Brooks Glycerin 4 Shoe Review

The Brooks Glycerin 4 represents Brook's entry into the competitive "Statement Cushioning" category. This category includes such flagship models as the Asics Nimbus, the Adidas Adistar Cushion, The Mizuno Creation and the Nike Air Vomero all of which offer outstanding fit as well as an abundance of cushioning technology. These are the leaders of the cushioning category and represent the pinnacle of design from each manufacturer.

Brooks has traditionally been known as a "stable" company, meaning most of their shoes traditionally will favor heavier runners or those who enjoy slightly greater support than similar models from other brands. To this end, Brooks employs DRB-Accel in their high-end cushioned trainer, a shank-like thermoplastic device that varies in density. This allows the Brooks designers to tune the shoe so the medial side offers slightly more support than the lateral side. Not as much support as a medial post, but enough for those who over-pronate ever so slightly.

To address additional cushioning needs of the runner who purchases shoes in this category, the Brooks Glycerin 4 offers several key high-end cushioning features not found in their less expensive models, such as the Radius 06. The primary feature being HydroFlow-ST-XL, Brook's recent improvement on their primary cushioning technology.

The Glycerin 4 has a strong following among runners who desire a greater amount of cushioning technology in a slightly more stable package. Our wear-testers took the Brook Glycerin 4 through several weeks of training on a variety of running surfaces to see if this model carries on the fine Brooks tradition.

Here's what they had to say.

Running Warehouse Wear Testers for the Brooks Glycerin 4 (test conducted 1/23/06-2/10/06)
Kara Female, 23. Frame size: Small Occupation: Sales Average miles per week: 65-70 Current Trainer: Asics Nimbus Favorite Trainer: Asics Nimbus, Mizuno Wave Rider	Sydney Female, 38. Frame size: Medium Occupation: Sales Average miles per week: 15-25 Current Trainer: Nike Air Pegasus Favorite Trainer: Nike Air Pegasus	Chris Male, 32. Frame size: Medium Occupation: Web Editor Average miles per week: 15-20 Current Trainer: Asics Cumulus Favorite Trainer: Asics Cumulus, Nike Air Pegasus	Kristin Female, 37. Frame size: Small Occupation: Physical Therapist Average miles per week: 20-25 Current Trainer: Nike Air Pegasus Favorite Trainer: Nike Air Pegasus

First Run Review

Fit: The wear testers universally gave the Brooks Glycerin 4 a very solid rating on the overall fit of the shoe after their first run. Average Wear Tester Score: 3.95 out of 5

Kara: The Glycerin is similar to the Wave Rider by Mizuno. They are both light and fit my foot very nicely. The Rider's and the Glycerin both have similar cushioning, although I am almost certain that I will get more miles out of the Glycerin, as the Rider tends to wear out fast.

Sydney: I was really surprised first by the narrow and snug fit. Usually this is the hardest part to find for my narrow foot. I am very happy with the way it feels and how it fits too. I was also very impressed with the lightweight feel to them. They feel very comfortable and I didn't feel weighed down. They're almost a shoe I would race in.

Chris: These shoes fit a little wide for me and have a distinctively wider fit in the forefoot compared to my Asics Gel Cumulus. The fit in the heel is slightly better and my feet feel more locked in and secure towards the rear of the shoes. The length fit is also more generous than my Asics and the overall feel is of a roomier shoe. I immediately noticed that the arch support feels a little low for my medium height arches. During my first run the shoes started to soften up around the 1.5 mile mark, but I could still feel separation between my arch and the insole from toe-off to heel down.

Kristin: When I first put on the Brook's shoes they seem too big (size 7). My regular street shoes are a 6 or 6.5. I run in a size 7 for Nike but the Brook's shoe seems to run true to size. A size 6.5 would have been perfect. The toe box seems wider than the Nike, but there is less leather material around the toe box than the Nike and therefore more give in the front part of the shoe. The heel doesn't seem to come up as high on the Brook's, although there is plenty of support in the rear portion of the shoe. I don't feel constrained or "locked in" either in the front or rear section of the shoe. Overall, the first impression of putting the shoe on prior to going out for a run is that the shoe feels too big and wide in the toe box. After the first run (approximately 35 minutes) the shoe felt fine, neither too big or too wide.

