Brooks Glycerin Max 2 vs Glycerin 23

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Glycerin Max 2
Brooks Glycerin 23

Tested using Methodology v0.11

Updated Apr 30, 2026 04:15 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Apr 27, 2026 06:21 PM

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Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Picture

Track

Brooks Glycerin 23 Picture

Track

  1. Recommended in 3 articles:
  2. Long Distance
  3. For Beginners
  4. Most Comfortable
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Brooks

Our Verdict

Brooks Glycerin Max 2

Brooks Glycerin 23

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 and Brooks Glycerin 23 may both be Glycerin by name, but they're noticeably different by nature. The Glycerin Max 2 is the max-cushion option, a colossal cruiser best suited for runners who want maximum comfort and protection on easy, long, and recovery runs. The Glycerin 23, on the other hand, is the more classic daily trainer, with decent cushioning and stability; it's more suited to runners who want a traditional, stable workhorse that can soak up weekly volume without the extra stack height.

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Variants

  • Glycerin Max 2 (Grey/Coconut/Metallic - (Women - US 7))
  • Glycerin Max 2 (Orange/Beacon Blue/Nightlife - (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
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

5.4
5.9

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

3.1
4.9

Weight  

3.7
4.4

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

3.7
4.4

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

314.3 g (11.09 oz)
299.4 g (10.56 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

47.9 mm
39.9 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

41.0 mm
30.3 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.9 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 Max 2 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

88 mm (3.5")
93 mm (3.7")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

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

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

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

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

1.84
2.33

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.78
3.72

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin 23 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

280 mm (11.0")
280 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width 
 

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

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

92 mm (3.6")
93 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.5
8.2

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

1.2 mm (0.047")
5.2 mm (0.206")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

5.3 mm (0.208")
6.9 mm (0.271")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

8.1
10

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-2.4 mm (-0.095")
-0.1 mm (-0.004")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

9.9
7.6

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

1.2 mm (0.047")
-3.9 mm (-0.154")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

7.5

Heel Rocker Photo  

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

24 mm (0.9")

Heel Apex Position 
 

24.7%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

18.2°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

7.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo  

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

55 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position 
 

62.8%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

26.6°

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 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 
 

2.0
2.2

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

67.8%
68.3%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

3.1
4.9

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

69.6%
71.7%

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.5
7.7

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.47 J
3.08 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

10.81 J
9.86 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

19.55 J
17.27 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

9.0
7.1

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

5.33 J
4.36 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

10.19 J
7.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

15.84 J
11.21 J

Heel Firmness 
 

4.1
4.8

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

46.4 N/mm
47.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

85.8 N/mm
106.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

170.7 N/mm
198.8 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

6.1
8.1

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

78.4 N/mm
111.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

147.1 N/mm
220.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

273.9 N/mm
426.1 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

8.4
6.3

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin 23 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

9.41 J
6.88 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

9.15 J
6.73 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

9.02 J
6.66 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

8.93 J
6.61 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

7.6

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

105 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

4.9

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

56.5%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

8.1

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture  

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

15.9 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

381 N

Brooks Glycerin Max 2

Brooks Glycerin 23

Comments

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