Trainers have actually gotten excessive these days. In sharp distinction to the minimalist designs of the 2000s—bear in mind the barefoot pattern?—an increasing number of corporations are releasing completely stacked designs. The newest to take action: The Brooks Glycerin Max, the model’s plushest on a regular basis coach that claims to “redefine” working.
I’m an enormous Brooks fan, having worn its Adrenaline GTS 23s for almost all of my final half-marathon coaching final yr, so I used to be wanting to see if its max-cushioned initiative may make my miles even comfier as I practice for a full 26.2 later this fall. So I slipped on a pattern of the brand new Glycerin Max ($200, brooks.com) to seek out out.
Who these sneakers are for
Whereas a whole lot of cushiony Hoka and On fashions have transitioned to the approach to life area, the Glycerin Max are most likely finest reserved for working, thanks to some design options. Take its rocker form, which helps propel you ahead extra seamlessly with every stride. Then there’s the froth. For the primary time ever in a Brooks shoe, there are literally two varieties: One within the heel, which is manufactured from bigger cells (to blunt the impression from the bottom with every footstrike), and the opposite within the forefoot comprised of smaller cells, which assist make the shoe extra responsive for every heel-to-toe transition. (And let’s not neglect the fashion issue—extra on that under!)
This makes the Max a strong choice for runners in want of a shoe for his or her on a regular basis miles, particularly for individuals who are going lengthy and would profit from a bit of safety from all of the pounding. The ladies’s model weighs 9.5 ounces a shoe, so that they’re additionally fairly heavy, that means they received’t be probably the most environment friendly pair for selecting up pace. (The shoe additionally has a stack peak of 45 millimeters, which technically makes it unlawful for racing, per the World Athletics max of 40 mm—so it most likely received’t be your ticket to a PR.)