Brooks Adrenaline GTS Vs Launch GTS Vs Glycerin GTS

Looking for a stability shoe that also offers top-notch comfort and quality?

Brooks’ three stability shoe options are all worthy contenders. But how do you know which is the right one for you?

In this article, we’ll compare the Brooks Adrenaline GTS vs Launch GTS vs Glycerin GTS. They’re all fairly similar shoes, but have some small differences that may be the deciding factor for you.

All three shoes have a spacious toe box, nice cushioning, and a high drop. They also all feature Brooks’ GuideRails technology, which is designed to provide support without being interfering with your stride.

The Launch GTS is the lightest and more affordable of the shoes. It’s ideal for mild overpronators.

The Adrenaline is the mid-range option. It’s decently priced and nicely cushioned. It’s one of Brooks’ best-selling shoes since it works well as an all-purpose daily trainer.

For those who want a very plush shoe, the Glycerin is the most luxurious, most cushioned, heaviest, and most expensive. If plush softness is important to you and you’re willing to pay a little more, this shoe is ideal.

Let’s check them out in more detail so you can make an informed decision.

Upper

Launch GTS 8

The air mesh upper of the Launch 8 GTS is lightweight, breathable, and hugs your foot in all the right places. Some runners may find that it has a snug fit in the midfoot. It’s spacious in the toe box, but will keep your foot securely locked down.

The one-piece, seamless upper is soft and smooth, which prevents blisters and hot spots when running. The tongue is thin and gusseted, which prevents it from moving and helps to provide a more secure lockdown of the foot. Flat and stretchy laces provide an excellent lockdown and don’t come loose while on the move.

A firm heel and padded elf ear provide a soft cushion for the heel without causing any irritation to the Achilles. Some runners may find that there’s some heel slippage, but using a runner’s knot will provide a full locked-down feel.

Adrenaline GTS 22

The upper on the Adrenaline GTS 22 has been improved since its last iteration, and now also features engineered air mesh. Not only does this make the upper more comfortable and lightweight, but it’s also more flexible. You most likely won’t feel much tightness throughout the upper.

It has strategic support and structure, thanks to 3D Fit Print technology. This improves the fit across the midfoot but remains breathable, with no points of irritation.

The shoe features a traditional lacing system with stretchy laces that allows you to get the perfect fit without creating pressure points. There’s an extra lacing eyelet for you to tie a runner’s loop if you feel that the heel isn’t snug enough.

The padding in the shoe isn’t excessively thick and the tongue and heel collar are nicely cushioned, which adds to the secure feeling of the shoe. An update to the heel counter makes it slightly firmer than its predecessor and securely holds your heel in place.

The molded insole provides a plush instep feeling. It’s removable, which is great if you want to insert your own custom orthotics.

Glycerin GTS 19

Unlike the two shoes above, the Glycerin features a double-layered Jacquard mesh upper.

It molds to your foot and has some stretch in the toe box, with more structure around the heel. This gives the heel and midfoot a snug and secure fit, while your toes can splay naturally and comfortably.

The gusseted tongue is soft and thick, with a traditional lacing system that helps you to get the perfect lockdown fit.

There’s plenty of cushioning around the heel. A low profile adds to the stability of the shoe.

Midsole

Launch GTS 8

The Launch GTS 8 uses BioMoGo DNA midsole cushioning, which is lightweight, firm, and responsive. It’s designed to be adaptive, and feels fast underfoot while flexing naturally with the bones and joints.

The shoe has a moderate 26mm stack height with 16mm in the forefoot. This cushioning is comfortable but firm enough for runners to pick up speed easily on both short and long distances.

GuideRails technology helps to guide the foot by reducing excess heel and shin rotation. This keeps your knee in its natural range of motion without feeling restricted.

Runners will most likely only feel the GuideRails more towards the end of long runs, when their legs feel fatigued and they need a little more support.

Adrenaline GTS 22

The Adrenaline GTS 22 is a dual-foam shoe, featuring both DNA Loft and BioMoGo foam.

It has had a minor update to the midsole, with the DNA Loft foam being extended across the full length of the shoe on the lateral side. This allows for smoother transitions as your foot moves through the gait cycle.

The remainder of the midsole cushioning is the firmer BioMoGo foam, so you get the perfect mix of cushioning and responsiveness.

Like the Launch, the Adrenaline features the GuideRails support system to help balance and control excess movement on every foot strike.

