The Brooks Glycerin Max is the Cadillac of running shoes (heavy, bulky, and ostentatious), which makes for a remarkably comfortable ride. Its substantial build pairs with an ultra-high stack height to deliver the plush comfort that maximalist runners crave for leisurely recovery miles. Featuring Brooks' DNA-Tuned foam, the shoe offers very good cushioning that absorbs impact smoothly, turning every run into a gentle cruise. While its substantial profile and weight mean it's far from delivering optimal performance, the Glycerin Max truly excels in providing a supremely comfortable and relaxed ride, perfect for runners prioritizing softness and comfort above speed.
Our Verdict
The Brooks Glycerin Max isn't designed for marathon racing and performs poorly if used for this purpose. Its inadequate energy return makes each stride feel inefficient and tiring, and its heavier build significantly hampers performance over long distances. Although the cushioning is comfortable enough for leisurely long runs, this shoe is better suited to comfortable training than competitive marathon efforts.
Good cushioning.
Heavy and bulky.
Midsole doesn't return much energy.
The Brooks Glycerin Max isn't intended for 5K or 10K races and is a poor choice for competitive short-distance efforts. Despite having some forefoot firmness that could theoretically aid responsiveness, its heavy weight and very limited energy return severely reduce speed potential. It's acceptable for finishing races at these distances, but serious racers should look elsewhere.
Heavy and bulky.
Midsole doesn't return much energy.
The Brooks Glycerin Max delivers terrible energy return, resulting in a flat and unresponsive running experience. The shoe's midsole offers minimal rebound, both at the forefoot and heel. This lack of bounce makes it best suited for relaxed, comfortable miles rather than performance-focused running.
Midsole doesn't return much energy.
The cushioning of the Brooks Glycerin Max is comfortably plush, which is great for runners seeking a protective, gentle feel underfoot. The DNA-Tuned midsole absorbs impact effectively and provides a smooth ride, which is especially beneficial for relaxed or recovery runs.
Very high stack height.
Plush and protective midsole.
The Brooks Glycerin Max provides acceptable lateral stability, contributing to a balanced, steady feel during runs. The wide outsole gives a solid foundation, helping maintain steady foot placement, especially on longer or slower-paced runs. Although the elevated heel stack and soft heel foam compromise the shoe's grounded feel, it remains stable enough for daily training and moderate distances.
Wide platform.
Forefoot is on the firm side.
Very high stack height.
Foam is quite soft in the heel.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Oct 28, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.9, which adds a Forefoot Long Run Cushioning test to our performance section. Read more in our changelog.
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Updated Oct 20, 2025:
We've adjusted this review's writing to align with the new test bench, including updates to all usage scores, and test boxes for Cushioning, Firmness, and Energy Return.
- Updated Oct 20, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.8.2, which updates our methodology for the impact force range used in our compression tests to improve their accuracy. This also affects all usage and performance usage boxes using those compression tests as score components.
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Updated Sep 25, 2025:
We've updated the Popular Comparisons section to include a reference to the recently reviewed Brooks Ghost 17.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Brooks Glycerin Max in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label. The color shown here is Black/Ebony/Winter Sky. This model is also available in other colorways, including Country Blue/Sky/Orange, Grey/Black/Nightlife, and Falcon/Green/London Fog. Wide versions aren't available for this shoe.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Brooks Glycerin Max clearly belongs in the max-cushioned daily trainer category, designed specifically for runners who prioritize comfort and plushness, especially during recovery or easy-paced runs. Some shoes on the market, like the Mizuno Neo Vista or the HOKA Mach X 2, offer even greater cushioning in lighter packages, but these are typically plated shoes, placing them in the super trainer category and resulting in a noticeably different ride. For runners who prefer a consistently soft, protective experience without the distinctive feel of a plated shoe, but who want more bounce than the Glycerin Max has to offer, the PUMA MagMax NITRO is a lighter, but still deeply cushioned shoe. The same applies to the HOKA Bondi 9, which, although slightly heavier and firmer, delivers an excellent cushioned and enjoyable ride thanks to its improved midsole.
Within Brooks' own lineup, the Glycerin Max sits above the lighter and lower-stack trainers like the Brooks Hyperion 3, Brooks Glycerin 22, and Brooks Ghost 17, all of which provide a less cushioned but more responsive and agile experience. The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 is a similarly high-stacked trainer, but is more equipped to tackle quicker-paced runs and workouts, while the Glycerin Max is better suited for runners seeking maximum comfort and plushness over speed or versatility.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes to find the perfect pair.
