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The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is a max-cushioned running shoe built to deliver comfort and protection during your daily training runs. The dual-density midsole also provides some pop off the forefoot, and for a max-stack shoe it’s reasonably versatile.
However, the updates Brooks has made to the shoe don’t improve it compared with the original Glycerin Max in our opinion, and there are livelier max-cushioned shoes to consider like the Nike Vomero Plus, as well as more affordable alternatives like the Asics Novablast 5.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £180/$200
- Weight: 332g/11.7oz (men’s UK 9 / US 10)
- Drop: 6mm
- Stack height: 45mm heel, 39mm forefoot
- Upper: Triple jacquard air mesh with generous padding
- Midsole: DNA Tuned nitrogen-infused EVA foam
- Outsole: Thick rubber on forefoot and heel
Brooks Glycerin Max 2 review
How’s The Fit
Nick and Kieran tested the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 for our review and found that it fit well in their normal running shoe size. The sizing is consistent with the original Glycerin Max and other Brooks cushioned shoes, and it’s a comfortable upper, though some might find the level of padding around the collar and tongue a little oppressive on hot days.
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The Run Test: Likes
The original Brooks Glycerin Max was one of the best cushioned running shoes available, with a smooth rockered ride that meant while it was focused on comfort, it still had a bit of versatility for faster daily training runs.
That’s still mostly the case with the Glycerin Max 2, which hasn’t changed a great deal from its predecessor. The rocker has been reshaped slightly and the upper has changed, but the ride is still similar to the Glycerin Max, offering a lot of protection and a smooth, rockered feel.
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It’s a good option for easy runs in particular, and would be a premium pick for new runners focusing on comfort above all as they start with the sport, though the high price might be off-putting in that situation.
The Glycerin Max 2 is also highly-durable, and a pretty good-looking shoe to wear when not running, which hasn’t always been the case with Brooks shoes.
The Run Test: Dislikes
Our main dislike with the Glycerin Max 2 is that we didn’t find an improvement on the original shoe, which is notably lighter. The extra weight doesn’t matter too much in a big cushioned shoe like this, but it doesn’t improve the Glycerin Max 2, and if you can find the older shoe in a sale then we’d definitely get that instead.
The DNA Tuned midsole foam is also good, but not the best you’ll find on a max-cushioned shoe like this in our opinion. You get a lot more bounce from the ZoomX foam in the Nike Vomero Plus for example, which makes it a more enjoyable shoe at any pace.
We’d also say the price is a little off-putting with the Glycerin Max 2. There are a lot of very expensive running shoes these days, but there are great cushioned daily trainers going for a lot less than £180/$200, like the Asics Novablast 5 or Hoka Clifton 10.
Verdict And Alternatives
The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is a good running shoe, but it’s not an upgrade on its predecessor, which is now available in sales and a better buy in our book (the original Brooks Glycerin Max is $149 at Amazon in the US, for example).
There are also other cushioned shoes we consider cheaper and better, like the Nike Vomero Plus or even the Nike Vomero 18, which Kieran finds more versatile while still being very comfortable.
It won’t let you down if you buy the Glycerin Max 2 hoping for a highly protective and smooth ride, but it’s not one that’s hit the top of our own charts for cushioned shoes.