Beast GTS 24

The Beast rides exactly how it looks: substantial, protective and unhurried. At 340g this is a heavy shoe, and you feel that weight on the leg, especially if you are used to lighter trainers. What you get in return is a stable, planted ride that never feels tippy or vague underfoot. It is happiest at an easy, steady rhythm. Settle into a relaxed pace and the cushioning and support do their job quietly, mile after mile. Ask it to pick up the pace and it feels flat and sluggish, because that is simply not its job. The tall 12mm drop rolls you forward off the heel, which suits heel-strikers and runners who like a traditional, cushioned gait. If you want to run fast, this is the wrong shoe. If you want to run comfortably and safely for a long time, it delivers.

Cushioning is the Beast's headline strength. There is a deep, protective stack under both the heel and forefoot that shields your legs from the road, which is exactly what heavier runners and anyone logging high mileage on hard surfaces wants. The feel is soft but controlled rather than bouncy. Do not expect the springy energy return of a modern super-foam trainer here. Instead you get dense, reassuring protection that stays consistent late into a long run when your legs are tiring. It is forgiving on the joints and holds up well over distance. That protective depth is a big part of why the shoe weighs what it does, so the trade-off is clear: you accept the heft to get the cushioning and durability. For its intended runner, that is a trade worth making.

Stability and support are the whole point of the Beast GTS 24. Brooks fits it with the GuideRails system, which sits either side of your heel and only engages when your stride drifts out of line, gently guiding your knees and ankles back onto a straight path. It is a subtle, non-intrusive kind of support rather than a hard medial post shoving your arch. Combined with a wide, planted base and the shoe's sheer mass, the result is one of the most secure-feeling road shoes you can buy. It is built for moderate to severe overpronators and heavier runners who genuinely need structure. Neutral runners and efficient strikers will find all that control unnecessary and the shoe needlessly heavy. If your pronation is mild, the lighter Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 gives you the same GuideRails idea in a far more versatile package.

The upper is built for all-day comfort and long-haul security rather than a locked-down racing feel. The engineered mesh is soft and gives a little across the forefoot, which pairs nicely with the roomy fit and suits runners who value comfort over a snug wrap. Padding around the heel collar and tongue is generous, so hot spots and rubbing are rarely an issue even over long runs. It is a plush, forgiving environment for the foot, in keeping with the shoe's whole comfort-first character. Ventilation is fine for UK conditions though this is a warm, substantial upper rather than an airy summer racer. If you want a lighter, more breathable everyday shoe and do not need the support, the neutral Brooks Ghost 17 is the airier option.