Brooks Glycerin 21
The Shakeout
Men: 9.8 oz
Women: 8.8 oz
Drop: 10 mm
MSRP: $160
Mileage at Time of Review: 46
The Glycerin has a long history with Brooks and much like the Ghost, is a shoe in which large scale changes seem to take a long time to get there.
The Glycerin had a massive update in its 20th iteration and one that, in my opinion, saved the shoe and kept the brand competitive. In the Glycerin 21 we see a year of smaller changes to give the people a little time to cool off and settle in. Prior to the 20 I would say that it was hard for me to see or feel a difference between the Glycerin and the Ghost. Now I find a substantial difference and I am on team Glycerin for one main reason: nitrogen. Introducing the nitrogen infused EVA to the Glycerin was a game changer for the shoe line and made it a shoe to pay attention to.
The Breakdown
The Outsole
The rubber on the Glycerin 21 is solid. You’ve got great coverage across the base of the shoe and this shoe will do the job in virtually any condition. I tend to go to the treadmill on days I know that I’m gonna get soaked in the rain, but I love running outside following a good hard rain or during a light one, and it’s hard to avoid it if you forgot to check the weather before you head out, oops. If you find yourself in these situations, you don’t have to worry about your footing in wet or dry conditions. There are a few exposed areas, but this shoe is built to rock the daily training miles and go the distance, so there is plenty of rubber between you and the road.
The Midsole
The midsole on the 21 is built with Brooks DNA Loft V3, a nitrogen infused EVA. I find that this is an incredibly durable material, more so than a traditional EVA compound. The midsole also feels like it has more cushion than it should. I find that nitrogen infused midsoles seem to feel like shoes with more stack height, so while you get that extra cushioned feel, you maintain a position slightly closer to the ground.
Small sidebar, if keeping your shoes clean is important to you, I find that the nitrogen infused foams tend to stay much cleaner without my help than a traditional shoe foam.
The Upper
The Glycerin 21 is available in two styles: the Glycerin 21 and the Glycerin 21 Stealth Fit.
The upper in the Glycerin 21 is much more in line with what you would expect from a traditional daily trainer. In this version of the shoe, I find that the toe box is a bit more open than the version 20 was and there is plenty of cushion around the heel cup and on the tongue to give a comfortable fit for your run. As a result of the extra space in the toe box, I find this version of the shoe fits much more true to size than its predecessor and I would feel comfortable recommending it for daily training or long runs of any distance or time.
The upper in the stealth fit, while having more stretch is also more fitted and narrower in the toe box. This is the version of the shoe that I had for testing and as an adult onset exerciser, I have always been used to having a little extra space in the toe box rather than a little less. When I initially put this version of the shoe on, I do feel a little more cramped in the toe box than I do when I try on the regular version; however, I did a few long runs in this shoe and while I felt initially cramped, following runs over two hours in the shoe, I never had any issues with toe nails or blisters that one would expect from your toes being held too close together. If you like a racier fit to your shoe, or if you have a narrower foot, this version of the shoe is definitely worth considering! If you like the look of it over the regular, I think the stretchy nature of the stealth fit upper provides enough space for the foot to swell without impinging or creating any issues that would interfere with running the following day. In my eye, there is no doubt that the stealth fit looks better and more stylish, so if you’re looking for a daily shoe to wear that looks as good as it feels, this is the version I would recommend.
Runners and Walkers
I think this is a phenomenal workhorse shoe to get your daily mileage in. It’s comfortable and made to be reliable. This isn’t the shoe I’m gonna reach for on a day I wanna really pick up the paces and push myself into the tempo/interval area of my training zones, but for the other 80% of my running, I think this is a fantastic option.
The more I get to know the different brands each year, the more evident it becomes that Brooks isn’t particularly interested in putting all the bells and whistles into their shoes. To use a car analogy, everyone gets interested when they see a corvette drive by, but most of us are driving the sensible sedan or SUV. Brooks wheelhouse is in making the sensible shoe. While other brands are focusing on building out super shoes and their downstream version super trainers, Brooks holds the line and keeps proving solid daily training shoes that will take the beating and keep coming back for more.
While the Glycerin is one of Brooks max cushion shoes, it’s hard to say that it is a maximum cushion shoe within the wider world of running shoes. The nitrogen infusion gives it the feel of a shoe with more cushion than the stack height of the Glycerin, but if you’re looking for something with the feel of a Hoka, this isn’t it. I don’t necessarily think that is good or bad. If you grew up running and you aren’t sure about the maximal shoes, I think the Glycerin is an excellent fusion of old and new.
The Gym
I have mixed thoughts on the Glycerin for a gym shoe. On the one hand it is a lower stack height than other options on the market which is a plus for the gym. In the other hand, the 10 mm drop is higher than other brands in the market which in my opinion isn’t fantastic for the gym.
With the ups and downs, where does this shoe land? A lot will depend on what you’re doing. If you’re lifting with dumbbells and machines and doing your cardio, the Glycerin is an excellent choice. You have enough connection to the floor to feel where you are in space, and if you’re mixing in jumping movements to your workout, you shouldn’t have any issues with the connection or with getting a good explosive push off the ground. If you’re lifting with a barbell and doing more technical movements like the squat, deadlift or really any Olympic lift, I would lean to something with even less stack height and a lower drop.
Daily Living
Going back to the car analogy, as I said the daily shoe is Brooks bread and butter. The Glycerin makes an excellent choice for a daily shoe. It’s comfortable and unassuming in the base version, or if you wanna go with something a little sportier looking, the stealth fit has a stylish appearance with the base of comfort to get you through an 8-12 hour shift.
If you’re in the service industry, this shoe is not available with a slip resistant outsole,
While there are some very bright and exciting colors that go well with running gear, this shoe also comes in a range of more subdued, neutral, work appropriate colors as well.
The Cooldown
In summary I think this is a solid workhorse. It’s built to go the distance and get you through your training and hopefully keep you healthy. What it may lack in the exciting new technology, it makes up for in consistency and reliability within the line.
There are rumors about a Glycerin Max coming down the line that has me very excited! I expect that if that shoe does come out, it will follow the Hyperion and Ghost model and we will have a Glycerin XX and a Glycerin Max to choose from.
Purchase the Glycerin 21 here! Use code “Spirit” at checkout for 10% off your order!