Brooks Glycerin Flex vs Glycerin 23

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Glycerin Flex
Brooks Glycerin 23

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Apr 08, 2026 01:43 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Apr 27, 2026 06:21 PM

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Brooks Glycerin Flex Picture

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Brooks Glycerin 23 Picture

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Our Verdict

Brooks Glycerin Flex

Brooks Glycerin 23

The Brooks Glycerin 23 and Brooks Glycerin Flex share a name and the same DNA Tuned foam, but have very different ride profiles. The Glycerin 23 is a rather orthodox cushioned daily trainer with a smooth and predictable ride. The Glycerin Flex has a deep groove in its midsole and articulated foam pods that allow the foot more freedom of movement. The lower stack height of the Glycerin Flex does help keep it more stable than the Glycerin 23, but it also means less cushioning, which is especially noticeable in the forefoot.

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Variants

  • Glycerin Flex (Black/White - (Women - US 7))
  • Glycerin Flex (Coconut/Chateau/Portabella - (Women - US 7))
  • Glycerin 23 (Atlantic Deep/Greymist/Coconut - (Men - US 9))
  • Glycerin 23 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

4.5
5.9

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

1.6
4.9

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

25.7 mm
30.3 mm

Weight  

5.9
4.4

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.6 mm
39.9 mm

Heel Energy Return 
 

0.7
2.2

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

5.9
4.4

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

262.7 g (9.26 oz)
299.4 g (10.56 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.6 mm
39.9 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

25.7 mm
30.3 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.9 mm
9.6 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
8.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin Flex 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

91 mm (3.6")
93 mm (3.7")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

85 mm (3.4")
77 mm (3.0")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

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

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.49
2.33

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

4.39
3.72

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin Flex 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

281 mm (11.1")
280 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width 
 

66 mm (2.6")
65 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

95 mm (3.7")
93 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.7
8.2

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

1.7 mm (0.066")
5.2 mm (0.206")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

1.5 mm (0.058")
6.9 mm (0.271")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

9.8
10

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-0.7 mm (-0.028")
-0.1 mm (-0.004")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

6.4
7.6

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-5.3 mm (-0.209")
-3.9 mm (-0.154")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Toe Clearance Photo

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex 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 
 

0.7
2.2

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

62.4%
68.3%

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

1.6
4.9

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

66.9%
71.7%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.6
7.7

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.68 J
3.08 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.24 J
9.86 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.10 J
17.27 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

6.6
7.1

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.17 J
4.36 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

7.06 J
7.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

10.22 J
11.21 J

Heel Firmness 
 

5.5
4.8

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Flex Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

46.1 N/mm
47.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

129.2 N/mm
106.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

253.1 N/mm
198.8 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.5
8.1

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

120.3 N/mm
111.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

260.2 N/mm
220.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

463.3 N/mm
426.1 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

5.4
6.3

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Flex Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

6.04 J
6.88 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

5.82 J
6.73 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

5.71 J
6.66 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

5.64 J
6.61 J

Brooks Glycerin Flex

Brooks Glycerin 23

Comments

  1. Comparison

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