New Balance 860 vs Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24: A Podiatrist Compares Two Stability Shoes
Nothing on this page has been measured by us. No caliper has touched either shoe, there is no score, and neither has earned the Podiatrist Tested seal. Every figure below is attributed to whoever published it — New Balance, Brooks, a named retailer, or an independent lab. When we buy and test a pair, this comparison is replaced by measured data. How we test.
On this page
These are two of the most-recommended everyday stability shoes on the market, from two brands that guide the foot in different ways. The New Balance 860 uses a broad Stability Plane built into the midsole; the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 uses GuideRails plus a traditional medial post. Same job, two philosophies — and the published numbers show where they diverge.
The numbers, side by side
Model versions: the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 named on this page has since been superseded by the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25. Nothing here has been swapped to the newer version — this page describes the model it was built on, and the newer one has its own review.
| Measurement | New Balance 860 | Adrenaline GTS 24 | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support role | Stability daily trainer (New Balance) | Moderate stability daily trainer (Brooks) | Both are everyday stability shoes |
| Support mechanism | Stability Plane geometry in Fresh Foam X; no medial post named (New Balance) | GuideRails, a medial post and a reinforced heel counter (Brooks) | The 860 guides with platform shape; the Adrenaline adds a posted element |
| Weight, men’s | 331 g / 11.7 oz (New Balance); 335 g at size 9 (Running Warehouse) | 283 g / 10.0 oz stated (Brooks); 291 g / 10.3 oz measured (RunRepeat lab) | The Adrenaline is roughly 40–48 g lighter per shoe |
| Heel stack | 43 mm (Running Warehouse) | 39 mm retailer; 39.0 mm measured (RunRepeat lab) | The 860 sits about 4 mm taller at the heel |
| Forefoot stack | 35 mm (Running Warehouse) | 27 mm retailer; 25.5 mm measured (RunRepeat lab) | The 860 has markedly more cushion under the forefoot |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 8 mm (Running Warehouse) | 12 mm stated (Brooks); 13.5 mm measured (RunRepeat lab) | The 860 is a lower-drop shoe by 4–5.5 mm |
| Widths | Men’s B, D, 2E, 4E; women’s 2A, B, D, 2E (New Balance) | Narrow, Medium, Wide, X-Wide (Brooks) | Both cover narrow through extra-wide |
| Removable insole | Not published (New Balance) | Yes (Brooks) | Both commonly take an orthotic; only Brooks states it |
| APMA Seal of Acceptance | Accepted badge shown on the product pages (New Balance) | Not listed in our spec-analysis source | Recorded only where published |
| List price | $149.99 (New Balance) | $140 (Brooks) | Within $10 of each other |
Two stability shoes, two different ways of getting there
Both shoes are built to guide a foot that rolls inward, but the mechanism differs. New Balance’s 860 uses a Stability Plane — geometry built into a Fresh Foam X midsole that broadens the base and guides the foot without a hard medial post pressing up on the arch. Brooks’ Adrenaline GTS 24 keeps the more traditional recipe: GuideRails along the sides plus a medial post and a reinforced heel counter. Neither is more “correct.” A runner who finds posted shoes too firm or too corrective under the arch often prefers the 860’s gentler, geometry-based guidance; someone who likes the locked-in feel of a posted stability shoe often prefers the Adrenaline.
The stack numbers tell the real story
Read the retailer and lab figures together and a clear picture appears. The 860 is the taller, more cushioned shoe front and back — 43 mm at the heel and 35 mm at the forefoot on Running Warehouse’s figures — while the Adrenaline sits lower, especially up front (27 mm stated, 25.5 mm on RunRepeat’s calipers). Because the 860’s forefoot is so much taller, its drop comes out low (8 mm) even with a tall heel; the Adrenaline’s lower forefoot gives it a higher 12–13.5 mm drop. That drop gap is the single most useful number here: a lower drop asks a little more of the calf and Achilles and puts more under the forefoot, a higher drop does the opposite. The Adrenaline is also the lighter shoe, by roughly 40–48 g.
Who each one is for
- You want a plush, lower-drop stability shoe with plenty of forefoot cushion.
- Posted stability shoes have felt too firm or too corrective under your arch.
- You have forefoot complaints and want more under the ball of the foot.
- You want a women’s 2A narrow or a 4E wide.
- You like the locked-in feel of a traditional posted stability shoe.
- You are used to a higher-drop shoe (12 mm or more) and it suits your calves.
- You want the lighter of the two.
- You specifically want Brooks’ GuideRails.
Orthotics, and the insole spec New Balance does not publish
Both are common orthotic-friendly stability trainers. Brooks states the Adrenaline has a removable insole; New Balance does not publish whether the 860’s insole comes out. In practice a stability daily trainer at this price almost always has a removable insole, but because New Balance does not state it, we are flagging it rather than assuming. If a removable insole is essential for your orthotic, confirm it on the box before buying.
Where to buy
Disclosure: the buttons below are paid links. If you buy through them we may earn an Amazon commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our analysis, and we never take payment from shoe brands — see our independence policy.
Read the full analysis of each
Common questions
Is New Balance 860 or Brooks Adrenaline better for overpronation?
Both are built for overpronation; they differ in method. The 860 guides with a broad Stability Plane and no hard medial post, the Adrenaline uses GuideRails plus a medial post. Mild-to-moderate overpronators do well in either — the choice usually comes down to whether a posted feel suits you. Neither has been tested on our bench.
Which has the lower drop?
The 860, clearly. Running Warehouse lists it at 8 mm; the Adrenaline is 12 mm stated by Brooks and 13.5 mm on RunRepeat’s calipers.
Which is better for plantar fasciitis or standing all day?
Both are cushioned, supportive stability shoes that many people with plantar fasciitis and long-standing jobs use successfully, and both pair well with an orthotic. We have not scored either; the right one depends on your foot, your drop preference and your insole — see how we test.
Do they come in wide and narrow widths?
Yes. The 860 comes in B, D, 2E and 4E for men and 2A, B, D and 2E for women; the Adrenaline comes in Narrow, Medium, Wide and X-Wide. Both cover narrow through extra-wide.
What we would need to settle this properly
To turn this into a real verdict we would buy both, weigh them at men’s 10, measure heel and forefoot stack with calipers, measure internal toe-box width and depth, check torsional rigidity and heel-counter stiffness by hand, and log miles on each. Until then, every number above belongs to New Balance, Brooks, a named retailer, or RunRepeat’s lab, and this page compares published figures rather than tested ones.
Page type: spec comparison (neither tested) · Figures attributed to New Balance, Brooks, Running Warehouse and RunRepeat’s independent lab · Last verified 2026-09-09 · Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM (NPI 1821330051).
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.