Our testers felt that the DNA Loft midsole offered a blend of cushioning and responsiveness that provided a smooth and consistent feel with each step. While they wouldn't classify the shoe as springy, out testers agreed that it didn’t feel mushy like a lot of other highly cushioned shoes. According to Des, the Glycerin don’t “bring anything fancy to the table because that’s your job, but it’s never going to take away from your run.” The midsole softness of the Glycerin 19 has definitely been dialed up a notch compared to the Glycerin 18 but not by much. As a shoe reviewer, I never have a chance to wear out my shoes; there are always barely used shoes laying around, but I couldn’t take my feet out of this pair. The Glycerin 14s and 15s had too firm of a midsole. 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.

The biggest difference between the outsoles of the Glycerin 19 and the 18 is that the 19 has one long price of rubber on the medial side that extends from the rearfoot, all the way to the end of the midfoot just before where the forefoot starts. As I said in the introduction, I put 5000 miles into a previous model of the Glycerin. Was that a good idea? No, but this does speak to the durability of the shoe. While the standard Glycerin model is a maximum-cushioned, neutral trainer, the Brooks Glycerin GTS 19 and 20 (newly released in July 2022) are classed as stability trainers. Stability running shoes such as these are ideal for runners with overpronation, who need more ankle support and a less flexible sole.This most recent edition has a similar midsole and outsole as previous versions, but Brooks has made a great update to the upper. I gave the Glycerin 17 a 100/100, but they somehow have improved it again. 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. Ride transitions are very smooth in both the Glycerin and the Ghost due to their single-density midsoles. Then, and perhaps most importantly, it's the revamped upper. Brooks has used a double jacquard mesh to offer increased breathability and flexibility. Visually it's almost identical to the 17, but you can really feel the benefit of the new material when you hold it. Extremely soft and almost squishy, it feels more like a shoe designed for relaxing than one focused on performance. These are ultra soft – I don’t find these the fastest Brooks shoes. Not ideal for every run, especially not speed workouts or your 5K PB attempt.

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. Despite the weird looks, Brooks regained the absolute plush comfort in the 16th, 17th, and now the 18th iteration. The DNA Loft cushioning foam in the shoe remains the same as the Glycerin 17, albeit with more of it. The DNA Loft is made up of a mix of EVA foam, rubber and air. You won’t experience “your softest run ever” in the Glycerin 19 like Brooks advertises. Compared to the other max-cushioned trainers, the Glycerin 19’s ride is a tad firmer but it is more stable because there is less lean bias. This long piece of rubber makes ride transitions smoother and also increases midfoot stability and structure because there is less flex in the midfoot.This shoe will outlast most other running shoes while staying in good condition. Brooks has a warranty for 300-500 miles and will replace them for free if they don’t last that long, but I’m sure anyone can easily double that figure. With sustainability in mind This technology gives the perfect soft ride on slow jogs and a snappier feel on tempo runs. It is, of course, not universal, so a racing shoe will still trump the Glycerin during a race, but for a one-shoe kind of runner, this adaptive ride is a great choice.

The Glycerin 18 does better than average in durability. The updated stretch double-jacquard mesh improves the shoe's flexibility, which reduces the stress placed on more rigid portions of the upper, limiting the potential for tears and other degradations. The outsole uses plenty of soft, blown rubber. Brooks prefers using a softer type of outsole rubber to soften landings and increase the ground feel.

OUR VERDICT The Brooks Glycerin 19 is a medium-soft, max-cushioned trainer with a superb, comfortable, plush upper that’s best suited to easy-paced runs. Engineered mesh upper allows your feet to breathe. Lakota Gambill Minor Improvements for a Better Ride There are two, small reflective triangle windows on the heel for low-light visibility from the rear. I wish I could say more for the midsole and ride of this trainer, however, I just am not one of those runners Brooks is looking for to wear this shoe. It’s definitely not a bad shoe and is approaching OG status, however, the ride just didn’t do much for me. I was looking for a little bit of a response, or just a little more life in these, but found I had to work to keep my cadence and usual stride up. They didn’t feel bad, just not as exciting as other models at the same price point, say the New Balance 1080 and the Saucony Triumph 17. I guess I have become one of those runners now who expects to be entertained by their footwear. Sign of the times.