Monday, October 07, 2024

Brooks Glycerin Max Multi Tester Review: Not More of the same, a Whole New Thing- 10 Comparisons

Article by Alexandra Zvezdin, Renee Krusemark, Jeff Beck and Michael Ellenberger

Brooks Glycerin Max ($200)

Introduction


Alexandra: The Glycerin Max is a highly cushioned daily trainer from Brooks. I have never run  in any of the Glycerin line shoes, but considered getting them many times due to their “tried and true” reputation. 


With the Max, Brooks brings out an extremely high stack & cushioned shoe with a new dual  supercritical Tuned DNA foam technology.  In fact, with a 45mm heel and 39mm forefoot it is Brooks highest stack height most cushioned shoe to date and one of the highest available . 

Together with Renee, Jeff, and Michael, runners of differing daily running paces and statures we share our thoughts on this giant in this review!


Pros: 

  • Fun foam, cushiony but still responsive, cool foam/midsole design: Alex/Jeff/Michael

  • Plenty of shock absorption: Renee/Jeff/Michael

  • Stable for the stack height: Renee/Alex/Jeff

  • Toebox has enough width to be an all day shoe: Jeff

  • Short folks rejoice, easy way to look tall: Jeff**/Michael*


*Is 5’9” short? Debatable (Michael)

**Nah, I think short is like 5’4” and under, Mugsy Bogues-esq, but I’m just stoked to be 5’11” and then 6’3” in these things (Jeff)


Cons: 

  • Outsole durability tbd? Alex

  • Weight: Renee/Michael

  • Limited use: Renee

  • Cost: Renee/Michael

  • Potential midfoot width problems: Jeff


Most comparable shoes 

Hoka Skyflow

ASICS Superblast and Nimbus

New Balance Fresh Foam More v5

Saucony Triumph 22



Stats

Approx. Weight: men's 10.85 oz / 307g US men’s 9

Sample Weights: 

women’s” 10.6oz / 301g (US 10), 9.47 oz / 268g (US 8)

men’ 10.6 oz / 301g US85,  11.6 oz / 329g (US10.5)

Stack Height: men’s 45.25 mm heel /  39.25 mm forefoot (  6mm drop) 

Platform Width: 

89.44mm heel/ 85.77mm midfoot/ 118.78mm forefoot (US women’s 10)

99.69 mm heel /91.69 mm midfoot / 124.36mm forefoot (US men’s 10.5)

Available now. $200


First Impressions, Fit and Upper

Alex: If I could wear and run with pillows on my feet and somehow this could still be efficient, this would be it. The Glycerin Max is extremely comfortable and plush in all aspects of it upper: puffy laces, a thicker tongue, smooth and cushioned heel collar. Nothing about this upper makes me think I could get a blister or a pressure point. (Alexandra)

The fit is true to size. At a women’s 10 I’m comfortable and have a secure fit in the shoe while still having enough space. The fit is comfortable, so I can’t quite describe it as a performance fit, but there is no floppiness here at all, except maybe the laces which are quite long! (Alexandra)

The design looks very neat and I like how minimalistic it is compared to Brooks shoes from the past. Many of their road shoes coming out this year had a more minimalistic design (read: less patterns, more monochrome & punchy color combinations). The rubber logo standing out is not a personal favorite, but I think the shoe still looks great. (Alexandra)

Renee: The Glycerin Max at 45 mm heel, 39mm forefoot  is the highest stack shoe I’ve ever worn. The temperature is truly different at this height. On the first step in, the shoes do not feel as heavy as they are, nor do they feel ridiculously high stack or unstable. For me, this is a one gear shoe: first gear. More on that later. 

The upper is plush and comfortable. For sizing, true to size or your usual Brooks size. The shoes are not narrow, although I think wide footed runners might find the mid and forefoot too narrow.

Jeff: This is one of my most anticipated shoes of the last five years. I’ve worn/run/reviewed quite a few Brooks Glycerin  (my first RTR review was the Glycerin 16, and that was my fifth or sixth model I’d worn at that point) and the recently released Ghost Max 2 has quickly become my go-to shoe when I’m not putting miles on a shoe for a review, so a shoe marrying those two has the potential to be on my short list. Spoiler alert, it still is.

There’s no two ways about it, this is a beefy shoe. It’s enormous in every way, with a high stack that also had a wide and stable platform. The result is a fairly heavy shoe, my 10.5 is more than 11 ounces, but it really doesn’t feel heavy on foot with such a massive presence. 

