Adrenaline GTS 25

Yes, for most runners the Adrenaline GTS 25 fits true to size, so order your usual Brooks size. The forefoot is a medium width and the structured upper holds its shape over long runs, so there is no need to size up for length. If you have a wider or narrower foot, Brooks offers 2E and 4E width options, which is a better fix than changing length. Runners caught between sizes are usually best staying true to size given how secure the midfoot lockdown is.

It is one of the safest beginner picks around. The gentle GuideRails support keeps your stride aligned without forcing a correction, the ride is smooth and predictable, and the cushioning is protective without being unstable. New runners often overpronate slightly as they build strength, and this shoe quietly supports that without getting in the way. It is durable enough to survive the stop-start mileage of a couch-to-5K programme, and forgiving enough that it will not punish imperfect form. A genuinely reassuring first running shoe.

You can complete a marathon in it comfortably, but it is not a marathon racing shoe. At 301g it is heavy and it lacks the springy, propulsive feel of a carbon plate, so it will not help you chase a personal best. Where it shines is marathon training: the long steady miles, the recovery runs, the weeks of consistent mileage that build your fitness. Many runners train in the Adrenaline and then race in something lighter. If you want support on race day itself, it will get you round, just not quickly.

The GTS 25 keeps the same dependable formula but smooths the ride. Brooks refined the transition so the 10mm drop rolls through the gait cycle more seamlessly than the 24, and the fit and upper feel a touch more dialled in. The core experience of quiet GuideRails support and a firm, protective DNA Loft platform is unchanged. If you loved the 24, the 25 is a safe reorder rather than a reinvention. If the 24 never quite clicked for you, the 25 will not change your mind dramatically.

Yes, for mild to moderate overpronation it is an excellent choice. The GuideRails system uses firmer foam walls beside the heel that only engage when your ankle or knee drifts too far inward, so you get support exactly when your stride needs it and freedom when it does not. Combined with the wide, planted base it keeps you aligned late into a run when fatigue creeps in. For severe overpronation that needs maximum motion control it may not be firm enough, but for the large majority of pronating runners it is more than sufficient.

Durability is one of its strongest suits. The Adrenaline line has a long reputation for high-mileage toughness, and the 25 continues it with a hard-wearing outsole rubber and a structured upper that holds its shape rather than stretching out. Most runners can expect somewhere in the region of 500 to 650km before the cushioning noticeably softens, and often more from the outsole. That durability is a big part of why it represents solid value at its price, especially for runners logging consistent weekly mileage who need a shoe that lasts.