Brooks Glycerin 18 Review
Well-cushioned Just Got Lighter (And Softer)
Likes
- Smooth ride
- Well-cushioned
- Comfortable upper
- Durable design
Dislikes
- Laces untie easily
What's New
Lighter weight with more cushioning than the previous version, the Brooks Glycerin 18 offers a plush running experience that excels at everyday training and long runs. An Ortholite footbed gives the shoe a luxurious step-in feel, and the DNA Loft midsole offers a soft yet surprisingly responsive experience for such a highly cushioned shoe. For a smooth ride, the green rubber outsole features numerous flex grooves that help to keep the foot naturally moving forward through the gait cycle, and the premium upper features a well-padded tongue and heel collar that softly wraps your foot in the shoe. Meanwhile, the stretch, double jacquard mesh hugs the foot with a next-to-skin feel that adapts where needed without compromising a secure fit.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for protection from the road that doesn't sacrifice responsiveness, the Brooks Glycerin 18 offers soft cushioning that doesn't feel dead when it's time to pick up the pace. Although the Glycerin was not our tester's first choice for uptempo runs, they enjoyed the soft yet energetic ride of the shoe for both their daily training and long miles. The breathable upper provided an accomodating yet secure hold of the foot, and the durable rubber outsole offered long-lasting traction without feeling stiff or hard underfoot. Whether it's for a recovery day or marathon training, the Glycerin 18 is a great option for all-day comfort and performance.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium to narrow (Women's: Medium) | Height: Medium to low | |
| Midfoot Volume | Men's: Medium to low | Women's: Medium | |
| Heel Width | Men's: Medium to Narrow | Women's: Medium | |
| Arch Height | Men's: Medium to high | Women's: Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 10.2 oz (size 9) | Women's: 9.0 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 31mm (Heel), 21mm (Forefoot) | 10 mm Heel-Toe Offset | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
The Glycerin 18 features more DNA Loft cushioning than the last version for a lighter weight shoe with a softer ride. Our testers loved the plush step-in feel provided by the Ortholite liner and agreed that the Glycerin 18 offered the perfect amount of cushioning without being so soft underfoot that responsiveness is lost.
Liese: "I found the Glycerin to be soft yet not overly so. It maintained a lot of protection for my knees on long runs while having a great underfoot feel that didn’t slow me down."
David P: "The initial step-in feel offered a sense of plush and comfort which is due mostly to the cushioned insole and padded upper material. Once I got running in this shoe, the cushioning felt slightly firmer and more responsive rather than overly soft and dead."
Ride/Energy Return i
Our testers felt that the DNA Loft midsole offered a blend of cushioning and responsiveness that provided a smooth and consistent feel with each step. While they wouldn't classify the shoe as springy, out testers agreed that it didn’t feel mushy like a lot of other highly cushioned shoes.
Sean M: "To put it plainly, the energy return of this shoe lets you push on your faster-paced runs but allows you to train every day while feeling that your energy is being reciprocated by the shoe."
Ben: "It is a decently-cushioned shoe that doesn’t feel slow. I’ve mostly been wearing the Glycerin as a protective shoe for longer weekend runs, yet for short, lunchbreak 5K loops it keeps up with a slightly faster pace.
Underfoot Protection i
With more DNA Loft cushioning underfoot, the Glycerin 18 offers plenty of protection from the road. Our testers agreed that they didn't notice the rocks or pavement underfoot and felt that this shoe could easily handle a marathon distance.
Ben: "While this is not a maximal shoe, the cushioning is just right for versatile training. Additionally, I wanted to mention that this is about as durable as running shoes come."
David P: "Between the durable rubber outsole and stacked midsole, there is a lot of underfoot protection. This shoe is protective enough to handle all of your daily miles as well as any long runs you can throw at it.
Underfoot Flexibility i
Despite the shoe's higher stack height, our testers found that it offered just the right amount of flex for a smooth transition with a quick turnover. The DNA Loft transition zone features flex grooves that increase the shoe's flexibility where needed to create a smooth ride.
Sean M: "This is not the most flexible shoe, but it is in no way super stiff either. The amount of stiffness in this shoe is perfect for being responsive on your run and giving you a spring-like recoil as you push off."
David P: "There is a little bit of flex at toe-off to propel you into your next step, but I didn’t notice any disadvantage to this shoe feeling less bendable."
Upper Feel i
Our testers loved the jacquard mesh upper of the Glycerin 18. They felt that it provided stellar support with no compromises in comfort thanks to the padded heel collar and adequate stretch.
Liese: "The updated jacquard upper is very accommodating. The fit dials in just right in the forefoot and midfoot while maintaining breathability and comfort."
David P: "The tongue and midfoot wrap keep my feet from sliding around in the shoe while the ultra-comfortable jacquard mesh naturally adapts without compromising the integrity of the upper."
Individual Thoughts
I’ve been using this shoe for most of my road runs for the past month. They vary from quicker-paced lunch runs to longer weekend meandering. I’m really happy with this shoe’s versatility in that it works great for both. While this shoe isn’t in the range of a maximally cushioned HOKA, it is highly-cushioned without feeling too soft.
This may be my favorite Brooks shoe ever! Love the fit, with the stretchy upper that allows my feet to swell well during my run, and although I’ve been dealing with a knee injury, I had no knee issues while running in the Glycerin 18s. I found it to be very protective, grippy, and the perfect balance of cushioned and snappy.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
My first like about this shoe is the soft cushioning which has been great for all my road runs. Another thing I like about this shoe is the comfortable mesh upper, it keeps your foot feeling cozy yet secure. Lastly, the aesthetic of the shoe is quite appealing from the color schemes to patterns all across the sole of the shoe.
My number one dislike was the shoelaces. The material doesn’t stay laced well like your standard shoelace, plus on a rainy run they felt as if they absorbed more water. Another dislike about the shoe would be how the bottom grip didn’t handle the wet road or track surfaces with 100% security. When running on a wet track there were a couple of instances where I felt I was losing my grip around the turns.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
I thought the fit of this shoe was excellent. I loved the jacquard stretch mesh upper which felt adaptive throughout my stride yet secure enough to prevent slippage. There is a lot of structure and padding built around the heel, and while I found this to be a tad overkill, it did add comfort and security.
As for its performance, I see the Glycerin 18 as a daily trainer with ample cushioning for everyday running or long slow distance runs. I found the DNA Loft midsole to run on the firmer side of the spectrum rather than being plush. I think the cushioning could be improved to better match the premium feel of the upper material, but overall the cushioning did allow for a smooth and consistent stride.
The Glycerin is designed to be a premium daily trainer that can handle the majority of your weekly miles and this shoe fits the bill. It definitely has a comfortable fitting upper and a smooth ride, but I wanted softer cushioning that could improve my recovery days or long slow efforts. Overall, I enjoyed running in the Glycerin 18 and will continue to use it in my rotation of daily running shoes when I want the added comfort and am looking for smooth consistent miles. I would recommend this shoe for the runner who wants a comfortable option for their daily miles.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
As a daily trainer, the Brooks Glycerin 18 provides a cushioned and flexible ride for runs on the road or bike paths. In addition, this shoe is very durable and can stand up to miles of everyday training.