Brooks Glycerin vs Adrenaline GTS: Cushion vs Stability

Overview

This is Brooks vs Brooks — the two shoes most Florida runners end up deciding between. The Glycerin 23 is the brand's max-cushion neutral trainer. The Adrenaline GTS 25 is its flagship stability shoe. They sit in different categories, but the 2026 updates pulled them closer together than they have ever been.

What changed in the latest versions

Both shoes got a lower heel-to-toe drop. The Glycerin went from 10mm to 8mm and switched to Brooks' DNA Tuned midsole, which adds foam under the forefoot. The Adrenaline came down from 12mm to 10mm and picked up more DNA Loft v3. If you are coming off an older pair of either shoe, the ride will feel flatter and more modern under the forefoot — that is the single biggest difference you will notice out of the box.

Cushioning

The Glycerin 23 still wins on pure softness. It stacks 38mm in the heel and 30mm in the forefoot, and DNA Tuned is the plushest foam in the Brooks lineup. The Adrenaline GTS 25 is close on paper at 37mm and 27mm, but it rides firmer and more controlled — it is tuned for support, not for sinking in.

Stability features

The Adrenaline GTS 25 has GuideRails, Brooks' support system that limits excess inward and outward roll without the rigid medial post older stability shoes used. The Glycerin 23 has no stability structure at all and leaves your gait alone. If your ankles collapse inward, that difference matters more than anything else on this page. Brooks also sells a Glycerin GTS if you want the plush ride with GuideRails added.

Weight and price

The two shoes now weigh exactly the same — 10.6 oz in a men's 9, 9.5 oz in a women's 8. Neither is light. The Glycerin lists at $174.95 and the Adrenaline at $154.95, so the $20 premium buys the softer foam and nothing else.

Who should buy each

Choose the Glycerin 23 if: you are a neutral runner who wants maximum cushion for long runs and recovery days, and you want the softest thing Brooks makes.

Choose the Adrenaline GTS 25 if: you overpronate, or you want a do-everything daily trainer with a little guidance built in. It is also the cheaper of the two.