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 · 10.0 oz · 32/20mm stack · 12mm drop
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 is based on 10 runner reviews and 12 other rated shoes in the Adrenaline GTS product line.
Very good
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 is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
88 High
External retailer ratings
We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.
The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
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.”
“Not overly cushioned but offers enough for long runs on pavement.”
“After 12 more months of weight room use, they still refuse to break down.”
“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 Oct 22.
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.
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 · 5 reviews
86 Good
83 Confidence
-
2024 · 16 reviews
87 Good
88 Confidence
-
2023 · 60 reviews
93 Excellent
98 Confidence
-
2021 · 55 reviews
86 Good
98 Confidence
-
Adrenaline GTS 21 This shoe
2020 · 10 reviews
90 Very good
88 Confidence
-
2019 · 10 reviews
72 Decent
87 Confidence
-
2018 · 40 reviews
75 Decent
99 Confidence
-
2017 · 38 reviews
76 Decent
98 Confidence
-
2016 · 12 reviews
77 Decent
93 Confidence
-
2017 · 9 reviews
75 Decent
93 Confidence
-
2014 · 34 reviews
69 Below average
98 Confidence
-
2013 · 78 reviews
84 Good
99 Confidence
-
2012 · 57 reviews
71 Decent
98 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 10.0 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 10.6 oz · Women's 9.4 oz
- Release
- 2020 Q4
- MSRP
- $130
- Stack
- 32/20mm
- Drop
- 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
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