Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs Glycerin 22

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Ghost Max 3
Brooks Glycerin 22

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Jan 22, 2026 07:56 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Mar 12, 2026 06:22 PM

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Brooks Ghost Max 3 Picture

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Brooks Glycerin 22 Picture

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Our Verdict

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Glycerin 22

The Brooks Ghost Max 3 and Brooks Glycerin 22 are two running shoes that show a clear divergence in the brand's lineup. The Glycerin is part of a flagship series that has long catered to heel strikers, and this iteration largely continued that legacy, with a 10 mm heel-to-toe drop and DNA Tuned cushioning that is softer under the heel. The Ghost Max, on the other hand, has a much less pronounced heel drop, and its heel cushioning is not as good as the Glycerin's, but its forefoot cushioning is much better. Neither shoe is particularly lively, but the Glycerin easily outclasses the Ghost Max's abysmal energy return. If you're a heel striker and you want a shoe for everyday runs, the Glycerin is a better choice. If you are a mid to forefoot striker and want a walking shoe that can double as a running shoe, go with the Ghost Max.

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Variants

  • Ghost Max 3 (Apricot/Apricot/Super Pink - (Women - US 7))
  • Ghost Max 3 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))
  • Glycerin 22 (Almond Peach/London-fog/Almond - (Women - US 7))
  • Glycerin 22 (Amparo Blue/Hyper Iris/Yellow - (Women - US 7))
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Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

5.5
5.7

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
5.8

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.9 mm
27.4 mm

Weight  

4.3
4.7

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.3
4.7

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 22 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 22 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

302.7 g (10.68 oz)
292.9 g (10.33 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 22 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.5 mm
37.6 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.9 mm
27.4 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.6 mm
10.2 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
10.0 mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 22 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
93 mm (3.7")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
76 mm (3.0")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

114 mm (4.5")
117 mm (4.6")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.37
2.47

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.57
4.27

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 22 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

282 mm (11.1")
279 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
66 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

70 mm (2.8")
92 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 22 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

2.6
2.4

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 22 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

69.0%
68.5%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
5.8

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 22 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

68.5%
73.1%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.2
7.6

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 22 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 22 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.06 J
2.98 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

8.99 J
9.68 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.88 J
17.13 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.6
6.2

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 22 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 22 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.54 J
3.79 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.15 J
6.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.21 J
9.81 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.6
5.0

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 22 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

55.4 N/mm
50.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

107.0 N/mm
100.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

226.9 N/mm
207.9 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.7
8.7

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 22 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

101.0 N/mm
132.1 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

204.9 N/mm
256.3 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

375.8 N/mm
491.4 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

5.6

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 22 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

6.18 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

6.05 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.00 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

5.96 J
Show Text 

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Glycerin 22

Comments

  1. Comparison

Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs Brooks Glycerin 22: Main Discussion

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