11 months ago
157 Brooks Glycerin 20 Introduction
For the past 20+ years, the Brooks marque has been synonymous with the Glycerin enactment of shoes. This high-cushion trainer was designed to assistance runners log agelong miles portion grooming for marathons.
It has ever been a workhorse that volition lb the pavement for aggregate grooming cycles, and that has not changed successful the past mates of decades. In this iteration, determination are immoderate caller technologies introduced, astir notably the nitrogen-infused DNA midsole which offers a small much outpouring to the step.
At $160, this footwear is simply a nonstop rival with astir brand’s high-end regular trainers.
They’ll spell head-to-head against ASICS Nimbus 25, Saucony Triumph 20, New Balance 1080v12, Hoka One One Bondi 8, and more.
When it comes to competing against these shoes, the Glycerins won’t crook immoderate heads, but they volition support smiles connected the faces of those utilizing them.
Brooks Glycerin 20 First Impressions
When these shoes arrived, I was precise excited to springiness them a go. And to beryllium honest, I was a small disappointed erstwhile I opened the box. Visually, they are thing special. This is particularly existent erstwhile compared to immoderate of the much breathtaking visuals offered by competitors. However, the disappointment rapidly went distant erstwhile I enactment the shoes on. They felt buttery from the beginning.
On my archetypal run, they were brushed but inactive steadfast capable that I didn’t consciousness similar I was sinking into the shoe. I loved the ride. And erstwhile I wore them to school, my feet felt caller astatine the extremity of the day.
There is cushion determination to past nevertheless agelong you need.
Brooks Glycerin 20 Upper
The precocious connected the Glycerin is thing spectacular. It volition get the occupation done, but won’t beryllium turning immoderate heads. This precocious uses an engineered aerial mesh to assistance support the footwear breathable, portion besides allowing for a comfy and flexible fit. Brooks uses 3D people saddle to overlay and assistance fastener successful the midfoot, portion not applying unit to the foot. Inside the upper, Brooks uses an OrthoLite sock liner that makes definite the acceptable is soft, nary substance the thickness (or existence) of socks.
The acceptable of the precocious is true-to-size successful length, and felt comfy connected each parts of the foot. In the heel, the footwear secures well, and is choky capable to consciousness confident. Moving into the midfoot, the consciousness is wide, which could consciousness arsenic though you’re not locked in, but the overlays assistance fastener the ft in. The toe-box is wide capable portion not being overly roomy.
This is the 1 spot I person a ailment with design, and that would beryllium the low-profile bottommost collar. This bottommost collar, coupled with tallness of the bottommost of the midsole, caused maine immoderate consternation. I had 3 antithetic runs where, erstwhile turning a corner, my ankle felt similar it bent and astir gave out. I conscionable privation the ankle collar was somewhat higher and locked my limb successful more.
Brooks Glycerin 20 Sole Unit
The sole portion is wherever this footwear shines. It’s not visually impressive, but it definite feels awesome nether the foot. The bottommost stands astatine 38mm with a 10mm driblet to the toed (pretty modular for this level of shoe).
The midsole uses a caller nitrogen-infused DNA foam that offers a batch of cushion and bounce. This foam goes the afloat magnitude of the midsole, and gives a precise comfy ride, including an vigor filled toed off.
Under the midsole, determination are flex grooves utilized to assistance the sole crook and assistance you modulation into your toe-off. These grooves are coupled with a precise grippy blown rubber outsole that volition permission you assured connected astir immoderate aboveground oregon condition.
When compared to immoderate of the different shoes successful the aforesaid category, the sole portion is sturdy and nice, but not a caput turner. This is particularly existent erstwhile comparing to the New Balance 1080 v12, which has much bounce, but little cushion. It’s possibly a small little “fun” than the thrust of the 1080 oregon of the Saucony Triumph, but I recovered it to beryllium much comfy for the longer runs.
Brooks Glycerin 20 Conclusions
The Brooks Glycerin has been connected the shelves for 20+ years for a reason. Although it isn’t flashy, it gets the occupation done. And frankly, I don’t cognize that I’ve been much comfy connected my agelong runs this twelvemonth than I person been portion successful this shoe.
When comparing these shoes to different offerings successful the aforesaid category, similar the New Balance 1080 oregon Saucony Triumph, the Glycerins were little exciting. They struggled much connected the faster-paced runs than those different 2 offerings. But erstwhile looking for a long-distance trainer, I enactment much accent connected the comfortableness of the footwear and the ride.
In 2022 and 2023 determination has lone been 1 footwear that I’ve tally successful that felt arsenic comfy arsenic the Glycerin 20s, and that was the New Balance More v3 (not the v4).
With rising prices connected each shoes, the $160 terms tag seems in-line with the competition. And I consciousness you’re getting plentifulness of footwear for the price.
If you request a comfy thrust for your agelong runs, possibly you should instrumentality a rotation successful the Brooks Glycerins.
