Brooks Glycerin Max Review: Brooks Just Did Its Best

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Brooks Glycerin Max

MEAGHAN: I haven’t been excited about opening a Brooks shoe box since the Aurora-BL showed up over three years ago. That shoe was wild and fun and felt like a real departure from your typical Brooks Ghost/Adrenaline/daily trainer. I guess it’s not surprising that the materials that make up the new Glycerin Max also came straight from the Brooks BlueLine Lab, the team responsible for innovation at the brand.

The new midsole material, aptly named DNA Tuned, is the latest iteration of nitrogen-infused foam that’s designed with different-sized cell technology (larger in the heel for soft landing and smaller in the forefoot for more bounce). It also features a construction similar to rim and core, except both the rim and core of the midsole are adhered together before the foaming process to create a seamless bond. The Max comes into play with just how much of that DNA Tuned they placed underfoot: 45 mm in the heel and 39 mm in the forefoot, for a 6 mm drop. A fairly dramatic Glideroll rocker and plenty of rubber on the outsole finish off this highly cushioned trainer. But let’s find out how it felt on the pavement.

LINDSAY: Every time I think I’ve run in the thickest shoe I’ll ever run in, a new one comes out that changes my mind. Brooks was not kidding when they said the Glycerin Max is “boundary-pushing.” This is easily the most stacked shoe I’ve run in to date.

The first of its kind among house Glycerin, which is already stacked (pun intended) with three others of the order: Brooks Glycerin GTS, Glycerin Stealthfit, Glycerin GTS Stealthfit. And now the Glycerin Max. With the Brooks Glycerin already being a best-selling model, it begs the question: was this a necessary addition? What’s Glycerin about this max cushion shoe?

Well, to be frank, nothing. This is a completely different shoe, for better or for worse. The upper is an engineered mesh versus the traditional feel of the Glycerin 21. It’s got a higher and flatter heel counter. There is an entirely new generation of DNA midsole foam referred to as DNA Tuned that has a noticeable rocker geometry, and the outsole is focused toward the mid and forefoot with a flatter, more unified piece of rubber as opposed to four quadrants.

So, while this isn’t exactly an expansion of the Glycerin line, in my opinion, that’s not to say it isn’t going to be as popular. I’ll focus on the good and bad parts of this new max cushion shoe from Brooks and leave the naming to the experts.

CHAD: Brooks and innovation have not historically gone hand-in-hand. Don’t get me wrong — if you read every review I’ve done of a Brooks shoe, I consistently commend them on the quality of their shoes. But when it comes to bringing something new to the market, Brooks has typically taken a backseat.

Then, in 2023, Brooks conjured up a new model that somewhat flipped the script: the Ghost Max. This shoe was an immediate hit with most who chose to try it out, and for this reviewer, it was one of my top three recovery day shoes for the entire year. Brooks then followed that up with a sequel, the Ghost Max 2, which continued to build on the success of the first model. But internet rumors (read: Reddit posts) were abounding the last few months about another model that Brooks would be dropping that would be even max-er than the Ghost Max… the Glycerin Max.

Brooks has finally followed in the footsteps of most other brands in the marketplace and said: “Screw you, World Athletics, and your 40 mm stack height limit!” I was astounded when I got home from the gym one day and had the Glycerin Max waiting for me at my doorstep. Never had I seen a Brooks shoe with so much midsole foam!

As Meg and Lindsay mentioned, the stack is maxed, and is paired with Brooks’ GuideRoll rocker system and a significant toe spring. This is also Brooks’ first use of its DNA Tuned midsole foam, which is nitrogen-infused and uses different cell sizes to create softer landings in the midfoot and a firmer, more responsive feel in the forefoot.

What we like about the Brooks Glycerin Max

MEAGHAN: I’ve seen the Spring 2025 colorways that will be available, and I’m very happy Brooks sent the white/black/diva pink version. There’s something about a nearly all-white max stack shoe that I just love. And the step-in feel of this shoe is as dreamy as it looks. The highly padded collar and tongue provide a really plush, soft feel, while the DNA Tuned midsole foam feels squishy but resilient. I found it fits true to size and is quite spacious through the forefoot and midfoot. I think even some wide-footed friends (looking at you, Jarrett) might find themselves comfortably wearing this one.

Walking around in the shoe felt great, but it really came to life once I started running. The GlideRoll rocker and midsole foam work together really well. Once you start running, you don’t want to stop. This shoe reminded me a lot of the Puma MagMax that we recently reviewed. It’s got that fun factor and responsiveness that gets you excited to lace this shoe up day after day. I used to find nitrogen foams pretty firm but the recent iterations feel comfortable and provide lots of bounce. Despite being relatively heavy (my W7.5 came in at 9.4 oz), I found it pretty easy to pick up the pace but also cruise for those short recovery runs to long runs.

LINDSAY: Let’s start with the fact that the Brooks Glycerin Max is intended for running! It’s big news since the Ghost Max felt much more like a walking shoe. This time, however, Brooks added a lot on paper that should aid in faster forward motion.