Performance

Cushioning/Flexibility: This was the strongest area for the Glycerin 4. Our wear testers felt very strongly that the overall cushioning and flexibility of this model was excellent. Average Wear Tester Score: 4 out of 5

Kara: The glycerin is very flexible. I enjoy the feel that the shoe provides. The ride is smooth as the transition from heel to toe feels natural. The forefoot cushioning impressed me as much as the heel cushioning. I can feel the road beneath my feet, but not to the extent of rocks and pebbles pushing through the sole of the shoe. This is a neutral shoe and I am a neutral runner, so the glycerin provides the exact amount of support I need. I would feel comfortable rotating the Rider and the Glycerin.

Sydney: I find the heel cushioning to be just right. I don't like too much foam, otherwise it starts feeling like a Nike Air Max, and then it is definitely not comfortable. However, I do like enough cushioning to make it feel like you have some spring in your step at the heel strike. They do have some give, but they don't feel flimsy.

Chris: The heel cushioning felt fairly plush compared to the forefoot. The Glycerin 4 offers a more elevated feel in the heel compared to my Gel Cumulus, but I wouldn't say the level of cushioning was any better. Being just a skinny dude, these shoes offer more than enough heel cushioning for my frame. The cushioning did not feel too pillow like, nor did it feel overly firm during my first run. I'm actually carrying a slight heel bruise from stepping on one of my son's Thomas the Tank Engine toy trains while barefoot, but didn't have any heel pain while running. The forefoot cushioning feels very responsive. I found some nice spring on push-off and the shoes felt better and better as my initial run wore on.

Kristin: I would give it the Goldielocks rating of just right (not too firm, not too soft). On pavement, the shoe has average cushioning. The midsole has adequate protection when running on the bike path. My lone complaint is that the shoe seems to soft when it's worn on a trail or firm beach sand.

Stability/Support

Although neutral shoes by design are not supposed to provide a great deal of support or stability, they still need to deliver a certain amount, but it should not interfere with the performance of the shoe. The Glycerin 4 scored well with our Wear Testers, with the exception of Chris. Average Wear Tester Score: 4.03 out of 5

Kara: This is a neutral shoe and I am a neutral runner, so the glycerin provides the exact amount of support I need. I would feel comfortable rotating the Rider and the Glycerin.

Sydney: I would say that these were as comfortable, if not more so, as my Nike Air Pegasus. It was nice to find something that held my foot in place while supporting it too.

Chris: The Glycerin 4 fits too low and too wide for my foot type. I probably would not walk out the store with a pair of these after initially trying them on. During my first run I had some slight heel pain that went away as the shoes softened up. The fit in the forefoot is too roomy and I'm already lacing the shoes very tightly throughout the lace system. My first run was on the road and was only around four miles. My dogs weren't barking, but I had the feeling a longer run might be more demanding on my arches. I will have to wait and see.

Kristin: the shoe performs fine when running on pavement/asphalt. I have a fairly neutral foot and there is adequate support & stability in the shoe. The Brook's shoe does not perform as well on the trail or beach. On either of these surfaces the Brook's shoe does not give support and I feel there is too much "play" in the shoe. If my primary focus was just pavement or asphalt running I feel the Brook's shoes would provide adequate support and stability.

Heal/Toe Transition

This was the most liked aspect of the shoe for the group, garnering a very high score. Wear Test Average Score: 4.2 out of 5

Kara: I really like the transition from heel to toe provided by the Glycerin. It is very smooth. The road feel is more squishy than firm. I would put it right in the middle of the firm to squishy spectrum. They do feel similar to the Wave Rider.

Sydney: It's hard to compare for me as I've been in the Nike Air Pegasus forever. I do like the transition though.

Chris: The first mile and a half the shoes felt a little stiff in transition. After that, there was noticeably better flow from heel to toe. I was finding some nice cushioning in the heel combined with a more responsive feel in the forefoot. Overall, the shoes seemed to offer a nice balance between heel and forefoot.

Kristin: On pavement, the transition from landing to push off is smooth. I don't feel the transition at all. It occurs in one fluid motion.

Summary

A runner in the market for a "Statement" cushioned trainer should come to expect a particular a level of performance for the added cost for the shoes in this category. The Brooks Glycerin 4 delivers a trainer that fits medium to wider feet well, provides a great deal of cushioning and flexibility, plus the proper level of support and a very good heal-to-toe transition required of a trainer in this category. The Brooks Glycerin 4 is a very good value at $110.00 based on the initial wear tester's reviews and should continue to build upon the solid reputation the shoe has earned from its loyal followers.

Overall Rating: 3.88 out of 5

Brooks Glycerin 4 Summary Sheet