The mesh upper is comfortable, not quite what I’d term full-on plush, but it’s close. Definitely favors comfort over performance, though getting solid lockdown isn’t a problem. 

The tongue is in that “thick enough” category, again, not all the way plush and cushy, but it’s close. It isn’t gusseted, but you wouldn’t know it, there’s minimal lateral shift with the tongue. I wouldn’t hate a heel pull tab, but the lack of one isn’t terrible. 

As for the fit, it’s complicated. Lengthwise it seems to be spot on, my usual 10.5 has about a thumb’s width ahead of my big toe. Widthwise, the heel and forefoot are both great, even though my foot is a little wider than D. 

Sam’s Medium to Narrow Foot

No one will confuse it with an Altra, but the toe box has enough width to spend hours running in them, something many big stacked shoes miss out on. 

The problem area for me is around the midfoot arch area, the sidewall of the midsole extends above the platform where the foot sits, and effectively narrows the overall volume of that area of the shoe. While this problem exists in other shoes, in this case it’s minor, and by slipping in a pair of the ¾ length PR Gear Bridge Soles completely fixed the problem for me.

So out of the box there’s definitely a width problem in the midfoot, but it can be very easily remedied for $20 or less.

Michael: First, I’ll say it - I think this shoe looks so rad. There’s something neo-futuristic about it; it looks like a concept shoe come to life, and with the funky, wavy Brooks logo mixed in there, it’s one of their best looking shoes (however obnoxious it may be) that I’ve used.


But! Looks aren’t everything - fortunately, for my money, the shoe fits as good as it looks. I found the upper comfortable and snug - the upper is definitely not futuristic in any meaningful way, but it is quite well-done, and I don’t have any major (or, honestly, even minor) complaints. 


The heel collar comes up pretty high, but didn’t give me any trouble, and was definitely sufficiently pliable for my Achilles’s comfort. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s really damn good. 


Midsole & Platform

Alex: With the Glycerin Max, Brooks introduces a new foam: DNA Tuned. This is still a nitrogen-infused foam as seen on their other shoes (e.g., DNA Loft v3, DNA Flash v2), but in this case the foam has “dual cell” technology meaning that large air bubbles in the foam, creating the cushiony feeling, coexist with smaller air bubbles that allow for more responsiveness, or as Brooks puts it “electrifying toe-offs”. This foam is abundant at a stack height of 42mm (heel) and the foam is wider than the shoe upper, effectively almost wrapping around the shoe.Brooks used their Glide-Roll technology to give the Glycerin Max an aggressive rocker profile. (Alexandra)


Renee: Alexandra has the details. The massive stab of midsole is soft, but not mushy. As someone who does not like super soft midsoles, it’s a good balance. I don’t know my weight (not something I track), but I’m guessing 120 lbs plus or minus a few pounds. The midsole likely compresses more, thus a softer feel, for runners weighing more. The rocker is well integrated. The shoe would feel like a brick if not for the rocker. I don’t prefer rockered shoes, but in this case, it provides a slight guidance forward which is absolutely necessary for running in this high of a shoe. I ran on gravel only (buffered and flat sections only!) and found the shoe stable. 

Jeff: I can’t disagree with a single word that Alex or Renee wrote. Visually the DNA Tuned midsole materials could be confused for a slightly different iteration of DNA Loft v3, but underfoot it is considerably softer. 

There are actually 2 nitrogen infused supercritical  foams co-molded (not glued) together with the center (yellow) softer and bouncier.   

No mush whatsoever, and the rocker geometry is there, but not overzealous. The wide platform creates a very stable shoe, which is almost surprising given how soft it is. I have a similar thought to Renee, I think my heavyset weight definitely sinks into the shoe that much more, and the result is probably the softest shoe I’ve worn in a few years. That said, there have been shoes that are not as soft at the landing as the Glycerin Max, while also being sluggish or mushy, and I credit that to the bouncy response of the midsole material.

Michael: Renee and I run on totally different surfaces, but we often come down very similarly on shoes, and while I wish I had a diverse new take on the midsole here, my sentiments are pretty much the same (positive!). The Glycerin Max is a really smooth-riding shoe especially given the stack (this is, I think, the highest-stack shoe I’ve ever worn). 


