Brooks Glycerin Max Review

The women's colorway of the Brooks Glycerin Max.

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

From the Hyperion Max 2 to the Ghost Max 2 and now the Glycerin Max, Brooks is on a roll with their max-cushion line with each new release more exciting and innovative than the last.

The Brooks Glycerin Max, available October 5, almost looks like something from “Back to the Future Part II” with its bold logo, oversized midsole sprinkled with curious grooves and perforations and a colorway that could be described as space-suit-inspired.

“Not only does this shoe look like something from outer space, but when I wear them I feel as if I could run all the way to the moon,” wear-tester Mandy says.

We know how Mandy feels about the Glycerin Max, but what did our other wear-testers think? Is the Glycerin Max capable of propelling us into the stratosphere? Or will it sputter out like the DeLorean time machine without plutonium? Read on to find out.

Coming Soon

Men's Brooks Glycerin Max Running Shoes

$200

Women's Brooks Glycerin Max Running Shoes

$200

Tech Specs

Brooks Glycerin Max

Weight	9.5 oz (W), 10.5 oz (M)
Stack height (heel/forefoot)	45.25 mm/39.25 mm
Heel-to-toe drop	6 mm
Category	Neutral
Surface	Road, track
Price	$200
Comparable to…	HOKA Skyward X, ASICS Glideride Max

Ride

Cushioning

Energy

DNA Tuned foam offers best of both worlds

The main headline surrounding the Glycerin Max isn’t its futuristic appearance, it’s the debut of Brooks’ brand-new DNA Tuned midsole foam. This nitrogen-infused foam is designed to give runners the best of both worlds, according to Brooks Footwear Product Line Manager Brittany Gleaton.

“With DNA Tuned, runners no longer have to compromise between soft and responsive. We’ve leveled up our nitrogen infusion process and we’re now able to manipulate the zones of the midsole,” Gleaton explains.

I first became familiar with Brook’s nitrogen infusion process while reviewing the Glycerin 20, which used DNA Loft v3 foam. This foam was injected with nitrogen gas, creating a soft and airy ride that comes from the millions of tiny nitrogen cells underfoot. Fast forward to two years later and Brooks is now able to fine-tune the nitrogen-infused cushioning even more, aptly naming it DNA Tuned.

“There are two different cell sizes within the nitrogen foam,” Gleaton says. “There are the large cells that have bigger surface areas. These feel softer and more compliant underfoot. Then there are the small cells, which are closer together and feel more responsive. We’re able to combine both of these cell sizes into one seamless midsole bottom unit.

The heel and midfoot is where the larger-celled softer foam sits, and the forefoot houses the smaller-celled responsive foam. The result?

“The runner gets a nice, soft landing, a very smooth roll through to the forefoot and then a responsive toe-off,” says Gleaton.

The smooth roll that Gleaton describes is due to Brooks’ GlideRoll Rocker, a gentle rocker shape that nudges you forward with each stride.

This all sounds great in theory, but how did the Glycerin Max perform in real life? While we all enjoyed our runs in the shoe, our wear-tester team had mixed reviews on how it felt and what it’s best for.

I took the Glycerin Max on a 6-mile treadmill run. I’m trying to get some hills in my training, and the treadmill is pretty much my only option. The shoes felt nice and smooth on the inclines and the declines. I noticed I was able to pop my feet back up off the belt pretty effortlessly on the uphills, even though my breathing was labored. The shoes offer a very thick stack of firm cushioning that feels decently responsive, so I decided my next test run in the shoes would be some tempo progression miles. Again, the shoes felt nice and smooth the whole way. So much so that my mantra for the later, harder miles was “nice and smooth” over and over. I’m not crazy, I just didn’t bring music with me.

Overall, I found the shoe a bit too heavy for true speed workouts but I think it performs nicely over medium tempo efforts, especially longer ones in which I’d want more cushioning. I think it’s much too firm to be worn for recovery days or longer, slower efforts.

However, Max says it felt soft and perfect for his long runs and recovery days.

“I’ve run about 30 miles in the Glycerin Max so far and I think they might be my new go-to daily trainer,” he says. “The ride feels very soft and bouncy underfoot. It feels noticeably softer and bouncier than DNA Loft v3 foam but perhaps too soft for faster paces or workouts – I’d probably opt for something firmer and more responsive.”

Brandon agreed with Max, saying “The ride isn’t meant to be very fast, and it’s not. This is a slow-long-run shoe and it will save your legs over the long haul.”

Mandy, whose footwear preferences always align nicely with mine, had my back on this one.

“The Glycerin Max offers the perfect combination of cushion and propulsion with a nice rocker shape to keep me running,” she says. “Running up and down hills was a breeze. Although I would pick something lighter for speedwork, these did great for everything from my runs to walking 20,000 steps around the North Carolina Zoo.”

Engineered for comfort

The luxurious feel of the Glycerin Max continues up top with an engineered triple jacquard material. It features three layers, with the first layer being the most premium material that sits closest to your foot. The different layers allow shoe designers to create breathability where needed, like in the forefoot, and structure where needed, like around the midfoot.

