Brooks Glycerin Max 2 review

We tested the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 and found it ideal for:

• Runners seeking maximum cushioning for relaxed daily miles.
• Heavier runners wanting huge foam and premium upper comfort.
• Heel strikers needing extra stability in a max-stack shoe.

We think the Glycerin Max 2 may disappoint runners searching for a lighter and more versatile max-cushion trainer. In our lab tests and outdoor runs, the shoe felt noticeably bulky, and we believe alternatives like the Nike Vomero Plus or ASICS Novablast 5 offer a more smooth and agile experience while keeping a highly-cushioned ride.

We also found that the DNA Tuned foam lacks the lively bounce many runners expect at this premium price point. Shoes like the ASICS Superblast 3 or the Adidas Hyperboost Edge deliver a far more energetic and fast-feeling ride, especially when the pace starts increasing.

We found a radically different shock absorption distribution in version 2 compared to the first-generation Glycerin Max. This time, the heel delivers slightly less cushioning at 137 SA, while the forefoot receives a massive upgrade with an impressive 128 SA.

The DNA Tuned foam struggled once again in this test. In our lab measurements, we recorded just 49.1% energy return in the heel and 51.3% in the forefoot. That’s not especially surprising given that this is still an EVA-based compound, but for a shoe carrying a $200 MSRP, we believe these numbers should be higher.

In our view, a more energetic foam would make the shoe perform much better during long runs when the pace starts to increase.

The Glycerin Max 2 may fall short in bounce, but it certainly doesn’t lack heel stack height. With a towering 45.4 mm measurement, it fully earns its place in the maximalist running shoe category and lives up to the Max name without question.

And based on our runs, this is clearly a shoe designed for runners who want maximum isolation from the ground and enjoy that extra-tall underfoot sensation that makes you feel a few centimeters taller.

The forefoot may be even more impressive when it comes to stack height, reaching a massive 37.3 mm. At the time of this review, that’s actually higher than our current lab average for heel stack height, helping create an ultra-cushioned ride in the front.

Brooks claims a 6 mm heel-to-toe drop, and our measurement came in a bit higher at 8.1 mm. It’s a small difference that doesn’t meaningfully change the ride, and we still believe the Glycerin Max 2 works well for all foot strike patterns.

Comfort was clearly Brooks’ main priority with this shoe, and that likely explains why they chose a much softer formulation of DNA Tuned for this version.

At 30.9 AC, the foam feels noticeably softer than the first-generation model, which we measured at 39.9 AC using the same durometer. Therefore, runners who found version 1 slightly too firm should notice a major change in ride feel here.

The secondary section of DNA Tuned is the smaller foam piece located in the heel, and we measured it at 36.5 AC, making it slightly firmer to help improve stability.

Runners who enjoy a highly-rockered running experience will love the Brooks Glycerin Max 2.

The sole features an aggressive curvature in both the forefoot and heel, creating a strong forward-rolling sensation while helping offset the massive stiffness caused by the towering stack height.

Brooks usually offers multiple width options in its daily trainers, although that’s not the case for this premium model. The Glycerin Max 2 only comes in a standard width, so we were especially curious to see how the fit turned out.

With a measured width of 96.5 mm, it feels slightly roomier than the average running shoe, which gives it a solid starting point for accommodating most foot shapes comfortably.

We also avoided an overly tight toebox here, measuring 73.4 mm in width. It’s not the roomiest design we’ve tested, but it should comfortably work for most runners.

One area where we noticed some potential for pressure was the upper above the toes.

With only 24.0 mm of toebox height, runners who prefer extra vertical room to freely wiggle their toes may experience a somewhat restrictive fit.

Traction is one area where a premium-priced shoe needs to perform at least above average, and Brooks managed to achieve that here. While the 0.61 result is not especially remarkable, it still delivers solid grip, including on wet surfaces, and we see that as a genuinely positive outcome.

The outsole uses a mostly exposed foam layout with strategically placed rubber coverage in key impact and toe-off zones. However, we were quite surprised to find such limited rubber coverage considering the notably high weight of the shoe.

If there’s one thing the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 clearly delivers, it’s stiffness. Our test measured a massive 21.9N, reinforcing the trend we’ve observed in recent years with max-stack shoes, where midsole height often influences stiffness more than the presence of a carbon plate.

Because of that, you should not expect any meaningful flexibility here. In fact, the Glycerin Max 2 feels like the complete opposite of a flexible shoe.

We’ve already mentioned how heavy this shoe feels, and for good reason. Even before placing it on our scale, we could immediately tell this was not a lightweight design. At 11.2 oz or 318g, it comes in even heavier than version 1.

