Brooks Addiction GTS 15 vs Hoka Arahi 8:
Which to Choose

Start with what's the same, because it's a lot: both score 4/6 cushioning, 3/6 responsiveness, and a maxed-out 6/6 stability, both skip a plate entirely, and both deliver a firm, workmanlike ride that supports rather than springs — neither will pop when you push, and neither is the soft recovery shoe. From there they split. The biggest, most tangible difference is weight: the Addiction GTS 15 lands around 346g in a men's pair, while the Arahi 8 comes in near 259g — that's close to 90g, and you feel it, with the Brooks reading as the more substantial, planted, old-school controlling shoe and the Hoka as the noticeably nimbler one. Stack heights push the same direction: the Arahi sits taller underfoot at roughly 39mm heel / 28mm forefoot versus the Addiction's 36.5mm / 24.4mm, so the Hoka feels a touch more cushioned and rockered, the Brooks lower and firmer. Drops are effectively a wash — 12mm on the Brooks against a measured 11mm on the Hoka (Hoka markets it as 8mm, but the caliper says otherwise), so both favor a heel-first landing. The support mechanisms differ in philosophy more than result: the Addiction uses GuideRails plus a broad base and firm DNA Loft to physically fence in excess motion — true motion-control territory for heavier or more aggressive overpronators — while the Arahi's CMEVA and active H-Frame guide the foot straight in a lighter, less overtly corrective way. Use cases overlap at 10K and the half, but the Arahi extends comfortably to the full marathon and lists a slightly quicker effective range (down to about 4:45–5:00 min/km) where the Addiction tops out closer to 5:30, reflecting its heavier, steadier bias.