Brooks Glycerin Vs Adrenaline – Which Is Right For You?
Brooks is one of the most popular shoe brands due to their comfortable and well-cushioned shoes.
If you’re in the market for new running shoes and you’re doing some research into which model to buy next, chances are you’ve come across these two shoes: the Brooks Glycerin vs Adrenaline.
Both are popular running shoes. They are generously cushioned with a similar fit and a comfortably-sized toe box.
But there’s one large and significant difference. The Glycerin is designed for neutral runners. If you have a medium arch and walk with a neutral gait, your feet would be happy with the Glycerin.
On the other hand, the Adrenaline is a stability shoe. If you overpronate and need something to stop your feet from rolling inwards when you run, the Adrenaline is ideal.
But, there’s always a chance that either one could work for you and your feet. Let’s explore them in a bit more detail.
Upper
Brooks Glycerin
Brooks has reworked the upper of the Glycerin 20 since the last iteration, and the engineered mesh now features 3D printing. It provides structure and stretch to the upper, while wrapping your foot in a comfortable and secure lockdown.
The upper is surprisingly lightweight, with perforations on the toe box, designed to provide great breathability for those long runs on a hot summer’s day.
The interior lining of the shoe is soft and smooth, so there’s no irritation, chafing, or hotspots. For added in-step comfort, there’s a plush insole.
The gusseted tongue is padded, but it’s not bulky. It provides a snug and comfortable lockdown without creating any pressure points across the foot. An extra eyelet has been added at the top of the tubular laces for those who may need to adjust their lacing for a perfect fit.
The heel collar is also well-padded, with a thick layer of memory foam providing a snug fit. A rigid internal heel counter comfortably holds your foot in place.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS
Brooks also tweaked the upper of the Adrenaline GTS for the 23 rd iteration, and it now features a more lightweight, breathable air mesh upper.
The supportive structure of the upper comes from the 3D Fit Print overlays along the side of the shoe. These help to provide a secure lockdown as the upper hugs the foot, providing strategic support and structure.
Both the tongue and the ankle collar are padded and work together with the firm heel counter to provide a secure, comfortable ride.
The Adrenaline GTS 23 has a traditional lacing system with an extra eyelet. This allows you to tie a runner’s loop if you feel that the heel isn’t snug enough.
There’s also a thick, removable insert that provides a plush in-step feeling.
Midsole
Brooks Glycerin
The Glycerin provides a cushioned and stable ride, thanks to the full-length DNA Loft foam cushioning.
Brooks has chosen to add more DNA Loft to the midsole than the previous version featured, making every footstrike feel soft and protected. At the same time, you don’t get a feeling like your foot is sinking into the shoe.
While it may take a bit more effort to run faster with this foam, it provides a smooth, soft ride at steady paces and when running long distances. The foam is lightweight and durable and doesn’t break down easily, giving you many miles.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS
The Adrenaline GTS has a dual-foam midsole, featuring firm BioMoGo foam on the medial side of the shoe and full-length DNA Loft foam on the lateral side. This combination makes heel-to-toe transitions smoother and more responsive.
It also features Brooks GuideRails technology, which is built into the midsole to help control overpronation.
It encourages the natural motion of the foot, knee, and hips. These shoes are great for uptempo runs, fartlek training, long runs, and daily runs.
Outsole
Brooks Glycerin
The outsole of the Glycerin 20 is made from soft blown rubber. There’s a guidance channel that runs the length of the shoe on the lateral side, which helps to reduce the amount of stress on the foot by allowing for the natural bend of the foot as you move.
Multiple flex grooves in the forefoot of the shoe help to provide smooth transitions. They also allow your foot to move naturally through the gait cycle, reducing the chance for injury due to limited movement.
The rubber on the outsole is tacky, which delivers excellent traction on whatever surface you’re on.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS
The outsole of the Adrenaline GTS 23 is built to last for hundreds of miles. Blown rubber protects and covers most of the midsole, with just a small section under the heel remaining exposed.
Omega flex grooves in the forefoot allow for flexibility so your foot can flex naturally and comfortably. These work well with the segmented crash pads to help to provide smooth transitions and better toe-off.
Although a softer blown rubber has been used, which offers excellent grip and an extra bit of shock absorption, very little wear can be seen after running many miles.
Other Features
Heel-to-Toe Drop
Brooks Glycerin
The Brooks Glycerin features a heel-to-toe drop of 10mm. This is fairly standard, not the highest but still on the higher side.
For most, this should be an easy, comfortable heel drop that doesn’t place too much pressure on the forefoot.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS
The Adrenaline has a slightly higher drop of 12mm. This is also quite a standard drop but it’s considered to be a high drop. Runners who are used to this kind of drop won’t notice much difference.
If forefoot pain is something you struggle with, the drop may be slightly too high for comfort as it places a little more pressure on the forefoot.
Weight
Brooks Glycerin
The Glycerin is the lighter of the two shoes, but not by much. A men’s size 10 weighs 10.2 ounces (289.2 grams). The women’s equivalent weighs 9 ounces (255 grams).
Brooks Adrenaline GTS
The Adrenaline is ever so slightly heavier, but definitely not enough for it to really matter. In fact, for a stability shoe, it’s surprisingly light.
A men’s shoe weighs 10.4 ounces (294.8 grams) and the women’s shoe comes in at 9.1 ounces (258 grams).
Price
At the time of writing, there’s a $20 dollar difference between the Brooks Glycerin 20 and the Adrenaline GTS 23.
The Glycerine 20 is slightly more expensive, at $150. The Adrenaline GTS 23 is available for $130.
Summary
Ultimately, there’s not much difficulty when it comes to choosing which shoe is most suitable for you.
Do you have a neutral foot? The Glycerin is the shoe you should go for. Do you overpronate? The Adrenaline is the better choice to support your feet.
That being said, people with a neutral foot may find the Adrenaline to be fairly comfortable. Gone are the intrusive medial posts, replaced with a simple tri-density midsole for support and GuideRails for medial stability.
Those who overpronate, though, aren’t likely to find the support they need in the Glycerin. It’s softer underfoot than the Adrenaline, and extra support features are lacking.
But in terms of quality, they’re both excellent choices that are nicely cushioned, well-constructed, and lightweight.
