Why the Brooks Glycerin 23 Outperforms the Brooks Ghost as a Daily Trainer
- Our testers liked using the Brooks Glycerin 23 for long runs and everyday training.
- The shoe is updated with even more DNA Tuned in the forefoot.
- Runners with wide feet appreciated its broad platform.
The Glycerin used to be Brooks’s most cushioned trainer, a soft behemoth for long runs and recovery runs. That mantle now belongs to its cushier counterpart, the aptly named Glycerin Max. But the evolution of the Glycerin began years before it was “maxed” out. When I reviewed the Glycerin 19 back in 2021, I dared to name it the brand’s top daily trainer, saying its ride and feel knocked the popular Ghost off its throne.
The shoe is now in its early twenties, and unlike my years as an optimistic, naive young adult, the Glycerin 23 is wiser and more distinguished. It’s evolved into a more versatile trainer that can handle almost any workout. Its specialty, however, is the long run.
Brooks Glycerin 23
Pros
- More cushioning in the forefoot
- DNA Tuned cushioning that's responsive, supportive, and comfy
- Wide, accommodating fit
Cons
- Slightly stiff in forefoot area
- Slightly bulky
| Best for | Daily training, long runs |
| Weight | 10.6 oz (M), 8.7 oz (W) |
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Stack Height | 38 mm |
What Makes This the Best Glycerin Yet
My pair of Glycerin 23s is visibly worn, with dirt and water stains on the upper. They became my companion for long runs in this wretchedly cold winter when I was training for the Boston Marathon.
I fell into the habit of logging long runs in carbon-fiber plate shoes, convincing myself that every double-digit workout was a dress rehearsal for the marathon and a means of helping me decide which model I should choose for race day. Now I wear super shoes sparingly to save the magic, relying on max-cushioned shoes to buffer my joints from hours on the road. The Glycerin 23, and sometimes its stability twin, the Glycerin GTS 23, had served me well leading up to Marathon Monday.
One reason this Glycerin is more prepared for long runs than ever: Brooks added 2 mm of cushioning in the forefoot. The DNA Tuned nitrogen-infused cushioning softens the impact every time my foot hits the pavement—a much-appreciated feature on the hilly back roads of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. DNA Tuned was introduced in the first Glycerin Max; small cells in the forefoot and large cells in the heel act as a springboard as well as reduce weight on slabs of foam over 42 mm.
I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost
The Glycerin 23 is a mere 38 mm, but it achieves the same plush ride with some extra oomph. I wasn’t the only one who felt the Glycerin topped the Ghost in terms of comfort and performance.
“I truly love the Brooks Glycerin 23. The shoe is in my opinion a near-perfect everyday trainer,” said shoe tester Jeff Miles, who averages 30-mile weeks at 7:30 pace. “While the Brooks Ghost 17 is a shoe I really enjoy, they are like getting the six-cylinder Mustang when you really wanted the V8 Boss 302.
“The Ghost is a good shoe that you can run in each day and not think much for it. You feel like you got your money’s worth and it will do the job but it isn’t exciting. The Glycerin 23 feels soft and engaging from your first step. It has such a nice ride that is cushioned but not sucking effort out. It’s responsive and gives back more. You feel fast but secure.”
Made for Long Runs
Miles pushed the pace in the Glycerin 23, wearing it for tempos and suggesting it’d be a good marathon shoe. But where the Glycerin 23 really shines is the marathon’s lead up: the long run.
“The shoe is cushioned in a way that makes me want to do all my long runs in them,” said Senior Features Editor Pavlína Černá. “It doesn’t drag as some cushioned shoes do, but feels responsive.” The shoe was a frontrunner for her 75K march in the Czech Republic (that honor, instead, went to the On Cloudmonster 3).
Tester Maura Dalek also said the shoe was great for long runs—at an easy pace. She wanted just a little more pop and less weight, yet she praised the overall fit especially the extra wiggle room in the toebox and broad midfoot platform. This was a welcomed feature for wide-foot runners, like Černá and me.
So the Glycerin or Ghost?
One thing to note about the Glycerin 23 is its slightly heavier weight compared to the Ghost 18. I wasn’t distracted by the extra weight, but Dalek said the heaviness and bulkiness were her least favorite thing about the Glycerin.
“This feels like a slow easy run shoe,” she said. “For me this shoe doesn’t feel speedy. I feel like it’s on the clunkier side or not as reactive to movement. My first thoughts were wow this is comfortable but then I couldn’t imagine wearing this if I had to pick up the pace at all.”
But I’ve found experiences vary; not every runner has the same ride in the same shoe. Miles, for example, considered the Glycerin 23 as a capable speedster.
Take it from me, who stands in the middle of that Venn diagram: the shoe is a soft, responsive trainer that makes long runs easier and more interesting. It injects just a little more bounce in my longer workouts, helping me soar through those miles instead of silently wishing I was back under the covers at home, sleeping in.
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Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.