The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19 running shoes have undergone the biggest change ever seen in this model’s history. Some very bold and potentially controversial midsole changes. Only time will tell if Brooks has
created another technical masterpiece, or made a big mistake with their bestselling running shoe model of all time. So what’s so different? Well let’s have a look in detail at the big changes and if they’ll be right for you.
Quick Stats
- Shoe Type: Supportive (anti-pronation) Road Running
- Predecessor: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18
- Midsole Drop: 12mm
- Weight: 312g (Men’s), 272g (Women’s)
- RRP: £120
Summary
All in all the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19 is a completely revised version of the most legendary road running shoe model. The new support system designed to guide, rather than correct. It’s intended for any level of runner and will work for any distance from sprint-work all the way through to ultra-marathons. It offers a stable, supportive feel yet offers plenty of cushioning.
Pros
- No price change from the previous model
- Excellent cushioning
- Innovative support system
- Beautiful engineered-mesh upper
Cons
- Trying to fix something that already worked so well
- Slightly heavier than the previous model
Guiderails – The DRB replacement
The biggest change to the Adrenaline GTS 19 is the removal of their, well tried and tested, diagonal roll bar (DRB). This was the firmer piece of midsole on the arch side of the shoe, usually coloured Grey, which was used to reduce pronation of the foot. But before you stop reading, to mourn the loss of a legend, bear in mind the GTS 19 is still a supportive shoe. So let’s explain how it can still achieve great support and potentially even better stability.
To understand the difference, let’s quickly cover how the old faithful DRB worked. So imagine holding the right shoe so you’re looking at the back with the toes facing directly away from you.
The DRB was a diagonal cross-section of firmer material that ran from about a millimetre in height on the outer (right edge) side and ramped up through the shoe to the entire height of the midsole on the inside (left edge). This was then topped with a softer cushioning foam so that your foot was never in direct contact with the DRB.
This worked so well due to the foot wanting to pronate inwards (towards the arch) the entire rear foot would effectively be trying to roll up a ramp. This would slow pronation forces down and help reduce pronation-related injuries.
Guiderails still rely on different midsole densities, however, the method is altered. So now imagine a bird’s eye view of the shoe and an unsymmetrical horseshoe-shaped piece of firmer material around the outside of rear-foot. This cradles the heel and works by helping to guide the foot through its own natural gait. A bit like bumpers in a bowling alley.
The advantage of this method is that you’re working with the body, rather than against it. Hopefully, this should result in a smoother ride and less chance of injury. It also means that if you take an irregular step and perhaps your foot rolls outward, then the GuideRails will help guide you back on track. It also means that the cushioning directly underneath the heel can be much softer.
Midsole – New Support and Better Cushioning
So the DRB has been replaced by guiderails. This offers an opportunity for better cushioning, as there’s no DRB under the heel. Brooks have added their new extra soft DNA Loft cushioning, in addition to their tried and tested BioMoGo DNA midsole material. They still feature an integrated segmented crash pad in the heel, allowing the shoe to adapt to a variety of heel strikes and still give a soft landing. Overall it means that more of the midsole is available for shock absorption.
Engineered Mesh Upper – Streamlined, Supportive & Breathable
The upper on the Adrenaline GTS 19 is absolutely beautiful. It uses a very similar engineered mesh to the GTS 18, with a more streamlined toe-box and slightly larger ventilation holes. The 3D fit-print overlays are still there and they look fantastic, they’re also asymmetrically positioned around the saddle area to contour better to the foot. Originating from the heel, they help stabilise the entire heel and midfoot. The heel collar lining has also been replaced with a silky-smooth material for extra plushness.
Most other elements of the upper, including the fit have stayed consistent with the previous Adrenaline, so runners who fit well in the GTS 18 should like the 19. Wide widths are also still available.
Outsole – Very Smooth and Familiar
The flex groove positioning for the Adrenaline GTS 19 is almost identical to that of the model 18. There is also no change to the outsole material, harnessing that ideal blend of blown rubber for cushioning and lower weight; along with a large chunk of carbon rubber in the heel for durability. The carbon rubber heel piece has been extended forwards slightly, but other than this the grip and all other characteristics of the outsole are the same.
Is the GTS 19 for me?
We always advise a biomechanical assessment with every new purchase of running shoes, even if you know what sort of runner you are. However, if you are looking to purchase online and can’t get an assessment here are some attributes to help decide if the Adrenaline GTS 19 is for you:
It is a moderately supportive long-distance road running shoe. The support offered by the guide rails will now affect the stride for longer, so rather than just correcting the first third of the gait cycle, it is designed to guide your foot through most of the gait cycle. This makes it supportive for heel strikers who over-pronate (the majority of runners we see in store), but also much better for midfoot strikers.
The unique nature of the guide rail system should mean that it won’t interfere with neutral runners, but we can’t confirm this until we’ve seen more gait analyses in this shoe. Potentially it should work with the majority of runners. We feel that this is the ultimate goal of running shoe manufacturers; to eliminate “running shoe types” and simplify the shoe selection process for the runner.
So consider the Adrenaline GTS 19 if you:
- Like a stable, yet cushioned feeling shoe.
- Suffer from pronation-related injuries.
- Want a durable high-mileage running shoe.
- Have enjoyed any of the predecessors of this model.
If you’re not sure whether anti-pronation running shoes are for you, or if there have been any big changes to your running style, body or mileage then why not come and see us in store for a free biomechanical assessment?
Buy the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19 Today:
Alternatives
If you want to look at some alternative models that offer the same support, but a different fit and feel, then consider these:
Mizuno Inspire – One of our best-selling stability shoes and another excellent road running model. This shoe provides a lighter more responsive feel than the GTS and is also better for lighter or faster runners.
Saucony Omni – Definitely a great alternative if you are more of a midfoot striker, or add quite a few sprints into your training. Thanks to its 8mm drop you’ll feel faster and more dynamic, however, it won’t support quite as well as the GTS if you are a heavy heel striker or suffer from tight calves.
Brooks GTS 18 – Your other choice if you are unsure about this new model is to stock up on the GTS 18. Many of our regular customers have already said they’ll be stockpiling the previous model as they love it so much.