The Brooks Beast has been the brand's flagship maximum-stability shoe since the original released in 2002, and the new GTS 26 — on shelves since 1 April at $170 — is the model's largest single update in eight years. Brooks has switched the midsole from the long-serving BioMoGo DNA to nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3, the same compound used in the Glycerin GTS 22 daily trainer, and reworked the GuideRails support system to integrate it more closely with the medial sidewall. Stack height climbs by 2mm at the heel and 3mm at the forefoot, the heel-to-toe drop holds at 12mm, and the listed men's weight rises from 11.6oz in the GTS 24 to 11.9oz in the new shoe. We have been testing a US men's 10.5 over 60 miles since release.
The first thing to say about the Beast GTS 26 is that it is, finally, a soft shoe. The previous Beast generations were honest, dependable but firm — a max-support trainer that asked the runner to do most of the cushioning work themselves. DNA Loft v3 is much more compliant: it lands with a deeper, more even compression than the BioMoGo DNA it replaces, and the foam returns enough energy that you don't feel like you are dragging the shoe forwards on a long aerobic effort. Brooks's own published lab testing claims a 12% increase in energy return and a 14% reduction in peak impact force at 4:00/km pace; while we have no way to verify the latter, the perceived ride is unambiguously softer than the GTS 24 and notably softer than the rival Asics Gel-Kayano 33 we reviewed earlier this month.
The trade-off is that the Beast GTS 26 is also slightly less stable than its predecessor. Brooks has made the GuideRails — the firmer foam wedges that flank the medial and lateral midsole and steer the foot back to neutral — taller but narrower, in an attempt to keep the corrective intervention closer to the centre of the shoe. The result is a Beast that feels more like a normal trainer most of the time and less like a corrective device some of the time. For severe overpronators, that may be a step backwards: this is no longer a shoe that will physically prevent your foot from rolling. For runners with mild-to-moderate overpronation, or those who like a stability shoe for long-mileage insurance rather than acute correction, the new ride strikes a much more balanced compromise.
The upper is the part of the shoe that has changed least. Brooks has retained the wide, structured fit the Beast has always been known for, and the engineered mesh is the same as on the GTS 24. The toe box is generous in width without being sloppy, the heel collar is plush and grips well, and the lacing is unchanged. Sizing also runs true to Brooks's standard last; we ordered our usual half-size up from a US 10 and the fit was exactly as expected. Outsole rubber coverage is excellent, with a continuous strip down the lateral edge and a thicker pad under the heel where the previous Beast wore through fastest. After 60 miles on a mix of pavement and crushed limestone, our pair shows minimal wear at the heel strike zone.
Who is the Beast GTS 26 for? It is the most accomplished max-stability daily trainer Brooks has ever made, and at $170 it is competitive with the Asics Gel-Kayano 33 ($165) and Saucony Tempus 2 ($160) — both shoes we have rated highly. It is heavier and slower than either, which means it is not the right choice for a runner who wants a single shoe to handle both daily mileage and tempo work. But for the slower, longer, more recovery-oriented end of a marathon block — or for a heavier runner who needs the cushioning that the GuideRails system uniquely allows Brooks to dial up — the Beast GTS 26 is a clear upgrade on the GTS 24. Available now in three men's and three women's colourways at brooksrunning.com and selected retailers.