Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Review: Hang on to Your Love

Introduction to the Brooks Glycerin Max 2

MEAGHAN: If you know my shoe preferences, you know I’m a sucker for max-cushioned trainers. And if you follow our reviews, you probably also remember that we crowned the original Brooks Glycerin Max our Best Max Cushion Shoe of 2024. It quickly became my favorite model from the brand, thanks in large part to its DNA Tuned midsole — one of my all-time favorites. Soft yet springy, it delivered everything you want in a max-cushioned ride, with just a bit of extra pop. Yes, it carried some weight at over 9 oz for a W7.5, but that never stopped me from reaching for it day after day.

So naturally, I was pretty excited to get my hands on the next iteration. The DNA Tuned midsole reportedly remains unchanged in formulation and durometer, but this update introduces enhanced GlideRoll Technology, a new triple-jacquard engineered air mesh upper, and a fit more in line with the traditional Glycerin. The big question: can this version earn its way back onto our Best Of list? Let’s dive in.

CHAD: Last year, Brooks dropped an absolute bombshell on the running shoe world with the Glycerin Max. It was one of the first times that it felt like Brooks and its BlueLine lab had actually pushed forward a new, innovative idea. That idea was a dual-density midsole, but not the traditional way we’re accustomed to, with a layer with one durometer underfoot and then a cradle of another durometer beneath that. The Glycerin Max featured a softer foam in the heel for comfortable landings and a firmer foam towards the forefoot for a more lively toe-off. Combined with a huge stack height and dramatic rocker, the ride of the shoe was insanely good, so much so that it received a perfect five pigeons in the function category from the team.

With v1, the Brooks team was the chemists who found the formula to make our hearts swell and burst. But when you drop an absolute banger, it’s tough to follow that up with another banger. Asics did it with the Superblast and the Superblast 2, but how did they achieve that? They really didn’t change that much about it, just a minor tweak here and there. On paper, that can sort of be said about the Glycerin Max 2. Its stack height remains largely the same (45 mm / 39 mm, 6 mm drop), midsole foam material (allegedly) stays the same (DNA Tuned), and the rocker geometry (GlideRoll) is also present. But did Brooks achieve the feat of improving on a shoe that was already great?

THOMAS: As Sade sang, “It’s never as good as the first time.” In this case, she was correct. Perhaps I should have put that in the conclusion, but I didn’t. In the meantime, I’ll try to come up with something to tie it all together.

What we like about the Brooks Glycerin Max 2

MEAGHAN: While I’m not sure I love the aesthetics of this update quite as much as the original — it leans more daily trainer than futuristic — I still appreciate its clean, simple look. The fit is true to size, although slightly snugger than the previous version, which had a notably roomy toebox. The new mesh feels a bit thicker and wraps the foot more closely, creating a more secure overall fit.

The step-in experience definitely delivers that max-cushioned sensation, but what stood out immediately was the pronounced rocker. It feels noticeably more aggressive than before, and that becomes even clearer once you’re out on the run. As soon as you settle into your stride, the shoe practically encourages you to keep going.

The DNA Tuned midsole doesn’t feel quite the same this time around (more on that later), but the generous stack height is still there, along with the minimal ground feel I personally love.

CHAD: The best part of belief is the lie, and if someone tells you that the Glycerin Max 2 is the same shoe as the first version, they’re lying to you. My only real knock on the OG Glycerin Max was that the fit was off-putting; the volume was a problem, and had my fairly regular or even regular-plus width feet swimming in them. That has been corrected in the Glycerin Max 2, with the fit being far more snug, yet comfortably so, both in width and volume, sort of like a warm hug. It bordered on almost being TOO snug, especially in the toes; however, it didn’t cause any problems.

Speaking of warm, the Glycerin Max 2 features a triple jacquard mesh upper, so get outta here with your peasant double jacquards. The upper is plush and really holds the foot well over the giant platform of midsole foam. It was nice considering my testing miles were all in temps around 45-50 degrees.

The other dramatic difference in the Glycerin Max 2 is that the DNA Tuned midsole feels much firmer underfoot, which in turn accentuates the rocker feel. The roll-through definitely got me up on my toes quickly in transition, and the firmer midsole made going up hills a lot easier than the first version.

For the first time ever, I pulled a classic Meg Murray and did a run with the v1 on one foot and the v2 on the other. I ran two miles, then stopped at home to swap them, and ran another two miles. The fit and feel of them was palpably different. The fit was definitely an improvement, but the rest…

THOMAS: To be honest, the Glycerin Max 2 isn’t a bad shoe. Brooks did a nice job with the upper, and the shoe fits well with a very plush triple jacquard upper that feels well-engineered. The rocker geometry rolls smoothly through the phases, creating a smooth ride, while the outsole delivers the features you hope for: providing traction and durability. For a high-stack shoe, the G-Max feels very stable.

