The Brooks Adrenaline running shoe is very similar to the Brooks Axiom. Both are made by Brooks Running (obviously), both are designed for runners with small to medium builds, are both are for slight to moderate overpronators.
Overpronation is when the foot slants inward as it touches the ground, as opposed to being in a neutral position. Overpronation is very common, and runners pronate to various extents. Both the Adrenaline and the Axiom offer a “rollbar” in the shoe to correct pronation, making running more efficient and preventing injury.
Differences between the shoes
The main difference between these shoes is the weight. The Brooks Axiom is just a few ounces lighter than the Adrenaline, making the Axiom a better choice for shorter, faster runs, which require less support. The Adrenaline is slightly heavier (but still lighter than most other running shoes on the market) and is designed for day-to-day training, and longer runs. I have run four marathons wearing the Brooks Adrenaline and have never been injured, and I have never had foot pain from this shoe.
The great thing about the Brooks Axiom is that it can hold up to daily training, and it can be used in races. However, the shoe is less durable than the Adrenaline (it’s also $5-$15 less expensive, depending on where you buy shoes) so I wouldn’t recommend that anyone do the majority of their training in the Axiom.
In terms of fit, the Axiom is designed for more natural movement, so the fit is more relaxed and less stiff than the Adrenaline. This structure makes the Axiom feel larger in the forefoot, even for shoes of the same size. I found myself having to tie the Axiom shoes much tighter than the Adrenalines so that my forefoot would feel more snug.
Different uses
When first acclimating yourself to the Axiom, I would not recommend it for runs that are longer than four miles. There is noticeably less support than with the heavier trainers, and you might risk injury. Runners who are very fast and have a different build and/or running stride than me could probably wear it during a longer race. My personal experience with the Axiom is that it starts to hurt my feet after three miles, and I begin to notice some minor leg pain which does not occur with the Adrenaline. However, I just recently started wearing the Axiom, so I might become more used to it over time. I prefer the Adrenaline for most of my training runs, but wear the Axiom for speed training and shorter races, like the 5k.
When switching back and forth between the two pairs of shoes, the Brooks Adrenaline feels heavier and the rollbar support is much more noticeable. After wearing for the Axiom for a fast three miles, and then switching to the Adrenaline, I noticed that my legs felt more supported (and less achy) in the Adrenalines, but I had to exert more effort to go at the same speed.
Pricing and availability
The Brooks Adrenaline is one of the most popular, best-selling running shoes on the market. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 7 retails for $95, is available at all running stores and many general sporting goods stores. Many discount Web sites sell it for less. The Adrenaline GTS 6 is the older model of the shoe and is sold for approximately 20% less than the GTS 7.
The Brooks Axiom retails for $90, and is harder to find in retail stores. I went to two different running stores in my area and neither of them carried it, so I had to buy it online. However, I was able to find it at a discount.
