Brooks Glycerin 23 vs New Balance 1080 v15: Two Cushioned Daily Trainers Compared

Introduction

The Brooks Glycerin line has had a few ups and downs in recent years. It was once a go-to cushioned daily trainer, then a wave of newer shoes with livelier foams gradually jumped ahead of it. The Glycerin 23 is Brooks’ answer to that, and it is a genuine improvement rather than a mere refresh. Against it sits the New Balance 1080 v15, a shoe many runners treat as the benchmark for plush daily training.

Both are neutral road running shoes aimed at everyday miles and long runs, but they have distinct personalities. This comparison breaks down what each does well, where each falls short, and which one suits your training.

What’s New in the Brooks Glycerin 23

The Glycerin 23 is a neutral road running shoe designed for everyday training and long runs. It uses Brooks’ dual cell DNA Tuned midsole, a nitrogen-infused foam tuned separately in the heel and forefoot. The headline change over the Glycerin 22 is 2 mm of extra cushioning in the forefoot, which shifts the drop from 10 mm down to 8 mm.

That forefoot tweak changes the ride more than the spec sheet suggests. The shoe feels more cushioned underfoot, with a little more roll and a touch more energy on toe-off. It is still not a bouncy shoe, but it compresses nicely and gives something back, making it a noticeably more enjoyable cruiser than the previous version.

Other fundamentals carry over in a good way. A secure heel structure and wide platform contribute to steady heel-to-toe transitions, offering inherent stability without any guidance elements. The outsole carries a generous layer of rubber that protects the midsole and delivers plenty of grip, and the price sits at £165 or £175 depending on version. The shoe weighs 303 g (10.7 oz) for men in a size 8.

Fit and Upper Comfort

The Glycerin 23 uses a newly designed engineered knit intended to improve breathability, softness, and overall comfort. In practice it feels solid but flexible, with plenty of padding around the collar and a nicely cushioned tongue. It is a plush, comfortable upper that holds the foot well without feeling restrictive.

Sizing is straightforward: Brooks shoes tend to fit true to size, and this one is no exception. The fit is forgiving rather than truly wide, with good wiggle room for the toes and across the length of the shoe, making it a comfortable choice if your feet run slightly wider. Sticking with your usual Brooks size is a safe bet.

Ride and Performance

After around 70 km of testing, including a 30 km long run, the Glycerin 23 settles firmly into the easy-run and recovery-run category, stretching up to longer sessions at an easy pace. It is a chunky, relatively heavy shoe that is not versatile by any stretch of the imagination. It does not push you to run faster. It is simply there, solid and stable, with a balanced feeling in the midsole and a comfortable landing plus a little roll-off thanks to that added forefoot stack.

For marathon training blocks with 28 to 32 km long runs at around 5-minute kilometres, that reliability is exactly what you want. The shoe feels like it has your back all the way.

The outsole deserves special mention. The rubber is thick, covers nearly everything, and grips well even on wet and muddy footpaths. It should take a very long time to wear down to the midsole, which bodes well for durability.

How It Compares: New Balance 1080 v15

The New Balance 1080 v15 occupies the same plush daily trainer space but handles it differently. In direct comparison, the 1080 v15 is the more energetic shoe: the midsole is bouncier, the ride is more enjoyable, and the shoe is more versatile overall. Where the Glycerin 23 reaches at best a tempo-ish ceiling that most runners will never ask of it, the 1080 v15 can stretch all the way up to tempo and, to a point, interval sessions.

That makes the 1080 v15 the stronger pick if you want one daily shoe to cover a wider range of paces. The Glycerin 23, by contrast, is the more relaxed, reassuring option that happily eats easy and long miles without demanding anything of you. Notably, the Glycerin 23 also comes out ahead of the Saucony Triumph 23 in the same cushioned daily category, thanks to a midsole with a bit more energy and a more enjoyable plush ride.

Overall Buying Advice

Choose the Brooks Glycerin 23 if your running is built around easy days, recovery runs, and long sessions at a controlled pace. It is a modern take on what the Glycerin range has always offered, with real benefits from the updated ride and geometry. The thick, grippy outsole adds durability for all-weather training.

Choose the New Balance 1080 v15 if you want more bounce and a shoe that can flex across easy runs, tempo work, and even some faster sessions. It is simply the more versatile daily trainer of the two.

If you are used to the Glycerin line and want more of what it already did well, the 23 delivers that with a nicer roll and better cushioning. Just be aware the mid-foot stack has changed the geometry enough that trying them on before buying is a sensible idea.

Conclusion

The Glycerin 23 is a very good cushioned daily trainer and a clear improvement on its predecessor. The small forefoot stack increase makes a big difference to comfort and ride quality, and the shoe finally feels competitive again in a crowded market. It is not the most versatile option, and the 1080 v15 remains the livelier, more flexible all-rounder, but for runners whose training lives in the easy-to-long-run zone, the Glycerin 23 is one of the most comfortable and dependable choices available right now.