Running shoes have certainly gotten high lately. In sharp contrast to the minimalist designs of the 2000s—remember the barefoot trend?—more and more companies are releasing absolutely stacked designs. The latest to do so: the Brooks Glycerin Max, the brand’s plushest everyday trainer that claims to “redefine” running.
I’m a big Brooks fan, having worn its Adrenaline GTS 23s for the majority of my last half-marathon training last year, so I was eager to see if its max-cushioned initiative could make my miles even comfier as I train for a full 26.2 later this fall. So I slipped on a sample of the new Glycerin Max ($200, brooks.com) to find out.
Who these shoes are for
Christa Sgobba
While a lot of cushiony Hoka and On models have transitioned to the lifestyle space, the Glycerin Max are probably best reserved for running, thanks to a few design features. Take its rocker shape, which helps propel you forward more seamlessly with each stride. Then there’s the foam. For the first time ever in a Brooks shoe, there are actually two types: One in the heel, which is made of larger cells (to blunt the impact from the ground with each footstrike), and the other in the forefoot comprised of smaller cells, which help make the shoe more responsive for each heel-to-toe transition. (And let’s not forget the style factor—more on that below!)
This makes the Max a solid option for runners in need of a shoe for their everyday miles, especially for those who are going long and would benefit from a little protection from all the pounding. The women’s version weighs 9.5 ounces a shoe, so they’re also pretty heavy, meaning they won’t be the most efficient pair for picking up speed. (The shoe also has a stack height of 45 millimeters, which technically makes it illegal for racing, per the World Athletics max of 40 mm—so it probably won’t be your ticket to a PR.)
Out of the box
Christa Sgobba
