Brooks have been getting innovative recently. From their usual dependable and traditional roots, big things have grown. None of them come bigger than the Glycerin Max. Let's see how it works!
Brooks Glycerin Max Introduction:
The Glycerin Had A Growth Spurt
Andy: Brooks are renowned for their comfortable fit, durability and inclusiveness of their range. They have a shoe for everyone and most of their shoes will work for anyone. However, there seems to have been something in the water at Brooks HQ recently. Things have been going MAX. First, we had the Ghost Max. This was a pumped up Ghost, comfortable, dependable and sensible. Then came the Ghost Max 2, the same comfort but with a little more pzazz in the mix. These brought versions of already existing foams and just made them bigger.
After that, things seem to have gone into overdrive. Recently, a few of us at Meta Endurance were lucky enough to open a box from Brooks which was rather out of the ordinary. From the moment the lid lifted, it was clear something was different. An almost cartoonish, caricature of a running shoe lay within. A Rolls Royce looking behemoth. Plush, soft and huge. The Glycerin Max had landed. New foam, new geometry but a familiar name.
Is this pumped up kick a welcome addition to to the Brooks family? Is it an experiment too far? We put it through its paces to find out.
Specs:
Stack Height: 45mm in the heel to 39mm in the forefoot
Drop: 6mm
Weight: 296g | 10.4oz
Price: €200
Brooks Glycerin Max Upper:
Unfortunate Rubbing
Andy: The first thing to notice about the shoe is its aesthetic. Sadly, I didn’t receive the red, white and blue version which looked like it had stepped out of some kind of animation. I received a more muted but still not subtle grey and black version with a rather radioactive looking green glow coming from within the midsole foam. The Glycerin Max is huge. That said, its proportions are slightly skewed. It has a very big bottom and a short top. For me, this wasn’t an issue but I can’t say the same for all of our testers.
The initial step in is, as would be expected from a Brooks shoe, was delightful. Comfort of the upper and the squish of the midsole were very promising. I found that the shoe tightened well and hugged my foot. I didn’t experience any heel slippage and they feel true to size. However, when I got on the run things changed. Initial kilometres were very enjoyable. Then, I felt a burning sensation on the inside of the right foot where the big toe and metatarsal bone join, right at the very widest part of my foot.
I stopped, checked inside the shoe for any kind of rogue passengers but found none. I re-laced and carried on. Since then, I have tried different combinations of lacing, socks and insoles and still get that burn after about 9 km. Perhaps this is a manufacturing fault on my sample but it is a shame and a rare issue in a Brooks shoe for me. That said, the left foot has been perfectly fine with no irritation at all which makes the right foot issue even more frustrating.
The largesse of Brooks continues in the padding of the upper. The tongue is thick and protects the foot from any lace pressure. In the back, the heel collar is well padded and this continues around the sides. Despite the temperatures being relatively warm still, I haven’t experienced overheating. Although, with all the padding, I have found that they take a while to dry after rainy runs which may be an issue for some as we move to the depths of autumn and winter.
Out Of This World Proportions
Silke: When I opened the package of the Glycerin Max what caught my eye was not what I had expected. Midsole, midsole, midsole! A perfectly chosen colour combination. This cruise ship of a running shoe comes with ⅔ midsole and ⅓ upper. Instantly, I was very excited to take it for a ride. As I have never tried ASICS Superblast before, I thought maybe Brooks have created something similar and exciting.
Holding the Glycerin Max in my hands I found it to be a bit heavy at 270g in my size W US 8.5. However, stepping into it gave Brooks’ traditional fit and comfort.
I have to admit that I might be the one in a million runners who is not entirely satisfied with Brooks’ fit in general. On the Glycerin Max, I found the ankle part to be a bit too low designed resulting in a slight heel slippage. Also, compared to other big stacked running shoes it is a different ankle fit.
Where in other running shoes with that huge amount of midsole, your foot will sit deeply embedded, in the Glycerin Max there are no high sidewalls to provide a secure lockdown. Apart from that, the overall fit is quite nice. The non-gusseted tongue stays in place, the laces work, the double layer mesh feels comfortable. With the weight in mind one could ask if a rubber overlay of that thickness is needed.
The Brooks Glycerin Max Prioritises Comfort
Ivan: The Brooks Glycerin Max stands out visually, in a good way. It’s one of those running shoes I wouldn’t mind wearing casually with jeans, and if nothing else, I’d gain a bit of height. The design aligns perfectly with the current trend of thick midsoles paired with clean looking uppers, a style that’s been growing over the past few years. Whether this trend will continue remains to be seen, but for now, the Glycerin Max is right on point.