DNA Tuned is a really pleasant change of pace on a shoe like this - while I think many of us, while fans of the Ghost Max, acknowledged its need for a change. We’ve got it, and Brooks has done it right here - instead of “more of the same” (which works, for a purpose) this is a whole new thing, and I like it - rockered enough to handle (somewhat) uptempo running, but definitely cushioned enough to handle those plodding recovery days. Though the weight is very similar to the Ghost Max, my Glycerin Max pair did feel a bit chunkier underfoot, though - maybe my legs are just weaker. Either way, these aren’t light shoes.



Outsole

Alex: A minimalistic yet effective coverage of the outsole, as has been the trend with some of the brooks shoes in recent years (e.g., Hyperion line up). 

Grip on the road is excellent, at least in dry conditions, however the lack of coverage always makes me worry about running in the rain and durability and debris breaking in the midsole. (Alexandra) 


Renee: As Alexandra wrote, the outsole coverage is minimal but well placed under the forefoot. I have no wear on the exposed areas despite running exclusively on gravel. That said, my paces were slow, like really slow, and my landing was not aggressive enough to fully dig into the ground. There is some discoloration from dirt and minor trapping of small pebbles and dirt in the grooves, all of which is easy to remove.  

Jeff: I haven’t had the opportunity to wear them in the wet (maybe next week? If so I’ll follow up) but traction has been great on dry roads, light trails, and the treadmill. While the wear hasn’t be detrimental to the performance, it seems like the exposed midsole of my pair has quite a bit more wear, which could be due to the extra bulk of the runner or the mixed use trail I ran on nearby my office - and picked up more than a hundred thorned hitchhikers I had to pick off with pliers afterwards. 

Could be a little of column A and column B, but it really doesn’t seem to harm the performance any.


Michael: We’ve only had dry weather, for which there was no problem here, but I’ll also add that I often find this type of supercritical exposed midsole to be quite slippery on a treadmill, and while I only did one ~8 mile easy run in them indoors, I certainly didn’t notice any slip. The rubber must be placed well enough (or the composition of the midsole is sufficiently different) that they grip just like full-rubber. Nice.



Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations

Alex: The ride is, as one might expect, cushioned, however still energetic. I can’t say that all the impact is absorbed by the shoe and my stride is lost somewhere in there. The forefoot feels secure laterally and the heel is a bit less stable in my experience, but just as compared to the forefoot of the shoe. Overall, the platform feels very stable for how high the shoe sits off the ground.(Alexandra)


In fact, I’m truly surprised to pick up the pace in the Glycerin Max and find it fun, so while this is a daily trainer and not a racer, I totally pick it for intervals on road. I think this is partially due to the rocker profile, but mostly to the DNA Tune foam which is truly impressive and more fun than the Hyperions Max. I’m truly impressed by this shoe! I only wish it had more rubber coverage so I could take it on easy gravel roads because yes, it’s that fun to run in, but oh well this is not really its application. I can dream though!(Alexandra)

Alexandra’s Score: 9.6/10 

(deductions  for price & potentially durability of the outsole)


Renee: The rockered geometry is just enough to prevent the shoe from feeling like a brick underfoot. The shoe is a good choice for those who want or need a lot underfoot for shock absorption. For me, this is a one gear shoe. I can use it for recovery runs or truly slow paces, but I was never able to move faster than slow. My easy pace in these shoes felt faster than my actual pace. Even with strides, my effort was more than my actual pace. I like to have some ground feel for uptempo or fast paces, and without that feel, I couldn’t shift this shoe past first gear. At $200, it’s a pricey shoe that works only as a recovery shoe for me. However, runners who need shock absorption and who put in a lot of recovery miles will enjoy it. 

Renee’s Score: 8.5/10 (-.25 cost, -.25 limited use, -.25 one gear shoe, -.50 heavy) 

😊😊

Jeff: The Glycerin Max is one of those shoes that may be more runner specific than most. It’s such a massive shoe that it isn’t surprising that more svelte runners find it to be just too much shoe, while a big slow guy like myself is completely enamored with it. I think opinions will be split, and more among BMI than any other single category, because lighter runners don’t need this much shoe in order to have a super cushioned ride, making the Glycerin Max overkill for many.

However, for those of us on the other end of the spectrum, this shoe is long overdue. It’s so soft and comfortable, while still having enough performance, I could see many heavier runners making it their daily trainer. There’s enough bounce to it and the rocker geometry comes into play enough, it doesn’t run like a brick in the slightest, as Alex pointed out - it has enough bounce to make it fun to pick up the pace in. I’d imagine most lighter runners will definitely appreciate it for the easy-to-easiest runs, simply not many shoes are this easy on your legs.