What we don’t like about the Brooks Glycerin Max 2

MEAGHAN: Despite speaking directly with the Brooks team, I’m still not convinced the DNA Tuned midsole is truly unchanged in formulation or durometer. This version feels significantly firmer than the original — you no longer get that plush sink-in sensation followed by a lively rebound.

To double-check that I wasn’t misremembering, I laced up the original on one foot and the new version on the other for an eight-mile run. Honestly, I nearly turned back — it felt like running in two entirely different shoes, and eight miles suddenly seemed like a questionable idea. I made it home just fine, but the takeaway was clear: whether it’s the midsole sculpting, the more aggressive rocker, or an unspoken tweak to the DNA Tuned itself, the springy, softer bounce just isn’t there. And for me, that means the shoe has lost the fun factor I loved so much in the original.

We also need to talk about weight. On paper, it hasn’t changed, but it certainly feels more noticeable. With so many brands innovating aggressively around design and weight reduction, this update lands more like a swing and a miss.

CHAD: When it comes to Brooks, I’m a lifer, here ‘til the bitter end; condemned from the start. Despite that status, there are several aspects of the Glycerin Max 2 that I think are a step back from the original. I’ll preface this by saying that I often prefer a firmer midsole underfoot, but that’s when it comes with an accompanying bounce or resilience. The DNA Tuned in this version just lacked that same pop and energy that the OG had in spades. The “fun” element from the v1 that made the miles just fly by isn’t there in the v2. I think this is partly due to the underfoot being narrower, which provides less surface area for the foot to sink in, as Brooks claims the composition of the foams is the same between the two versions.

The Glycerin Max 2, despite having the same stack height and being narrower and lower in volume, gained half an ounce from the original. Because the shoe lacks the pop of the first version, that half an ounce feels like a lot more, because the shoe just feels heavy underfoot. Not exactly inspiring, especially for a shoe designed to be a long run cruiser.

Also, who greenlit the design aesthetic of this shoe? The Glycerin Max had a cool look about it, with its giant Brooks logo and the carved-out design of the midsole. The best way I can describe the Glycerin Max 2 is that it looks like you’re strapping a barge on the bottom of both feet.

THOMAS: The OG Glycerin Max brought real joie de vivre to your runs, great looks, a surprisingly fun toe-off, and a forgiving-yet-energetic ride that breathed life into the max-cush category. The Glycerin Max 2 doesn’t have that same fun ride. “Is it a crime” that the second iteration of the shoe falls short? Unfortunately, there have been a lot of sophomore slumps.

Final thoughts on the Brooks Glycerin Max 2

MEAGHAN: Remember in high school when your parents would say they weren’t mad, just disappointed, and somehow that felt so much worse? That’s exactly how I felt while writing this review. I loved the original Glycerin Max so much that I was genuinely excited for the update, only to end up feeling like Brooks stripped away the magic and fun that made the shoe special.

To be fair, it’s still a solid max-cushioned option, and runners who prefer a firmer ride paired with an aggressive rocker will likely enjoy it. But for me, this iteration is a noticeable step in the wrong direction. I’m not mad… just disappointed.

The bright side? I got a sneak peek at the Glycerin Max 3 at The Running Event this year, and it looks promising. So here’s to hoping the magic makes a comeback.

CHAD: Take my tears and put them on ice, because after dropping an absolute banger in the Glycerin Max, Brooks took a few steps back with the Glycerin Max 2. It just didn’t have that same special sauce of the OG pumping through our sneakers that delivered just what we needed. It got heavier (and felt heavier) while having a firmer-than-expected ride. Although they dialed in the fit for my feet, it wasn’t enough to salvage this one.

At the end of the day, this is a perfectly fine running shoe. However, given how much we loved the original, the Glycerin Max 2 is definitely a sophomore slump. But, on a positive note, that sets Brooks up for the Glycerin Max 3 in 2026 to potentially be the comeback shoe of the year.

THOMAS: Three reviews, three strikeouts. In reverse order, we would be telling you how Brooks took a decent shoe and made it great. But here we are. To force one more Sade lyric into the conclusion. She sings “You won’t catch me running” in the song Cherish the Day, and after this review, you won’t catch me running in the Glycerin Max 2.

You can pick up the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 for $200 from Brooks by using the buttons below.