Brooks Glycerin Max

• Posted on 16 September 2024
• By Running Lab Staff
• 0

THE INTRO

Introducing the Brooks Glycerin Max, where luxury and performance come together in a single, extraordinary shoe. Designed for those who crave unparalleled comfort and bounce, the Glycerin Max elevates every step with its A+ step-in feel and incredible propulsion. This shoe has just made running easier!

THE SPECS

Support: Neutral

Weight: 10.5 oz / 297 g (men), 9.5 oz / 269 g (women)

Stack Height: 45.25 mm in the heel, 39.25 mm in the forefoot

Midsole Drop: 6 mm

Cushion Level: High

ON THE RUN

Joe: As a Millennial, my childhood television watching experiences were filled with one of the most memorable ad campaigns of all-time: the Energizer Bunny. Even now, I can hear the beating of the drum and the VoiceOver reminding me of the batteries I need to purchase because of their ability to keep going and going and going…

After 45+ miles logged in the Glycerin Max, this brand new concept from Brooks feels like the shoe that will keep you going and going and going for hundreds and hundreds of miles. Brooks introduction of a new midsole technology (Hello DNA Tuned!) in combination with its GlideRoll Rocker provides a cushioned, seamless transition for miles on end.

After each run in the Glycerin Max, I continue to be amazed at the resiliency of the shoe and its ability to keep you feeling as fresh at the end of the run as you were at the start. There were a couple of runs where I was on both ends of an illness and was feeling exhausted. I distinctly remember looking at my watch after the run, trying to comprehend how my final 1-2 miles were the quickest of the run because I was feeling gassed. 

Sidney: In the 1989 film, Back to the Future II, Marty McFly sported the first self-lacing shoe. It was predicted self-lacing shoes would be a thing by the year 2015. And we thought that was groundbreaking… in 2024, your girl has been testing out the new Brooks Glycerin Max, a basically self running shoe.  

The runs I’ve experienced in this shoe are effortless and flowy. When my legs feel dead, this shoe gives them life! No carbon plated shoe has created this flying feeling you get with the Glycerin Max on your feet.

THE FIT

Joe: Death, taxes, and the best step-in feel on the market, some things are etched into the annals of history. The breathable mesh upper along with the cushioned tongue and padded heel collar provide a premium step-in experience for your foot whether its the first time trying on the Glycerin Max, or another run you are lacing up for.

The heel collar flares out away from achilles, relieving the back of your leg from any extra pressure or friction, and allowing for a easy pull-tab for quickly slipping your foot into the shoe.

I absolutely love the oversized Brooks logo overlay on the upper. Not only does it provide a touch of extra support on the lateral side of the foot, it looks pretty sweet, too!

Sidney: Like Joe mentioned, some things in life are guaranteed—and Brooks' superior step-in feel is one of them. Brooks always hits the nail on the head when it comes to step-in feel, and the Glycerin Max is no exception. Everything about this shoe strikes the perfect Goldilocks balance. The heel collar is not too firm, not too soft—it's just right. The tongue doesn't dig in or shift during runs—it's just right.

The toe room is Sidney approved. Xoxo, your wide-toe-box-loving, Altra-enthusiast, Correct Toes-wearing friend. 

THE FEEL

Joe: I am absolutely in love with Brooks’ new DNA Tuned midsole! Let’s forget about the ridiculous stack height (45mm in the heel, 39mm in the forefoot) and moderate heel drop of 6mm and focus our attention instead to this translucent (in some color ways) midsole! Discontent with just one nitrogen-infused midsole, the Glycerin Max brings cushion and responsiveness to the max with TWO different sized nitrogen-infused cells in the midsole! I knew I should have held on a little bit longer in my college chemistry classes!

Larger sized cells make up the majority of the heel to provide you with a plush landing regardless of how your foot strikes the ground, while the forefoot is comprised of smaller cells that propel you forward with a responsive toe-off on every step. On the Glycerin Max colorways with the translucent midsoles you can actually see this shift in midsole composition as you look at your shoe.

And the cushioning that comes to mind? Imagine running on a spring-loaded, jumbo-sized marshmallow! The shock and transition of force that accompanies each step of your run is absorbed by those large cells, and as you roll onto your toes, the smaller cells send you bounding gracefully into your next step.