Jeff’s Score: 9.85/10

😊😊😊😊😊

Michael: The Glycerin Max’s rockered geometry does just enough to keep it from feeling clunky - there’s definitely enough cushion for those who need a lot underfoot. Even so, it did enough for me to avoid calling it a one-trick-pony;I found it works best for paces from "absolute recovery" to "medium" but wouldn't reach for it for anything faster, like tempo runs or marathon pace. 


I usually prefer a firmer, more kinetic ride for faster runs (think AlphaFly), and the lack of that made it tough to get this shoe moving. Plus, at $200, I do think it’s a tough sell. It’s better than nearly everything Brooks has to offer, but is it 33% better than the Ghost Max? I don’t necessarily think so and the Pegasus Plus, while only $20 less, offers a lot more utility. For those with deep pockets, this is a terrific shoe to have in the rotation - but it wont replace your rotation.

Michael’s Score: 9.8/10

😊😊😊😊😊


10 Comparisons

Index to all RTR reviews: HERE


Brooks Hyperion Max 1 (RTR Review)

Alex: The ride is way more cushioned in the Glycerin Max (unsurprisingly), but surprisingly, the Speed Roll technology works so well in the Glycerin Max that I would consider replacing the Hyperion Max entirely in my rotation. The ride in the Hyperion Max is much firmer and the upper fit is more dialed in. Hyperion Max is a more “dialed in” fit/shoe, but the midsole is lacking something for a fun ride and for it to be an interesting racer. The Glycerin Max is totally fine for faster pickups and replaces the Hyperion for that purpose IMO.  

Renee: Totally different shoes for me. The first version of the Hyperion Max was not really a “max” shoe. The shoe has good ground feel and an apparent forefoot rocker. it is significantly lighter in weight. For speed and tempo work, the Hyperion Max is far better. Even for slow paces, I’d still choose the much lighter Hyperion Max.  


Brooks Hyperion Max 2 (RTR Review)

Sam: The Hyperion Max 2 is Brooks more uptempo max cushion daily trainer. It has a lower stack height of 36.25 mm heel / 30.25  mm forefoot and weighs considerably less at 9.25 oz / 252g. It includes a nylon plate with enough flex to make even slower paces just fine. Its foam is Brooks top racing foam DNA Flash v2 so somewhat firmer and more responsive than the plush Tuned DNA of the Glyerin While not as plush all around if I was to pick one it would be the Hyperion Max 2 for its versatility and lighter weight. 


Brooks Glycerin 21 (RTR Review)

Renee: Both shoes have “Glycerin” in the name, otherwise they are very different. The Glycerin 21 (I have the the lighter Stealthfit upper version) has plenty of comfort underfoot without the weight of the Max. The rocker in the Max is much more apparent, which does aid in the ride. I wear the Glycerin 21 weekly, for casual use. I didn’t enjoy running with it but found it extremely comfortable for long days of walking or standing. Unless you need a lot of shock absorption, go with the lighter and less expensive Glycerin 21. 


Jeff: Agreed they are very different shoes, but I completely disagree with the conclusion. Glycerin 21 feels firm and borderline lifeless compared to the Glycerin Max - and while it is less expensive, it’s only about an ounce less weight for much less shoe. The Max is a better shoe at every pace.


Brooks Ghost Max 2 (RTR Review)

Jeff: The second version added DNA Loft v3, which until the DNA Tuned midsole of the Glycerin Max was the top tier Brooks training foam midsole. The Ghost Max 2 has a more traditional outsole with more coverage, but it doesn’t have nearly the platform of the Glycerin Max, and its weight is virtually identical. The Ghost Max 2 has a decently soft landing and a very nice bounce, the Glycerin Max is incredibly soft with much more bounce.


Brooks Ghost Max 1 (RTR Review)

Michael: I only wore the first version of the Ghost Max, which fell into the “it’s boring, but it works well” bucket across nearly every category. I logged a couple hundred miles on them, liked them, and then promptly forgot about them. The Glycerin Max is, perhaps clearly, a very different story - you won’t soon forget this shoe. It’s springier and more propulsive, and just overall more fun to run in. As I put above, the price is a hard pill to swallow, but speaking in a price-agnostic comparison, the Glycerin Max is definitely superior.


ASICS Superblast (RTR Review)

Renee: The Superblast is a significantly lighter weight shoe with a very similar stack height and weight. If weight is the focus, the Superblast is the clear winner. The Superblast never ran as light or fast as it should have for me, which I think is a result of the  high stack and no rocker. The Max, while much heavier, rolls along easily because of the rocker, albeit at slow paces only for me. For a mix of paces, the Superblast is the better choice. For recovery runs, the Max. Sizing is comparable. 


