Brooks Ghost, Glycerin or Adrenaline: the lines explained

The Brooks Ghost is the neutral everyday shoe, the Glycerin the neutral shoe with softer, more refined cushioning, and the Adrenaline GTS the version with guidance from GuideRails. If you don't need a stability shoe, you choose between the Ghost and the Glycerin; if you want more guidance, you end up with the Adrenaline. On top of that there are versions such as Max, Flex, GTX and Trail.

What is the difference between the Ghost, Glycerin and Adrenaline?

The three lines differ in cushioning and guidance. According to Brooks and the descriptions of our models:

• Ghost 18: neutral, DNA LOFT v3 midsole, men's 289 g, women's 261 g.
• Glycerin 23: neutral, nitrogen-infused DNA TUNED cushioning, men's 300 g.
• Adrenaline GTS 25: with GuideRails, DNA LOFT v3, 10 mm heel-to-toe drop, men's 300 g, women's 269 g.

The weights apply to the manufacturer's reference size. So the Ghost and the Glycerin are just over 10 g apart; the difference lies mainly in the type of cushioning, not in the weight.

Who is the Brooks Ghost for?

The Ghost is for runners who don't need stability features and are looking for a shoe for daily runs and longer distances. According to the description, the Brooks Ghost 18 for men combines cushioning, comfort and stability; the DNA LOFT v3 midsole is soft yet responsive, and the upper is a seamless, breathable mesh. The Ghost 18 for women is designed for a soft, smooth ride over different distances.

For rain and wet farm tracks, there's the Ghost with a membrane: the Ghost 18 GTX for men and the Ghost 18 GTX for women. The GORE-TEX membrane keeps your feet dry in the wet, and according to the description the Segmented Crash Pad provides smooth transitions.

Who is the Brooks Glycerin for?

The Glycerin is for neutral runners who want more comfort and finely tuned cushioning, for example for long, easy runs. In the Brooks Glycerin 23 for men, DNA TUNED cushioning combines large foam cells in the heel for soft landings with small cells in the forefoot for a nimble toe-off. The broad platform supports smooth transitions, and the upper is a breathable technical knit. The Glycerin 23 for women is built the same way.

Two spin-offs show the range of the line: according to the description, the Glycerin Max 2 focuses on particularly generous cushioning. The Glycerin Flex has a flexible outsole for more ground feel and natural freedom of movement.

Who is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS for?

The Adrenaline GTS is for runners who want more guidance. Its core is the GuideRails technology: according to Brooks, it focuses on the chain from the feet to the knees and keeps excess movement in check within your natural motion. At 10 mm, the Adrenaline GTS 25 has the highest heel-to-toe drop in this comparison.

The Adrenaline GTS 25 for men has nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 cushioning and an upper of technical mesh with a flat-knit collar. The Adrenaline GTS 25 for women has a breathable upper made of recycled mesh.

Whether you need guidance depends on your running gait. The basics are explained in our article on neutral or stability shoes. If you have discomfort when running, please have it checked by a doctor; a shoe is not a treatment.

What do Max, GTX and Trail mean at Brooks?

The suffixes mark versions of a line for a specific purpose. Max stands for more cushioning: according to the description, the Ghost Max 4 has a DNA LOFT v2 midsole, pronounced rocker geometry for a fluid roll and a wider base. The women's Ghost Max 4 is built the same way.

GTX means a GORE-TEX membrane. Trail stands for off-road: the Ghost Trail has a TrailTack rubber outsole for grip on wet and dry surfaces and a rock plate in the forefoot against sharp stones. According to the description, it's designed for runners moving from road to trail. More on the terrain in our region is in our article on trail running shoes for the Eifel.

New version or previous model?

Brooks releases its lines in new versions; the number after the name shows which one. That's why, alongside the Ghost 18, you'll also find individual pairs of older versions in our range, such as the Ghost 16 and 17, the Glycerin 20 or the Adrenaline GTS 23 and 24, often only in a few sizes.

A previous model isn't automatically worse. Between two versions, it's usually details that change, such as the foam, the upper or the stack height; for the Adrenaline GTS 25, for example, Brooks added more cushioning and has since given a 10 mm drop. Even if you're happy with your current model, try the new version on before switching: small changes can alter the fit.

Which Brooks is right for you?

Decide on guidance first, then on cushioning, and finally on the version.

• Neutral, one shoe for almost everything: Ghost 18.
• Neutral, more comfort for long, easy runs: Glycerin 23.
• You want more guidance: Adrenaline GTS 25.
• Even more cushioning: a Max version.
• Lots of rain: a GTX version. Woods and fields: Ghost Trail.
• A different drop? Adjust gradually; see our article on heel-to-toe drop.