The Brooks Glycerin line is known for its stability and comfort; something I’ve come to know and trust. The new Glycerin 22 shoe is no exception. The latest model offers new DNA Tuned, the next generation of nitrogen-infused foam AND enhanced double jacquard air mesh upper. Sound like a lot of jargon? Let’s break it down!
When I first tried on the Brooks Glycerin 22, the first thing I noticed was the cushioning.
I ran my previous marathon in the Glycerin 20, and my feet felt great (well, as great as they could feel after 26.2 miles), but the 22’s felt noticeably more cushioned. I was curious to find out if there would be a huge difference in feel once I got running.
The Brooks Glycerin remains a stand out as a go to daily trainer with cushion and a reasonable price point.
Who Is It Good For?
Who is the Brooks Glycerin 22 a good fit for, let’s break it down by some common categories:
- Wide Feet: Fairly generous fit, but also available in wide and extra wide.
- Heavier Runners: The chosen foam should provide durability and comfort for many miles (say 400ish).
- Long Runs: Designed to help you cover long distances comfortably.
- Front of the Pack: Not a speed shoe, but certainly could do some long run workouts.
All-around cushioning is the name of the game with the Glycerin 22 and yet it’s still not their Brooks Glycerin Max. The difference is important when it comes to usage.
Brooks Glycerin 22 Overview
The Glycerin remains one of Brooks most loved running shoes. I told you I ran a marathon in it! But we all know the fear of seeing a shoe you love change.
Given how big the shoe looked, I wondered if the Glycerin 22 would be too cushioned. If you enjoyed the Glycerin 21 then the feel is going to be extremely similar, as they didn’t add foam, just changed it.
What is DNA Tuned Foam?
We think it’s important to know different types of running foam because they change the durability of your shoes! This EVA foam is the most durable and allows for a lot of softness. With their DNA tuned technology they can change the softness in different areas of the shoe based on usage type. In this case, a go to daily trainer.
After testing the shoe at different paces, I noticed that the cushioning felt a little heavy during easy runs, but bouncy during long runs at faster intervals.
This is likely because of the dual-cell technology which is a fancy way of saying they are putting larger areas of foam in the heel for that nice landing, and smaller areas in the forefoot to give that powerful toe off.
I think the weight of the cushion could start to drag you down if you aren’t focusing on turnover, but if you focus on correct form, it can be used to your advantage and put a bounce in your step.
Compared to my Glycerin 20s that I ran the Chicago Marathon in last fall, the 22s have the same heel drop at 10 mm and are the same weight, but something about the 22s just felt different. Thank you for figuring out all the new foam technology, my feet and legs thank you!
Looking at the two different shoes, you can tell that Brooks has upped the cushion game in the back heel especially.
This shoe is great for anyone who wants a seamless heel to toe transition. The DNA Tuned cushioning ensures a comfortable run regardless of pace or distance!
Brooks Glycerin 22 Specs
- Weight: 10.2 oz Men’s, 9.1 oz Women’s
- Stack Height: 38 mm
- Heel Drop: 10 mm
- Available in 9 colors
- Available in Medium, Wide and Extra Wide (wide and extra wide widths available in select colors)
- Also available as the very popular Glycerin GTS for stability lovers
- Available on www.brooks.com for $165
I received the White/Limpet Shell/Amparo Blue color and really love the look. The colors are light and bright but not overly busy which makes me want to wear this shoe while running and out and about as a casual tennis shoe if need be.
We know some folks have bashed the shoe, but listen it’s a running shoe. I’m wearing it because it gets me through 26.2 miles comfortably!
Brooks Glycerin 22 Fit
Sizing wise the fit lengthwise is in line with all other shoes I’ve run in, so no need to size up or down.
The width is fairly roomy, so some of you with a wider foot will be fine without going to the Wide option. That being said, it was really easy to lace comfortably and feel locked in. I think even those with a narrow foot could adjust the lacing to feel comfy.
Putting my feet into the Glycerin 22 felt like sliding them into a pillow. Everything about this shoe is plush. From the heel padding, to the toe box- heck, even the laces felt cushioned. (Note…not as plush as the max, but still an upgrade from the feel we were seeing just 2 years ago in a daily trainer.)
The toebox was similar to previous models of Glycerin shoes I’ve worn, but I really enjoy the upgraded engineered double jacquard knit upper. It’s flexible to your foot and accommodates if you need a little extra room without feeling tight.
I’m also loving the heel loop with the extra plush surrounding it. I feel like my ankles have a little extra support and protection built into the shoe.
Glycerin 22 Feel
I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again… the added cushioning in the tongue and the heel padding is a game changer. Even the shoelaces are plush!
Fear not though, the shoe isn’t plush. Meaning you won’t sink in to this foam, which is why I could find that nice little bit of speed from them.
I appreciated the softness of the tongue (words I never thought I would write), because it was still really comfortable even if I tied the laces tight- which I do, because who wants to stop their run to re-tie?
I could also tell the difference between the mesh upper of the Glycerin 20 and the Glycerin 22. With this new model, you can feel the air between your toes. I felt like my feet were more airy thanks to this updated feature.
The foam in the heel made for a soft landing, but if you’re just looking at the shoe, it’s pretty huge.
I could definitely tell there was the added dual-size cell technology. In the Brooks shoe world, dual-size cell technology means that the heel is made with larger cells that make for plush landings and the forefoot is made with smaller cells to promote responsive toe-offs.
I personally could have used a bit more cushion in the forefoot.
I felt that the heel had so much cushion and the forefoot had so little, that the middle of my foot was getting fatigued from going up and down so much. Maybe this is an issue with the 10mm drop, which can push the knee forward and is probably more noticeable to many of us now that shoe stack height is getting higher and higher.
Similar Shoes to the Brooks Glycerin 22
Here are some of our other go to daily trainers with a nice amount of cushion:
Brooks Glycerin vs Brooks Glycerin Max
You aren’t the first to wonder about differences in Brooks running shoes. We’ve previously don’t whole articles on the Brooks Ghost vs the Glycerin and the Glycerin vs Adrenaline.
So now we find ourselves with 2 shoes that use the same colorways and share a name. You can checkout our full Brooks Glycerin Max reivew as well, but a quick side by side breakdown.
- Both shoes are using the same foam now
- Easier to pick up the pace in the Glycerin
- Max has a 6mm heel drop to the Glycerin 10mm (we like the 6 better for most runners)
- Max heel stack is 45mm, it’s a big shoe, but at roughly the same weight
- The Max has a much more aggressive rocker as well, which allows it to still feel fast though bigger
- Glycerin is $40 cheaper and honestly plenty of cushion for what the majority of our bodies are actually ready to handle
All in all, I really enjoy the changes made in this upgrade to the Brooks Glycerin 22. I probably won’t wear these for my speed runs, but it’s definitely a game changer for long runs!
Who Tried It?
Hi there! I’m Taylor, a former marketer turned stay-at-home mom of two. A casual runner with a few 10K and half-marathon races under my belt, I decided to take my running to the next level when my kids were younger as a way to challenge myself and get some quality alone-time. I’ve discovered a love of racing with charity teams and have completed two major marathons with Team ALS with hopes to contribute even more in the future!
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