Brooks Beast GTS 23 review

This is one of the shoes with the most ambiguous use-cases we've come across. However, we think it might be great for:

• Runners who don't mind—or even prefer—heavy shoes and are seeking stability features.
• Heel strikers looking for a moderately firm running experience.
• Fans of Brooks aiming to include a comfortable and stable shoe in their rotation.

If you like running without feeling like you're carrying extra weight like us, you might want to explore other lightweight and stable shoes. Consider options like the Hoka Arahi 6 or the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23, especially if you're a Brooks enthusiast.

Another thing to note is its firmer feel. If you're after a plush ride, the Saucony Tempus might be worth checking out based on our lab test.

The Brooks GTS 23 might not be the most breathable shoe out there, but it sure holds its own—especially for a shoe geared toward comfort. We gave it a solid 4/5 in our lab tests.

Sure, it's not a record-breaking performance, but it's still a great score, suitable for most warm climates. Our light test also did confirm the presence of breathability holes, which Brooks incorporated to allow airflow in the toebox and medial areas.

Now, for a closer look, our microscope is unrivaled.

These breathability holes are easily visible, but if you look closely, you'll see also a thin fabric layer underneath that stops the shoe from getting a perfect 5/5.

However, that fabric layer contributes to the shoe's overall comfort. In our opinion, Brooks made a smart choice, trading off a touch of airflow for a ton of enhanced toebox comfort.

The engineered mesh feels cozy, but that's often a sign of a toebox lacks durability. That additional fabric layer we mentioned helps a bit, but a 2/5 score still isn't impressive.

It's true that most shoes these days barely scrape by with a 1/5, but we expected better.

The heel padding mirrors the toebox story.

With a score of 2/5, it's not the worst. However, we know Brooks can step it up.

With a reading of 67.9 HC on our durometer, this Brooks model boasts a softer rubber than we typically see.

While it raises some eyebrows about durability, it's worth noting that factors like rubber formulation play a big part too.

With a $160 price tag, we're looking for some solid durability, and the outsole doesn't disappoint.

Initially, the soft rubber made us nervous, but our lab tests eased our concerns. Using our Dremel, we only managed a tiny 0.5 mm dent in the outsole—that's impressive!

Brooks isn't taking any chances. They've beefed up the outsole with 4.4 mm of rubber, which is one millimeter more than what we typically see.

They're clearly aiming to give the outsole a long life, but this might come with a trade-off in terms of weight...

And that extra weight really shows. Tipping the scales at 12.4 oz (352g), this shoe feels like a tank.

For a shoe designed for heel strikers craving stability, we figured there'd be a bunch of foam in the heel—and we found it.

Clocking in at 36.4 mm, there's plenty of cushion!

The forefoot stack measures 24.5 mm, landing it right in the average in terms of stack height. But remember, this shoe is geared towards heel strikers.

So, adding extra foam to the forefoot wouldn't have made sense for us. And it's enough if you land with your forefoot or midfoot.

When we subtract the forefoot measurement from the heel, we get an 11.9-mm heel-to-toe drop.

Brooks claimed a 12-mm drop and it's quite a feat for a brand to nail it this closely. Well done, guys!

For a shoe focused on comfort, we're happy to see it comes with a generous 5.8-mm insole.

When we examined the midsole, our durometer registered a 25.3 HA reading. Brooks uses DNA Loft v3 in this model—it's their premium foam for training, and it's infused with nitrogen for better bounce and resilience.

The feel underfoot isn't overly soft or too firm, although it leans towards the latter. It has a nice balance which is perfect for this shoe, especially since this model prioritize stability above all.

DNA Loft v3 has EVA as its core, and that's typically a sign that the foam will become significantly harder in cold weather. Just how hard? Well, each shoe reacts differently, but we often huge differences after leaving the shoe in freezing temperatures for 20 minutes.

With a 36.8 HA reading on our durometer, brace yourself: in winter, this shoe is likely to feel really firm.

There's a 45.5% increase, which disappoints us, especially considering this shoe isn't exactly budget-friendly.

This is a stability shoe, and it truly delivers on that promise. While other features matter, the Beast GTS 23 definitely checks off the most crucial box for us.

The primary source of stability in these shoes is Brooks' GuideRails technology. This system helps support your body's natural movement, limiting any unnecessary shifts.

For proper stability, brands often need to give up some flexibility. This is why the shoe feels so stiff in our torsional test—earning it a score of 4/5 in our lab.

The story continues with the heel counter—where we encountered again a rigid design. While this is great for stability-driven runners, those in search of a softer, more comfort-focused heel might be disappointed.

If this sounds like too much, consider giving the ASICS Kayano 29 a look.

With a width of 113.1 mm, the forefoot offers ample space for secure landings, and we see no issues at all with it.

On the other hand, the heel has more to discuss. Brooks aimed for maximum stability with an ultra-wide design, catering to heel strikers who value this feature.

Measuring 102.7 mm, it's impressively wide!

In stark contrast to the torsional stiffness and the heel, our 90-degree bend test (21.3N) revealed the shoe to be reasonably flexible.

This is beneficial because it proves enhanced comfort for everyday use without sacrificing stability. It's flexible lengthwise but remains torsionally rigid. Whether you're walking around the neighborhood, shopping, or heading to the gym, these shoes will be up to the task.

They don't become much stiffer in cold weather. After exposing them to freezing temperatures and testing again, we found it took only 28.0N to bend them to 90 degrees.

With a 31.5% difference, it outdoes most other shoes in the market. And this is the kind of performance we anticipate from a shoe priced at $160 despite having an EVA-based foam.

Measuring 268.7 mm, this shoe is true to size.

According to Brooks' sizing charts, the US 9 we tested should be around 270 mm. We think a difference of 1.3 mm is quite reasonable.

This shoe also earns our wide feet seal of approval. We found its widest part of the upper to be 102.2 mm, showcasing its roomy design.

While the big toe area isn't exceptionally wide at 78.3 mm, it offers more room than most other shoes. We believe this makes it an excellent choice for those with wide feet—there's no question about it.

The new Beast GTS features a unique one-side semi-gusseted tongue. It's a feature we don't see often in today's running shoes, but it gives a great lockdown.

Brooks went all out on the comfort game with the Beast GTS 23. I mean, an 11.3-mm thick tongue? We tied those laces super tight, and we felt there was still zero chance of feeling any discomfort in the area.

The shoe's insole is easy to remove, letting you seamlessly insert insoles from other shoes or third-party orthotics. Great!

We often categorize shoes based on whether they include reflective elements. In this instance, we should note that the shoe has a "reflective element"—singular—because it only boasts one reflective piece in the heel area.

Anyway, this minor detail puts the Beast GTS 23 ahead of most competitors. However, we'd appreciate seeing more from Brooks in the future. For instance, incorporating a reflective logo could not only enhance visibility but also serve as a unique brand promotion!