Expect great things!!!!
5/5
Overall
Baxter · Jun 7, 2026
80 mpw 500 miles in this shoe training for 5K and 10K would buy again
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Brooks Glycerin 20
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.6 oz · 38/28mm stack · 10mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Brooks Glycerin 21 replaced it
How it ranks
The Brooks Glycerin 20 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 50 runner reviews and 12 other rated shoes in the Glycerin product line.
Excellent
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
98 Very high
External retailer ratings
We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.
The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Our ratings
- Product line track record
- External ratings
What runners say
“Stopped chronic knee pain.”
“Wide version has only more fabric for the upper, not a wider base.”
“Won't run fast, but will run far.”
“Legs and feet feel less beat up, enabling better training the next day.”
“It's the Buick Park Avenue of shoes.”
“Heavy and runs small—go half size up.”
“Generally lasts around 500 miles.”
“3 pairs over a year for half-marathon/base training with no injury issues.”
“Post tib pain shows up less frequently and severely.”
“The bumps have never felt smoother.”
“Springy and cushiony during long-middle distance runs.”
“Lacing system puts too much pressure on top of foot.”
“Lasts 500+ miles.”
“Caused ankle turning on uneven surfaces.”
“Each stride noticeably more cushiony than previous shoes.”
“Heavy, but that's appropriate for this shoe type.”
“Not springy, minimal energy return.”
“Loses a bit of the sportiness and feel of the ground.”
“Not the same level of cushioning as previous versions.”
“Higher stack height left ankle feeling not good.”
“Slightly heavier than other shoes.”
Prefer this shoe over another
50% 14/28
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers rate durability 4.5 out of 5, and two report 500 miles or more per pair.
- Reviewers praise the soft cushioning on easy and long runs.
- Three reviewers say it eases chronic knee, shin or Achilles pain they have in other shoes.
Cons
- It weighs 10.6 oz, and six reviewers call it heavy or unsuited to fast running.
- It lists at $160, above the $150 median for daily trainers for sale. Three reviewers call it expensive.
- Reviewers rate appearance 4.1 out of 5, its lowest dimension, and one calls the colorways bright and ugly.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Brooks Glycerin
Each dot is one version of the Glycerin, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2026 · 4 reviews
95 Excellent
75 Confidence
-
2025 · 4 reviews
91 Very good
77 Confidence
-
2023 · 19 reviews
93 Excellent
91 Confidence
-
Glycerin 20 This shoe
2022 · 50 reviews
94 Excellent
98 Confidence
-
2021 · 4 reviews
92 Very good
80 Confidence
-
2020 · 2 reviews
85 Good
80 Confidence
-
2019 · 21 reviews
91 Very good
96 Confidence
-
2018 · 21 reviews
88 Good
96 Confidence
-
2017 · 17 reviews
81 Good
96 Confidence
-
2017 · 3 reviews
86 Good
86 Confidence
-
2016 · 3 reviews
89 Good
84 Confidence
-
2014 · 27 reviews
83 Good
96 Confidence
-
2014 · 16 reviews
76 Decent
90 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 9.6 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 10.1 oz · Women's 9.1 oz
- Release
- 2022 Q3
- MSRP
- $160
- Stack
- 38/28mm
- Drop
- 10mm
Runner reviews
Reliability and Durability
5/5
Overall
The Brooks Glycerin 20 is less expensive than it used to be and is absolutely worth the $100. Lasts 500+ miles, perfect for easy and long runs
Anonymous runner · Oct 29, 2024
training for 5K and 10K came from the Brooks Launch 9
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Skip the Glycerin 20s
4/5
Overall
This was my 4th pair of glycerins and the only ones I didn’t love. Not the same level of cushioning as the others. The placing system and laces puts too much pressure on the top of the foot. Would not recommend.
Anonymous runner · Oct 29, 2024
50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Glycerin 19
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 3/5
Comfortable and Durable
5/5
Overall
Comfortable and durable. I have had 3 pairs of these shoes that I used for half-marathon and base training over the past year, and had no issues with injuries.
CatR · Aug 10, 2024
18 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Comfortable and durable
5/5
Overall
Great running shoe- not springy and probably not huge on energy return- or the lightest shoe -but comfortable km after km and good for whatever your training program throws at you from fast intervals to easy long runs. Fits true to size and very durable.
Anonymous runner · Jul 28, 2024
30 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the Saucony Ride 16
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Brooks
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Brooks Glycerin 20 In Context
More on the Brooks Glycerin
- Brooks Glycerin 23
- Brooks Glycerin 22
- Brooks Glycerin 21 next version
- Brooks Glycerin 19 previous version
- Brooks Glycerin 18
- Brooks Glycerin 17
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Brooks Glycerin 19 2 runners
- Brooks Ghost 14 2 runners
- Saucony Ride 16 2 runners