The Brooks Glycerin was as soon as probably the most comfy working shoe obtainable, with its stack of cushioning making it stand out. Now, nevertheless, most of the finest cushioned trainers have greater stacks and softer foams than the Glycerin—and the Brooks Glycerin 21 is comparatively light-weight and low-stack for a cushioned shoe. This makes it a extra versatile day by day coaching choice than many cushioned footwear, and I charge the Glycerin 21 among the many finest trainers for these in search of a protecting shoe that has pop for sooner runs.
Brooks Glycerin 21: Worth And Availability
The Brooks Glycerin 21 launched in February 2024 and prices $160 within the US and £165 within the UK. That’s the identical worth because the Glycerin 20 now, although the older shoe initially launched with a UK worth of £155. It’s removed from low-cost, and though most of the finest cushioned footwear now price an identical quantity, there are cheaper choices just like the Puma Enlarge Nitro 2 and Saucony Trip 17.
How I Examined This Operating Shoe
I ran 32 miles within the Glycerin 21, utilizing it principally for straightforward runs throughout my marathon coaching, together with one longer run of about 13 miles. I’ve additionally examined every of the earlier six variations of the Brooks Glycerin line, together with the Brooks Ghost Max and Ghost 15, and plenty of different cushioned footwear from different manufacturers.
Design And Match
The brand new Glycerin has had its higher, midsole and outsole up to date. Of those I’d say a very powerful is the 2mm improve in stack peak. The Glycerin 21 is 36mm tall on the heel and 26mm on the forefoot for a 10mm drop, and whereas it’s solely 2mm the additional cushioning is notable whereas working.
The froth used is Brooks’ DNA Loft v3, a nitrogen-infused EVA that gives a superb stability of softness and responsiveness. It’s not as squishy as most foams used on cushioned footwear, however nonetheless protects the legs effectively, whereas being steady and giving a bit again once you run at sooner paces.
Regardless of including extra foam Brooks has been in a position to cut back the shoe’s weight. The Glycerin 21 weighs 10.2oz/290g in my UK dimension 9, whereas the Glycerin 20 is 11oz/314g in the identical dimension. A part of that is because of the redesigned higher, which Brooks describes as extra streamlined, however it nonetheless has quite a lot of padding across the tongue and collar to offer the excessive degree step-in consolation you anticipate from the Glycerin line. The shoe fitted effectively in my common working shoe dimension, the identical one I’ve used for earlier variations of the Glycerin.
There’s a new RoadTack rubber outsole on the shoe, which has extra uncovered foam on the underside than the Glycerin 20, however all the important thing affect areas are coated with a thick layer of this rubber and it gripped effectively for me in moist circumstances.
Operating Efficiency
I’ve lengthy been a fan of the Glycerin as a cushty shoe for straightforward runs, and the Glycerin 20 went past that due to the introduction of the nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 foam, which made the shoe extra versatile and pleasing for sooner working. The Glycerin 21 continues alongside that highway by being lighter than the 20 whereas including extra foam, which will increase its consolation. The experience isn’t significantly bouncy or as mushy as different cushioned footwear, however it’s effectively balanced and works for a vary of working.
It’s nonetheless a shoe that’s finest for straightforward runs and it excels on lengthy runs particularly. As with the Glycerin 20, my favourite runs within the Glycerin 21 have been my longest ones, when the froth offered a resilient and protecting base to work towards. The 10mm drop and lack of a giant rocker imply the experience is conventional and fewer easy than extra rockered footwear, however the transition from heel to toe isn’t so snappy that your forefoot slaps the bottom. The Ghost Max is a extra rockered choice within the Brooks vary that feels smoother, which some runners might desire.
After I ran sooner within the Glycerin 21 it nonetheless felt cumbersome to me so I’d use it in a working shoe rotation with sooner footwear, however in the event you desire a cushioned shoe for all of your runs then it’s a superb day by day coaching choice. Nearly all my runs within the shoe have been in moist circumstances and the grip from the outsole was dependable even when pounding down hills streaming with water. The thick layer of rubber will even be sturdy and the DNA Loft v3 foam has a well-earned fame for retaining its bounce over a whole bunch of miles, so you may anticipate the Glycerin 21 to be a long-lasting shoe.
Is The Brooks Glycerin 21 Value It?
For those who like a cushioned day by day coach, the Glycerin 21 is without doubt one of the finest choices. It’s additionally a fantastic choose for marathon coaching, and working the race itself in the event you’re not taking pictures for as quick a time as doable, due to the best way the froth retains bounce and luxury throughout lengthy runs.
If you need as mushy a experience as doable, take a look at the New Steadiness Recent Foam X 1080v13 or Asics Gel-Nimbus 26, though these will not be as versatile because the Glycerin 21 and I desire its really feel for lengthy runs even at straightforward paces. There are cheaper alternate options that do the identical job, just like the Puma Enlarge Nitro 2 and Saucony Trip 17, that are cushioned however nonetheless versatile footwear. The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 additionally has an identical degree of cushioning to the Glycerin 21 and is lighter and cheaper, although it’s not as comfy because the Brooks shoe.
For me, the Glycerin 21 is a extra pleasing shoe to run in at any tempo than Brooks’s Ghost 15, which lacks the pop you get from the DNA Loft v3 foam (which might be used within the forthcoming Ghost 16). Nonetheless, the Ghost Max is an effective different to the Glycerin 21 in the event you desire a smoother, extra rockered experience.
