Glycerin 21
Today's tracked prices
- 01Sole MateLIVE£96.08£165.00−42%
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Price history
Our verdict
The Brooks Glycerin 21 is a max-cushion daily training shoe built for one job: making your everyday miles feel soft, calm and comfortable. This is the plush end of the Brooks range, a neutral running shoe that leans into cushioning rather than speed. At 280g it is not light, and it will not snap you through a fast finish, but that was never the point. What you get is a deep, forgiving underfoot feel that holds up well over long easy runs and recovery days, and a 10mm drop that suits heel and midfoot strikers alike. We rate it as a dependable cruiser for runners who want protection and a smooth, quiet ride over anything sharp or racy. If the £165 price gives you pause, the cheaper Brooks Ghost 16 covers similar daily duty with a touch less plush. But if soft comfort is what you are after, the Glycerin delivers it honestly.
Key features
- Max cushioningGives you deep, soft protection that soaks up hard pavement and keeps your legs fresh on long easy runs
- Neutral platformSuits runners with a neutral gait who want plush comfort without corrective structure getting in the way
- 10mm dropRolls you smoothly from heel to toe and works whether you land on your heel or midfoot
- Plush padded upperWraps your foot in soft mesh with a secure, pressure-free hold from the first mile to the last
- Smooth, quiet rideKeeps everyday miles calm and comfortable so you can switch off and just run
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Neutral runners who want maximum comfort on everyday miles
- Heel strikers who need deep protection from hard pavement
- Runners logging long easy and recovery runs who value fresh legs
- Anyone who prizes a soft, quiet ride over speed
Who should not buy it
- You want a light, snappy shoe for tempo runs or racing
- You need real stability or pronation support
- You have wide feet and cannot find the wide fitting
- You are chasing the lowest price for a daily trainer
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Glycerin 21 comes up true to size for most runners, so order your usual size to start. The fit is medium through the midfoot with a secure heel hold, and the padded collar and tongue lock the foot without pinching. The toe box is on the standard side rather than roomy: fine for average and slightly narrow feet, but wider footers may find it a little snug over longer runs. Brooks does offer the Glycerin in 2E and 4E wide fittings in some colourways, which is worth seeking out if you know you need the extra room. Thumb-width of space at the front is about right. We would not size up unless you are between sizes or plan to wear thicker socks, in which case going up a half is the safer call. Runners who want the same soft ride with built-in support should look at the Glycerin GTS 21, which shares this last with added guide rails.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
The ride is soft, smooth and unhurried. Step in and you feel the cushioning give underfoot, then settle into a rolling, protective stride that asks nothing of your legs. This is a shoe that rewards easy and steady paces. Hold a relaxed effort and it feels near effortless, soaking up road buzz and letting you switch off. Push the pace and the softness works against you: the foam compresses rather than springs back, so there is little pop or snap when you try to accelerate. That is the honest trade-off of a plush daily trainer. Over long runs the comfort really tells, and your legs stay fresher deep into the miles than a firmer shoe would allow.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the whole story here, and it is generous. The Glycerin 21 sits at the max-cushion end of the daily-trainer scale, with a deep, soft midsole that cushions impact and takes the sting out of hard pavement. Heel strikers get plenty of protection at the back, and the 10mm drop rolls you forward smoothly. It is soft without feeling vague or unstable, a balance Brooks has tuned well over many versions of this shoe. On long runs and back-to-back training days this is where the Glycerin earns its keep, keeping your legs comfortable when a leaner shoe would start to feel harsh. If you prize plush comfort over ground feel, you will get on with it.
Stability
This is a neutral shoe, so there is no medial post or corrective structure. That said, the wide, deep platform gives it a naturally planted, stable feel for a soft trainer, and most neutral runners will find it secure at easy paces. It is not built for overpronators who need real support: if your gait needs guidance, the softness could let your foot roll in over longer efforts. Runners who want this exact ride with added structure should go straight to the Glycerin GTS 21, which adds guide rails without changing the plush character. For a neutral gait, though, the standard Glycerin holds its line perfectly well.
Upper & comfort
The upper is one of the Glycerin 21's quiet strengths. The engineered mesh is soft and gives a little where your foot needs room, while the plush tongue and collar wrap the ankle in comfort. Lockdown is secure without any harsh pressure points, and the interior finish is smooth enough for sockless wear in a pinch. Breathability is fine for UK conditions across most of the year, though on the hottest days the padded build runs a touch warm. It is a premium, well-finished upper that matches the plush ride underfoot, and it holds the foot steady from the first mile to the last without needing to be cranked tight.
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FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Max Cushion |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 10mm |
| Heel Stack | 38mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 28mm |
| Weight | 280g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |