Editor’s Note, November 4, 2026: Brooks has a mega sale going on right now. The Glycerin Flex, Adrenaline GTS 25, and Glycerin Max 2 are on discounts as high as 25% off. The Adrenaline GTS 26 is out now—we’ll be getting in feedback soon.
All this is to say, better stock up on the 25 before it’s gone. In 1977, the Vantage was the first Brooks shoe to top our charts. The running renaissance began several years prior, when Frank Shorter won the 1972 Olympic marathon in Munich.
Two years later, the shoe industry would be changed forever with the introduction of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, which was lighter, softer, and had more rebound than the rubbers used in midsoles around that time. Our editors knew Brooks had a winner when we tested the Vantage. Almost half a century later, the brand is still dazzling us with its innovations and earning prizes in the 2026 Runner’s World Shoe Awards.
And to think the company started out more than a hundred years ago manufacturing ballet slippers and bath shoes. Since the 1970s, Brooks has solely focused on upping the ante in shoe tech. The Vantage also introduced the varus wedge, which was basically a medial post used to help with instability caused by overpronation.
Now the varus wedge is dated and has been replaced with Brooks’s “GuideRails” system. EVA is also being phased out with improved foams that are bouncier and even softer. Gear Up for Training Season: Best Running Shorts ● Best Socks for Runners ● Best Running Watches Our team vets hundreds of shoes a year and distributes models to more than 250 local testers for evaluation.
Shoe testers of different levels, ages, arch heights, and gait patterns log at least a hundred miles before submitting feedback on a shoe’s fit, feel, and ride. Keep returning for more updates as we make our way through 2026’s hottest Brooks releases. All weights are based on men’s 9 and women’s 7 unless otherwise noted.
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