Brooks Glycerin 19 vs 18 Comparison Shoe Review
Josh reviews the Brooks Glycerin 19 running shoes and highlights the subtle changes that make this smooth and soft neutral ride stand out from the earlier generation, the Brooks Glycerin 18.
Brooks have refined the features that make this running shoe family a go-to for high mileage running. They have rolled over the same outsole engineering as the previous model, staying consistent with the full ground contact but with a slightly wider surface area underfoot to improve your stability.
Although the stack heights and offset are identical to the previous model with the same elevation off the ground, it cradles your feet in a plusher first step-in with the updated DNA Loft cushioning.
The engineered mesh upper wraps your feet in a more precise fit with a dialled in toe box and offers a blend of durability and breathability for clocking up the kilometres.
Available in multiple width offerings, Brooks have catered to a variety of runner foot types to find your ideal fit. It's also available in a stability version, the Brooks Glycerin GTS 19 for overpronators that require additional support.
Check out the review with full transcript below.
Hey guys, Josh here from Sportitude Running and it's shoe review time. We're going to be talking all things Brooks Glycerin 19. This shoe has just landed in our warehouse in Australia and there is a lot to like about it.
From the outset there's not a lot that's changed from the Brooks Glycerin 18 to the 19 but it runs a little bit differently which we'll get into in today's review.
We'll touch on the Brooks Glycerin 18 and the 19, talk about the comparisons from the outsole, midsole and upper, and profile the foot type that could be considering this shoe. We’ll give you all the information you need at home to maybe throw this into your running shoe rotation.
Without further ado let's get stuck in.
Runner Profile
The Glycerin 19 is a high mileage neutral running shoe. High mileage means it has a lot of cushioning underneath the foot and neutral means it's designed for someone with a relatively high arch or a runner that doesn't overpronate as they go through their gait cycle.
A static position of a neutral to supinated foot type generally has a higher arch with little bit of real estate between the arch and the ground. As this runner transfers from entry to midstance point then to toe-off, the pressure through the foot will either be through the central part of the arch or may get a little bit biased towards the lateral side where they’ll tilt out or supinate as they go through their gait cycle.
However, there is a very large number of runners with a foot posture that may have a flatter or splayed arch. When that runner comes through their gait cycle, they may mildly overpronate but not enough to justify arch support, or they'll have the pressure that still goes through the central part of their foot as they engage to toe-off.
There is that grey area between neutral and supportive running shoes and then stable neutral, so we're finding some categories are being broadened out which is great. Comfort is leading the way that's for sure.
Outsole
As we touched on before in today's review, we're going to talk about the engineering changes from the Glycerin 18 to the 19. We'll start from the ground and work our way up so let's have a look at the outsole first.
The first take on this is you can't see much difference between the two. We still have full ground contact and the same compound rubber underneath the foot. The lugs at the back of the heel are still that harder wearing durable rubber and the thickness of the outsole is the same as well.
The only real changes are regarding the surface area. The Glycerin 19 is 0.5cm wider through the forefoot and 0.5cm wider through the widest part of the heel as well, whereas the midstance phase or the mid shank section is the same width.
Brooks have increased the overall surface area of this shoe marginally which provides a slightly more stable ride underneath the foot. Regarding the flex grooves, you have two major flex grooves the whole way through with three mild flex grooves through the forefoot of the 19. When you're looking at the 18 there’s three and two third flex grooves and then a flex groove that goes the whole way through that end point of your gait cycle.
All in all I would say the Glycerin 19 has a little bit more flexibility underneath the foot and a lot of that's to do with the execution of the midsole.
Midsole
Talking all things midsole, you've got the exact same stack from the Glycerin 18 to 19. We're talking a 10mm heel-to-toe drop both men's and women's. They haven't changed the stack at all with regards to how high or elevated you are off the ground.
If anything Brooks have ever so slightly changed the DNA Loft cushioning system so on the shoe first fit and feel, straightaway you have a softer midsole underneath your foot.
We're not talking catastrophically softer, it's just a mild increase on the cushioning system. The DNA Loft works quite well underneath the foot and when you put yourself into a Glycerin 19 and you have a run like I have, it was noticeably softer than a brand-new pair of Glycerin 18.
