Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 Review: Tuned to our Liking

Introduction to the Brooks Glycerin GTS 23

LINDSAY: Everyone’s been watching the Olympics, right? I know I’m not the only one lounging on my couch while critiquing professional ice skaters on their rocky triple axel landing. As if I know anything about professional ice skating.

Well, the same goes for what I’m about to mic drop on Brooks’ shoe aesthetic. They all look the same. There, I said it. If you put a Brooks Glycerin, Ghost, and Launch in front of me, I would have just as easy a time deciphering Coke from Pepsi by taste. Which I know is just sending some of you right now.

Ok, with that said, I really liked this shoe. Didn’t see that coming, did ya? It was a surprise for me too; I’m not a Brooks girlie. I’ve also tried GTS models in the past, and they don’t always work for me. Brooks’ signature GuideRails technology is designed to reduce overpronation, and I quite literally do the opposite with my natural foot strike. The GTS models make me feel like I’m just overemphasizing that feature. In a way, that’s good news! It means it’s doing what it’s supposed to.

Ok, enough rambling. Let’s talk specifics.

What we like about the Brooks Glycerin GTS 23

LINDSAY: The Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 (say that 10 times fast) is a fun, smooth ride — kind of soft, but not overly cushioned. I think it’s a great option for a daily trainer that can hang for easy and long runs. The upper is your standard double-layered knit with Swiss cheese holes to make the shoe colorway pop through. Just kidding about the Swiss cheese; the holes are much more uniform.

The shoe is comfortable and flexible. It’s not too heavy or warm. The midsole was a pleasant surprise, though. To the touch, it’s a spongy, springy, exciting layer of nitrogen-infused cushion that Brooks likes to call DNA Tuned. They added more of this gem to the toe area, and it’s just so perfectly placed. What a fun little addition.

The outsole is in it for the long haul, too. A few weeks and roughly 30 miles in this shoe, and there isn’t much sign of wear. Run routes have also been quite slippery around Baltimore lately. The snow is melting every day and then refreezing every night, so I’m very happy to report I did not slip while wearing this shoe! After a few tiptoe tests to evaluate the traction, I was able to confidently hit the roads.

What we don’t like about the Brooks Glycerin GTS 23

LINDSAY: I had a tiny bit of trouble with the lace lockdown. For whatever reason, I couldn’t get that Goldilocks fit. It was either too tight, and I could feel my metatarsals moving, or it was too loose, and I felt my heel slipping.

I’m also not a fan of the 270 degrees of thiccc ankle cushioning. I know that has been a Believe favorite in the past, though, so if that’s also your style, then know it’s here to stay.

Final thoughts on the Brooks Glycerin GTS 23

LINDSAY: Brooks is such a rite of passage in the running world. They will never not be the OG. Even the Glycerin remains a household name on its twenty-third iteration. If you’re looking for a soft yet durable shoe that will help reduce overpronation, this is it.

Shoe pricing isn’t the best thing to criticize these days, so I won’t harp on it too much. It’s just not something we can really expect to improve from one year to the next. That said, the Glycerin GTS 23 is a bit pricier than I expected at $170. I would’ve put this closer to like $140, but that’s show biz, baby!

You can pick up the Brooks Glycerin GTS 23 for $180 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.