Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs Glycerin 23

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Ghost Max 3
Brooks Glycerin 23

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Jan 22, 2026 07:56 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Apr 08, 2026 01:41 PM

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Amazon.com
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Picture

Track

Brooks Glycerin 23 Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Glycerin 23

The Brooks Ghost Max 3 and Brooks Glycerin 23 are two similarly stacked, decently cushioned running shoes from Brooks, but with a few key differences. The Glycerin has 2mm more drop from the heel to the toe than the Ghost Max, and has much better heel cushioning. Conversely, the Ghost Max has more cushioning under the forefoot. The platform of the Glycerin is slightly more streamlined, which makes it feel more nimble, and it has much better energy return, although neither shoe is particularly bouncy. The Glycerin feels better suited to running, while the Ghost Max is better suited for walking.

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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 23 (Atlantic Deep/Greymist/Coconut - (Men - US 9))
  • Glycerin 23 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))
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Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

5.5
5.9

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
4.9

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.3
4.4

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

302.7 g (10.68 oz)
299.4 g (10.56 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.5 mm
39.9 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.9 mm
30.3 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.6 mm
9.6 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
8.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

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

Outsole Arch Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
77 mm (3.0")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

114 mm (4.5")
113 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.37
2.33

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.57
3.72

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

282 mm (11.1")
280 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
65 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

70 mm (2.8")
93 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

8.2

Forefoot Width Photo  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

5.2 mm (0.206")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

6.9 mm (0.271")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

10

Forefoot Height Photo  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-0.1 mm (-0.004")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

7.6

Arch Fit Photo  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-3.9 mm (-0.154")

Length Fit 
 

10

Toe Clearance Photo  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Toe Clearance Photo

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

2.6
2.2

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

69.0%
68.3%

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
4.9

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

68.5%
71.7%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.2
7.7

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.06 J
3.08 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

8.99 J
9.86 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.88 J
17.27 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.6
7.1

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.54 J
4.36 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.15 J
7.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.21 J
11.21 J

Heel Firmness 
 

5.6
4.8

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

55.4 N/mm
47.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

107.0 N/mm
106.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

226.9 N/mm
198.8 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.7
8.1

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

101.0 N/mm
111.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

204.9 N/mm
220.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

375.8 N/mm
426.1 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.3

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

6.88 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

6.73 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.66 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

6.61 J

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Glycerin 23

Comments

  1. Comparison

Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs Brooks Glycerin 23: Main Discussion

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