Great Shoe for Daily Runs
5/5
Overall
Great comfortable shoe to run in.
Anonymous runner · Jun 28, 2024
15 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Brooks Ghost 16
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Brooks Glycerin 21
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.4 oz · 28/18mm stack · 10mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Brooks Glycerin 22 replaced it
How it ranks
The Brooks Glycerin 21 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 19 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
91 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.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“These shoes are so comfortable, I could sleep in them.”
“These are a bit soft in that department so I had to purchase a new pair of shoes before the usual amount of miles.”
“Cushioning is good and firm.”
“The Brooks Glycerin 21 meets all those needs.”
“Heel striking not cushioning as advertised.”
Prefer this shoe over another
57% 4/7
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers praise the comfort, and one calls the cushioning good and firm.
- Durability averages 4.5 out of 5, and one reviewer logs 40 miles a week for ten weeks without trouble.
- One reviewer at 72 and another who describes themselves as heavy both say it lets them get their mileage in.
Cons
- Appearance and value are the weakest dimensions, at 4.2 out of 5 each.
- One heavier reviewer wears the sole out before the usual mileage, and another says it does not cushion a heel strike as advertised.
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
-
Glycerin 21 This shoe
2023 · 19 reviews
93 Excellent
91 Confidence
-
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
- 9.4 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 10.0 oz · Women's 8.8 oz
- Release
- 2023 Q4
- Stack
- 28/18mm
- Drop
- 10mm
Runner reviews
2/5
Overall
Heel striking not cushioning as advertised
Anonymous runner · Jun 14, 2024
6 mpw came from the Brooks Ghost 16
- Comfort
- 2/5
- Cushioning
- 2/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 2/5
Don't want to take them off, but soft soles for a hefty gal.
4/5
Overall
These shoes are so comfortable, I could sleep in them. After trying a myriad of other brands, thee were a welcome cushion. I am a heavy person so I wear out a shoe's bottom sole first. These are a bit soft in that department so i had to purchase a new pair of shoes before the usual amount of miles. They give me no other issues (no blisters, chafing, etc.) so I don't mind.
Adrienne · Dec 4, 2023
15 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 27
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Brooks
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Brooks Glycerin 21 In Context
More on the Brooks Glycerin
- Brooks Glycerin 23
- Brooks Glycerin 22 next version
- Brooks Glycerin 20 previous version
- Brooks Glycerin 19
- Brooks Glycerin 18
- Brooks Glycerin 17
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Brooks Ghost 16 2 runners
- Mizuno Wave Rider 27 1 runner
- Mizuno Wave Rider 28 1 runner