The Brooks Glycerin Max is Brooks’s step into the maximalist world. With max cushion, a 45mm stack height and a big chunky look, can we say, “better late than never”? Yes, we can! The Glycerin Max is Brooks’s second attempt at max cushioning after their first was an astronomical success, to say the least.
Working at a running specialty store, I can say firsthand the demand people had for the Ghost Max. It’s a clean, chunky shoe that modernized their flagship shoe, the Brooks “Ghost.” The shoe was so popular that before I even knew it, the Ghost 2 was out and was just as popular. However, there was one small issue: it was not as much of a running shoe as it could be and leaned toward recovery runs and walks.
That’s what the Glycerin Max looks to improve on. Once again, Brooks has made enhancements; the new and improved “DNA” foam has taken Brooks’s line of shoes over the hump. The Glycerin Max can handle the same easy runs as the Ghost Max and Ghost Max 2, but the lightweight, responsive foam allows for some uptempo work as well.
Even though the Brooks Glycerin Max seems to be a much better running shoe than the Ghost Max and is Brooks’s most cushioned easy run shoe, it is for a very niche community because of its weight and feel underfoot. Is that a bad thing? Definitely not!
Changes and Notable Features
Since the Glycerin Max is the first of its kind, there aren’t any changes, but what we can do is compare it to some of Brooks’s previous models. And that’s where I think this shoe shines. Specifically, when comparing it to the Ghost Max and Glycerin 21, the Glycerin Max comes in at a 45mm heel height, which is 6mm more than the Ghost Max and over 15mm higher than the Glycerin.
This is obviously the most notable change, but what does it mean? The Glycerin Max not only has more foam, but the updated “DNA” foam makes it softer and more responsive, allowing it to have a similar height to the Ghost Max but a slightly more responsive feel than the Glycerin 21, which gives a best-of-both-worlds situation.
This, paired with the 6mm drop, gives an inherent feeling of stability in the shoe without it being a stability shoe. On top of that, the shoe comes with a wider toe box that provides a comfortable feeling inside the shoe. Another update is the quality of the shoe. It may be the updated colors going away from Brooks’s basic dull colors or their super bright neon colors, but the white upper with the futuristic pink or green midsole gives an appearance of better quality to complement the feel.
My first couple of runs in this shoe were in the rain and on gravel trails, but the midsole and tread still looked as good as new, aside from the dirt. While I do enjoy the durability and stability of the Glycerin Max, you can definitely feel it in the shoe. The Glycerin Max is about half an ounce heavier than the Ghost Max and 0.7 ounces more than the Glycerin, which is felt in the shoe. The effortless running that is supposed to come with the DNA foam is not quite there because of the bulkiness, and on days when you’d want to speed up, I don’t think this is the right shoe. However, as far as recovery and easy long runs, this is the shoe.
Personal Opinions
The Brooks Glycerin Max is definitely a step up from what Brooks has produced in the high-cushioned daily trainer line, but the Glycerin Max is not for me. The clunkiness of the shoe is not offset by the “DNA” foam midsole. While the responsiveness and weight of the foam felt good in the Hyperion 2 and Hyperion MAX, it doesn’t translate to the Glycerin Max.
Brooks advertises the shoe as having an effortless transition, but the weight of the shoe made it a bit difficult to find a rhythm going faster than an easy or uptempo pace. What I do think this shoe is perfect for is recovery runs. The soft and dense foam allows for a soft landing whether you’re landing on your heel, midfoot, or forefoot, and the wide base with a supportive heel gives a sense of stability.
Overall Thoughts
The Glycerin Max 2 is a quality shoe but lacks some of the features to justify the $200 price point. If the shoe truly shined at tempo and uptempo paces, it could definitely bridge the gap and justify the price point. However, a $200 max cushion daily trainer that is heavier or equally as heavy as some of its competitors for an additional price may not be worth it.
If you’re looking for a quality daily trainer that’s good for easy long runs and recovery runs, I’d say the Glycerin Max 2 is great for you. But if you’re looking for a shoe you can also use for uptempo runs or a strictly recovery shoe, there are great options at a lesser price.
THE BREAKDOWN
Specs for the Brooks Glycerin Max
· Weight: (10.5oz / 297.7g) and (9.5oz / 269.3g)
· Stack height and drop: 45mm and 6mm
· Important features: DNA Tuned midsole, engineered mesh upper, max cushioning, GlideRoll Rocker technology
· Price: $200
· Release date: October 5, 2024
How We Tested This Shoe
· Men: Size 12.5 (10.5oz / 297.7g)
· Women: Size 8 (9.5oz / 269.3g)
· Running conditions: Tempo, long runs along with speedwork on asphalt and the track
.
Brooks Glycerin Max – Men
Brooks Glycerin Max – Women
