The Glycerin, now in its 20th iteration is one of the plushest, most comfortable, max-cushioned neutral trainers. It's such a popular trainer because of its luxurious upper and its smooth ride. It costs $160.
The Glycerin GTS 20 is a brand new running shoe on its 2nd iteration which is a spinoff of the popular Glycerin series. It's classified as a stability trainer and it takes the place of the Brooks Transcend. It also costs $160.
Which one of these max-cushioned trainers is for you?
The midsole of the Glycerin is made of DNA Loft v3 which is a supercritical foam. The midsole of the Glycerin GTS is also made of DNA Loft v3. They are both medium soft in density and have plenty of long-distance cushioning.
The biggest design difference between the midsoles of the two trainers is that the Glycerin GTS has sidewalls that shoot up from the heel to the midfoot. These sidewalls act as rails or barriers to keep your foot centred and prevent over pronation.
Stability is much better in the Glycerin GTS even though it doesn’t have a traditional firmer medial post. The side railing system prevents any lean bias from occurring. If you over pronate or you supinate, The Glycerin GTS is the better option because it offers a higher level of support.
The Glycerin weighs slightly less than the Glycerin GTS so it’s better for faster, shorter runs. The Glycerin GTS is better for longer runs because it offers more support during the later stages of runs.
The drop of the Glycerin and the Glycerin GTS is 10mm which makes it perfect for heel strikers because there is lots of foam in the heel to cushion heel strikes.
Both outsoles use soft, thick rubber which results in soft, smooth landings. The outsoles of the Glycerin and the Glycerin GTS are very similar. Most of the outsole is covered in this thick, soft rubber except for a piece of the midfoot and the area directly under the heel.
The uppers of the Glycerin GTS and the Glycerin are similar and are two of the most comfortable, luxurious uppers on the market. They both have plenty of padding in the collar, heel tab and tongue. The tongues are gusseted so no tongue slide occurs and foot lockdown is superb. There are double last row eyelets for doing heel lock lacing although it isn’t needed because there is no heel slippage. The fit is true to size and it is also available in a wide version.
If you’re looking for a max-cushioned neutral trainer and you don’t need the extra support, the Glycerin is the better option for you. It has plenty of cushioning that can even handle a marathon and it has very smooth ride transitions.
If you need extra support but you still want maximum cushioning, the Glycerin GTS is the shoe for you. Its guide rails offer extra stability and more support if you over pronate or supinate. It costs more than the Glycerin but it offers a lot more stability and the same smooth ride transitions.
