Comfort

The Glycerin 15 is like a five-star hotel for your feet. Everything about this shoe exudes comfort. As one tester put it, “It’s like wrapping a pillow around your foot.” Brooks keeps the tongue and ankle collar heavily padded with a soft breathable fabric that extends the length of the tongue and over the entire ankle collar. A four-way stretch upper that’s kept free of heavy overlays gives the shoe a soft, yet secure feeling.

Fit

Consensus among the test group was that the Glycerin 15 fits true to size. Built off a slightly straighter last compared to other shoes, runners with wider feet shouldn’t have an issue here due to the upper’s ability to stretch accordingly. Once laced up, the upper did an excellent job of securing the midfoot while giving just enough room in the box to spread out.  A sturdy cup along the back of the shoe locks down the heel, preventing any heel lift.

Responsiveness 

For a shoe with such a large amount of cushioning, the Glycerin 15 was quite responsive. Often, soft midsoles will sap energy from each ground strike, but that wasn’t the case with here. The Brooks Super DNA midsole seemed to return more energy, giving it a bouncy and peppy ride. Even those who have trouble with high-drop shoes will find the Glycerin 15 to perform well. Despite a 10 mm drop, the heel never felt in the way and getting up towards the forefoot as speeds pick up was not an issue.

Speed

The Glycerin 15 demonstrated perfectly that maximum cushioning doesn’t need to feel slow. Weighing in at 10.6 ounces for men and 9.2 ounces for women, the Glycerin 15 never felt heavy, handling a fast turnover with ease. As speeds pick up, transitioning up on the toes was easy and smooth. The midsole and outsole adapt through the transition, and foster a flawless transition of power to the ground.

Ride Quality

One tester summed up the Glycerin 15 perfectly: “One of the most enjoyable comfort rides.” Running at any pace was a pleasure in the Glycerin 15’s. Each ground-strike was welcomed with a soft yet responsive ride. Underfoot, Brooks placed horizontal grooves that increased flexibility throughout the outsole, allowing for a smooth heel-to-toe transition that other comfort shoes simply do not have.