PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 vs Brooks Glycerin Flex

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4
Brooks Glycerin Flex 
early access

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Jan 22, 2026 08:24 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Feb 25, 2026 04:36 PM

This review is in Early access

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Our Verdict

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4

Brooks Glycerin Flex

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below
0 

Variants

  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Black - (Men - US 9))
  • Velocity NITRO 4 (Black/Dark Amethyst - (Men - US 9))
  • Glycerin Flex (Black/White - (Women - US 7))
  • Glycerin Flex (White/Green Gecko/Phantom - (Men - US 9))
Read more

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

6.5
0.0
No major differences between these running shoes for marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

7.1
N/A

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Brooks Glycerin Flex Right Shoe Weight Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Brooks Glycerin Flex Left Shoe Weight Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Weight 
 

232.3 g (8.19 oz)
Lock g (Lock oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Stack Height Photo
Brooks Glycerin Flex Stack Height Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Stack Height 
 

37.2 mm
Lock mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

26.1 mm
Lock mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

11.1 mm
Lock mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
Lock mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 3D Model Full Shoe
Brooks Glycerin Flex 3D Model Full Shoe Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Outsole Heel Width 
 

85 mm (3.4")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

65 mm (2.6")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

103 mm (4.0")
Lock mm (Lock")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.28
Lock

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.95
Lock

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 3D Model Internal
Brooks Glycerin Flex 3D Model Internal Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Internal Length 
 

278 mm (10.9")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Heel Width 
 

62 mm (2.4")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

90 mm (3.5")
Lock mm (Lock")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

N/A

Forefoot Width Photo  

Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Width Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

N/A

Forefoot Height Photo  

Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Height Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

N/A

Arch Fit Photo  

Brooks Glycerin Flex Arch Fit Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Length Fit 
 

N/A

Toe Clearance Photo  

Brooks Glycerin Flex Toe Clearance Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Other Features Photo
Brooks Glycerin Flex Other Features Photo Sample

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Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Semi-gusseted
Locked

Plate 
 

None
Locked
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

7.1
N/A

Heel Compression Video  

Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Compression Video Sample

SAMPLE

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To see product videos

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Energy Return
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Energy Return Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Heel Energy Return 
 

76.6%
Lock%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

7.8
N/A

Forefoot Compression Video  

Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Compression Video Sample

SAMPLE

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To see product videos

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Energy Return
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Energy Return Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

79.9%
Lock%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.2
N/A

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Cushioning Picture
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Cushioning Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Cushioning
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.56 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

8.90 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

14.28 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

6.2
N/A

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Cushioning Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Cushioning
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.12 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

6.66 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

9.39 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

6.3
N/A

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Heel Firmness
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Firmness Sample

SAMPLE

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To see pictures and test results

Firmness At 550N 
 

51.7 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

130.5 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

319.7 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.0
N/A

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Firmness
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Firmness Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Firmness At 800N 
 

137.6 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

297.8 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

585.1 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

5.8
N/A

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Long Run Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

GET INSIDER ACCESS

To see pictures and test results

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

6.35 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

6.21 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.11 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

6.05 J
Lock J
Show Text 

PUMA Velocity NITRO 4

Brooks Glycerin Flex

Comments

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PUMA Velocity NITRO 4 vs Brooks Glycerin Flex: Main Discussion

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