The New Brooks Max Trainer Is a Whole Lot of Shoe (in a Good Way)

Running shoes have certainly gotten high lately. In sharp contrast to the minimalist designs of the 2000s—remember the barefoot trend?—more and more companies are releasing absolutely stacked designs. The latest to do so: the Brooks Glycerin Max, the brand’s plushest everyday trainer that claims to “redefine” running.

I’m a big Brooks fan, having worn its Adrenaline GTS 23s for the majority of my last half-marathon training last year, so I was eager to see if its max-cushioned initiative could make my miles even comfier as I train for a full 26.2 later this fall. So I slipped on a sample of the new Glycerin Max ($200, brooks.com) to find out.

Who these shoes are for

While a lot of cushiony Hoka and On models have transitioned to the lifestyle space, the Glycerin Max are probably best reserved for running, thanks to a few design features. Take its rocker shape, which helps propel you forward more seamlessly with each stride. Then there’s the foam. For the first time ever in a Brooks shoe, there are actually two types: One in the heel, which is made of larger cells (to blunt the impact from the ground with each footstrike), and the other in the forefoot comprised of smaller cells, which help make the shoe more responsive for each heel-to-toe transition. (And let’s not forget the style factor—more on that below!)

This makes the Max a solid option for runners in need of a shoe for their everyday miles, especially for those who are going long and would benefit from a little protection from all the pounding. The women’s version weighs 9.5 ounces a shoe, so they’re also pretty heavy, meaning they won’t be the most efficient pair for picking up speed. (The shoe also has a stack height of 45 millimeters, which technically makes it illegal for racing, per the World Athletics max of 40 mm—so it probably won’t be your ticket to a PR.)

Out of the box

With high-stack shoes, you often hear the words “marshmallow soft” thrown around—and the first part of that phrase really came to life when I unboxed the Glycerin Max: Thanks to their colorway (solid white throughout the upper, save for a black Brooks logo) and very chunky shape, they looked like a pair of marshmallows. So on the style front, if you’re looking for a svelte and streamlined sneaker, the Max probably isn’t what you’re envisioning. It has a bit of an old-school dad shoe vibe, which is either a plus or a minus depending on how much you lean into the ugly-cute trend.

When I picked them up, I could immediately tell they were a whole lot of shoe: The stack height is super eye-catching, and the weight in hand just as noticeable. But would the loads and loads of foam under foot make it feel heavy when I took it on the road?

Fit and feel

I tested these in my normal running shoe size, which is a half-size up from my street kicks. I’ve run in another pair from the Glycerin line, the Glycerin 21—a SELF Sneaker Award winner in 2024—and thought it fit great; since the Max shares a big part of its name, I figured this one would too. While my normal size did fit, it didn’t feel quite like the Glycerin 21: That model maps closer to your foot, while the Max is a bit roomier, especially around the forefoot. I’m a little wider there and didn’t experience any scrunching or hot spots.

Thanks to its highly padded collar and tongue, the upper feels pretty plush (albeit a little heavy and not exactly breathable, which could be an issue come humid summer runs). When I stood up, all that foam underfoot was immediately noticeable. It provided a nice soft cushion without causing my feet to sink in. I walked around my apartment with the Glycerin Max on one foot and the Glycerin 21 on the other, and the difference in each step was wild.

On the run

I wore these on two outdoor runs: The first was a five-miler with a two-mile slight pickup (a little slower than half-marathon pace) and the other was an eight-mile slower run. I mostly ran on sidewalks and paved roads, with about a mile and a half on a packed trail.

All that cushion was evident—but not too squishy—when I started running. And that’s a good thing: I didn’t notice any wobbling, which is huge for me, since I’m prone to lower-leg injuries when instability comes into play. The Glycerin Max is a neutral shoe (meaning, no official stability features), but its wide base helps keep you steady. I also had no problems taking corners; with other high-stacked shoes, I sometimes find myself slowing down so I don’t lose balance.

As a heel-striker, I appreciated the extra care given to the foam in the heel. It really helped blunt the impact with the ground, making my strides toward the end of my run feel just as nice as those at the beginning. Because of their weight, it took a little effort to get up to a quicker pace, but once I was there, the smooth turnover helped me continue with it.

I’m curious about the durability of the Max. The rubber on the outsole seems super heavy-duty (and I felt very protected on the trails), but there are parts of the shoe without the rubber where the actual foam is exposed. Again, I’m a heel-striker, and that area seems pretty well covered, but I am curious to see what happens after it racks up hundreds of miles.

Bottom line

I’m at the tail end of marathon training now, and my legs have been feeling it. On those days, I’ve been particularly grateful to reach for the Glycerin Max—they really provide that extra dose of TLC to help you get through that day’s plan. For that reason, I’ll keep the Max in my toolbox, probably for those slower but longer middle-of-the-week runs.

At $200, these are pretty pricey for an everyday running shoe, and while you can pick up the pace in them, they probably won’t double as the best choice for tempo or quicker efforts. But if you’ve already got a pair of super shoes at the ready for those workouts, and are looking to add an everyday pair to the mix, the Glycerin Max could be a great addition to your closet.