Brooks Glycerin Max vs ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Glycerin Max
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated May 25, 2026 10:11 PM

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Brooks

Tested using Methodology v0.12

Updated Jun 23, 2026 02:19 PM

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Brooks Glycerin Max Picture

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ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Picture

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Our Verdict

Brooks Glycerin Max

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27

The Brooks Glycerin Max and ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 are two popular max-cushioned daily trainers on the market, each built to deliver a plush and protective ride. Both are similarly soft underfoot and close in weight, offering maximum comfort for easy miles or long days on your feet. The Brooks shoe has a slightly higher overall stack, and absorbs impact better. The Brooks also benefits from a more pronounced rocker geometry, making transitions feel smoother and more rolling, especially for heel strikers who want a bit of help moving forward. In contrast, the ASICS feels more traditional in its underfoot feel, prioritizing softness and impact absorption over forward momentum.

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Variants

  • Glycerin Max (Almond Peach/London Fog/White - (Men - US 9))
  • Glycerin Max (Aurora Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-NIMBUS 27 (Amber/Neutral Pink - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-NIMBUS 27 (Birch/Cold Moss - (Women - US 7))
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Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

5.4
6.4

Plate 
 

None
None

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.1
2.8

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.2
4.3

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

304.9 g (10.75 oz)
301.7 g (10.64 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

47.4 mm
45.0 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

42.1 mm
35.2 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

5.3 mm
9.8 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
8.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin Max 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

88 mm (3.5")
94 mm (3.7")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

85 mm (3.3")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

114 mm (4.5")
116 mm (4.6")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

1.86
2.09

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.71
3.30

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Glycerin Max 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

275 mm (10.8")
278 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

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

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
95 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.4
9.6

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

1.7 mm (0.067")
1.5 mm (0.057")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

5.5 mm (0.215")
3.7 mm (0.146")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

10
7.3

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

3.0 mm (0.117")
-3.2 mm (-0.126")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

10
8.8

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

1.0 mm (0.040")
-2.2 mm (-0.087")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.2

Heel Rocker Photo  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

17 mm (0.7")

Heel Apex Position 
 

21.7%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

14.7°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

6.9

Forefoot Rocker Photo  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

48 mm (1.9")

Toe Apex Position 
 

66.7%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

25.6°

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

1.7
2.1

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

67.1%
68.0%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

2.1
2.8

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

68.1%
69.2%

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.2
7.8

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.29 J
3.38 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

10.39 J
9.45 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

18.78 J
16.82 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

9.1
8.6

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Glycerin Max Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

5.21 J
5.22 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

10.40 J
9.40 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

16.39 J
14.18 J

Heel Firmness 
 

4.2
8.1

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max Heel Firmness

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

45.7 N/mm
45.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

91.3 N/mm
55.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

178.3 N/mm
76.6 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

5.8
7.8

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max Forefoot Firmness

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

74.8 N/mm
57.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

138.2 N/mm
72.1 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

257.3 N/mm
98 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

8.5
8.0

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Glycerin Max Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

9.68 J
8.84 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

9.41 J
8.65 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

9.25 J
8.54 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

9.14 J
8.51 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

7.5

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

99 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

4.5

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

55.3%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

7.8

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

16.0 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

312 N

Brooks Glycerin Max

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27

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Brooks Glycerin Max vs ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27: Main Discussion

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