The proportions of the shoe are a bit unusual, with a noticeably taller looking midsole compared to the upper. This not only defines its appearance but also affects how it feels on foot. Whether that design choice is meant to keep the weight down or serve a stylistic purpose, it does come with some drawbacks for me, particularly in the heel area. The heel collar is quite low and heavily padded, which unfortunately digs into both the back of my heel and the lateral ankle bone. It’s not exactly painful, but it’s noticeable and becomes a mild annoyance during runs.
That said, the shoe otherwise offers Brooks’ signature superb fit – snug around the midfoot with ample room in the forefoot. The materials are soft and generously padded, which adds to the overall comfort, though it does make the shoe a bit heavier. Despite this, I didn’t find the shoe to run particularly hot, even in high summer temperatures. Brooks clearly prioritised comfort with this model, evident in the thick tongue and the oversized rubber Brooks logo on the side. It’s a shoe designed for easy, comfortable runs, from recovery days to longer distances. The focus isn’t on versatility or speed, but rather on delivering a plush ride.
As for sizing, it runs true to size, consistent with the rest of the Brooks lineup.
Midsole:
Dual Cell Dynamism
Andy: Brooks have given us a huge slab of their new DNA TUNED foam to play with in the Glycerin Max. 45mm in the heel and 39mm in the forefoot put it in the same bracket as the Superblast 2 from ASICS.
DNA TUNED is an innovative new foam from Brooks. It is a dual cell technology. The outer shell is a neutral, off-white and has big cells for bounce and cushion. Within that, there is a core of a vibrant yellow coloured foam which has smaller cells of nitrogen infused form for responsiveness. This can be seen when looking at the bottom of the shoe and reflects through the sidewalls.
When I stepped into the Glycerin Max, it had a very soft feel to it. Much softer than any Brooks shoe which I have run in before. On the run, this softness was still very apparent. Being a predominantly forefoot striker, the thickness of DNA TUNED in the front gives a wonderful, floaty feel. There is not a huge amount of road feel through the 39mm of dual compound foam, so if that is your thing, stay clear.
I was expecting a little more of a wild ride from the Glycerin Max given the softness and size of the midsole. However, the width of the midsole and dual cell compound make it far more stable than it looks. As far as performance goes, it has taken a few runs to break the Glycerin Max in. During testing, I have used it from gentle recovery paces through to just slower than marathon pace. I enjoy the ride, when pushing more power through the midsole, it is responsive and my pace surprised me for the effort I was putting in which is probably where the rocker geometry really helps. It is a smooth shoe through the gait cycle.
That said, I definitely prefer it as a recovery shoe. If I was looking for a workout shoe, I would leave this on the shelf and pick it up the day after when pace was less of an issue. Despite the inherent stability of the platform, it felt a little unwieldy around corners and I didn’t feel I was always getting back 100% of what I put in when pushing.
Sadly, we have the fit issue on my right foot which has precluded me from taking it on much longer runs which is where I think it would really shine for me. If only I had two left feet, I’d be a very happy man in these shoes!
Floating Feeling
Silke: After testing some incredibly soft shoes with high stacked midsoles recently, I wanted to know if the Glycerin Max offers more than just pillow-like dampening. First steps in the house feel smooth and superbly cushioned. However this is not the purpose of the shoe. During my first kilometres I found myself floating above the ground, like my feet had lost contact with the earth. This breaking in took about 12-15k.
From then on, I found the ride to be very pleasant. The 6mm drop in combination with the slight rocker geometry seems to work really well with my style of running. I ran about 30k in the Glycerin Max at an easy or recovery pace. On soft ground (light trail after days of rain) I felt a bit of instability, but I never twisted my ankle or felt like an injury was coming.
On the hilly parts of my runs, I found the big stack to be too stiff for me to bend and to reach my forefoot. It is not a shoe I would take for those kinds of workouts. Also, I still wonder about the purpose of the shoe. This brand new DNA TUNED should offer so much more than “good old” DNA Loft v3 that Brooks used in the Ghost Max, a shoe that I really enjoy for my long runs.
A Soft Ride With A Stiff Midsole
Ivan: I completely agree with my fellow reviewers. This shoe isn’t for those who enjoy a close-to-the-ground feel, nor is it intended for uptempo runs. It’s all about comfort and protection, which is something many runners prefer, especially on easy days, regardless of distance. The ultra thick DNA TUNED midsole is incredibly stiff – probably the stiffest I’ve ever experienced. Even more so than most carbon-plated super trainers! This stiffness offers excellent protection, particularly for the arch, while the cushioning of the massive platform helps with overall shock absorption.
