Brooks Glycerin 18, Men’s race Running Shoe

Product Information

On my first run, the shoe didn’t feel special or ground-breaking but it did feel very natural and cushioned with a signature Glycerin ride. Personally, I like my running shoes to have a little more support on my longer runs, which is why my go-to Brooks easy shoe is the Ghost 12, which have slightly more stability. The tongue is soft and comfortable, and doesn’t move around much during runs. And one of the most pleasant surprises was the shoelaces. Yes, the shoelaces.

The midsoles of the Ghost and the Glycerin are single-density. The Ghost has DNA Loft v2 while the Glycerin has DNA Loft v3 so the Glycerin rides softer than the Ghost. Despite the weird looks, Brooks regained the absolute plush comfort in the 16th, 17th, and now the 18th iteration. Brooks is not about to start messing with a good thing, and the best part of the Glycerins of the past has been the sole unit. There is very little new in this sole unit from the 17s. ADRIENNE: With this iteration, Brooks appears to be heading in a decent direction. Those who are fans of previous Glycerin models will likely be fans of this one as well. The 18 is lighter, weighing in at 9.0 oz for my size 9. It may not be a spectacle, ride-wise, but the cushioning is reliable, consistent, and the shoe doesn’t feel heavy on the foot or in the hand. The upper and shifts in midsole-outsole ratio are likely the reason why.

The specs

The stretch mesh upper feels and looks pretty nice too. No hot spots, no pressure points whatsoever, and I think it can accommodate a large number of foot types, from wide to narrow(ish). It’s a simple, yet clean-looking shoe that has gradually dropped the gaudy, overlay-happy BS of previous models. Everyone’s all about midsoles and plates nowadays, but I appreciate a good, clean upper. ADRIENNE: The Glycerin 18 is perfect for runners who think there’s no such thing as too much cushioning. If nothing else, Brooks knows it’s target consumer. But does the Glycerin 18 live up to this assertion? We will see.

In this case, Brooks realized they hit pretty darn close to the mark with the 16s and 17s and haven’t changed much. But the changes do improve on the product from last year. The first thing you'll notice about the Glycerin 18 is that they seem to have two layers of cushioning. That's the insole you're feeling. The insole goes a long way to cushioning the landing, so custom inserts might change the feel a bit.The Glycerin may be sleek, but it is certainly heavy-duty. All the materials in the shoe are very high quality and durable. For those running in harsh winter conditions, the midsole does freeze a little bit. The ride becomes less soft, and you might be better off choosing a shoe with a TPU style midsole. The Glycerin is still a great choice. Exceptional traction The Glycerin is a daily trainer, and for an experienced runner, the ride will feel a little bit slow on faster runs. However, the Glycerin has a more adaptive and snappy ride than other shoes with its level of cushion.