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 Aug 06, 2026 05:35 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Sep 04, 2026 04:32 PM

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Brooks Ghost Max 3 Picture

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Brooks Glycerin 23 Picture

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  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Brooks

Our Verdict

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Glycerin 23

The Brooks Glycerin 23 is a better running shoe than the Brooks Ghost Max 3. It has much better heel cushioning and energy return, and a slimmer shape that feels more nimble. The Ghost Max 3 has more cushioning up front and is better suited to 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))
Read more

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

5.5
6.3

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
4.9

Plate 
 

None
None

Heel Firmness 
 

5.6
8.5

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 
 

70 mm (2.8")
65 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

90 mm (3.5")
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

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.3

Heel Rocker Photo  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

20 mm (0.8")

Heel Apex Position 
 

12.1%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

29.1°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

6.3

Forefoot Rocker Photo  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

44 mm (1.7")

Toe Apex Position 
 

66.3%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

23.7°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

DNA TUNED

Primary Foam Type 
 

Unknown

Secondary Foam Name 
 

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type 
 

No Secondary Foam

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Round

Width 
 

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

3.5 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

12.5%

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 Compression 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 Compression 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
8.5

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Firmness

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

55.4 N/mm
53.2 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

107.0 N/mm
58.0 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

226.9 N/mm
78.9 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.7
8.9

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Firmness

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

101.0 N/mm
64.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

204.9 N/mm
83.3 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

375.8 N/mm
115 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

Rocker Stiffness 
 

5.8

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

57 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

6.3

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

61.4%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

6.5

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture  

Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

11.0 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

240 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

5.3

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

10.3 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

19.0 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

24.1 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

5.4

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

12.4 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

15.6 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

17.8 mm

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Glycerin 23

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