I think that's a good thing for Brooks. The Glycerin 18 was a successful shoe for us, however thrown up against some of the other competitors out there like the Asics Gel Nimbus, New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 or the Saucony Triumph it was still a great shoe and very stable but wasn't quite as soft on that first fit and feel.
You have a shoe that's really dialling in that first fit and feel and the softness underneath the foot is pure. It's very comfortable.
Upper
We're going to dial in on the upper which is probably my favourite feature with Brooks running shoes. They have it right year in year out for several years now. Let's start at the back and compare the Glycerin 19 to the 18.
The internal heel counter is the same, with the same amount of support at the back of the heel. As you're looking at the collar or the inside of the heel unit of this shoe, we almost have an identical amount of memory foam around the back of your heel which is great.
They haven't overdone it, they haven't underdone it - they've got it just right. When you're coming through to the forefoot, the best thing about the Glycerin 19 versus the 18 is we have a slightly more dialled in fit around the arch region.
We have a gusseted tongue with the Glycerin 19 and 18. There is an attachment from the tongue to the midsole both on the medial and lateral side. Nothing has changed with the Glycerin 19, that gusseted tongue remains. However, the execution of the woven upper on the medial to lateral side of the 19 is slightly more dialled in. You get a better overall wrap on top of that arch.
As you're coming through to the forefoot there is an engineered mesh on play. Brooks have done what they did previously. They have a 3D printing system that lets them really dial in on that upper.
The biggest change between the two of them is the depth through the toe box. I'm talking about the height of the toe region from your first to your fifth toe. The Glycerin 19 is a little bit shallower with a slightly more secure fit on top of the foot. The Glycerin 18 was again a slightly higher fit from your first to your fifth metatarsal, offering a little bit more real estate.
The Glycerin 18 was also a reduction on the Glycerin 17, so it looks like over the last three to four years they're making that toe box slightly more secure on the foot. That can be done when you're using the engineered mesh that they are at Brooks and dialling in that 3D printing set-up so you can get a secure fit through that toe box.
Obviously, there must be a point in time when they must stop with regards to how shallow they can go with their fits, but this one is about as pure as you'll get from a toe box fitting perspective.
Widths
The last piece of information that you need to know at home is whether this shoe is made in different widths. Yes, it is. They haven't changed that at all. With the women's model we have a B width which is standard and a D width on offer in Australia, so two widths which is fabulous.
In the men's model we have a D standard width and a 2E width on offer as well, which is fantastic. I've said it my reviews gone by and I'll say it again, when brands make their premium shoes or any shoe for that matter available in widths, it makes it more accessible for stores to fit it to the right foot shape.
It makes our life so much easier and it simply makes the shoe so much more accessible for you the runner.
The Wrap Up
That is my take on the Glycerin 19 and there has been a few changes from where it was with the Glycerin 18. We're talking a slight increase in surface area so a little bit broader underneath the heel and through the forefoot. That increases the complete foundation underneath your foot as you're going through your whole transition of your gait.
The DNA Loft cushioning system is marginally softer than where it was previously. It’s still on the same stack and still a 10mm heel-to-toe drop. Nothing's really changed there, you just have a softer ride underneath your foot.
With regards to the upper they've dialled in that toe box a little bit to get a slightly more secure fit for your last phase of your gait cycle.
If you have any questions on this shoe or you've been at Glycerin wearer previously, let us know what you thought. If you have any questions with regards to where it sits with the other competitors in the marketplace please contact our Sportitude shoe experts.
Subscribe to the Sportitude YouTube channel if you haven’t already done so and we’ll continue to work on as many shoe reviews as we possibly can through 2021.
Until next time guys stay safe and be kind to each other. Happy running and we’ll see you out on the road. Take care.
FEATURES
Brooks Glycerin 19
- Support: Neutral
- Upper: Mesh
- Midsole: Brooks DNA Loft
- Heel Height: 26mm
- Forefoot Height: 16mm
- Offset / Drop: 10mm
Men
- Weight: 289g / 10.2oz
- Width: D (standard), 2E (wide)
Women
- Weight: 255g / 7.9oz
- Width: B (standard), D (wide)
Brooks Glycerin 18
