Details
Brand
Brooks
Heel To Toe Drop
10mm
Breathability
8.5/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Super DNA midsole technology• 3D print fit technology in mesh upper• IDEAL pressure zones on the outsole• Arch support for runners with medium to high arches• Flex grooves in the forefoot• Plush collar and tongue
Upper
The upper of the Glycerin 15 is made with a 4-way stretch air mesh. Brooks uses their 3D print technology in the upper to provides a nice fit that conforms to the runner’s foot. The mesh upper is not only super flexible, but also very breathable. Not once did my foot get overheated. My toes were comfy with plenty of room in the toe box area. Considering how flexible the upper was, it provided a secure fit without being overbearing.;The collar is silky smooth and the tongue is thick and plush, making the shoe that much more comfortable. The thin overlays on the upper run not only over the midfoot section but horizontal around the foot. The horizontal overlays provided some structure, but more so, stood out visually, adding to the sleek, aerodynamic look of the shoe.
Midsole
Likes its predecessor, Brooks uses their Super DNA midsole in the Glycerin 15 rather than their BioMoGo DNA midsole seen in many other Brooks models. The Super DNA midsole is nothing short of super – it adapts to your foot, providing customized cushioning. The more you use it, the more it gets to know the shape and movement of your particular foot. For those needing a little extra support, like runners with medium to high arches, this is an excellent choice. The cushioning is full length, so your foot will be comfortable from heel to toe. There are also Omega Flex Grooves which allow for some good flexibility, which can sometimes suffer if a shoe is highly cushioned.
Outsole
The outsole of the Glycerin 15 hasn’t changed much since the Glycerin 14. The one addition is the segmented crash pad in the heel which makes for a smoother heel to toe transition. Like the 14s, the forefoot of the outsole features Brooks’ IDEAL Pressure Zones that absorb shock by dispersing impact. Runners can expect excellent traction on smooth surfaces like asphalt and pavement.
Breathability
Besides comfort, this is another area where this shoe shines. The air mesh upper with 4 way stretch is super breathable. On top of that, the thin overlays allow for a lot of good ventilation without taking away from it. My feet stayed cool and dry and did not overheat once, even during some pretty hot summer runs. Also, an added bonus in terms of ventilation was that my toes were able to spread nicely and had plenty of room to breathe.
Comfort
If you’ve made it this far in the review, you probably have an idea of how comfortable this shoe is. I don’t want to be too cliché and say this shoe is like walking on a cloud, but… If there is one word to describe this shoe it would be “plush”, and that’s exactly what Brooks was going for. The Glycerin line is known to be a super cushioned, comfortable shoe and this is no different. From the moment I slid them on, it was apparent that was the focus when designing this shoe. The collar lining is a soft, slick material and the tongue is equally soft, slick and plush. The Brooks Super DNA Midsole material also adds to the comfort, with its adaptability and serious cushioning underfoot. The flexibility, especially in the forefoot area, allows for some great toe splay, without feeling too loose on my foot. I would highly recommend this shoe for a runner who is planning to put some serious miles on their feet or needs a nice “recovery” shoe. This shoe definitely felt like a treat to the feet.
Style
This is a sleek, aerodynamic looking shoe. The overlays going horizontally add to that sleek appearance. For the men’s version, this shoe comes in black with blue/green fade, firey red and a neon blue and a more muted gray. The women’s version comes in two versions of black with bright neon accents, as well as a dark blue choice and a bright blue one. Even the outsole of the shoe plays off the accent colors on the upper. There is definitely a color choice for everyone. The Brooks logo, of course, is featured on the side and lends to the overall aerodynamic look of the shoe.
Durability
I’ve put about 80 miles in this shoe and it looks and feels just as it did out of the box. The outsole shows very little signs of wear and the super comfy cushioning is still as soft and comfy as it was when I first put it on. The adaptable Super DNA midsole withstood the miles and if anything, only got better as I put on more miles.
