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Run Culture • January 27, 2025

Q&A with Jeff Staple, the Designer Behind the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 4

brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - feature

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What You Need To Know

The What

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 4 returns in collaboration lifestyle mode

How

Brooks taps Jeff Staple to create their first retro shoe, read our Q&A for all the details and insights

Price & Availability

$175, March 13

BITR Website Large - 1600 x 1066 - brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - lateral hold

Brooks x Staple Adrenaline GTS 4

An Extra Dose of Adrenaline

Brooks has been tuning up its shoes for the past year. The release of the Glycerin Max was a pleasant surprise, and there are signs that innovation isn’t slowing down. Now, with some help from sneaker culture OG Jeff Staple, they’ve dug into their archives to bring back the Adrenaline GTS 4 and kickstart a long-term partnership.

The Brooks x Staple Adrenaline GTS 4 is a fresh take on the original 2002 shoe that helped Brooks make its mark in the running world. This collaboration is the launch pad for an all-new range of lifestyle models that will drop from March onward. The updated GTS 4 keeps the classic construction but levels up with better materials.

brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - hold vertical
brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - heel counter

Who is Jeff Staple?

For many BITR readers, Jeff Staple might not ring a bell. But in the sneaker world? Oh, they know. Jeff is the guy who started it all. His release of a pigeon-themed Nike SB Dunk Low over 20 years ago is immortalized in sneaker history as the defining moment for sneaker culture. Since then, Staple Design (a.k.a. Reed Art Department) has been helping brands navigate the fast-evolving world of contemporary culture.

It turns out that Jeff’s a longtime Brooks fan who has been flirting with the brand for over a decade. But now? He’s entirely onboard. We got the chance to chat with him for all the juicy details.

brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - insole

We still have pigeons

BITR: How did the project start? Who called who?

Staple: I’d go for a run and post pictures. I noticed Brooks was seeing and sharing them. One day, I got the courage to DM them, like, “Hey, I don’t know if you know what I do, but why don’t we have a conversation?” And at first, they weren’t interested. (laughs)

BITR: In the announcement video, you’re raiding their vault. What’s the story there?

Staple: That’s the metaphor. Brooks was so focused on performance that anything outside that felt like a distraction. It took a lot of conversations to change their minds. Honestly, it made sense—retro products feel anti-performance. So, I had to educate them, even physically making my way to their archives.

brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - tongue

BITR: Why the Adrenaline GTS 4 as the first release?

Staple: When I saw this shoe, I said: “This needs to come out now. You’re sitting on gold!” Brooks is out in Seattle, super focused on performance. My job is to tell them what’s happening globally. It wasn’t just about pulling something from the archives but making something still relevant today.

BITR: This is more than one collaboration. What else are you working on with Brooks?

Staple: We’re also helping with the performance line. We get to see products go from sketches to samples. We’re already looking at what they are coming with in 2 years and helping them from a colorway standpoint. You can tweak an existing product a certain way, and it’s suddenly a new one. This is an ongoing collaboration.

Performance running is different from fashion—it’s about necessity. As a designer, I’m trying to solve problems. Sometimes, just changing a shoe’s color or material can boost someone’s confidence.

brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - tongue vertical
brooks adrenaline 4 GTS x staple - toe box

Availability

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 4 x Staple will be available for $175 on March 13, 2025, at brooksrunning.com and select retailers. 

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Authors

Alfredo Mejia
Run Culture Editor

Alfredo is a runner, writer, creative director, and cultural analyst based in Berlin. After years as a casual runner, his move to Berlin transformed his running into a vital practice for mental health and a source of tranquility during cold, early morning runs. His interest in clothes comes from uniforms and sportswear, combined with a love for innovation and research—which might explain why he meticulously charts his winter running gear.

More from Alfredo
Shoe Size

7.5

Fav. Distance

21K

PRs
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    26.2
  • 1:52

    13.1
  • 48:26

    10K
  • 24:26

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