Published April 28, 2021

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SCORE: 9/10                      

 Weight: 9oz for women size 8

Heel drop: 10mm

Shoe Type: Neutral Max Cushioned Training Shoe

 Pros

• Brooks Glycerin 19 is a joy to ride in.
• Rides soft and cushy
• It has a roomy toe box
• Breathable upper
• Bouncy
• Has a premium appearance

 Cons

• Does not perform well in speed runs
• The lugs in the outsole are quite soft; hence the shoe won’t last long in highly critical terrains

Take Away

Brooks Glycerin 19 is a premium, high mileage neutral max-cushioned running shoe. It rides somewhat soft. Brooks did not make a lot of changes to Brooks Glycerin 19. Notable upgrades are a broad outsole base, more Omega flex grooves at the forefoot to increase flexibility, and additional cushioning. Brooks retained the highly breathable and plush upper. In a nutshell, the Glycerin 19 version rides softer than Glycerin 18.

Brooks Glycerin 19 First Impression

Brooks Glycerin 19 evinces luxury. It looks cool, just like the Glycerin 18. You can't notice the difference between the 19 and 18 versions because of the minimal changes Brooks did.

When I slipped my foot into the Glycerin 19, the shoe felt soft from the heel to the toes. I could feel the removable orthotic insole working magic to enhance cushioning.
The shoe fitted true to size. There was no feeling of waggling or any sense of irritation.

I tried a few miles with Glycerin 19, and the ride was simply soft. It was not highly responsive but bouncy. The response from increased speed was quite disappointing. I had to work harder. However, slow long-distance running felt easy and comfortable.

Despite being a max cushioning, Glycerin 19 is not as squashy as the Hoka Clifton 7. Instead, it rides pretty firmly but naturally. Overall, it is a joy running in the Glycerin 19. Though not great for speed runs, it is great for racking up longer miles comfortably.

Brooks Glycerin 19 Sole Component

The Upper of the Brooks Glycerin 19 sits on a DNA LOFT midsole, which comprises EVA foam. Hence, it is excellently responsive with each foot strike. The level of toe-off is unimaginable. Besides, the excellently cushioned midsole feels soft under the feet. Practically, the Glycerin 19 feels smoother and more responsive than the Glycerin 18.

The outsole of the Glycerin 19 is practically more of blown rubber for complete ground contact. The blown rubber is a little bit hard to provide sufficient traction but less restrictive when running on critical terrains like the concrete. The principal intention of the blown rubber is to increase the ground feel while softening the landing impact.

Brooks also placed hard compound rubber in the critical zones like the back of the heel to protect the midsole from abrasion while increasing stability and traction. Still, I will recommend that you keep highly critical terrains to give the shoe more lifetime. The lugs are quite soft to handle such conditions.

Glycerin 19 has more surface area in the outsole than in Glycerin 18 by a half-inch. It guarantees a runner a more stable ride under the foot. At the forefoot are Omega flex grooves that enhance foot the transition of the gait cycle. I did notice the difference when I landed on the heel or tried the midfoot strike. The transitioning remained soft and seamless. Overall, the Glycerin 19 is a little bit flexible underfoot than the glycerin 18. It accommodates various running styles, whether you are a heel striker or midfoot striker.

I have done 60 miles with the Glycerin 19, and my experience with the shoe is a phenomenon. Running long miles feels comfortable since Glycerin 19 feels both comfortable and responsive. The feet do not tire.

The Glycerin 19 is a trainer shoe that can quite compete with the Novablast, Hoka Clifton 7, Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit, but you will only get a near feel of what it feels to run in these maximum cushioned shoes because they come with squishiness.

Brooks Glycerin 10 Upper Component

The upper part of the Glycerin 18 stands out. As usual, the Brooks keeps getting the upper design right.

It has a multilayered mesh with a 3D fit printing system. The mesh has some stretch to it, thus able to accommodate a wide foot.

What I find interesting with the upper are the woven medial, lateral sides that give a nice wrap around the top of the foot. Also, the Brooks logo and the overlays on the lateral sides help reinforce the shoe's structure.

The upper part is highly breathable, mainly through the toe box because of the numerous perforations. I felt the air passing through the mesh, thus keeping my foot cool and dry.

It has a fully gusseted tongue that sits perfectly well on top of the foot. You won't worry about the tongue moving sideways or slipping downwards. The tongue is well padded. It does not have too much cushioning but just enough of it. I also noticed that the tongue is neither long nor short, like in some shoe models. Everything about the tongue feels right.

The wrong thing about the upper part of Glycerin 19 is the long lacing system. I felt that the shoe fits true to size and has a secure feel. Hence, there is no need for an extra-long lacing system.

The eyelet chambers are impressive. Brooks also added solid structures around the eyelet chambers to enhance durability.  

I find the upper part of Glycerin plush, slick and comfortable. Its inner lining is smooth.  

Brooks also toned down the mesh around the toe box to achieve both the roominess and snug fit. I felt the mesh wrapping around the toes comfortably.

It has a firm heel counter but not as firm as the heel counters of  Asics Glideride 2 and Kayano 27.  Still, it provides enhanced stability and comfortable miles.

The heel collar has plush cushioning but just the right amount of padding. The padded tongue and heel collar enhance a secure fit. The footbet is also sufficiently padded with, thickly cushioned removable insole to ensure that a runner comfortably racks up longer miles. It means that the Glycerin 19 allows you to use a customized or prescribed orthotic insole.

Overall, the upper offers a seamless, secure, snug fit and a good lockdown when running.

Conclusion

The Glycerin 19 rides softer than the 18 version but not as super soft as the New Balance 1080v, Asics Nimbus 23, or Hoka Clifton. It does not mean that the Glycerin 18 is not a great shoe. I have run in the 18 version.

Though it's a great shoe, it does not compete well with the shoe models I have mentioned. It is not a speed shoe but great for clocking long miles. Still, it scores above the mentioned brands when it comes to plush upper.

Therefore, Glycerin 19 is a go for running shoe if you are looking for something comfortable for longer miles. Do not expect a super bouncy and soft ride but just something close.

The downside is that it blown rubber in the outsole compromises durability. Therefore, Glycerin 19 cannot withstand over 600 miles.

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 Written by: Joan Leather