, many years I ran exclusively in Asics, going all the way back to the GT. But I made the switch to Brooks a few years back and have had great success with them. The fit is very good for me, especially in the forefoot, where I've had some issues. (My podiatrist, a serious runner himself, said of my right foot — and I quote — "Yeah, that's a shitty foot.") But the Brooks have allowed me to train better than I have in a long time. They're not overly or distractingly cushioned but still offer enough for long runs on pavement.
Anonymous runner · Jun 17, 2024
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Kayano 14
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
My go to shoe
5/5
Overall
I have been wearing stability shoes for a long time now, and Brooks is one brand that I can keep going back to. I have never had any issues with my ankles rolling in these, or felt unsupported in anyway.
Sam Beck · Aug 7, 2023
50 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Brooks Glycerin 20
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Great, VERY DURABLE, shoe
5/5
Overall
I've beaten the crap out of this shoe and it, unlike other brands, refused to blow out at the usual places around the toe-box. I've since relegated them to my weight room shoes and for 12 more months they still refuse to break down.
Anonymous runner · Jul 31, 2023
20 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 4/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 6, 2023
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Brooks
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 In Context
More on the Brooks Adrenaline GTS
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 next version
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 20 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike Pegasus 41 1 runner
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 14 1 runner
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 1 runner