ASICS Nimbus 26 (RTR Review)

Jeff: The Nimbus 25 and 26 have been the benchmark for soft and comfortable borderline easy day or daily trainer for the last couple of years. The Glycerin Max does the same thing, just that much more. It breaks the curve, so to speak. It’s both softer and more runnable at various paces, though I think the Nimbus upper holds the advantage when it comes to plush comfort.


Saucony Triumph 22 (RTR Review)

Jeff: Saucony’s big trainer got a massive overhaul for the 22nd version, adding more to the stack while also switching the midsole to the much more energetic PWRRUN PB supercritical foam. Against the Glycerin Max, the Brooks holds the stack and cushioning advantage, and also has a much more pronounced rocker. The Saucony is about a half ounce lighter, has a much more durable outsole, and overall has just a little more reduced experience. That’s not a knock on the Triumph, more that the Glycerin Max is just so overbuilt. It’s like the Triumph is one of the factory prepped offroad trucks, like a Ford Raptor R, while the Glycerin Max is a baja truck. Same thing, kind of, but one just does it so much more than the other.


New Balance Fresh Foam More v5 (RTR Review)

Jeff: The only shoe that’s slightly heavier than the Glycerin Max (330g vs 329g, I don’t make the rules), it’s also the only shoe on this list that’s comparably soft at landing. It doesn’t have nearly the energy or bounce of the Glycerin Max, making it very much an exclusive easy day shoe. Very comparable otherwise, but the big bounce of the Brooks is a very big elephant in the room.


Hoka Skyflow (RTR Review)

Jeff: Hoka’s recently released supercritical foamed shoe doesn’t have nearly the cushioning, soft landing, or fit of the Glycerin Max. I experience similar arch problems stemming from a high midsole sidewall in both shoes, but the Skyflow’s issues couldn’t be remedied with Bridge Soles. While the Hoka is lighter, it doesn’t have nearly the performance of the Brooks.


Nike Pegasus Plus (RTR Review)

Michael: These aren’t necessarily competitor shoes, but I have been running (and loving) the Pegasus Plus a lot, so I had some direct comparisons (often wearing one in the morning, and one in the evening). First - they’re both good. The Pegasus is softer, and a little more dull, but I also found it easier to take to higher paces - just a shoe that’s easy to get into a good turnover in. The Glycerin Max certainly felt better to plod in, but didn’t have quite the range (since the ZoomX of the Peg Plus will still do plenty to help your legs). Both are great - I think a true running shoe geek could readily find use for both - but I do think the Pegasus Plus has a little more bang for your buck.


Please also watch Sam's Glycerin Max Video Review (14:49)



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Tester Profiles


Alexandra Zvezdin is a ski mountaineering racer on Canada’s National team. She splits her time between Montréal and wherever skiing ISMF World Cups takes her. During the off season you can find her road running around the city or doing track intervals, although her preferred choice are the (be)east coast trails of the Adirondacks, the Whites and QC hills. She loves steep ascents (~26%) and technical ascents and dreams of chasing a short distance steep FKT one day if she can avoid to face plant in the process ;). On occasion she will pin on a bib for a road or trail race. Her favorite shoes are lean, light and fast shoes close to the ground. She was born in Moldova and grew up in Canada so you will find French and English reviews by her. You can find her  on IG @whatforwho and on strava


Renee is a former U.S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon.


Jeff Beck is the token slow runner of the RTR lineup, and as such his viewpoints on shoe and gear can differ from those who routinely finish marathons in three hours or less. Jeff runs 20 miles per week on roads and trails around Denver, CO (and sometimes on the treadmill when the weather gets too much for a Phoenix native). Jeff only got into running in his 30s, as a result his career PR's are 4:07 for the marathon and 5K at 23:39. Jeff has finished several ultra marathons, from 50K up to 50 miles, and is still debating if he wants to go down that road again.


Michael is a patent attorney and graduate of Northwestern University Law School. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). Michael’s PRs include a 67:43 half-marathon (Chicago Half-Marathon) and a 2:21:19 marathon PR at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon. Michael continues to race on the roads, and is chasing a sub-2:20 marathon and potential OTQ in the future.


Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

Comments and Questions Welcome Below! Please let us know mileage, paces, race distances, and current preferred shoes

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Good stuff as always, thanks.
Comparison to Puma Mag Max?