THE BROOKS BLOG

The newest incarnation of the Ghost brings back all the style, speed, and springy toe-off action of the original, but with a few key updates that keep you running happier longer. (See Men’s / Women’s.)

New and Improved:

• Cushioning:  We’ve slightly softened the midsole and increased the thickness in the forefoot for extra protection without added bulk. The result is greater, more even cushioning from heel to toe, stride after stride.
• Overlays: Less is more with the Ghost 2 overlays. We’ve not only reduced the number of overlays, but also made them thinner, more pliable, and more supple. They hold your foot in place, but never get in the way, allowing the Ghost 2 to feel like an extension of your foot in motion.
• Inherent Stability: A more substantial midfoot shank and a wider footprint under the forefoot give the Ghost 2 the perfect blend of flexibility and stability. Your foot will be free to follow its naturally efficient gait without any danger of being overcorrected.
• Sockliner: Our new Profile Sockliner is contoured for more support under your arches and a better cup for your heel. It’s also softer than ever before for an increase in comfort and shock absorption.
• Sustainability:  The Ghost 2 includes Biomogo, our groundbreaking midsole compound that enables quicker decomposition once you’ve put your shoes out to pasture.

Who should wear the Ghost 2?

The Ghost 2 is ideal for the runner with a medium to high arch and a neutral gait cycle who wants a high-mileage shoe for everyday training. Ghost 2 runners like a shoe with balanced and substantial cushioning that supports the efficient work their feet and legs are already doing.

Want a neutral shoe with maximum cushioning? Try the Glycerin for men and women.

Want an even lighter neutral shoe for tempo runs and faster races? Try the Launch for men and women. 

Woo Hoo! The Adrenaline™ GTS 10, the much-anticipated tenth edition of our best-selling Adrenaline™ running shoe, is here! (See Men’s /Women’s .)

Brooks has diligently worked to evolve the Adrenaline™ line to maintain its signature fit and function runners have come to know and love, while still finding ways to exceed their expectations. In the Adrenaline™ GTS 10, we feel we’ve nailed it. Here’s a quick overview of how it compares to the Adrenaline™ GTS 9.

Improved :
1. Enhanced upper materials and construction to provide maximum comfort and breathability, while maintaining a conforming fit.
2. Asymmetrical upper overlays to create a more secure arch capture.
3. Increased heel bevel to create a smoother transition, a softer lay down, and slower rate of pronation.
4. Caterpillar heel pad;  A more segmented crash pad that customizes the individual’s lay down for the right amount of cushion and stabilization, resulting in a perfect ride for every stride.

Maintained :
1. Signature PDRB® triple-density post on the medial side of the shoe for industry-leading stability.
2. HydroFlow® cushioning in the forefoot and heel.
3. Iconic Adrenaline™ last and shape.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s especially good-looking? We hope you love the new Adrenaline™ GTS 10! We think it will definitely help stability-seeking runners and Adrenaline™ fans Run Happy®!

>>See the full spec sheet here .

Special thanks to Footwear Product Line Manager Carson Caprara for crafting this comparison!

Running a fall marathon? Now’s the time to refresh your shoes if you want to be race-ready. And here’s some extra incentive: buy any pair of Brooks shoes on Brooksrunning.com , and you’ll get a free pair of technical socks. (Limited time only - see details .)

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Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9 and Trance 9

Great question came in from a customer today: what’s the real difference between the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9 (our most popular shoe) and our other shoe in the support category, the Trance 9 ?

Someone who wears the Adrenaline GTS 9 could also wear the Trance 9, as they provide support for the same type of foot: a moderate pronator.  With that said, there are a few key differences between these shoes:

- One of the biggest difference is the fit. The Adrenaline GTS 9 has its signature "midfoot wrap". (“Midfoot wrap” is how the upper of the shoe conforms to the middle of the foot. Not just the arch, but also the side of the foot. With a snug midfoot wrap you get a shoe that feels “at one” with the foot.) In comparison, the Trance 9 can feel like it has a wider toe box.
- The Trance 9 provides much more cush in both the heel and the forefoot by using our biggest Hydroflow XL pad.
- The materials in the upper of the Trance are plusher and softer, which adds to the cost.

Summer racing season is in full swing … and so we welcome the Launch, a brand new neutral lightweight trainer that provides “just enough shoe” and cushioning. The Launch has one goal in mind: let you run fast and not lose any energy in the shoe. Lace these up for mile repeats or tempo runs, and know this shoe will help you hit your splits.

With a nice midfoot wrap, BioMoGo midsole, and carefully constructed forefoot – the Launch embodies the definitions of resiliency and effort-enabler. And the minimally constructed upper keeps you secure in the shoe, but avoids unnecessary weight or possible areas of irritation.  One early reviewer raves: “like running on a cloud…the miles feel effortless in the Launch.”

Added perk: Fans of the old Brooks Burn can finally clean out their closets!

Hip, hip, hooray! For the second year in a row, the Brooks Cascadia 4 won “Editor’s Choice” Award in Runner’s World’s Spring 2009 Trail Shoe Guide! The Cascadia 4 received best overall marks after rigorous testing by Runner’s World editors and wear-testers, and being flexed, pounded and prodded at their independent Shoe Lab testing facility.

What makes this shoe so great?

The secret sauce is that the Cascadia 4 is a pure trail running shoe designed from the ground up. Neither a stripped-down hiking shoe nor a glorified road shoe, it combines the best attributes of both. Using our “pivot post construction,” the Cascadia 4 adjusts to undulation in terrain which allows the foot to stay neutral on a multitude of surfaces. Runner’s World also summed it up by saying “The Cascadia offers dependable traction for technical trails, yet is cushy enough so that running short distances on roads won’t beat up your legs.”

