The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is one of the most anticipated max-cushion updates of the year. But with rising prices, the question most people ask is:

Is the Glycerin Max 2 actually an upgrade, or did Brooks move the shoe in the wrong direction?

After testing it back-to-back with the original Glycerin Max, there are some major differences—particularly in cushioning, stability, and overall ride feel. This review breaks down everything you need to know before deciding whether it’s worth the upgrade.

Watch my Brooks Glycerin Max 2 review:

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Quick Verdict

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is more stable, firmer, and better suited to walking and easy runs.
It loses some of the smooth, fun, rockered feel that made the original Glycerin Max one of last year’s standout shoes.

Buy the Glycerin Max 2 if:

• You want a stable, predictable max-cushion shoe
• You prefer a firmer platform underfoot
• You mostly walk or run easy paces
• You didn’t like how soft or “bouncy” the original felt

Stick with the original Glycerin Max if:

• You prefer a softer, more energetic nitrogen-infused cushioning
• You liked the strong late-stage rocker
• You want a shoe that handles uptempo efforts
• You’re looking for value while stock lasts

Skip Ahead:

• Comparison Table
• Fit & Upper
• Cushioning & Midsole
• Ride & Geometry
• Stability
• Performance
• Alternatives
• Final Thoughts

Comparison Table

Brooks Glycerin Max vs Glycerin Max 2

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Fit & Upper

Brooks made one of the best upgrades in the upper.

• The Glycerin Max 2 uses a lighter, stretchier mesh that’s noticeably more breathable.
• The tongue is thinner and solves the bulkiness issue from the original.
• Heel padding and heel cup shape remain similar.
• Fit is true to size with a normal-width toe box.

If you liked the fit of the first Glycerin Max, you’ll prefer this newer upper.

Cushioning & Midsole

The Glycerin Max 2 still uses DNA Tuned Nitrogen-Infused Foam with:

• 45 mm heel
• 39 mm forefoot
• 6 mm drop

But despite using the same foam and stack, the underfoot feel has changed dramatically.

The Glycerin Max 2 feels:

• Firmer
• Less springy
• More planted
• More traditional for a max-cushion shoe

The original Glycerin Max had a noticeably softer, more energetic feel.
This update pushes the shoe toward stability and control rather than softness and bounce.

Ride & Geometry

This is the biggest change.

Original Glycerin Max

• Strong late-stage rocker
• Rolls you forward smoothly
• Great for longer or faster efforts

Glycerin Max 2

• Earlier rocker
• New heel bevel
• Wider platform

These changes flatten the transition, especially for heel strikers or midfoot strikers.
You no longer get the same effortless forward roll.

The ride goes from:

“soft and lively” → “stable and steady.”

Stability

Even though Brooks removed the big sculpted sidewalls from the previous model, the Max 2 is:

• More stable
• More predictable
• More supportive for walking

This comes from:

• Firmer cushioning
• Wider base
• Earlier rocker geometry

If the original Glycerin Max felt a bit too soft or “tippy” on uneven ground, the Max 2 fixes that.

Performance

Best Uses for the Glycerin Max 2

• Walking
• Recovery runs
• Easy daily miles
• Long days on your feet
• People who prefer firmer stability in a max-stack shoe

Not ideal for

• Tempo runs
• Intervals
• Faster long runs
• Anyone wanting a responsive or energetic feel

This is where the original Glycerin Max still stands out.
It was one of the few max-stack shoes you could use for both easy miles and uptempo work.

The Max 2 shifts fully into the “easy day / recovery shoe” category.

Alternatives

If you want:

More bounce

ASICS Gel Nimbus 27
Softer and more energetic than the Glycerin Max 2.

More softness

Hoka Bondi 9
True marshmallow cushioning for walking and recovery.

A cheaper, versatile max cushion

New Balance 1080 v14
Balanced, flexible, and great for walking.

Final Thoughts

The Brooks Glycerin Max 2 is a very different shoe from the original.
It’s firmer, more stable, more structured, and more predictable. For walking and easy miles, it performs well.

But if you loved the original Glycerin Max because it felt soft, fun, and surprisingly versatile for a max-stack shoe, you may miss that lively rocker and softer ride.

Brooks has steered the Max 2 toward a more traditional max-cushion feel. Whether that’s an upgrade depends entirely on what you value.

My verdict:

• If you want stability → choose the Glycerin Max 2.
• If you want fun and softness → the original Glycerin Max is still the better shoe.