The Brooks Glycerin Max and the Brooks Hyperion Max 3 are two max-stacked trainers in Brooks' lineup that serve very different uses. The heavily cushioned Glycerin Max prioritizes comfort over everything and is best used for easy paces and recovery runs. The Hyperion Max 3, with its plated midsole and more aggressive rocker, is meant to go faster and is the much better choice for intervals, progression runs, or any harder efforts.
The Brooks Glycerin Max and the ASICS SUPERBLAST 2 are both high-stack trainers, but each targets different needs. The Brooks emphasizes maximum softness and plush cushioning, which is ideal for runners who prioritize ultimate comfort and foot protection during easy-paced or recovery runs. In contrast, the ASICS is an uptempo premium trainer that offers more versatility thanks to its lighter weight, more effective cushioning, and notably bouncier ride, making it better suited for runners who want to effortlessly pick up the pace during workouts. While both provide generous cushioning, the ASICS' lighter build and more responsive feel make it the superior option if you want the flexibility to comfortably handle a variety of runs. In contrast, the Brooks excels as a pure comfort shoe for recovery miles.
The Brooks Glycerin Max and ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 are two popular max-cushioned daily trainers on the market, each built to deliver a plush and protective ride. Both are similarly soft underfoot and close in weight, offering maximum comfort for easy miles or long days on your feet. The Brooks shoe has a slightly higher overall stack, and absorbs impact better. The Brooks also benefits from a more pronounced rocker geometry, making transitions feel smoother and more rolling, especially for heel strikers who want a bit of help moving forward. In contrast, the ASICS feels more traditional in its underfoot feel, prioritizing softness and impact absorption over forward momentum.
The HOKA Skyward X and the Brooks Glycerin Max are both ultra-high-stack, max-cushioned trainers, but they take different approaches to achieving comfort and performance. The HOKA is the more cushioned of the two, offering an even softer and more protective ride while providing significantly more energy return, which is something the Brooks shoe lacks entirely. The Brooks, while slightly lighter, is a straightforward, no-fuss max-cushioned trainer that excels at one thing: providing soft, consistent comfort for easy runs. Also, while both shoes have substantial stack heights, the Brooks' stack is less exaggerated, making it feel a bit more traditional.
We've recently started buying and testing running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes for team members to be able to log in miles. This real-world testing is done at various paces and conditions, and with different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The Brooks Glycerin Max feels quite heavy on foot, noticeably more substantial than most high stack trainers like the HOKA Mach X 2. Its weight aligns with its maximalist build, clearly prioritizing cushioning and comfort over speed or agility. Runners accustomed to lighter shoes might initially find it bulky, though it's still very suitable for relaxed, slow-paced runs.
Note: During testing, the shoe's nitrogen-infused foam required scanning spray for the 3D scan to properly capture its shape. This process left behind some visible white residue, especially on colored areas of the upper and outsole. The residue seen in images or scans is not a natural feature of the shoe.
The Brooks Glycerin Max's energy return in the heel is very bad, making it noticeably unresponsive. Each heel strike feels muted without significant rebound, clearly emphasizing softness and shock absorption over bounce and propulsion. Runners seeking livelier heel performance will find it disappointing.
The Brooks Glycerin Max's forefoot energy return is very bad, offering minimal responsiveness with each stride. This low rebound results in a somewhat flat and uninspiring ride when pushing off from the forefoot. It's adequate for relaxed mileage but falls short during efforts that demand more dynamic responsiveness. Some max-cushioned alternatives, like the HOKA Mach X 2, offer significantly more bounce.
This shoe offers great heel cushioning, effectively absorbing energy across a range of impacts. Its softness progressively improves with higher forces, making heel landings comfortable and well-protected. This is especially beneficial for heavier runners or during longer, easy-paced sessions.
The Brooks Glycerin Max's forefoot cushioning is outstanding, providing consistent protection underfoot. The cushioning comfortably absorbs impacts from lighter to heavier foot strikes, contributing to a plush feel during runs, and it's also ideal for comfort-driven daily mileage.
The Brooks Glycerin Max is on the softer side, but it's not overly soft either. For instance, some alternatives, like the Mizuno Neo Vista, are even softer. This means the shoe offers some stability initially, but under more force, it'll feel softer than most running shoes.
The forefoot foam is firmer than the heel but behaves similarly. It's not overly soft under low and medium force, but it will feel relatively softer than other shoes under heavier loads. This also means heavier runners will find it less stable.