Brooks Glycerin 23 Review
By David Salas
Brooks Glycerin 23Price: $174.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.6 oz, 300g (men's size 9), 9.5 oz, 269g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: Not provided at this time
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Training, Premium Cushioning
Pros: Smooth and consistent ride without a large rocker, upper much more accommodating
Cons: Not the most versatile, Not the best for those who need stiffer forefoots
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Brooks Glycerin 23 is a neutral premium daily trainer. Within the neutral running lineup, you have the Ghost, Glycerin, and the Glycerin Max. The Glycerin Max is the maximum stack height of the options. The Glycerin 23 might not be max stack (well over 40mm), but provides premium experience through the upper and the midsole. The DNA Tuned midsole is one of the softer foams from Brooks. It focuses on a softer heel landing, with a more poppy forefoot toe off. The Glycerin 23 checks a lot of the boxes for a daily trainer. Though the Glycerin 23 does have some rounding, the shoe stays true to its roots and does not have a major rocker profile either. This gives a more "traditional" feel while adding some new elements.
SIMILAR SHOES: Mizuno Wave Rider 29, Puma Magnify 3
PAST MODEL: Brooks Glycerin 22
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The Brooks Glycerin 23 fits true to size in my men's 9.5. The dimensions are pretty sound throughout. The heel and midfoot are normal width, with the forefoot being slightly wide. They improved on the forefoot volume in this model. There is more space up front without sacrificing lockdown. The engineered knit is a solid update. The previous upper was plush, but did have a lower volume and less breathability. The current upper is actually quite nice. The material feels soft on your foot and still hits the plush category while maintaining breathability. Security was also good. I had no issues with excessive stretch, foot translation, or heel slippage. The tongue is very padded, and you can lace the shoe down about as tight as you want without issue. It could probably be a little thinner, but it works well with the rest of the shoe. There is a stiff heel counter, but there is plenty of padding. I found my foot to feel secure and comfortable.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Moderate
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild to Moderate
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Potentially, in the middle
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: Good
PERFORMANCE
David: The Brooks Glycerin 23 does its job. The shoe is aimed at being a premium daily training shoe, and it feels best at just that. The shoe is pretty easy to get into rhythm and maintain an easy pace. The Glycerin 23 has a more "traditional" feel. I usually associate this with shoes that have a higher drop ratio and a more flexible forefoot. The drop ratio is now 8mm, lower than previous Glycerin models, but the general sensation is still there. The forefoot does have some flex grooves that provide a moderate amount of flexibility when the shoe is loaded. The heel bevel is improved from previous versions. The shoe does not feel nearly as "slappy" as it has in years past. The general sensation of the shoe is a rounded and softer heel that rolls into a less rounded and flexible forefoot.
DNA Tuned is definitely a soft foam for Brooks, though it is not quite as compliant as some of the other foams on the market. It does feel like it has a touch more resilience though. I would still classify this in the soft category of foams (just on the firmer side of that soft category). DNA Tuned is more responsive in the forefoot, though I do think it is still best at daily paces. The 10.6 ounce weight does not help with speed, but isn't too bad for daily mileage. The outsole traction of the Glycerin 23 is also quite good. There is a lot of rubber coverage throughout the platform with ridges that do help grip. The Brooks Glycerin 23 is a welcomed update to the daily training line. It may not be that versatile, but it is comfortable for logging daily mileage and I do think it will provide a good amount of durability underfoot as well.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: The Brooks Glycerin 23 is definitely a neutral shoe. The upper lockdown and outsole traction help with some stability, but there really aren't that many measures made towards formal stability in this model. Outside of some gentle sole flaring and slightly wide platform, there isn't much else. Those needing some more guidance can look into the GTS model of this shoe.
Thoughts as a DPT: The Importance of a Good Upper
By David Salas
In short, the upper is the piece of material that keeps your foot connected to the platform that is underneath you. This is an incredibly important piece of the shoe, because it ensures that you interact with the shoe in the way that you were meant to. If you do not have a good upper, your foot can slide around the inside of the shoe or you can have unwanted movement in the heel. Uppers can also have a layer of complexity around them, as there are different types. Some shoes lean towards a more plush and soft experience, while others aim towards a more thin and airy experience. Some don't mind extra weight, while others are all about losing weight. The Brooks Glycerin 23 is a premium daily training shoe, and focuses more on having nice materials around your foot that are plush and bring a sense of comfort.
Designing and implementing an upper in a premium shoe can be difficult. It is easy to take a bunch of soft and thick materials and slap them onto a midsole, but that would be over simplifying the process. If the upper is too thick, it can run warm and give the runner hot spots and blisters. Depending on the amount of volume (space) in the shoe, the thicker material can also push down on the foot in a way that is uncomfortable and sometimes painful for the runner. Brooks did a good job in the Glycerin 23. I felt the upper of the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 was a bit too thick, though the Glycerin 23 feels like a streamlined and better version of that. The engineered knit is definitely plush, but surprisingly breathable. Brooks also noticeably improved the volume in the forefoot. The upper fit in the Glycerin 23 feels intentional. This is one of the better premium uppers that I have tried this year.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: I really liked my experience in the Brooks Glycerin 23. I think a lot of noticeable improvements were made. I do think the tongue could still be thinned out some, but that is me being picky. One thing I'm struggling with is price though. Once you get into the $175 range, there is a lot of competition for similar shoes that are also great. Some of these with a little more versatility. At $160 I think this would be at great value. $175 isn't bad value, but the runner will just have to make that decision for themselves.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The Brooks Glycerin 23 is a neutral premium daily training shoe for those that want a more "traditional" feel without a large rocker profile that still provides a softer foam. The shoe has a more rounded heel that rolls into a more flexible forefoot. The general experience throughout the shoe is plush without being a maximum stack height trainer. The upper is very plush throughout, but still provides a good amount of space in the forefoot and good breathability. The Glycerin 23 is not the most versatile, but does provide a pleasant ride for easy days and daily training runs.
GRADES
David
Fit: A- (Good dimensions, volume, upper plush but still breathable, tongue could be thinned a touch)
Performance: A- (Rhythmic at easy paces, balanced cushioning, could be a touch more versatile)
Stability: B (Not bad, not great. Definitely a neutral shoe. Good traction and upper lockdown. Mild sole flare.)
Value: B (Really dependent on the runner. At $175 I probably would like a little more versatility, but the daily ride is actually quite good. Durability should be good. If you are signing up for only easy days it could be worth it.)
Personal: A- (One of my favorite daily training shoes so far this year. I still need to line everything up next to each other and rank them to see if its in the top 3 or not, but its on my radar.)
Overall Design: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORBrooks Glycerin 23Price: $174.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
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