Brooks Women's Glycerin 19 Running Shoe

Product Information

The double-jacquard mesh upper is slightly stretchy, which adapts to how your foot moves and splays. Plus, the internal bootie gives your foot smooth entry and exit. The tongue is soft and comfortable, and doesn’t move around much during runs. And one of the most pleasant surprises was the shoelaces. Yes, the shoelaces.

Designers also lightened the load from 17 to 18. Brooks says the men’s Brooks Glycerin 18 drops almost half an ounce from the previous version, and the women’s Brooks Glycerin 18 is down about .2 ounces. 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 less experienced and heavier runners, the Glycerin will be able to handle any kind of speed and distance. This long piece of rubber makes ride transitions smoother and also increases midfoot stability and structure because there is less flex in the midfoot.

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I’ve never ever thought of the Glycerin as a super soft ride. It’s always been one of the firmest max-cushioned trainers.

I wish I could say more for the midsole and ride of this trainer, however, I just am not one of those runners Brooks is looking for to wear this shoe. It’s definitely not a bad shoe and is approaching OG status, however, the ride just didn’t do much for me. I was looking for a little bit of a response, or just a little more life in these, but found I had to work to keep my cadence and usual stride up. They didn’t feel bad, just not as exciting as other models at the same price point, say the New Balance 1080 and the Saucony Triumph 17. I guess I have become one of those runners now who expects to be entertained by their footwear. Sign of the times.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. The Glycerin 17 inherits most features from its predecessor including the upper, midsole, and outsole design. Natural movement of the foot is enhanced with the flex grooves that support runners through their gait cycle and keep heel-to-toe transitions smooth as ever. You won’t experience “your softest run ever” in the Glycerin 19 like Brooks advertises. Compared to the other max-cushioned trainers, the Glycerin 19’s ride is a tad firmer but it is more stable because there is less lean bias.

The Glycerin has been using the same DNA Loft midsole foam for the past 4 versions with very subtle changes in midsole foam density in each version. The one area where the Glycerin 19 beats all other max-cushioned trainers is its magnificent upper which is an engineering masterpiece. 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 While the DNA Loft is the same foam used in the Glycerin 17, Brooks says it reconfigured the midsole-to-outsole ratio for an even softer feel. What that really means is Brooks shrunk the flex grooves on the outsole to prioritize cushioning.These adaptations happen every time your foot touches the ground. The Glycerin has a lighter and overall softer version of the DNA Midsole for an even more plush ride. ADRIENNE: The Glycerin 18 is perfect for runners who think there’s no such thing as too much cushioning. If nothing else, Brooks knows it’s target consumer. But does the Glycerin 18 live up to this assertion? We will see.

The updated design of the foam does cut down on some of the weight and offers a slightly softer ride. However, the difference during side-by-side runs, has been negligible.

Brooks Glycerin 18 Conclusion

ADRIENNE: Tech bros at Brooks– this shoe has the potential to be a badass daily trainer/easy mileage shoe; but please liven up the midsole. I realize the Levitate 3 brings some bounce, but the sensation of slightly sinking into shag carpet is not my favorite. Not trying to be harsh, just sayin’. Like I said, the potential is there! The midsole is as cushioned as possible while still not feeling mushy or slow. The Glycerin is the type of shoe that does not cause any problems for my feet, so I forget that they are there, even thirty miles into a run; and that is the true measure of a comfortable running shoe. No surprises with fit except pleasant The BioMoGo part of BioMoGo DNA means that in an anaerobic landfill, the midsole will decompose within 20 years, compared to the thousands of years that it takes other midsole materials to decompose. Brooks Glycerin 19 was designed to have all the comfort of its predecessor, the ultra-cushioned Brooks Ghost, but with a lighter weight and higher energy return. Through its DNA LOFT cushioning, this running shoe is built for smooth heel to toe transitions and its rounded heel offers better support and alignment to protect the joints.