Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 103, February 2018 | Page 40

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18
Category: Balanced Cushioning (Stability)
Heritage: Adrenaline GTS 17
Key features: BioMoGo DNA midsole, Progressive Diagonal Rollbar, Segmented
Crash Pad, Flextra forefoot flex grooves, Engineered Air Mesh upper with asymmetrical 3D Fit
Print saddle
What has changed: The upper has been completely remodelled with a streamlined
engineered air mesh and less overlays, giving the shoe not only a sleeker and modern look, but
offering a softer, more breathable and comfortable fit and feel. The asymmetrical 3D Fit Print saddle
has adjustable eyelets that pull from the heel and wrap around your midfoot for a secure fit.
Wear-testing notes: This is Brooks’ flagship stability model, and whenever a
shoe gets to its 18th generation, you know it is a good shoe. It wouldn’t have stayed on the
market so long if runners didn’t rate it so highly. The GTS in the name stands for ‘Go To Shoe,’
and that’s how Brooks markets it: An every day shoe that can do it all.
The inner heel of the midsole houses a quite substantial Progressive Diagonal Rollbar (the grey section and plastic midfoot insert). Known as PDRB for short, it’s a combination of
firmer foam and plastic that slows the foot’s rate of pronation and keeps the runner stable, and the asymmetrical overlays in the upper also contribute to the anti-pronation support.
The rest of the midsole is made from biodegradable BioMoGo EVA foam, offering a well-cushioned but supportive ride. Overall, the new version is slightly softer in the
midsole, with a slightly smoother transition from heel to toe and slightly improved flex in the forefoot, but it’s the seamless upper that steals all the glory in this update of
one of the best stability shoes on the market. It really is a Go To Shoe.
Weight: 283g (Men) & 244g (Women)
Heel Drop: 12mm
Colours: Blue/Black/Orange (Men) & Blue/Mint/Pink (Women)
Recommended Retail Price: R2499 (Men) & R2499 (Women)
In Store Date: December 2017
Brooks Ravenna 9
Category: Versatile Energizer (Light Stability)
Heritage: Ravenna 8
Key features: BioMoGo DNA midsole, rebounding rubber outsole, Diagonal Rollbar,
Midfoot Transition Zone, Engineered Air-Mesh upper, reflective saddle wrap
What has changed: This updated model takes on the tooling from the Launch
model to deliver a light, responsive, cushioned ride, and a shoe that is much lighter than the
previous model. Brooks has shaved 28 grams off the weight, so one could almost call it a new
shoe. That’s because the new upper is so much lighter and sleeker that the shoe now feels like
a lightweight trainer.
Wear-testing notes: The Ravenna has been called a hybrid in the past, because
it was technically a stability shoe but worked well for runners with neutral biomechanics as
well. That’s because the anti-pronation rollbar is much smaller than the post in the Adrenaline model, and thus provides only light stability support by comparison, which
even a neutral runner will appreciate later in a long run, when the legs tire and you begin to pronate more. It also boasts the BioMoGo DNA cushioning system and Midfoot
Transition Zone to give a pleasingly responsive, yet fast ride
As with other new Brooks shoes this year, it’s the redesigned upper that takes all the plaudits here, with testers around the world raving about the new shoe, saying that the
fitted upper does not lose its snug grip as the mileage in the shoe racks up, it actually moulds itself to your foot and stays there. Coupled with a reliable durable outsole and
long-lasting cushioning of the midsole, it makes a most attractive investment as a training shoe.
Weight: 269g (Men) & 230g (Women)
Heel Drop: 10mm
Colours: Nightlife/Blue/Black (Men) & Black/Blue/Pink (Women)
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ISSUE 103 FEBRUARY 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za
Recommended Retail Price: R2299 (Men) & R2299 (Women)
In Store Date: February 2018