HOKA Bondi 9 vs Brooks Glycerin Max 2: Which Running Shoe Is Better?

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Products

Tested using Methodology v0.14

Updated Oct 29, 2026 06:19 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Oct 09, 2026 03:59 PM

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Amazon

Heel Stack Height 41.5 mm

Weight 297.8 g (10.50 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 7.0 mm

Plate None

Heel Stack Height 47.9 mm

Weight 314.3 g (11.09 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 6.9 mm

Plate None

Recommended in 2 articles:
Wide Feet
HOKA

Recommended in 3 articles:
Brooks
Long Distance
Most Comfortable

Our Verdict

HOKA Bondi 9

Brooks Glycerin Max 2

The HOKA Bondi 9 is a better daily trainer than the Brooks Glycerin Max 2. Both provide amazing cushioning and perform similarly over long distances, but the HOKA is lighter and delivers significantly better energy return, making it easier to keep your legs moving through regular mileage. The Brooks has a taller stack and a roomier forefoot, making it the better option for runners who need additional space. It’s also firmer and moves more smoothly through each stride, though its heavier build and poor energy return make it less versatile.

Variants

Bondi 9 (Asphalt Grey/Gravel - (Men - US 9))
Bondi 9 (Aster Flower/Starlight Glow - (Women - US 7))

Glycerin Max 2 (Grey/Coconut/Metallic - (Women - US 7))
Glycerin Max 2 (Orange/Beacon Blue/Nightlife - (Men - US 9))

Review

See HOKA Bondi 9 Review

See Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Review

Check Price

DicksSportingGoods.com

Notice: Two or more of the products being compared have been tested with different test methodologies. Some of the results aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our running shoes test methodology.

Threshold

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing

6.8

6.3

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

6.8

3.1

Weight

4.5

3.7

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

6.6

4.9

Full Comparison

Half/Full Marathon Racing

6.8

6.3

5K/10K Racing

5.5

5.6

Long Run

7.5

Daily Training

7.8

7.7

Design

Energy Return

6.7

2.8

Stability

7.1

7.2

Cushioning

8.9

8.7

Bounciness

6.5

4.7

Snappiness

6.7

Roll

7.9

True To Size

8.9

9.7

Design

Weight

4.5

3.7

Right Shoe Weight Photo

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo

Compare High-Res

Weight

297.8 g (10.50 oz)

314.3 g (11.09 oz)

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height

41.5 mm

47.9 mm

Forefoot Stack Height

34.5 mm

41.0 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop

7.0 mm

6.9 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

5.0 mm

6.0 mm

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

Preview 3D

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width

99 mm (3.9")

88 mm (3.5")

Outsole Arch Width

87 mm (3.4")

85 mm (3.4")

Outsole Forefoot Width

120 mm (4.7")

114 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

2.39

1.84

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

3.48

2.78

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

Preview 3D

Internal Length

277 mm (10.9")

280 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width

64 mm (2.5")

66 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width

94 mm (3.7")

92 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available

Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width

7.6

9.5

Forefoot Width Photo

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

-1.1 mm (-0.041")

1.2 mm (0.047")

Toe TTS Deviation

-8.3 mm (-0.325")

5.3 mm (0.208")

Forefoot Fit: Height

8.3

8.1

Forefoot Height Photo

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation

-2.2 mm (-0.087")

-2.4 mm (-0.095")

Arch Fit: Width

8.6

9.9

Arch Fit Photo

Compare High-Res

Arch Width TTS Deviation

-2.5 mm (-0.098")

1.2 mm (0.047")

Length Fit

Toe Clearance Photo

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry

7.0

7.5

Heel Rocker Photo

Compare High-Res

Heel Spring

17 mm (0.7")

24 mm (0.9")

Heel Apex Position

15.5%

24.7%

Heel Rocker Angle

24.4°

18.2°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

7.3

7.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring

50 mm (2.0")

55 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position

62.1%

62.8%

Forefoot Rocker Angle

24.4°

26.6°

Foam

Primary Foam Picture

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Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name

Not Advertised

DNA TUNED

Primary Foam Type

EVA

Unknown

Secondary Foam Name

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type

No Secondary Foam

Laces

Laces Picture

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Lace Type

Flat

Round

Width

6.0 mm (0.2")

5.5 mm (0.2")

Thickness

1.8 mm (0.1")

3.2 mm (0.1")

Stretch

13.0%

18.5%

Other Features

Other Features Photo

Compare High-Res

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type

Non-gusseted

Plate

None

Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return

6.4

2.0

Heel Compression Video

Heel Energy Return

Preview Graph

Heel Energy Return

74.3%

67.8%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

6.8

3.1

Forefoot Compression Video

Forefoot Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Energy Return

75.4%

69.6%

Heel Cushioning

8.8

8.5

Heel Cushioning Picture

Compare High-Res

Heel Cushioning

Preview Graph

Energy Absorbed At 550N

3.81 J

3.47 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N

11.03 J

10.81 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N

19.35 J

19.55 J

Forefoot Cushioning

8.9

9.0

Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Compare High-Res

Forefoot Cushioning

Preview Graph

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N

5.77 J

5.33 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N

10.02 J

10.19 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N

14.47 J

15.84 J

Heel Firmness

6.4

7.7

Heel Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N

39.8 N/mm

47.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N

48.0 N/mm

53.1 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N

66.2 N/mm

71.0 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness

5.6

7.5

Forefoot Firmness Graph

Preview Graph

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N

48.2 N/mm

58.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N

62.6 N/mm

70.8 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N

87 N/mm

94 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

8.3

8.4

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Preview Graph

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km

9.31 J

9.41 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km

9.03 J

9.15 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km

8.86 J

9.02 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km

8.72 J

8.93 J

Rocker Stiffness

5.2

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

46 N

105 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

6.6

4.9

Forefoot Bending Video

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Preview Graph

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

63.0%

56.5%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

6.5

8.1

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Compare High-Res

Forefoot Bending Resistance

Preview Graph

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

9.4 N/mm

15.9 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force

258 N

381 N

Heel Compression Depth

5.9

Heel Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Heel Compression At 550N

11.5 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N

20.7 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N

26.8 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth

6.2

Forefoot Compression Graph

Preview Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N

13.6 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N

18.4 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N

21.8 mm

Check Price

DicksSportingGoods.com

HOKA Bondi 9

Brooks Glycerin Max 2

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 5 months ago

HOKA Bondi 9 vs Brooks Glycerin Max 2: Main Discussion

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HOKA Bondi 9 vs Brooks Glycerin Max 2

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Our Verdict

Variants

Review

Check Price

Main Differences for Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Forefoot Compression Energy Return See Details

Weight See Details

Forefoot Bending Energy Return See Details

Full Comparison

Half/Full Marathon Racing

5K/10K Racing

Long Run

Daily Training

Design

Energy Return

Stability

Cushioning

Bounciness

Snappiness

Roll

True To Size

Weight

Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height

Forefoot Stack Height

Heel-To-Toe Drop

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width

Outsole Arch Width

Outsole Forefoot Width

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

Internal Length

Internal Heel Width

Internal Forefoot Width

Wide Sizing Available

Forefoot Fit: Width

Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

Toe TTS Deviation

Forefoot Fit: Height

Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation

Arch Fit: Width

Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation

Length Fit

Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry

Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring

Heel Apex Position

Heel Rocker Angle

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring

Toe Apex Position

Forefoot Rocker Angle

Foam

Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name

Primary Foam Type

Secondary Foam Name

Secondary Foam Type

Laces

Laces Picture

Main Differences for

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

Weight

Forefoot Bending Energy Return