The upper maintains the comfort of a standard Brooks Glycerin model with a breathable mesh base, roomy toe box, and plush tongue. I didn’t have to do much in the way of lace adjustment when I first laced up, either.

The midsole adds a solid slab of comfort to each step. It’s giving the feel of a squishier New Balance More V4 — perhaps a nice middle ground between the Saucony Endorphin Shift and a Hoka Bondi to give you an idea. The rocker geometry is great, and I felt nice propulsion on the toe-off. With the different-sized cells (larger at the heel and smaller at the toe), I might’ve actually preferred a full-length midsole with just the smaller cells (more on that later).

I really like the outsole. The way they sort of shaved it down helps with the weight of the shoe and smoother transitions while maintaining its durability.

CHAD: So, remember what I said about Brooks and innovation in the first line of my review? Well, that can be thrown directly onto the trash heap of history because this shoe is fantastic. Most shoes will have a couple of good attributes about them, but they don’t really mesh into being a great shoe. That cannot be said about the Glycerin Max. Everything about this shoe comes together and creates one of the most unique and pleasant rides in a shoe that I have felt in some time.

When I read the spec sheet, I didn’t believe that I would feel any sort of difference in softness and responsiveness between the rear and forefoot of the shoe, but I was completely wrong. The landing in the heel portion of the shoe is soft and plush underfoot. Then, the GlideRoll rocker takes over and rolls me onto my toes and into the insane toe spring, where you can feel a pop of more resilient and responsive foam when taking off.

Seriously, the Glycerin Max does almost all the work during the time your foot hits the ground and through the whole gait cycle. This DNA Tuned is just… incredible. That’s really the only word I can think of. Normally, I try to find a shoe to use for comparison purposes, but it’s so hard with the Glycerin Max. I think if you combined the Hoka Skyward X with the Asics Superblast, you would get this shoe.

Also, the boring aesthetics we’ve become accustomed to with Brooks are gone, between the Hyperion line and now the Glycerin Max. The soft accenting yellow in the midsole (called Nightlife) with the gray and black upper is a solid look, as is the gigantic Brooks logo overlay. Everything is “Max” sized in this shoe.

What we don’t like about the Brooks Glycerin Max

MEAGHAN: I mentioned the weight already, but this shoe is definitely on the heavier side. I don’t mind it so much for easy miles, but something to note. Also, a $200 price tag feels pretty high.

LINDSAY: Sadly, every step to me felt full of effort — a total contrast to the advertised “effortless” feel. The shoe feels as thick as it looks (i.e., it’s heavy). While the midsole is quite soft when felt from the outside, I don’t think I reaped all those benefits. To clarify, when I slam my foot down, I can feel the response that I would expect, but I just don’t completely get that when I’m running. I know it’s not a weight thing because Meg quite enjoyed the shoe, and we’re similar in size. Maybe it’s the way my foot strikes? Who knows. That’s really the only chip on my shoulder because that’s the whole draw of the shoe, right?

CHAD: I’m going to sound like an old man at the beach complaining about the youths and their boombox, but I have to gripe about the volume. This shoe is not only pretty wide but the overall volume is also high. I have normal-to-wide feet, and on my second run with thinner socks, I could feel my feet swimming in the shoe a bit. By my third run, I had it cinched down pretty tight in order to keep my feet in place. Also, I agree with Meg — yes, this shoe has a ton of bells and whistles, but I could see this being a $170-$180 shoe. So, $200 seems like a bit much for a shoe that falls just short of being a super trainer.

Final thoughts on the Brooks Glycerin Max

MEAGHAN: The Glycerin Max is my favorite Brooks shoe. Hard stop. This is definitely the most comfortable, most fun shoe I’ve seen from the brand. I’ve enjoyed every mile I’ve logged in it, and I think a lot of runners will feel similarly. It’s great for easy days, recovery days, long runs, and just about anything. This max stack beauty is definitely staying in my rotation.

LINDSAY: The Brooks Glycerin Max toes the line of cushion quantity for me (and that’s saying something because I love max cushion shoes). It sort of just feels like a high-stack shoe without the benefit of more cushion. I’m a little disappointed because I thought I would love this one, but it just didn’t respond during runs in the way that I hoped it would.

This is just one (unpopular among the Believe crew) opinion, though. I do think it’s got its place in the running world. It’ll be a huge hit among those who need a max (and then some) cushion recovery shoe that’s responsive and protects our (overtrained) legs. But at $200, it just doesn’t have a place in my running world.

CHAD: It’s official– Brooks and I may be approaching best friends status. Between what I assume is our mutual love for John Stamos, doing karate in the garage, and now the creation of the Glycerin Max, the oft-maligned brand is worming its way into my heart. I can easily see this shoe staying in my rotation, knocking out some of my favorite shoes of 2024. The Glycerin Max is almost a lock for a spot on my podium for shoe of the year.

You can pick up the Brooks Glycerin Max for $200 on October 5, 2024, from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.