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Glycerin Max 2
"Maximalist trainer with dual-density DNA Tuned midsole for easy and recovery miles."
UK RRP
£170.00
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Expert review
Our verdict
The Glycerin Max 2 is Brooks going all in on soft. This is a maximalist daily training shoe built for easy and recovery miles, not for chasing splits. With a 42.3mm heel stack and a dual-density DNA Tuned midsole underfoot, it turns your slow days into something that genuinely protects tired legs. The trade-off is honest and worth knowing up front: at 305g it is a heavy running shoe, and the rockered ride wants a steady, relaxed cadence rather than sharp pace changes. Think of it as your recovery-day and long-run cruiser, the shoe you reach for the morning after a hard session. If you want the same plush Brooks feel in something lighter and more everyday, the Glycerin 22 is the leaner sibling. But if maximum cushioning and leg protection are what you are after, the Max 2 delivers exactly that. We rate it as one of the more comfortable soft trainers in its class.
Key features
- Dual-density DNA Tuned midsoleGives you a plush soft top layer with a firmer base underneath, so easy miles feel protected without turning mushy
- 42.3mm max stack heightPuts a big slab of foam between your legs and the road, taking real sting out of recovery days
- Rocker geometryRolls you smoothly through each stride so a steady easy cadence feels effortless
- Secure padded heel and collarLocks your foot in place so there is no slippage even when your form goes late in a long run
- Roomy engineered mesh upperLets your toes splay on longer efforts and suits normal to wider feet
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Runners who want maximum cushioning to protect legs on easy and recovery days
- High-mileage runners chasing a plush, low-impact long-run cruiser
- Neutral runners who prioritise comfort over ground feel and speed
- Anyone who found other max cushion shoes too firm or unstable
Good to know
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Glycerin Max 2 comes up true to size for most runners, so order your usual Brooks fit and you should be fine. The upper is an engineered mesh with a medium-to-generous volume through the midfoot, which suits a normal to slightly wider foot well. The toe box has enough room to splay on longer efforts without feeling sloppy. Heel hold is secure thanks to a moulded collar and a well-padded ankle, and we did not get any slippage even on tired late-run form. If you are between sizes or have a narrow foot, you may want to try the standard width before sizing down, as the roomy fit can leave a touch of extra space. Runners with genuinely wide feet will be pleased that a 2E width is offered. For a plush max cushion shoe like this, lockdown is reassuringly good, so you can lace it snug and forget about it.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
This is a soft, cushioned, rolling ride rather than a snappy one. The tall DNA Tuned midsole soaks up impact and the rocker geometry helps carry you through the gait cycle, so once you settle into an easy rhythm the shoe just cruises. It is at its best at relaxed conversational pace, where the softness feels protective rather than mushy. Push the pace and the story changes. The 305g weight and the deep foam mean there is no real snap or pop when you try to accelerate, and quick turnover feels like hard work. Hold it to what it is built for and it shines. We would keep it for recovery runs, easy days and steady long runs, and reach for something lighter when the workout calls for speed.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the whole point of this shoe, and it is where the Max 2 earns its name. The dual-density DNA Tuned midsole pairs a softer top layer for immediate plushness with a firmer base for a little control, so you get that sink-in feel without the shoe collapsing under you. Underfoot it is one of the softest daily trainers Brooks has made, and it does a genuinely good job of taking the sting out of tired legs and hard surfaces. Over a long run the protection stays consistent and your legs feel fresher at the end than they would in a firmer shoe. If you are a cushioning-first runner who prioritises comfort over ground feel, this will feel like exactly what you wanted.
Stability
The Glycerin Max 2 is a neutral shoe, so it offers no medial posting or dedicated support structures. That said, a tall soft stack is not automatically wobbly here. Brooks has given it a fairly wide, stable platform and the firmer lower density of the midsole adds a measure of control, so for a max cushion shoe it feels more planted than you might expect. Neutral runners and mild overpronators who just want comfort should be comfortable. If you need genuine stability or guidance, this is not the shoe, and you would be better served by a dedicated support model. Very tall runners or those who feel unsteady on high-stack foam should try it on first, as the height is real.
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The numbers
Specifications
| Category | Max Cushion |
| Surface |