Thick padding runs along the tongue, the ankle collar and the heel to create a secure, locked-down fit.

“The nice, soft padding around the collar creates a really solid step-in feel,” says Max. “I really like the lockdown fit of this shoe compared to other, softer max-cushion trainers. I can get a nice, secure fit with this lacing system.”

While the upper felt comfortable and definitely luxurious on foot, I’ll admit that it doesn’t really fit with the whole “best of both worlds” vibe. I think it’s a bit too heavy and bulky to feel like a performance trainer, and I found the padding in the ankle collar to dig into my foot in an unpleasant way. In my opinion, making the upper thinner and more streamlined could shave some weight off the shoe, which is my main gripe with the Glycerin Max.

“The tongue feels a bit too padded,” Mandy says. “While I didn’t have any other issues running in 90-degree weather in this shoe, I could feel the heat on the top of my foot and found myself wishing it were a bit thinner.”

Brandon found the upper to feel quite breathable, but I will note that Mandy and I live in the South and Brandon lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Regardless, we all agreed that the Brooks Glycerin Max fits true to size. It’s a bit more voluminous in the forefoot than other shoes, so runners with high-volume feet (feet that take up a lot of room within the shoe) will likely enjoy it. If you aren’t sure about the volume, width or size of your feet, your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

How Should Running Shoes Fit?

Brooks Glycerin Max versus Brooks Glycerin 21

Tech Specs	Brooks Glycerin Max	Brooks Glycerin 21
Weight	9.5 oz (W), 10.5 oz (M)	8.8 oz (W), 9.8 oz (M)
Stack height	45.25 mm/39.25 mm	38 mm/28 mm
Heel-to-toe drop	6 mm	10 mm
Price	$200	$160

While the Glycerin Max and Glycerin 21 both have almost the same name, that’s about where the similarities stop. The shoes use different foams, feature different geometries and offer a different underfoot sensations.

“The reason we’re calling it Glycerin Max and it’s a part of the Glycerin franchise is because the promise of [the Max] is very similar to the Glycerin,” Gleaton says. “The Glycerin has always stood for ultimate luxury, as premium as you can get, and that continues here. The differences lie in the rocker transition that makes the run feel more effortless as well as the DNA Tuned foam.”

The Glycerin Max has a lot more cushion underfoot, too. The Glycerin 21 has a heel stack height of 38 millimeters, while the Glycerin Max is way up there at 45.25. It’s worth noting that the way Brooks measures their stack height has changed within the past six months. They used to only measure midsole stack height and not full stack height, which also includes the outsole. That’s why you may see previous measurements of the Glycerin 21’s stack height at 28 millimeters in the heel and 18 in the forefoot.

How does the Brooks Glycerin Max compare?

We took a look at some comparable models to see how they stack up against the Brooks Glycerin Max. Here’s what we found.

Tech Specs	Brooks Glycerin Max	HOKA Skyward X	ASICS Glideride Max
Weight	9.5 oz (W), 10.5 oz (M)	9.2 oz (W), 11.3 oz (M)	9 oz (W), 10.2 oz (M)
Stack height	45.25 mm/39.25 mm	46 mm/41 mm (W), 48 mm/43 mm (M)	43 mm/37 mm (W), 44 mm/38 mm (M)
Heel-to-toe drop	6 mm	5 mm	6 mm
Price	$200	$225	$170

The Brooks Glycerin Max, HOKA Skyward X and ASICS Glideride Max all fall into a new, evolving and sometimes confusing category. Are they “elevated” daily trainers thanks to their maximum stack heights and premium foams? Can they be considered super trainers, although the Skyward X is the only one with a plate? I can’t answer this definitively, but I can say that all three shoes offer much more cushion than your average daily trainer with exciting and energetic midsole foams.

While the Brooks Glycerin Max uses their new DNA Tuned foam, the Glideride Max sports ASICS’ new FF BLAST MAX foam, offering a seamless combination of soft and springy. The HOKA Skyward X uses a combination of PEBA foam, EVA foam and a convex-shaped carbon-fiber plate to offer plush landings and smooth transitions.

Reviewers agreed that all three shoes are a bit too heavy for speed work, but they shine during long runs when comfort is key. I found the Glycerin Max and Glideride Max to perform well during marathon-paced tempos, while the Skyward X felt a bit too clunky for picking up the pace.

Who is the Brooks Glycerin Max best for?

Thanks to a thick stack of DNA Tuned foam, the Brooks Glycerin Max will be lauded by cushion-lovers everywhere.

While we disagreed over what kinds of paces this shoe can handle, we all agreed that it felt comfortable over long distances and it fit true-to-size. It is on the heavier side, so it may not be the best choice for weight-conscious runners. But the added weight comes with added cushioning, so it really depends on your priorities. I don’t care that much about weight but I do love cushioning, so I really enjoyed my runs in the Glycerin Max.

“I recommend the Brooks Glycerin Max for anyone looking for some cushion and bounce for long runs, walks or recovery days,” says Mandy. “I also think it would work well for people with insoles, especially ones that can be a bit thicker.”