Brooks Glycerin 20 vs New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4: Two of the Best Cushioned Running Shoes Compared

Introduction

When it comes to cushioned trainers, the choice has never been harder, because the shoes have never been better. The Brooks Glycerin 20 and the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 are two of the strongest options you can put on your feet right now, and both are designed to deliver a lot of comfort and protection on your runs. After plenty of miles in each, here’s how they stack up so you can pick the right one for how you actually run.

Specs and Construction

The Glycerin 20 is the more expensive shoe of the two: £155 in the UK and $160 in the US, versus £140 in the UK and $150 in the US for the More v4. They weigh almost identically in a UK size 9: the Glycerin comes in at 314g (11oz) and the More v4 at 316g (11.1oz). Both carry a 34mm heel stack, but the drops differ sharply: the Brooks sits at a 10mm drop (24mm at the forefoot), while the New Balance runs a 4mm drop (30mm at the forefoot).

The Glycerin 20 uses an engineered mesh upper with lots of padding around the heel and tongue for a real step-in comfort boost. Its supercritical nitrogen-infused midsole, DNA Loft v3, is a light, poppy and comfortable foam, and the outsole gets generous rubber coverage that delivers grip in all conditions and should hold up well over time.

The More v4 also has an engineered mesh upper, with reflective details and solid padding around the collar and tongue, just not quite as much as the Brooks. Its Fresh Foam X midsole features high sidewalls on both sides of the shoe for a bit more stability given the high stack, plus a pronounced rocker profile designed to keep you flowing forward, aided by a big groove in the middle of the outsole at the heel. The outsole has good rubber coverage at the forefoot and heel; all the key areas are covered, though not quite as extensively as on the Glycerin 20.

Fit and Comfort

Both shoes fit true to size with no concerns at all. The More v4 runs slightly roomy up front but stays secure, while the Glycerin 20 offers a good hold around the midfoot and heel with well-designed uppers.

On comfort, the Brooks has a genuinely standout upper. Slip it on and the sheer padding makes it feel special, especially if you’ve recently worn shoes with a firmer collar that irritated the top of your foot. The New Balance upper doesn’t feel bad in any way, but the Brooks is especially good. The one caveat: all that extra padding at the back could soak up sweat for a while if you run in a hot country.

Ride Feel: Cruiser vs Daily Trainer

Both are among the best cushioned shoes on the market, and either would make a satisfying long-run cushion trainer. The Glycerin 20 is really comfortable and a lovely cruising shoe, with the nitrogen-infused midsole foam a clear improvement over previous models: softness without losing bounce. It proved more versatile than expected, even working as an unplanned race shoe, and it feels a bit more responsive, with more pop coming back at you. Brooks has clearly shifted this version toward the daily trainer category as a very cushioned shoe, and progression runs feel fantastic in it, with the foam protecting the legs and never bottoming out.

The More v4 is an out-and-out cruiser, and it does that job brilliantly. There’s a lot more midsole in it, with a wider base that nestles the foot into the ground on landing, and it has that sweet-spot balance of maximum cushioning without being too soft. It feels effortless and flowing, and it disappears on your foot: you can forget about it and just run and run. That low drop and rocker keeps you rolling forward, and the shape does the work even where the foam itself is less impressive than the Brooks’.

Durability

The Brooks’ more extensive outsole coverage should help durability down the line, but the More v4 isn’t short in that department at all: it has gripped really well and durability looks solid there too. Both should hold up well over their lifetimes.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you’re a newer runner, a heavier runner, or you just want one cushioned shoe to do everything, the Glycerin 20 has the edge. It has a more traditional feel, a foam that’s accessible to every type of runner, and enough versatility and speed to handle a greater variety of runs, even a marathon. It’s the most readily accessible shoe of the two.

The More v4, by contrast, is the more enjoyable shoe for pure easy runs. If you want that soft, cushioned cruising experience and a shoe that fits a rotation with faster shoes ahead of it, it’s the superior pick. Both shoes deliver a lovely balance of protecting the legs while still moving you forward efficiently and comfortably; the difference really comes down to ride feel and how you want to use them.

Conclusion

Both are very strong options, and the difference is mostly in the ride. The Glycerin 20 is the well-rounded, versatile pick that most runners will get on with immediately, while the More v4 is the effortless cruiser that a rotation runner will genuinely love. Choose the Brooks for a do-it-all cushioned trainer, and the New Balance for pure easy-mile comfort.