Anybody else been feeling somewhat bit such as you’d may be in search of a much less max stack cushioned shoe?? After testing tons of of plush footwear, I discovered myself instantly drawn to the texture of the Brooks Glycerin Flex.
Brooks is looking this a extra pure really feel shoe, which brings to thoughts the Escalante and different zero drop virtually no cushion footwear. That’s not what you’re getting right here, the cushion stays. Whew, don’t come for my cushion I’ve come to essentially get pleasure from it.
The design of many trainers now could be controlling foot motion, which does present effectivity in motion, however may be throwing off how our physique desires to maneuver. It’s why we advise in opposition to stability footwear for almost all of runners.
So Brooks requested can we give individuals a versatile shoe to maneuver with their foot that’s NOT skinny, boring and missing the cushion now we have all come to like? They went deep on know-how to supply one thing that I believe lots of you’ll recognize. Okay, not less than I’m appreciating it!
- Large Ft: Knit higher will stretch, so it would accommodate a wider foot
- Heavier Runners: Loads of cushion and sturdiness.
- Lengthy Runs: Nice choice to have cushion with out being in a max cushion shoe.
- Entrance of the Pack: Can decide up the tempo, however not a brilliant quick race shoe.
Purchase Brooks Glycerin Flex
The Glycerin Flex is a good day by day coach with pretty gentle weight, loads of cushion and going to maneuver simply together with your foot. It’s going to be a shoe that might additionally go along with you for gymnasium lessons, pickleball, and another exercises.
Brooks Glycerin Flex Overview
My first step in was not love, in order that makes it all of the extra fascinating that now I’m head over heels for this shoe. However just for operating, not for strolling, which is all as a result of gel pads as an alternative of froth within the heel cup.
That’s clearly not the vital factor about this shoe which has a brilliant distinctive modular outsole, creating the power for the shoe to noticeably flex. However consolation and match continues to be precedence one, so let’s run by means of all of the issues that you must find out about this shoe.
Why is that this completely different?
As footwear have gotten greater (learn extra cushioned), you’ll see that the majority are absolutely linked alongside the midsole and want a meta rocker or different options to assist with that roll from heel to toe. Not everybody loves this sense and it does imply the shoe is doing a number of the give you the results you want.
Right here the forefoot and midsole are de-coupled, permitting for that full twisting movement you see. Which implies that your foot may also roll by means of a full vary of movement or extra simply change instructions, sprint facet to facet with much less rolled ankles.
Pure nonetheless seems like a debatable time period right here as we do have lots of cushion. However positive, it does give extra freedom of motion.
The DNA tuned midsole nonetheless has that nice Glycerin cushioned really feel that we loved within the Glycerin Max 2, BUT on a a lot smaller scale making it extra like my go to Saucony Kinvara. This seems like you’ll be able to decide up the tempo, though it doesn’t have a rocker it’s simply not as a lot shoe.
How does it really feel?
Cushioned. As a substitute of feeling over cushioned, it simply felt good. It nonetheless had somewhat bounce, loads of below foot consolation, however there was no sinking in to the shoe. I put it on for day by day runs as much as 8 miles (sorry proper now I’m working by means of damage and that’s my max!). I might fortunately put on it for longer, however I believe would possibly cap at 13.
In case you haven’t been doing any sort of foot energy, you would possibly really feel like your toes and ankles want somewhat adjustment to this shoe.
The higher may be very completely different from different Glycerin footwear. The knit might not really feel as locked in for a few of you, I completely happy to like this model of shoe as a result of it does really feel extra versatile and harkens again to the opposite shoe that I went by means of like 10 pairs of the Nike Flyknit React.
Brooks Glycerin Flex Specs
- Weight: 8 oz girls’s, 8.8 oz males’s
- Stack: 36 mm
- Heel toe drop: 6 mm
- Accessible in 4 colours
- Not accessible in extensive
- Accessible on Brooksrunning.com for $170
Fast Take
- 6mm drop is nice to see in Brooks.
- Good cushion at decrease stack.
- Permits for pure motion of the foot.
- Gel pads in heel cup.
- Not good if you happen to want some stability.
- Tongue not connected.

The outsole can also be sticky for some nice grip. I wouldn’t hesitate to put on this on moist roads and I imply I suppose within the snow besides your toes can be very chilly. I’d additionally contemplate this for pickleball and another fast gymnasium actions.
Brooks Glycerin Flex Match
As alluded to at the start I did have a match subject. The heel cup makes use of little gel pads they usually simply sort of stick out. Each single time I put this shoe on, I virtually instantly take it off considering I’m going to have a blister there. However as quickly as I begin operating the feeling is gone.
Nonetheless, strolling I nonetheless really feel the pads and dislike. I wish to not take into consideration my shoe in any respect whereas sporting it.
Size customary Brooks sizing, the mid-foot I do assume is a little more slim, which could simply be as a result of knit higher and flat tongue.

These elements are going to offer it a extra fitted really feel and that’s one thing I usually like in trainers. It means nothing is shifting round.
The tongue will not be connected on the perimeters, which seems like a no brainer at this level. Maintain it from shifting and make us all completely happy. Type of oddly formed, so it seems just like the tip may dig in to your ankle, however once more no points. And sure, a part of what we do in testing 200+ footwear a yr is get actually choosy so you understand what to anticipate.
Brooks Glycerin 23 vs Brooks Glycerin Flex
The Glycerin has been a staple cushioned shoe within the line up for years, so let’s see why it’s completely different and which one you would possibly desire. Our full overview of the model new 23 is popping out in a couple of days.

- Glycerin 23 is a 8mm drop, way more customary for Brooks
- Glycerin is extra cushioned to really feel actually comfy for marathon lengthy runs
- Flex is lighter and feels simpler to choose up the tempo
- Flex isn’t going to information your foot as a lot, which means you’ll discover in case you have an excessive amount of pronation
Comparable Footwear to the Brooks Glycerin flex
All proper, let’s speak about what may be just like this average cushioned shoe. The reality is there’s virtually nothing with cushion at this degree of flexibility, so we’re largely taking a look at what has an identical degree of cushion.
- Saucony Kinvara 16 – 29mm stack peak, however nonetheless cushioned and love the 4mm drop and light-weight
- Hoka Mach 6 – One other average cushioned shoe that’s gentle
- NB Insurgent V5 – Softer underfoot, related drop
Purchase Brooks Glycerin Flex
There you will have it, our Brooks Glycerin Flex overview.
As at all times, love to listen to suggestions if you happen to’ve taken the shoe out or if there are different fashions you’re interested in.
94%
We had been instantly taken with the texture of the Glycerin Flex, offering the cushion we get pleasure from however with much less shoe underfoot. It feels just like the course we predict extra day by day trainers will probably be going and we approve. It’s not for individuals who want any stability, however a terrific really feel and sturdy because of the outsole rubber.