Brooks Ghost vs Adrenaline: Ghost 18 or Adrenaline GTS 25 for Your Level?
They share Brooks' DNA LOFT v3 foam, a 10 mm listed drop and four widths. The Adrenaline adds GuideRails support. Here's how to tell which one you need, from Couch to 5K to the marathon.
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What's the same
More than you'd expect. According to Running Warehouse, both use Brooks' nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 foam: the Ghost 18 for "daily mileage, long steady efforts, recovery runs, casual walks, and all-day wear," and the Adrenaline GTS 25 with "a touch more DNA LOFT v3 foam underfoot" than its predecessor. Both list a 10 mm drop, and both come in four widths.
RunRepeat measured both shoes in the same lab, which makes the comparison unusually clean:
RunRepeat lab measurement
Ghost 18
Adrenaline GTS 25
Weight (men's)
10.2 oz (289 g)
10.4 oz (295 g)
Heel stack
37.3 mm
36.1 mm
Forefoot stack
25.1 mm
25.9 mm
Measured drop (both list 10 mm)
12.2 mm
10.2 mm
Sources: RunRepeat Ghost 18 review and RunRepeat Adrenaline GTS 25 review. Labs disagree at the margins: RTINGS measured the Ghost 18's drop at 10.8 mm, which is the figure in the spec table below. Either way, the two shoes are within a fraction of an ounce and about a millimeter of stack of each other.
The one real difference: GuideRails
The Adrenaline adds Brooks' GuideRails support system. Running Warehouse says it is "built for runners with moderate overpronation or anyone who appreciates a little extra guidance," and that GuideRails "keeps excess movement in check" in "a way that feels natural to your footstrike." RunRepeat calls it "the iconic, decades-old Go To Support system" that delivers "subtle yet effective stability without any harsh feel."
The Ghost has no support elements. That isn't a weakness for the runner it's built for: RunRepeat found it offers "a secure and confidence-inspiring ride without relying on any dedicated support features" for neutral heel strikers. The question is only which runner you are.
Figures as published by the maker or the named reviewer; each value links to its source. A dash means the figure isn't in our cited sources.
The weights in this table come from different sources (RTINGS' lab for the Ghost 18, Brooks' listing for the Adrenaline), which is why we lead with RunRepeat's same-lab numbers above. A dash for the Adrenaline's foam just means that value isn't in the source we cite for its specs; Running Warehouse confirms it's DNA LOFT v3.
Ride, durability and fit in RunRepeat's lab
Ride. Neither is a lively shoe, and RunRepeat says so plainly. The Ghost 18 "lacks the bounce, low weight, and rockered sole of many newer daily trainers, but that was never its goal," and its DNA LOFT v3 "delivers below-average rebound." The Adrenaline GTS 25 "still lacks lively bounce and carries more weight than many modern rivals." If you want a bouncier everyday shoe, look beyond both, for example at the ASICS Novablast 6.
Softness. RunRepeat found the Adrenaline's reworked foam 27% softer than the previous generation's and says Brooks made the shoe "a bit wider to counter that inherent instability." Its advice: "Anyone who found version 24 too firm should try this update."
Durability. In RunRepeat's outsole wear test, the Ghost 18 lost 0.8 mm and the Adrenaline GTS 25 just 0.5 mm, against a 1.1 mm average across the shoes it has tested. RunRepeat points out that outsole wear matters more for runners with pronation, "because they tend to concentrate wear in specific areas."
Fit and feel. RunRepeat describes the Ghost's toebox as "somewhat tapered," a long-running Ghost trait, and lists it as a con that "may bother some feet"; the Wide and Extra Wide versions are the fix to try. On breathability, it had no concerns with the Ghost 18, but says runners who perspire heavily may wish for a more breathable shoe than the Adrenaline.
Upgrading from an older Ghost or Adrenaline
Both updates are conservative, which is good news if you liked your last pair. RunRepeat says Brooks "focused on preserving the familiar ride rather than chasing trends" with the Ghost 18 and recommends it for "long-time Ghost fans who want the same familiar ride, fit, and overall experience." It calls the Adrenaline GTS 25 "a safe update for owners of a previous generation," with softer foam and what Running Warehouse describes as a "reduced 10 mm drop." If you've been happy in either line, the simplest choice is to stay in it.
Which one do you need?
There's no single foot test that decides it, and the research on pronation is mixed. A year-long study of 927 novice runners who all started in neutral shoes found pronated feet were not at higher injury risk than neutral feet. A randomized trial of 372 recreational runners found a lower injury risk with a motion-control version of a shoe, concentrated in runners with pronated feet. Neither tells you what a specific shoe will do for you. We walk through both in neutral vs stability running shoes.
A practical way to decide:
A clinician has recommended support (physical therapist, podiatrist, sports medicine doctor): Adrenaline.
You've run comfortably in a neutral shoe before with no advice to the contrary: Ghost.
You've run comfortably in a support shoe before: Adrenaline. There's no reason to switch a category that's working.
Brand new and no history either way: the Ghost is the simpler start, and the Adrenaline is a reasonable choice if it feels better when you try both on.
Level by level
Couch to 5K
The NHS plan is 3 runs a week for 9 weeks, starting with 1-minute runs between 90-second walks and building to 30 minutes of running, and it asks for "running shoes that support your feet." Both shoes carry our C25K badge. Running Warehouse lists casual walks among the Ghost's uses, RunRepeat lists jogging and walking for the Adrenaline, and RunRepeat calls the Ghost 18 "ideal for beginners or casual runners," so either fits the run/walk start. If you're unsure which type you are, this is the easiest point to find out: whichever feels better over nine weeks tells you which line to stay in. See our best running shoes for beginners for how they stack up against other first pairs.
