ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 vs Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 – Which Daily Stability Trainer Comes Out on Top?

Design

Support

In the Adrenaline GTS 25, the GTS stand for ‘Go To Support’, or, as Brooks is shifting towards for 2026, GuideRail Technology System.

The GuideRails are extensions of the cushioning in the rearfoot of the shoe that extend up around the heel on both the medial and lateral sides of the midsole cushioning. In the Adrenaline GTS 25, a new manufacturing process co-moulds the GuideRails in one piece with the midsole cushioning. This results in a smoother, more natural feeling level of support.

These have the effect of keeping the foot central within the shoe and in a more neutral position. The GuideRail system is highly effective and helps keep overpronators in a neutral position.

The support now used in the Kayano 33 is the new FLUIDSUPPORT technology system. The 4D control of the last couple of generations, with its ‘responsive posting’, has been updated to a system which aims to adapt to the varying biomechanical needs of runners, providing guidance while allowing a natural foot motion for smooth, efficient transitions throughout the gait cycle.

Cushioning

The Adrenaline GTS 25 features Brooks’ DNA Loft V3 nitrogen-infused foam midsole. Now widely used across the brand’s range, nitrogen-infused midsoles offer high-quality, responsive cushioning that proves to be very durable.

The Adrenaline GTS 25 has more cushioning than its predecessor, with 3mm more nitrogen foam cushioning in the forefoot compared to the GTS 24, and 1mm more in the heel. The shoe has a higher stack height as a result, but the heel-toe drop has been reduced from 12mm to 10mm. These changes result in a more cushioned, softer and balanced ride.

The Kayano also uses a new combination of midsole foams with FF BLAST PLUS and FF BLAST MAX in the midsole. As used in existing shoes in the ASICS range, both are proven and popular materials which provide control with a smooth, responsive feel.

The combination of the FF BLAST PLUS and FF BLAST MAX foams work in a similar manner to a dual-density midsole construction, with the slightly firmer foam featuring more on the medial side of the shoe to smoothly reduce pronation.

A new, softer, updated version of PUREGEL features in the heel of the shoe and is approximately 65% softer vs standard GEL technology.

Fit

Both the Kayano and Adrenaline are true-to-size in terms of length and width and fit the same as other models from the respective brands.

The upper of both shoes is high-quality and somewhat plush in construction. Both have a nice, small amount of stretch to them and provide a good degree of ‘wiggle-room’, accommodating varying widths of feet with ease. 

Both models are also available in width-fitting options for both men and women.

Performance

It is clear that the Kayano is the more premium of these two popular support models, and it is in the ride of the Kayano 33 where this is most obvious. The use of the dual layers of foam does an excellent job of absorbing impact and naturally controlling pronation.

The support in the Kayano goes largely unnoticed, but that’s to its credit. It does a great job of providing a reasonably high degree of control smoothly and effectively.

Overall cushioning is excellent, and although the Kayano isn’t the most responsive shoe, this model is primarily about support and cushioning during daily training miles. 

The Adrenaline GTS25 has good cushioning properties in its own right, but it does feel a little firmer next to the Kayano. There is perhaps a slightly higher degree of spring to the forefoot on toe-off, but again, these are primarily easy running shoes rather than performance models.

The support in this Adrenaline is a little less effective than it was in the previous generation model. The co-moulded design of the GuideRails is perhaps the reason. Being of the same density as the rest of the midsole (for me) reduces the level of control a little.

While for most, the GuideRails will prove to offer enough support, in the previous version, the support handled maybe 90% of runners who pulled it on. Here, that’s reduced to around 70%.

Long-term performance of the Adrenaline is excellent; once again, the DNA Loft v3 foam is proving to keep on providing ample cushioning for many miles.

This combination of foams is new to the Kayano, but for me, in other models, long-term performance does seem to dull in the later stages of the shoe’s life. For many, this won’t be noticed or indeed an issue.