Brooks Glycerin Max 2   Review

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 and Brooks Glycerin 23 may both be Glycerin by name, but they're noticeably different by nature. The Glycerin Max 2 is the max-cushion option, a colossal cruiser best suited for runners who want maximum comfort and protection on easy, long, and recovery runs. The Glycerin 23, on the other hand, is the more classic daily trainer, with decent cushioning and stability; it's more suited to runners who want a traditional, stable workhorse that can soak up weekly volume without the extra stack height.

The Brooks Ghost Max 3 and Brooks Glycerin Max 2 are both oversized, comfort-first Brooks trainers, but despite sharing the same "Max" moniker, they perform different functions. The Ghost Max 3 is the lower-stack, more stable option, with a broad base and plush upper that make it feel secure for walking, easy efforts, and slow daily mileage. However, its midsole feels flat, with very little rebound when you try to pick up the pace. The Glycerin Max 2 adds much deeper cushioning, a stronger rocker, and better responsiveness, making it better suited to long runs and heavier runners who want reliable protection underfoot. It's heavier and less stable than the Ghost Max 3, but it gives you a more complete max-cushion ride.

The Brooks Glycerin Max and Brooks Glycerin Max 2 are both tall, protective cruisers aimed at slow daily miles, with a few tweaks. The original Glycerin Max feels soft and cushioned underfoot, with a forgiving ride that makes recovery runs and relaxed long runs feel very gentle. The Max 2 retains the same towering stack but firms the foam slightly, adding a more assertive rocker. As a result, the ride feels a bit crisper, especially for heavier runners or those who tend to collapse the midsole in softer, max-cushioned shoes. The downside is that the Max 2 is heavier than it needs to be, with an even more padded triple-mesh upper, which can make your foot very warm. If you want maximum protection and don't mind the extra heft, the Max 2 is the more cushioned option. If you prefer a softer feel or can find the original Glycerin Max discounted, it's a better all-around pick, and there is little reason to upgrade.

The HOKA Bondi 9 and Brooks Glycerin Max 2 are two cushioned cruisers best suited to easy, long, and recovery runs, where picking up the pace isn't the priority. Both offer truly amazing cushioning and protection, with the Brooks being the heavier option (though the HOKA shoe is no feather). Runners looking for maximum long-run comfort can't go far wrong. Still, a key distinction is that the Brooks is best suited to wider-footed runners (or those who want extra stack height). In contrast, the HOKA is better for those with a narrower forefoot (or those who want a more traditional max-cushion experience).

The Nike Vomero Premium and the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 are both massive, comfort-focused trainers, but they deliver very different sensations underfoot. The Nike is heavier overall, with an ultra-high stack that requires a very wide platform to stay somewhat stable, so it feels noticeably more cumbersome and bulky than the Brooks. In return, the Nike's ZoomX foam and Zoom Air units create a much bouncier, more cushioned ride. The Brooks still offers plenty of cushioning for daily miles and long runs, but it's firmer, so it feels more solid underfoot, even if it's not as exciting or energetic. If you want maximum protection and a plush, springy feel and don't mind carrying extra weight and bulk, the Nike is the more luxurious choice; if you prefer a slightly more grounded, straightforward max cushion trainer that's less chaotic, the Brooks is the better fit.

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is like the Brooks Glycerin 22 on steroids: both are premium neutral trainers from the same brand, but they differ a lot in execution and capabilities. The Glycerin 22 is lighter, with a more traditional, lower-profile build that feels more stable underfoot. In contrast, the Max 2 utilizes its extra weight to support a much taller stack, offering noticeably better cushioning, especially as the distance increases. Even though they share DNA-Tuned foam, stack height also matters for impact absorption, and the Max 2 simply keeps your legs more protected late in long runs. It also features a more pronounced rocker, allowing for a smoother ride and helping you cruise along.

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is a better shoe for most runners than the Brooks Ghost Max 4. Its taller stack delivers superior impact protection and rolls much more smoothly, delivering the true, luxurious max-cushion experience that's missing from the Ghost Max 4. However, the Ghost Max 4 is much lighter, lower to the ground, and far more stable, so it's the more approachable pick for beginners or those with stricter support needs who still want decent protection underfoot.

The Brooks Glycerin Flex and Brooks Glycerin Max 2 sit in the same extended Glycerin family, and both use versions of Brooks' DNA Tuned midsole, but they deliver two completely different rides. The Glycerin Max 2 is built around an ultra-high stack and lower drop with a much softer, more cushioned ride and a pronounced rocker that keeps transitions rolling forward, making it a great option for easy days. The Brooks Glycerin Flex takes a very different approach: it weighs less, with a higher drop and a decoupled midsole design that uses a diagonal groove and multiple articulating pods in the forefoot to create a noticeably more flexible, free-moving ride. It’s still cushioned, but not to the same degree as the Max 2, and that more grounded, segmented platform tends to feel naturally more stable despite not relying on explicit guidance features.

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 and HOKA Skyward X are both towering max-cushion trainers built for comfort on easy miles, but they feel very different on the run. The Skyward X is slightly lighter, despite packing a higher stack and a carbon plate, and its midsole returns significantly more energy, making it feel livelier and more responsive overall. The Max 2, by contrast, uses DNA Tuned foam without a plate and still comes across noticeably firmer overall, but in a crisp way that pairs nicely with its pronounced rocker and makes the transition feel more rolling than you would expect from such a bulky max-cushion shoe. It's clearly heavier and much less bouncy, yet also more straightforward for runners who just want a protective, predictable cruiser for relaxed daily runs. 

The ASICS GLIDERIDE MAX 2 and the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 may share a similar name, but they represent two very different interpretations of what a high-stack daily trainer should be. The Glycerin Max 2 is much heavier and sits higher off the ground, leaning fully into cushioning volume and impact absorption. It delivers a softer, more forgiving ride overall, with noticeably more forefoot cushioning that prioritizes shock reduction. The GLIDERIDE MAX 2, by contrast, with its lower weight, pronounced rocker, and partial plastic plate, creates a smoother, more rolling transition. While it's still highly protective, it doesn't feel as plush or sink-in soft as the Glycerin Max 2, especially up front.

The Mizuno Neo Zen 2 and Brooks Glycerin Max 2 are both protective shoes for daily miles, and they have the same heel-to-toe drop, but they feel quite different on foot. The Brooks is the more cushioned option, with a higher stack and a softer, more comfort-first ride, but it also feels heavier and less stable, and its upper is more conventional. The Mizuno is lighter (which makes it feel more nimble) and more stable.