Our Score: 4 out of 5 
Price: £87

Review by Todd Leckie

PROS

1. Effective but unobtrusive support for mild to moderate pronators. 
2. Plenty of cushioning whilst retaining a responsive ride. 
3. Loads of reflective trim on the shoe for night-time running visibility.

CONS

DETAILS & FEATURES

• DNA (an extremely viscous liquid that behaves like millions of small elastic springs on a molecular level) the premium Brooks adaptive cushioning system gives every runner a tailored fit. 

• The heel cradle offers support and stability in the heel region.

• A new arch saddle in the upper offers mid-foot support.

• Best suited to neutral runners and mild over-pronators. 

USER REVIEW BY TODD LECKIE

As with the vast majority of shoes I try on nowadays the initial fit is excellent. Shoe manufacturers aren’t naïve to the fact that first impressions are crucial when deciding if a shoe is right for you so I like to wear the shoe for a few minutes and walk around in it to try and identify the more subtle features.

For me I found the shoe to be relatively narrow around the mid-foot, however I should caveat that by saying that ‘slender’ is an adjective that will never be used in conjunction with a description of my feet, so I’d imagine the fit would be good for most people. Brooks also supply the shoe in three width fittings - I was testing the D (medium) width fitting so I would probably have looked to try the 2E version. 

On first inspection there’s a significant amount of high density posting in the medial arch (Brooks call it the Progressive Diagonal Rollbar - PDRB). I’m always wary of high density posting as, although I do pronate (i.e. my foot rolls inwards when it lands) and so in theory would benefit from the pronation control that the higher density material provides, I can find that it can rub/cause discomfort.

This was not the case with the Adrenalines, the transition from heel to toe felt smooth but controlled with just the right amount of support through the mid-foot and importantly my foot arch did not feel like it was getting battered by the technology in the shoe that can sometimes be the case with more stable shoes. 

The cushioning in the shoe was also excellent, although I’m not the heaviest of person to be testing the shoes limits. I am guilty of pounding down hills and at no point did I feel like my feet were running out of protection and slapping down on the tarmac.

Brooks talk about their DNA cushioning technology having a dynamic component that is capable of responding to the specific loading on the shoe and adjusting the cushioning levels in response. I couldn’t vouch for such bold claims, however I completed a 90-minute run over hard terrain and my ankle and knee joints had no complaints about the shock absorbing qualities of the shoe.

The copious cushioning was also not at the expense of the responsiveness of the shoe, it felt nice and flexible through the sole and I had no issues getting up on my toes for faster running/hills. 

The sole has a standard road running tread that was more than capable at handling damp grass and dry compacted off-road trails. My only issue with the shoe was the tongue and lacing system, it’s apparently in vogue to make lacing systems as complex as possible and I found the Adrenaline did not hold my foot in position as snuggly as I would have wanted.

Furthermore the tongue seemed intent on veering off at a funny angle during the course of a run. Admittedly this is a minor qualm but I could see how it could be frustrating, especially for users and connoisseurs of previous Adrenaline models that featured a more traditional lacing system.

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