Glycerin GTS 19

The midsole of the Glycerin GTS 19 features full-length DNA Loft foam, which provides a good mix of a soft and comfy, and a responsive ride.

Although the cushioning is soft, it’s still firm enough to offer a bit of bounce and you won’t feel as though your feet are sinking into the foam. This makes it the ideal shoe for runners who compete in half or full marathons.

Like the previous two shoes, the Glycerin uses Brooks GuideRails technology, featuring a short lateral railing and a longer medial railing to control pronation.

Even though the Glycerin GTS 19 is a max cushion shoe, it provides smooth transitions and there’s plenty of flexibility when your foot flexes during push-off.

Outsole

Launch GTS 8

The Launch GTS 8 has a full rubber outsole with air-injected rubber in the forefoot. There’s more rubber coverage in the midfoot. Combined with the outsole pattern, this allows for quicker transitions.

It also makes the outsole’s grip excellent in both dry and wet conditions. The rubber outsole is lightweight, flexible, and will help to propel you forward.

Adrenaline GTS 22

The outsole of the Adrenaline GTS 22 covers and protects most of the softer midsole and features a softer, more grippy rubber in the forefoot.

To make the shoe more flexible, Omega flex grooves have been strategically placed in the forefoot, allowing your foot to flex naturally. They’re paired with a segmented crash pad, which helps to provide smooth transitions from heel to toe.

This outsole is durable and runners will see very little wear after running miles in these shoes.

Glycerin GTS 19

The Glycerin 19 outsole is made from two different types of rubber, with HPR rubber in the heel and blown rubber in the midfoot and forefoot. This makes the heel more durable, while providing excellent protection to the midsole foam.

The blown rubber on the forefoot allows for flexibility, and also features updated Omega flex grooves to encourage a natural roll through the toe-off. A guide groove runs the length of the outsole and helps to guide your foot through transitions.

Runners will find the outsole on the Glycerin GTS 19 to be reliable, with excellent traction on both wet and dry surfaces.

Other Features

Drop

Launch GTS 8

The drop on the Launch GTS 8 is 10mm, which most runners will find to be comfortable on both easy and long runs.

It’s a good drop for almost any runner, as it doesn’t place as much pressure on the forefoot as a higher drop would, but it’s not low enough to feel unnatural.

Adrenaline GTS 22

If you’re used to a 10mm drop, the Adrenaline GTS 22 may take some getting used to. It features a 12mm drop, which is slightly higher than most other stability shoes.

Brooks Glycerin GTS 19

The Glycerin GTS 19 has a 10mm drop. Runners who are used to a higher drop will enjoy the rocker-like quality of the shoe, which provides smooth transitions and mimics the higher drop to a degree.

The stack height of these shoes is 31mm in the heel and 21mm in the forefoot.

Weight

Launch GTS 8

The Launch GTS 8 is the lightest of the three shoes. A men’s shoe weighs 8.8oz (249.5 grams) and a women’s weighs 8.1oz (229.6 grams).

Adrenaline GTS 22

The Adrenaline GTS 22 is slightly heavier, with the men’s weighing 10.4oz (294.8 grams) and the women’s weighs 9.1oz (258 grams).

Glycerin GTS 19

The Glycerin 19 is very similar to the Adrenaline in weight. The men’s shoe weighs 10.7oz (303.3 grams) and the women’s weighs 9.0oz (255 grams).

Price

At the time of writing, the Launch 8 GTS is the most affordable of the three, priced at $100. The Adrenaline GTS 22 is the middle-of-the-range option, at $130. The Glycerin GTS 19 is the most expensive of the three shoes, and will set you back $150.

Summary

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of which of the three Brooks stability shoes is right for you!

To recap, these three shoes are very similar. They’re all designed specifically for overpronators, although severe overpronators may be better suited to a shoe with a more robust support system.

Mild to moderate overpronators will do just fine with the GuideRails support system, though.

The Launch GTS 8 is a great choice for mild overpronators who need mid-range cushion and support. It’s the most lightweight of the three as it has a little less cushion. It’s also the most affordable.

Coming in at the middle of the range is the Adrenaline GTS 22. It’s heavier than the Launch, but also has more cushion. It also comes with a mid-range price and would be a great all-purpose trainer.

The Glycerin is recommended for those who want a max-cushion, plush shoe. You’ll have to pay for the extra padding, though, as this is the most expensive of the three.