Last year around this time, I slipped on the Brooks Glycerin 22 for the first time. Little did I know that, in a world where running shoes show up on my doorstep with relative frequency, I would keep reaching for this one as my daily option for an extended period. It was just such an easy shoe to not think much about—providing comfort and making it effortless to get out the door.
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Now, a year later, the Glycerin 23 has arrived, and I’ll spoil it by saying that, while there are some slight updates to the shoe itself, it still delivers the same promise: comfort and ease.
See all our posts on the Brooks Glycerin here!
Looks:
As with most of running shoe companies’ longstanding stalwarts, launches come with a variety of colorways. As far as we can see, both men and women will have about 8 colorways to choose from in the 23, and 4 in the GTS version, all designed to complement the desired look. We aren’t going to waste time talking about each—or even about ours—because there’s going to be a ton of variety available. You’ll find what you want.
Also, both version – the regular and GTS – look pretty identical.
We will say that visually, the shoe seems a little more dialed in. It’s hard to explain—it still looks like a Glycerin but also feels a bit more refined. Take that weird description for what it’s worth.
Fit & Construction:
Specs:
- Stack: 38mm/30mm
- Drop: 8mm
- Weight:
- 10.6oz (men’s 9)
- 11.0oz (men’s 9 – GTS)
Upper:
Perhaps the weird description of the looks we mentioned comes down to some new upper construction. The Glycerin 23 features an enhanced triple jacquard warp knit, which makes it plush and comfortable.
Knit uppers used to be a no-go for me, but this tech has gotten more refined over the years, and I personally don’t avoid it like I used to. I found this knit to be quite solid, providing hold without feeling restrictive. It’s just comfortable on step-in—something that has been true for the last two Glycerin releases as well.
Midsole:
There is a decrease in drop from 10mm to 8mm (heel still at 38mm, but toe now at 30mm instead of 28mm). However, with the decrease in drop, there’s an addition of 2mm more DNA TUNED with dual-size cell technology in the forefoot.
As a reminder, this midsole construction has become beloved by Brooks enthusiasts (and I LOVED the Glycerin 22). The heel features large cells for plush landings, while the forefoot features small cells for responsive toe-offs.
The platform is wide and contributes to the overall comfort. I would say if you liked the Glycerin—or any other DNA TUNED Brooks shoes—you’re going to appreciate this as well. If you haven’t tried one, run to your nearest running store and check it out.
There is a slight increase in weight, but it’s probably negligible overall. The GTS version is unsurprisingly just a smidge heavier than the regular version as well. I’ll take a slight weight increase with a bit more DNA TUNED foam any day of the week.
It’s not the lightest shoe out there, but as far as a comfy daily trainer goes, it’s right in that range. The Glycerin 22 felt lighter on foot than it was, and I’d say the same exists here as well.
Outsole:
Not much to talk about here. There’s plenty of coverage on the wider platform, and it handles pretty much all the needs you’d expect from a daily trainer.
Overall:
If you’re in the market for a well-constructed, plateless daily trainer, the Glycerin 23 will treat you well. The updates from the previous version keep much of what was loved and add just a bit more refinement—which is definitely a positive.