Brooks Ghost 17 vs Adrenaline GTS 24: A Podiatrist Reads Both Spec Sheets
The Ghost is sold as the neutral one and the Adrenaline as the support one, and most people assume support means narrower, heavier and dearer. On the independently measured numbers the Adrenaline is 4.1 mm wider at the big toe, all of 2 g heavier, and $10 cheaper. The differences that actually matter are heel drop and midsole firmness.
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On this page
Neither shoe has been under our caliper, so neither is scored. Every figure below is Brooks’ or an independent lab’s, labelled. What testing means here.
The numbers, side by side
Model versions: the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 and Brooks Ghost 17 named on this page have since been superseded. The current models are the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 and Brooks Ghost 18. Nothing here has been swapped to the newer versions — this page describes the models it was built on, and each newer model has its own review.
| Measurement | Ghost 17 | Adrenaline GTS 24 | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heel stack lab | 36.2 mm | 39.0 mm | Nearly 3 mm taller at the heel |
| Forefoot stack lab | 25.8 mm | 25.5 mm | Identical up front |
| Drop, stated | 10 mm | 12 mm | Brooks’ published figure |
| Drop, measured lab | 10.4 mm | 13.5 mm | Real gap is 3.1 mm, wider than stated |
| Weight lab | 289 g (10.2 oz) | 291 g (10.3 oz) | Stability costs 2 g. Nothing. |
| Toe-box width at the big toe lab | 69.6 mm | 73.7 mm | Support shoe is roomier, by 4.1 mm |
| Midsole softness lab | 36.2 Asker C | 44.1 Asker C | Higher = firmer. Adrenaline is firmer |
| Support features | None — neutral | GuideRails, medial post, reinforced heel counter | GuideRails engage only if you roll in |
| Widths | Narrow, Medium, Wide, X-Wide | Narrow, Medium, Wide, X-Wide | Identical — not the deciding factor |
| Removable insole | Yes | Yes | Both take an orthotic |
| MSRP | $150 | $140 | Support shoe is cheaper |
What a foot and ankle surgeon takes from this
Strip out the marketing and there are three real differences between these two shoes, and only three.
1. The heel drop, and it is bigger than advertised
Brooks publishes 10 mm for the Ghost and 12 mm for the Adrenaline — a 2 mm gap. Measured, it is 10.4 and 13.5, a gap of 3.1 mm. That matters clinically more than any other line in the table. A steeper drop shifts load off the Achilles and calf and onto the forefoot. If you have insertional heel pain or an irritable Achilles, the Adrenaline’s geometry is doing real work for you. If you are mid-way through calf and Achilles rehab and deliberately loading that tissue, the same geometry is working against the plan. Our heel-to-toe drop chart sets both shoes against 30-odd others on the same basis.
2. Firmness, not cushioning
At 44.1 Asker C against the Ghost’s 36.2, the Adrenaline midsole is substantially firmer — and firmness, not stack height, is most of what people are feeling when they call a shoe “supportive”. A firmer platform sinks less under load, which is why heavier runners and heavier pronators often settle on the Adrenaline. It is also why someone who wanted a plush shoe and was sold a stability model comes back disappointed: they were given control when they wanted softness.
3. The support shoe is the wider one
This is the finding that surprises people. At the big toe the Adrenaline measures 73.7 mm against the Ghost’s 69.6 mm. The assumption that a stability shoe grips the foot more tightly is simply wrong here — on the measured internal width, the neutral Ghost is the narrower shoe of the pair. If you have a bunion or a broad forefoot and you have been avoiding the Adrenaline on the theory that support means squeeze, the numbers say otherwise. Both come in four widths, so the width letter is not what separates them; see best shoes for wide feet.
Which one is actually for you
Choose the Ghost 17 if
Your gait is neutral, or your pronation has never caused you a problem; you want the softer of the two rides; or you are working on calf and Achilles capacity and want less heel under you. It is also the simpler shoe to recommend to someone who just wants a comfortable daily trainer and has no diagnosis to work around.
Choose the Adrenaline GTS 24 if
You overpronate or have a flat, mobile foot; you have insertional Achilles or heel pain that a steeper drop offloads; you are a heavier runner who bottoms out soft foam; or you have a wide forefoot and want the roomier toe box. See best shoes for overpronation and best running shoes for flat feet.
What we cannot tell you until we test them
Everything above is Brooks’ published specification and an independent lab’s measurements of a single pair each. What neither source tells you is how the heel counter behaves under a real load, how much the midsole packs out after a few hundred miles, or how much usable volume is left once an orthotic goes in. Those are the figures we measure ourselves, and until a pair of each has been through the protocol, neither shoe carries a score or the seal. Here is what testing means on this site.
Where to buy
Disclosure: the links below are paid links. If you buy through one, Amazon pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions never influence a score, a ranking or the seal — and neither shoe here has a score, because neither has been tested. See our independence policy.
Brooks Ghost 17 — MSRP $150. The softer, narrower, lower-drop shoe of the pair.
Women’s Brooks Ghost 17 — check price on Amazon Men’s Brooks Ghost 17 — check price on AmazonBrooks Adrenaline GTS 24 — MSRP $140. Firmer, roomier at the toes, and a measured 13.5 mm drop.
Women’s Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 — check price on Amazon Men’s Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 — check price on AmazonRead the full analysis of each
Brooks Ghost 17
Softer midsole, narrower toe box, and a spec sheet that matches the lab to within 0.7 mm.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24
Firmer, taller at the heel and wider at the toes, with GuideRails that only engage when the foot rolls.
Heel-to-toe drop chart
Both shoes set against 30-odd others, stated drop beside the measured figure.
Recently reviewed
Individual shoe pages state their evidence tier, published measurements and who should skip them.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Spec AnalysisLight plated neutral trainer. Saucony publishes both stack heights and they match its 8 mm drop — not yet tested.
HOKA Mach 6
Spec AnalysisLower, firmer neutral HOKA. HOKA publishes a 5 mm drop and neither stack height — not yet tested.
ASICS Novablast 5
Spec AnalysisBouncy high-stack neutral. ASICS publishes an 8 mm drop and neither stack height — not yet tested.
Our funding and evidence policy
We earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. Our policy is to assess published evidence and fit needs rather than rank products by commission rate. Current reviews are specification analyses; see our method for their limits.