Brooks Glycerin 21 Review – Brooks’ Most Cushioned Daily Trainer

Fit / Tech

As always with Brooks running shoes, the fit is true to size and consistent with all other models in their range.

One small thing to note is that the Glycerin does offer a little more room in the toe box than other neutral models in the range such as the Ghost.

When I compare my Ghost and Glycerin (both in my UK9.5), the Glycerin feels a little roomier. Whilst I’m sure the brand hasn’t adjusted the overall width of the shoe; I think the upper is a touch more forgiving and the knitted construction offers a little more volume.

DNA LOFT v3

DNA LOFT v3 is the brand’s own version of a nitrogen-infused midsole foam. First used in the limited release Aurora BL, this foam offers more ‘spring’ or ‘energy-return’ than traditional foam-based midsoles, but perhaps most notably I found it to be extremely durable.

Warp Knit Upper

Being a range-topping model, Brooks has given the Glycerin an upper to match. The Warp knit design is plush and welcoming and one of the nicest fitting uppers on any daily trainer on the market right now.

There is soft, plush padding in the tongue and around the ankle collar and Achilles area, all making for a very neat fitting shoe.

Some might find the upper a little too much, a little ‘thick’ perhaps, but I’ve never been troubled with a lack of breathability in any shoe, so for me, it is all part of a great neat, plush-fitting package.

Performance

As with most shoes, I was able to simply pull the Brooks Glycerin 21 on and go. I didn’t feel any need to do a shorter or easier jog the first time out in these, they fit well and feel good from the moment you put your feet inside.

I’d usually use this type of shoe for mid-week, steady training runs. Those easier-paced efforts when I am simply logging the miles.

The Glycerin is a ‘max-cushioning’ category shoe and like most of the competition in this category, it doesn’t really pretend to be something it isn’t. It isn’t trying to be the lightest or the softest or the springiest shoe on the market, it’s simply a very good all-rounder. It’s dependable and very durable.

Many More Miles

As I previously mentioned, I first tried a Brooks shoe with the DNA LOFT v3 midsole in the Aurora BL a couple of years ago.

Brooks ‘BL’ or Blue Line shoes are prototype or limited-run models that are produced to test a new technology.

The Aurora BL featured the first use of nitrogen-infused midsole foam by the brand. I recall thinking at the time that the shoe felt surprisingly cushioned and responsive for a training shoe, but more than anything, it was a shoe that refused to die!

The durability of the Aurora BL was fantastic and I used that shoe perhaps more than any other shoe I have ever run in.

The same could be said of the previous model of the Glycerin, the 20 and every indicator is that the Glycerin 21 will remain as durable.

Comparisons

Ghost 16

The most obvious comparisons for the Glycerin 21 would first come from Brooks themselves. The new Ghost 16 now makes use of the DNA LOFT v3 midsole.

In the Cheaper Ghost model, the cushioning stack is a little lower throughout the length of the shoe and with a 12mm drop rather than the 10mm of the Glycerin.

The Glycerin feels similar but a little softer, a little plusher and a little more stable thanks to a broader base. The Glycerin 21 also has a slightly broader feel to the fit, particularly in the toe box area of the shoe.

Ghost Max 2

Another shoe from Brooks that now shares the DNA LOFT v3 nitrogen-infused midsole is the brand-new Ghost Max 2.

Where the Ghost Max 2 differs is in the heel drop, being 6mm rather than the 10mm of the Glycerin. The stack of the Ghost Max is a little higher at 39mm in the heel and with the lower drop, it means the forefoot offers a stack of 33mm compared to the 28mm of the Glycerin.

New Balance 1080v13

For max-cushioning and a softer feel, the New Balance 1080 offers a super-soft and plush feel. It is perhaps softer than the Glycerin and I feel not as responsive, but if you simply want a very soft shoe, the New Balance is an option.

Saucony Triumph 22

Perhaps the closest competitor to the Glycerin 21 is the Saucony Triumph 22. Both are matched in terms of price and share a 10mm drop. The Saucony offers just 1mm more of over cushioning stack, so is virtually indistinguishable.

The Triumph 22 offers a great cushioned ride and I think the shoes only vary slightly in terms of stability, whereas the Glycerin 21 is a little more stable thanks to its broader base and the feel of the energy return.

The PWRRUN PB midsole foam in the Triumph 22 is a little springier than the DNA LOFT v3 of the Glycerin and seems to offer a little more in terms of ‘energy return’. With that in mind, I use the Triumph 22 when there’s a chance I might pick up the pace a little during a longer steady run.

Both the Glycerin 21 and Triumph 22 are very evenly matched, I own both pairs and use both on a regular basis, so you really couldn’t go wrong with either.

My Verdict

In conclusion, the Brooks Glycerin 21 is a great shoe for regular training and stands out with regard to the overall durability and consistent feel of the cushioning.

The nitrogen-infused midsole foam is one of the best examples of this type of foam midsole on the market and as such, it has established itself as a very safe place to put your feet and your money.

The quality of the upper construction is second to none and is the typical high quality we are used to from Brooks.

The Glycerin 21 is also available as a ‘GTS’ version from Brooks. These models (Glycerin GTS 21) are the brand’s stability adaptations of the standard model. In the case of the Glycerin, it’s a relatively stable shoe in its own merit, but the GTS does offer a little more general guidance for those concerned.

For those days when you want comfort and to tick off the miles in a smooth riding manner, the Glycerin 21 makes an excellent choice.