Protection
As far as protection goes, these shoes will offer good protection to your feet and joints as long as you keep them on the road and don’t venture off into extremely technical mountainous trails. The outsole and midsole reduce the shock of impact saving your knees and other joints from the harsh pounding on pavement. Luckily, the outsole is extremely durable and the cushioning is long lasting, so this shoe will protect you from the harsh impact of the road for a long time.
Responsiveness
Max cushioning and responsiveness don’t always go together. Luckily, the folks at Brooks managed to utilize various technologies for some flexibility and good ground feel. The 4-way stretch upper and overlays keep your feet secure, and thus, allowing for natural foot movement rather than guiding the foot like you see in stability shoes. The transition zones on the outsole make for a smooth transition through the gait cycle and good ground response. Overall, the responsiveness is better than average for a shoe with this much cushioning.
Support
This shoe provides solid support for runners with medium to high arches. Usually, I need some additional arch support in my shoes, but I did not need to put in my Superfeet Green insoles. However, I did see if the insoles would fit into the shoe well and they did, so for those who do want to add their own insole, you will have no problem doing so.;It is worth noting that the midfoot overlays did change in this iteration. The Glycerin 14 had thicker, stiffer overlays in the midfoot in comparison to the overlays in the Glycerin 15. However, I did not find that my midfoot felt less secure. The support in the midfoot section was good.
Terrain
The Brooks Glycerin 15 is meant for the roads and pavement and does a good job on it. The traction from the outsole was solid, even on wet surfaces. The cushioning from the outsole and midsole protected my joints and feet roam the harsh impact of hard surfaces like asphalt. I was able to take it on some light trails with success, but would not recommend this shoe for anything remotely technical in terms of trails. Keep it on the road, folks.
Price
The Brooks Glycerin 15 is brand new and going for $150, which ain’t cheap. This isn’t their most expensive shoe, but it is up there. But keep in mind, Brooks is known for quality shoes. And as I stated before, I’ve already put enough miles in and haven’t seen much in the way of wear and tear, so I expect that runners who purchase this shoe will more than get their money’s worth.
Drop
This shoe features a 10-mm drop which is a pretty standard among running shoes. This means the shoe has some additional cushion in the heel, making it great for heel strikers.
Stability
The Glycerin 15 is definitely not a stability shoe. However, it does offer some stability and support for runners with medium to high arches. The adaptable Super DNA midsole cushioning and the 3D print fit technology upper offer a pretty secure fit. The overlays in the midfoot area also keep the foot secure while the cushioned outsole did provide a sturdy platform. Brooks offers great stability shoes for overpronators looking for their foot to be guided a bit more. However, this is not one of them. It is made for the neutral runner.
Flexibility
For such a cushioned shoe, it has some serious flexibility, especially in the forefoot area. The mesh upper as well as the flex grooves in the forefoot of the outsole allow for a lot of movement in this area. The mesh utilizes a 3D print technology which expands with your foot, providing a nice fit. The flex grooves give the shoe a great toe off. The thin overlays also make the shoe overall more flexibility than its predecessor.
Traction
The outsole gets good traction on roads, pavement, and other smooth surfaces, even if they’re wet. I was even able to wear them on some light, well-groomed trails, thought I would strongly recommend not taking them on anything technical. However, its worth mentioning, for the first 10 miles or so of use, there was a squeak. I could definitely “hear” the traction which did eventually go away.
Bottom Line
The Glycerin has seen some changes from the 14s, and from what I found, for the better. It was a really cozy, comfortable shoe and yes, I will repeat it again – plush. The Super DNA Midsole shined once again as a super comfortable, customized cushioning while the upper remained highly breathable and comfortable. Honestly, it’s hard to find many downsides to this shoe. For personal taste, I ’ve liked a more solid midfoot overlay for some additional support, like the conformable saddle seen in the 14, but I did not find I was seriously craving more support. And to top it all off, it’s a good looking shoe. There are color options for all tastes, but no matter what you choose, you’ll get a streamlined, fast looking shoe. The horizontal overlays provide some function but certainly add to the unique but stylish look of the shoe. The price might make one hesitant – $150 is definitely an investment. But if you do get a chance to try on these shoes, you might decide that the investment is worth it.