In our view, the next Glycerin Max needs to lose at least 10% of its weight to become more versatile and noticeably more appealing for daily training.

We were slightly surprised by the upper because Brooks has recently delivered some truly impressive knit-based designs, whereas this one feels more conventional with its classic engineered mesh construction.

Still, it performs well overall. With a strong 4/5 ventilation score in our lab tests, the Glycerin Max 2 should handle warm-weather runs without any real issues.

Using our light test, we quickly understood the logic behind the design. The upper includes heavy reinforcement to better control lateral movement, yet Brooks still managed to maintain solid airflow throughout the shoe, as shown in our video.

Under the microscope, the material quality looked good, although we wouldn’t call it especially remarkable considering the premium price of the Glycerin Max 2.

However, the padding tells a completely different story. Brooks went absolutely overboard here, adding two enormous foam pillows around the heel collar to create one of the most plush and exaggerated step-in feels available today.

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is an extremely tall shoe, which may immediately make some runners worry about stability. However, just like we’re seeing with many modern maximalist trainers, brands are doing so many stability-focused design choices that these shoes can actually work quite well for runners with mild support needs.

It may sound counterintuitive, but that’s exactly how the current max-stack trend is evolving.

Torsional rigidity is also extremely high, just like longitudinal stiffness. We measured a massive 19.6 Nm result here, which was fully expected given the shoe’s towering and heavily-rockered design.

Twisting the shoe is basically impossible, so it won’t naturally follow foot movements while running, although this ultra-rigid setup also helps add a noticeable layer of stability.

Brooks also chose an ultra-stiff heel counter that we rated at 5/5, once again aiming to increase stability around the heel area.

To offset that rigidity, the brand added a generous amount of foam padding so the rearfoot doesn’t feel uncomfortable. Even so, as we mentioned earlier, the heel structure barely flexes alongside your foot and ends up feeling incredibly rock-solid on the run.

The midsole also sits well above our current lab average, reaching a massive 119.0 mm in forefoot width.

During our runs, midfoot and forefoot landings consistently felt controlled and guided, although runners who prefer a freer and less structured ride may find this setup too artificial.

The same applies to the heel, which measures a broad 97.0 mm and feels even more guided due to the ultra-stiff heel counter design.

The toebox of the Glycerin Max 2 surpassed our lab average with a solid 3/5 durability score. That’s a positive and reassuring result when paying this much for a shoe.

We found similar results in the heel padding, which earned a strong 4/5 durability score. Another positive outcome for the Glycerin Max 2.

We found a solid result for outsole durability with a wear depth of 1.1 mm. It’s not exceptionally good, but it’s reassuring enough to avoid major long-term concerns.

Brooks also played it safe here by using a fairly thick 3.5 mm outsole. However, we need to consider that rubber coverage is somewhat limited, meaning the existing rubber sections must absorb more overall wear and stress.

From that perspective, the extra thickness makes sense and it's fine. But another possible approach would have been reducing exposed foam and using a more extensive rubber layout instead...

The Glycerin Max 2 comes with an insole that’s average rather than maxed-out, measuring 4.7 mm in thickness.

You can remove the insole and maybe swap it for a thicker one if you want an even more cushioned experience.

DNA Tuned still relies on an EVA-based compound... and as we often see with EVA foams, cold weather becomes a weak point.

After spending 20 minutes in our freezer, the midsole lost 22% of its softness.

The Glycerin Max 2 reuses the reflective elements from the Glycerin Flex, and honestly, we think that was a smart decision.

One thing Brooks clearly aimed for with this design was maximum comfort, and that’s exactly what you notice the moment you put the shoes on for the first time.

The main reason is the ridiculously thick tongue. At 13.0 mm, it’s one of the most substantial designs we’ve ever measured, and it feels incredibly plush on foot. However, it also adds extra weight and pushes the comfort-first approach to an extreme, making this a very niche design that won’t appeal to everyone.

The tongue is not gusseted, which feels difficult to justify at this premium price point. Sure, it stays securely in place thanks to its massive thickness, but even then, we don’t think this is the ideal setup.

The Glycerin Max 2 features a very distinctive heel collar that sits fairly low around the heel before rising upward to protect the Achilles tendon.

The only real way to justify the high price of the Glycerin Max 2 is by prioritizing maximum comfort above everything else. In that regard, it excels thanks to its ultra-plush upper and incredible step-in feel. However, for most runners, we think it falls short in overall performance, especially when compared to nearly every major rival in this premium category.