Brooks Glycerin 18, Men’s race Running Shoe

Product Information

The stretch mesh upper feels and looks pretty nice too. No hot spots, no pressure points whatsoever, and I think it can accommodate a large number of foot types, from wide to narrow(ish). It’s a simple, yet clean-looking shoe that has gradually dropped the gaudy, overlay-happy BS of previous models. Everyone’s all about midsoles and plates nowadays, but I appreciate a good, clean upper. We've spent the past few weeks putting the Brooks Glycerin 18 through it's still one of the best options out there for those who care about comfort over speed. The Ghost and the Glycerin are two shoes known for their high levels of stability and the Ghost and Glycerin continue the trend. The Ghost is overall more stable than the Glycerin because it has a firmer midsole and less lean bias than the Glycerin. Then, and perhaps most importantly, it's the revamped upper. Brooks has used a double jacquard mesh to offer increased breathability and flexibility. Visually it's almost identical to the 17, but you can really feel the benefit of the new material when you hold it. Extremely soft and almost squishy, it feels more like a shoe designed for relaxing than one focused on performance. Of course, depending on the type of running you participate in, there may be more specialized running shoes that provide more comfort for that purpose, but as a general daily trainer, the Glycerin takes the prize, as long as the shoe fits.

The latest versions of the Nimbus, Triumph, and Clifton are all softer shoes than the Glycerin 18. Now, with the release of the Invincible, it’s hard to imagine that any shoe could be softer.The big differences are that the Ghost has a combination of DNA Loft and BioMogo in its midsole while the Glycerin has a full DNA Loft midsole and the Glycerin has a softer, more comfortable upper than the Ghost. If you’re looking for a super soft, super-bouncy ride similar to the ZoomX Invincible, you won’t find it in the Glycerin 19. For those running in harsh winter conditions, the midsole does freeze a little bit. The ride becomes less soft, and you might be better off choosing a shoe with a TPU style midsole. The Glycerin is still a great choice. Exceptional traction As a shoe reviewer, I never have a chance to wear out my shoes; there are always barely used shoes laying around, but I couldn’t take my feet out of this pair. The Glycerin 14s and 15s had too firm of a midsole. If you like cushioning, then you’ll like these. The Brooks Glycerin 18 is an ideal daily running shoe, perfect for easy miles and long runs. If it’s good enough for Des Linden…

Personally, I like my running shoes to have a little more support on my longer runs, which is why my go-to Brooks easy shoe is the Ghost 12, which have slightly more stability. The fit, for us, was true to size and we found the Glycerine 18 was comfortable as soon as you put them on. No need to wear them in or worry about chafes or rubbing. Pretty much, if you have ever run in Glycerins, they won’t blow your mind with new technology, but you’ll love them. If you’re in the market for a high cushion neutral trainer, you’ll probably love them as well. Brooks Running is undoubtedly among the most respected brands out there regarding daily trainers and stability models. The Glycerin 19—available in both GTS (go-to-support)—is no exception and embodies Brooks’s DNA perfectly. Those who tried the 19 had only good things to report!The one area where the Glycerin 19 beats all other max-cushioned trainers is its magnificent upper which is an engineering masterpiece.