10K
Hal Higdon's Novice 10K is 3 runs a week at an easy pace. Whichever of the two you started in covers it.
Half marathon
Hal Higdon's Novice 1 Half runs 12 weeks, with the long run building to 10 miles and about 10-23 run-miles a week by our arithmetic from the schedule. Running Warehouse pitches the Ghost for "long steady efforts" and the Adrenaline for "everything from daily runs to long miles," so either handles it. Neither is a fast shoe; at over 10 oz in RunRepeat's lab, they're built for steady miles. If your plan adds race-pace runs, pair either one with a lighter shoe; our daily trainer vs tempo shoe guide explains when.
Marathon
The Novice 1 Marathon is 18 weeks of 4 run days, peaking at a 20-mile long run and about 15-40 run-miles a week by our arithmetic. RunRepeat measured the Ghost 18's forefoot at 25.1 mm against a 27.1 mm average across the shoes it tested, so some runners will want more foam for the longest runs. That's where the two alternates below come in.
Two Brooks alternatives
Brooks Ghost Max 4 (neutral, steadier): RunRepeat found it "very stable for neutral runners" and thinks mild overpronators, especially heel strikers, may also benefit from its wide heel platform. It measured 38.6 mm at the heel with a GlideRoll rocker. Brooks lists a 6 mm drop, but RunRepeat measured 9.0 mm, so don't expect a big change in geometry from the Ghost. It comes in standard, wide and extra wide, with no Narrow. If you're between the Ghost and the Adrenaline, it's worth a look.
Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 (support, plusher): GuideRails in Brooks' "Plush" cushion tier with an 8 mm drop, listed at 11.0 oz (men's). Brooks lists Medium, Wide and Extra Wide in both genders (up to 4E men's and 2E women's), but no Narrow, so narrow-footed support runners may be better off staying in the Adrenaline. It's the Adrenaline runner's long-run shoe for marathon training.
Who should buy which
Ghost 18: neutral runners at any level who want a traditional 10 mm drop and four widths, including Narrow.
Adrenaline GTS 25: runners who've been advised to wear support or prefer it, at any level. More options are in our best stability running shoes.
Comparing brands too? The HOKA equivalents are the Clifton 11 and Arahi 8; see HOKA vs Brooks.
In detail
The contenders, in full
Stock photo
Neutral: no support needed
Brooks Ghost 18
C25K10KHALFMARATHON
8.0 /10
RunRepeat rates its stability excellent for heel strikers with a neutral technique; DNA LOFT v3 foam, a 10 mm listed drop and four widths.
+Brooks pitches it both as a daily driver in a training rotation and as a safe go-to for runners just starting out, and lists walking as a use
+Four widths in each gender, from Narrow to Extra Wide (4E men's, 2E women's)
+GuideRails support system, which Brooks says helps keep excess movement in check, paired with more nitrogen-infused cushioning in the heel and forefoot than before
+RunRepeat's lab measured a 36.1 mm heel and 25.9 mm forefoot: solid cushion without a towering stack
What it doesn't
−10.6 oz for the men's shoe is heavy for faster running
−A 10 mm drop is on the high side if you prefer a flatter, lower-drop shoe
−Brooks rates the cushion 'Balanced'; runners who want Brooks' 'Plush' tier with GuideRails need the Glycerin GTS 23
Skip this if…
…you want a light, bouncy shoe for tempo days; this is a steady 10.6 oz support trainer built for everyday miles
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How we chose these
Shoes we claim to have lab-tested: 0
Plenty of sites say they ran hundreds of miles in every shoe. We didn't, and we say so. What we do instead: start from what a published training plan actually asks of a runner at your level, compare each model's published specs (stack height, drop, weight, plate, stability features, widths) against that job, and score every pick on a public rubric. Each spec links to where it came from.
What is the difference between the Brooks Ghost and Adrenaline?+
The Adrenaline GTS 25 adds Brooks' GuideRails support system; the Ghost 18 is neutral. Otherwise they're very close: both use DNA LOFT v3 foam, both list a 10 mm drop, and RunRepeat measured them within 0.2 oz and about a millimeter of stack of each other.
Is the Brooks Adrenaline good for neutral runners?+
It can be, if it feels comfortable. RunRepeat describes its GuideRails support as subtle, "without any harsh feel," and Running Warehouse pitches it for "anyone who appreciates a little extra guidance." If you have no reason to want support, the Ghost 18 is the more direct choice.
Is the Brooks Ghost good for overpronation?+
RunRepeat rates the Ghost 18's stability excellent for neutral heel strikers but says that for moderate pronation "the Adrenaline GTS 25 is a better option thanks to its added guidance and support-focused design." If you've been told you overpronate, start with the Adrenaline.
Which is heavier, the Ghost 18 or the Adrenaline GTS 25?+
The Adrenaline, slightly. RunRepeat's lab measured 10.4 oz for the Adrenaline GTS 25 and 10.2 oz for the Ghost 18 (men's).
Do the Ghost and Adrenaline fit the same?+
Both come in four widths. Brooks lists the Adrenaline GTS 25 in men's Narrow (1B), Medium (1D), Wide (2E) and Extra Wide (4E), and RTINGS lists the Ghost 18 in Narrow, Medium, Wide and Extra Wide. Check the width on the listing before you order.
We don't lab-test shoes or gear and we don't pretend to. Specs come from the maker's own pages or the named reviewer's published measurements (linked above); level definitions come from published training plans. Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.
Stock photo