This latest version of the Cascadia 4 also offers an assymetrical lacing system (which allows the overlays in the forefoot to be relaxed for wider feet, or snugged up tighter for narrower feet), as well as Brooks’ biodegradable midsole BioMoGo.

The Cascadia 4 is geared for neutral runners with biomechanically efficient strides. Stabilty-seeking trail runners should check out the Brooks Adrenaline ASR 5.

Now go hit the trails!

Last year, Brooks introduced the first-ever biodegradable running shoe midsole: BioMoGo,

How’s it work? Adding a non-toxic, natural additive to our MoGo midsole compound encourages anaerobic microbes to munch away once it hits the landfill. Traditional midsoles can last up to 1,000 years in a landfill — but BioMoGo breaks down 50 times faster, biodegrading into reusable byproducts within 20 years!

BioMoGo made its debut in the Brooks Trance 8, but is now also available in the Adrenaline™ GTS 9 (M’s/W’s), Glycerin® 7 (M’s/W’s), Defyance 2 (M’s/W’s), Infiniti 2 (M’s/W’s), and Cascadia 4 (M’s/W’s). Watch for more Brooks shoes with BioMoGo to hit the shelves later this year.

To learn more about BioMoGo, visit the Brooks Green Room.

Brooks T6 Racer

Now available for hungry road racers everywhere: the Brooks T6 Racer and Racer ST 4.

Simply put, these two shoes define performance for racing flats on all competitive levels. At the United States’ 2008 Men’s and Women’s Marathon Olympic Trials, roughly 30% of the athletes in the men’s race and 25% of the finishers in the women’s race were sporting Brooks racing flats.  Brian Sell’s shoe at the Olympic Marathon was a special version of the T6 Racer, and Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington captured her second world title in Kona last year in some Brooks T5’s. Now you can get the latest versions of these blazing fast shoes.

So what’s the difference between the T6 Racer and Racer ST4?

The T6 Racer provides an ultra-lightweight (6.1 oz), minimal, unrestricted, neutral ride. It’s designed for runners with an efficient stride who don’t need “a lot of shoe” when competing. The Racer ST 4 offers a bit more substance and stability for those wanting some medial support.

What changed compared to the last versions?

The uppers for both shoes were tweaked. The T6 Racer had the overlays in the toebox eliminated, which aided the flexibility in the forefoot. The updated upper of the Racer ST 4 focuses on even better securing of the foot to the base of the shoe, ensuring there is no wasted motion and that all energy is spent moving forward.

Of course, both shoes have cool new colors too!

Brooks Racer ST 4

I get a lot of questions from runners who want to give Brooks a try, and are looking for the “closest shoe” to some other model they’ve been running in. As in: I’ve been running in the [Asics Kayano/New Balance 1063/Nike Structure Triax/etc...], so which Brooks running shoe should I try?

Of course no two shoes are the same, but this handy Running Shoe Comparison Chart shows which Brooks shoe is most similar to some other popular running shoes.

We’re excited to unveil the latest update to Brooks’ #1 shoe - the Adrenaline GTS 9! We update the Adrenaline GTS every year, and this version is the best yet. If you enjoyed the GTS 8, 7 (or 6, 5, 4…), then you’ll be thrilled with this one.

What makes this shoe great? We call it the GTS because it’s the ‘Go To Shoe’ for so many runners. The recipe for success is superior support, a snug “midfoot wrap,” and great “forefoot capture.”

Say what?

“Midfoot wrap” is how the upper of the shoe conforms to the middle of the foot. Not just the arch, but also the side of the foot. With a snug midfoot wrap you get a shoe that feels “at one” with the foot.

“Forefoot capture” refers to how the shoe holds the forefoot in place and keeps it from sliding around. One aspect that makes the Adrenaline so phenomenal is its ability to offer a generous fitting forefoot, while at the same time maintaining an unsurpassed level of forefoot capture. This is possible because the met head windows (mesh panels on either side of the forefoot) expand out to accommodate multiple foot types, but the overlays keep the foot securely in place. (Ha! I used to think the non-mesh overlays were just pretty designs!)

So what’s different vs. prior versions of the shoe?

* Sustainability: The Adrenaline GTS 9 becomes more environmentally responsible with the addition of our biodegradable midsole, BioMoGo, and recycled shoe laces.

* Midfoot Wrap: We altered the placement of the non-mesh overlays for even better midfoot wrap.

* Engineered Heel Geometry: We altered the “crumple zone configuration” (the lateral/outsole heel where the foot strikes the ground — or, the “colored heel” portion of the shoe) through a separate mold piece that helps to better control motion at impact.

* Last but not least, cool new colors! (Including an edgy all-black for both men and women!)

What’s the Same?

* Stability: The stability of the Adrenaline GTS 9 has been maintained through consistent placement and geometry of the PDRB® (Progressive Diagonal Roll Bar).

* Snug Forefoot Capture: Once again, the Adrenaline GTS 9 delivers on this desirable feature.

* Outsole Pattern Configuration:  The flex grooves from the decoupled heel outsole pattern all the way through the forefoot are anatomically designed for the moderately pronating foot. Optimal support and integrity are offered while guiding the foot to an effortless toe off.

So there you have it! Check out the Adrenaline GTS 9 for Men and for Women.

Like what you heard but need a neutral shoe? Then check out the Defyance 2 - it’s modeled on the Adrenaline GTS 8 but is purposefully devoid of the stability features.

Like what you heard but want a trail shoe? Look for the Adrenaline ASR 5. It adopts the upper pattern and midsole package of the Adrenaline GTS 8 - but has a “weatherized” upper and an aggressive outsole which provides traction off-road and is still reliable on pavement.