Glycerin 22 vs Aero Glide 4

The Glycerin 22 is Brooks at its most comfortable: a plush, neutral daily training shoe built for soft, no-drama miles rather than speed. The DNA Loft v3 midsole is the star, giving you a deep, forgiving cushion that soaks up impact and stays kind to your legs on longer efforts. With a 37mm heel stack and a traditional 10mm drop, it lands squarely in the max-cushion daily trainer bracket, aimed at runners who value a smooth, protected ride over a snappy one. This is not a shoe that wants to go fast, and Brooks has not pretended otherwise. What you get instead is dependable, everyday comfort at £150, with an upper and fit that suit long runs and easy days. In our view it is one of the safest premium daily trainers you can buy right now. If you want cushioning you can trust for months of steady running, the Glycerin 22 delivers it without fuss.

The Salomon Aero Glide 4 is the brand's big-cushion road running shoe, built for soaking up easy miles and long runs without asking your legs for anything back. With a tall 43.2mm heel stack and no carbon plate, this is a comfort-first daily training shoe rather than a racer. What sets it apart from most max-cushion rivals is the tall 11.7mm drop, which rolls you forward off a generous heel and suits runners who land heel-first. It is not the lightest shoe in the class at 250g, and it is not trying to be snappy. What you get instead is a soft, planted, protective ride that stays comfortable when the miles pile up. If you loved the Aero Glide 3, this is a familiar, refined take on the same idea. We rate it as a dependable cushioned trainer for steady runners who value comfort over pace.