Sidney: Like I mentioned previously, this shoe runs for you. The GlideRoll Rocker is unlike any rocker technology I've ever experienced in a shoe. You can feel the control the shoe has over your foot pushing you forward into your next stride. The heel of the shoe contains larger nitrogen-infused cells providing a nice bounce absorbing all of the impact. Smaller nitrogen-infused cells make up the forefoot creating the most responsive toe-off you’ve ever experienced before.

The whole shoe feels like pure luxury with that scrumptious step-in feel, paired with Brooks' new DNA Tuned midsole underfoot. Mwah! It's a masterpiece.

THE NITTY GRITTY

Joe: No doubt about it, this is a premium running shoe. According to Brooks, the Glycerin Max is for individuals who want a shoe that will provide them with a maximum, soft cushioning that will provide comfort and ease in every step of the run. For as high as the stack height is in the Glycerin Max, it does not feel clunky while on the run. A large part of this is thanks to Brooks’ GlideRoll Rocker technology that features sculpted bevel and toe spring geometries for effortless strides wherever the shoe will take you.

In my daily shoe lineup, the Glycerin Max is (and will be) used for daily runs, recovery runs, and long runs. As I mentioned above, I feel like the Energizer Bunny every time I put on the Glycerin Max, and it has me hypothesizing that if Forrest Gump was wearing the Glycerin Max, he’d still be out running from coast to coast, and back again. This shoe is a workhorse that will handle just about any type of mileage you throw at it, and I believe that the rubber on the outsole in combination with the GlideRoll Rocker will keep you on the road for more mileage than your average daily trainer.

As a side note, if you to want to do a little pick up in tempo in the middle of your run, the small-cell DNA Tuned midsole is responsive enough to tackle the challenge! I was surprised at its versatility when I threw in some long tempo efforts in the middle of my long runs in the Glycerin Max. The Glycerin Max is a brand new concept from Brooks, and I can’t really think of a shoe within their lineup that has felt truly similar underfoot. This is also a tough call when comparing to competitors, since there really isn’t anything else like it on the market. For Saucony-wearers, it feels like a blend of an Endorphin Shift 3 and Hurricane 24. For Hoka-wearers, it feels like a Skyflow-Bondi hybrid with the soft-cushioning of a Clifton.

Sidney: I work at a shoe store, and as much as it might sound sad, I don’t usually wear a shoe out completely. You really don’t want to see my closet—there’s no such thing as too many running shoes for me. But this shoe? It’s one I’m planning to wear to the end of its lifespan. I’ll definitely be buying another pair because the $200 price point is worth every penny. 

THE RUNDOWN

Joe: I have been excited for the Glycerin Max since first hearing about it, and it has not disappointed! From the GlideRoll Rocker to the newly designed DNA Tuned midsole, this shoe has all that you want and more in a daily trainer. The Glycerin Max is a workhorse that will handle just about any type of mileage you throw at it, keeping you going and going…and going to just about anywhere your feet can take you! Do your legs a favor and put on a pair of today! You’ll certainly Running Happy in the all-new Brooks Glycerin Max.

Sidney: To be totally honest, I haven’t exactly been Brooks’ biggest fan in the past—my foot and their shoes just never clicked. So when I got a chance to try a sample of this new shoe, I didn’t expect much. But boy, was I in for a surprise! Just one step with this shoe on, and I was completely wowed. My new favorite daily, recovery, and every run shoe. 

MEET JOE

Joe has been running consistently for two decades. In that time he's run everything from a coach's 4X100 relay to completing 3.75 marathons to stroller runs with his kids. During the spring of 2020 he ran every street in his town in a week. Today he enjoys runs with his wife, watching others smash their PRs, and finding creative ways to give back to the community through running.

All time favorite shoe: Endorphin Shift 3... but the Glycerin Max is making a strong case for taking over this shoe-shaped hole in my heart!

MEET SIDNEY

Sidney despised running her entire life until a doctor told her she wasn't allowed to run. A switch flipped and now she still can't stop years later. With an abundance of shoes and always being constantly on the move, she's fairly knowledgeable in the shoe game. 

All time favorite shoe: Hoka Clifton 9, but I would cheat on it for the Glycerin Max... shhh!