Brooks Glycerin 20 First Run Review: Comfort First, Now With More Life

Introduction

The Brooks Glycerin 20 is the latest version of Brooks’ premium cushioned daily training shoe, and for a long-time fan of the line it arrives with equal parts excitement and nerves. The Glycerin has always been a comfort-first shoe, so the big question with this edition is whether a new, livelier midsole foam can add some bounce without taking away the plush ride that made the line so popular in the first place.

After a first easy 10K, a five-miler, and a flat eight-mile coastal run on tired legs, early impressions are very positive. This still very much feels like a Glycerin, just with a little more life underfoot.

What’s New in the Glycerin 20

The headline change is the midsole. The Glycerin 20 uses DNA LOFT v3 foam, a nitrogen-infused compound that first appeared in the outlandish Brooks Aurora-BL and quickly got a lot of people excited. Bringing that foam into the classic road lineup should, in theory, make the Glycerin a slightly bouncier and more versatile shoe than past versions.

Brooks also says the 20 has a wider platform than previous editions and a smoother heel-to-toe transition. On the outsole, there is a generous covering of rubber, unlike the exposed-foam approach of the Aurora-BL. That thick rubber changes the feel of the foam underfoot somewhat, but it also improves grip and durability, which is exactly what a daily trainer built to last needs.

Spec-wise, the shoe weighs 314g in a UK size 9 (around 11 ounces), with a 10mm drop from heel to toe, a 34mm heel stack, and a 24mm forefoot stack. It costs £150 in the UK or $160 in the US, and it comes in a standard version plus a GTS version with Brooks’ guidance rails for added support and stability. Both are available with a sleeker Stealth Fit upper if you prefer that look.

Fit and Comfort

The fit runs true to size, very similar to previous Glycerins. It is a fairly roomy shoe overall, though the toe box is not quite as expansive as on some rivals, which makes it a good match for slightly narrower feet. If you have narrow or small feet, you may need to tie the laces down fairly tightly.

The standard engineered mesh upper is comfortable and well padded, with plenty of extra cushioning around the tongue and collar. This is a big premium daily trainer, and the upper delivers exactly that kind of step-in comfort with a solid, secure hold.

How It Rides

Comfort remains the main priority, and the first runs confirm it. On an easy 10K on genuinely tired legs after back-to-back races, the Glycerin 20 rolled through the miles beautifully, protecting the legs and delivering a cushioned, cruisy ride. It is a shoe that feels like it wants to eat up big mileage.

The DNA LOFT v3 foam does make a noticeable difference. Compared with earlier Glycerins, the ride feels a little softer and a bit more responsive, giving something back when you start to pick your feet up. The larger rubber outsole coverage, relative to the Aurora-BL, tames some of that liveliness, but the trade-off is a shoe built for the daily grind and varied terrain rather than a lightweight concept runner.

If you want the honest comparison: the Glycerin 20 feels more like the Glycerin 19 than the Aurora-BL. The Aurora-BL was the poppier, livelier, lighter shoe; the Glycerin 20 retains the classic plush Glycerin feel while adding a touch more bounce and versatility. Across an eight-mile flat coastal run, it felt even more versatile than previous versions, and long runs in particular should suit it well as the shoe keeps impressing as the miles accumulate.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Price is the obvious sticking point. At £150 in the UK or $160 in the US, this is a genuinely expensive shoe, and there are very good cushioned options available for around £100, such as the Puma Velocity Nitro 2, which is also very comfortable for easy runs. If budget matters, that is worth weighing up.

The other consideration is fit. The roomy feel works brilliantly for average to narrower feet, but runners with very narrow feet may need to work the lacing to get a locked-in feel. And if you want the absolute softest, springiest ride available, softer and springier rivals do exist, though the Glycerin counters with better versatility for daily training than some of the marshmallow-heavy options.

How It Compares in the Premium Cruiser Category

The premium cushioned cruiser category is crowded right now. The Nike Invincible sits on the softer, springier end of the spectrum, the New Balance 1080 v12 is a firmer, more responsive pick, and the Nike Infinity offers a smooth ride. The Puma Magnify Nitro, with its own nitrogen-infused foam, feels fairly similar to the Glycerin in character.

Against that field, the Glycerin 20’s pitch is simple: it has always done the big-cushioned premium cruiser job exceptionally well, and the new foam appears to make it an improvement on the previous editions with a slightly more versatile ride. Early impressions suggest a genuinely good shoe, though more testing over long miles and faster runs is needed to see exactly where it stacks up.

Buying Advice

If you loved the Glycerin 19, the 20 is a safe and rewarding upgrade. It keeps the step-in comfort, protection, and plush cruising feel of the line while adding a touch more responsiveness and versatility from the new midsole. It is a strong pick for easy runs, long runs, and daily mileage on tired legs.

If you are shopping purely on price, cheaper cushioned shoes are out there and worth considering. But if you want a premium, comfort-first daily trainer that can still handle a bit of pace when you ask for it, the Glycerin 20 makes a compelling case.

Conclusion

The Brooks Glycerin 20 stays true to what made the line a favourite: comfort, cushioning, and protection. The DNA LOFT v3 midsole adds just enough softness and bounce to make it feel like a genuine step forward, and early runs mark it out as an improvement on the previous versions. It is expensive, but for a premium cushioned daily trainer, it does its job exceptionally well.