I would describe the ride as soft and cushioned, with a bit of squish and some energy return. The combination of stiffness, a pronounced rocker, and the 6mm drop provides smooth transitions for most types of foot strikes. However, because of the platform’s width and the force required to fully engage the thick midsole, heavier or stronger runners will benefit the most, without sacrificing needed support.
Personally, as a lighter runner who prefers quick mid-to-forefoot transitions, the shoe can feel clunky at times. At recovery paces, it can become cumbersome after a while, though it performs better when I put more force into it at medium paces. When picking up the pace, I can appreciate the benefits of the DNA TUNED midsole, especially with the forefoot rocker enhancing toe-off. However, the shoe’s weight prevents it from excelling as an uptempo option over long distances – at least for lighter runners like myself who value agility when increasing speed.
Brooks Glycerin Max Outsole:
Sparse But Successful
Andy: The outsole is rather sparse when compared to most other Brooks shoes. There is a fair amount of exposed DNA TUNED foam. I would imagine that this decision has been made to keep the shoe at cruiserweight rather than pushing it to the heavyweight category. Most people’s high strike areas will be protected by the rubber. We find a strip on lateral and medial sides of the heel while the forefoot has rather more protection.
I have had no issues on the roads so far in the Glycerin Max in the dry or wet. Furthermore, I have found no real degradation or damage to them after my initial runs in the shoe. Hopefully, they will be as durable as the rest of the Brooks line.
Silke: Looking at the outsole I instantly thought of the pattern of the recent New Balance FuelCell models. The pattern looks similar, but as always with Brooks, there is just more of it. It worked on every surface to my satisfaction. Nothing to complain about and 60k of running will obviously show no signs of wear here. The only thing I don’t like: the cutouts collect dirt.
Ivan: The outsole coverage is decent and performs well so far. I haven’t encountered any issues, though I haven’t had the chance to test it in more challenging conditions yet. Based on my experience with Brooks shoes, I expect it to hold up well over time. My only minor complaint is that the cutouts beneath the forefoot have occasionally trapped larger stones.
Brooks Glycerin Max Conclusion:
An Enjoyable and Different Option
Ivan: This is the kind of shoe that requires a bit more mileage before I can offer a completely fair final verdict. The low heel collar might be something I’ll grow accustomed to, and the massive midsole could soften with time. If that happens, I can see this becoming a highly comfortable workhorse for my needs.
For now, however, I’m still struggling with the platform’s stiffness and width. It takes more effort to engage the thick midsole than I’d prefer, even though I appreciate the shoe’s overall design, particularly the rocker and 6mm drop. That said, I can see how more powerful runners would benefit from these same features.
I don’t think this shoe needs to compete directly with the popular uptempo super trainers. It stands out as a reliable, protective option for runners who aren’t focused on speed or lightness but want a super comfortable daily trainer. It’s far from dull and can certainly go the distance.
Fun Foam With Fit Issues For Me
Andy: This is a hard shoe for me to conclude. I love 99% of it. The fit is very comfortable. I really enjoy the midsole foam and rockered ride. However, the sensation in my right foot means that I am very limited in what I can use it for. I will continue with it to see if I can fix the burn and enable myself to take it longer and faster.
Brooks say that it is a shoe for all, sadly, I don’t seem to make the cut this time. That said, I love the innovation of the foam and would really love to see it in a regular Glycerin or even an Aurora-BL v2. It’s a lot of fun and gives a touch more joy to the run that previous Brooks foams.
Finally we come to the price and its competitors. The €200 price point along with the design and size of the shoe mean that it will be facing some “super trainers” as direct competitor. For me, in this first iteration, it might come up short in such a comparison. I would imagine that many people will love the Glycerin Max and I applaud the innovation with the foam. I can’t wait to see where else Brooks puts DNA TUNED and what other innovations they have coming in the next year.
The Glycerin Max Is Not For Ground Contact Lovers
Silke: After running about 60k in the Glycerin Max my conclusion is divided into two. I did some lovely runs at my easy pace and it felt smooth and comfy, yet always lacking a bit of ground contact. When I decided to pick up the pace, the midsole seemed to come to life. But sadly that was when I felt a rubbing on the inner side of my left forefoot.
When we discussed the Glycerin Max in our reviewer group, I said to Andy, if I could blend out the pain I have at my left forefoot, I would really enjoy this shoe. I have the same issue with the Brooks Caldera so this might be a problem with my left forefoot and one small part in the shoe that does not work with it. But that will not keep me from taking them out for another try.
Ivan
48 years old
180cm (5’9″) – 63kg (138lbs)
Midfoot striker – Cadence runner
Mild pronator
