HOKA Skyward X vs Brooks Glycerin Max 2

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 and HOKA Skyward X are both towering max-cushion trainers built for comfort on easy miles, but they feel very different on the run. The Skyward X is slightly lighter, despite packing a higher stack and a carbon plate, and its midsole returns significantly more energy, making it feel livelier and more responsive overall. The Max 2, by contrast, uses DNA Tuned foam without a plate and still comes across noticeably firmer overall, but in a crisp way that pairs nicely with its pronounced rocker and makes the transition feel more rolling than you would expect from such a bulky max-cushion shoe. It's clearly heavier and much less bouncy, yet also more straightforward for runners who just want a protective, predictable cruiser for relaxed daily runs.