Saucony Guide 18 vs Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24

In the world of daily stability trainers, two titans consistently battle for the top spot: the Saucony Guide and the Brooks Adrenaline. Both are legendary franchises designed to provide reliable support and comfort for runners who overpronate. However, their 2024/2025 editions—the Saucony Guide 18 and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24—represent two very different philosophies on how to achieve a stable ride.

The Guide 18 is the lighter, more modern challenger, championing a holistic, non-intrusive support system. The Adrenaline GTS 24 is the established workhorse, relying on its proven GuideRails® technology and a new, bouncier foam. If you're a stability runner, chances are one of these two shoes is on your short list. We're diving deep into the specs, performance, and user feedback to declare a definitive winner.

Comfort & Fit

Round Winner: Saucony Guide 18

This is where the two shoes diverge most. The Guide 18 is all about accommodation, while the Adrenaline GTS 24 prioritizes a secure lockdown.

The Saucony Guide 18 offers a fantastic out-of-the-box experience, requiring minimal to no break-in. Its primary strength is its accommodating fit, especially in the forefoot. The engineered mesh upper is breathable and slightly stretchy, and the toe box is roomy. This is a massive win for runners with medium to slightly wider feet or those who experience swelling on long runs. As one reviewer put it, it's a "fantastically comfortable shoe there's plenty of space in the fore foot... the midfoot is very comfortable as well." Its "Fits true to size" guidance is reliable and a huge plus for online shoppers.

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 , by contrast, has a more divisive fit. While it offers four different width options (Narrow to Extra Wide), the standard "D" width is known for being snug, particularly in the midfoot and toe box. Many users and retailers recommend **sizing up by half a size** to achieve a comfortable fit. One runner noted, "The toe box feels snug and has a lower volume than my older Adrenalines." The heel counter is also noticeably stiff. This isn't necessarily bad—it creates an incredibly secure, locked-in feel—but it's far less forgiving than the Guide.

While comfort is subjective, a reliable true-to-size fit with an accommodating toe box is a safer and more universally praised attribute. The Guide 18 delivers an immediate, plush, and roomy comfort that the Adrenaline GTS 24 makes you work (or size up) for.