Why Brooks Added a Max Cushioned Running Shoe to Its Popular Glycerin Franchise
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Two years ago, Brooks tasked its research and development teams with creating a shoe that allows people to run pain-free for longer. The result is the all-new Glycerin Max.
Ahead of Tuesday’s announcement, Brooks revealed the Glycerin Max to select media on Monday in New York City.
“This is not a niche shoe. This is not a shoe only for marathon runners or elite runners,” Carson Caprara, senior vice president of footwear at Brooks, said at Monday’s event. “This is for anybody who puts one foot in front of the other.”
He continued, “It sets a new standard in innovation. This is what we want you to expect from us. This is what we want runners to expect from us.”
The highlight of the Glycerin Max, which Brooks explained in a statement offers energy efficiency and decreased expense, is the brand’s newest foaming formula, DNA Tuned. Brooks stated this formula — which was in development for two years prior to starting on the Glycerin Max — uses strategically placed nitrogen properties that should help people “move more effortlessly.”
“It enables the runner to have the maximum amount of foam underfoot for unparalleled cushioning and protection without the often-accompanied sensation of sinking too far into the midsole that can make more maximal shoes feel sluggish,” Bryan Bhark, manager of innovation footwear development at Brooks, told FN ahead of the media event.
Breaking down DNA Tuned further, Brooks stated this iteration of its nitrogen infused foam was created with a “tuned dual-cell technique.” The heel, Brooks explained, features large cells for “plush landings” and small cells in the forefoot are responsible for “responsive toe-offs.”
The Glycerin Max midsole is stacked — 45.25 mm in men’s sizing and 39.25 mm in women’s — which Brooks stated helps to protect the wearer’s body from impact and will leave legs “feeling fresh day after day.”
Aside from the stacked midsoles, Brooks added its GlideRoll Rocker with what it described as “dramatically sculpted bevel and toe spring geometries” for optimal heel-to-toe transition.
“Through DNA Tuned, our dual cell supercritical foam technology, the Glycerin Max provides the optimal combination of cushioning and energy return. When coupled with our GlideRoll rocker technology, it helps the runner transition effortlessly through their stride.” Bhark told FN. “Finally, we utilized our expert biomechanical insights to create a platform that is also very supportive and stable without getting in the way of how your body wants to move.”
The Brooks Glycerin Max arrives Oct. 5 via Brooksrunning.com and will retail for $200. There will be four colorways for men and another four for women when it releases.
Although this is the newest max cushioned running shoe from Brooks, it’s not the brand’s first. In late 2023, Brooks released the Ghost Max, which Caprara stated was its first maximal shoe. The Ghost Max replaced the brand’s neutral, moderate cushioned Dyad franchise.
Caprara stated Brooks went from selling 150,000 pairs of the Dyad franchise globally each year to more than 1 million of the Ghost Max in its first year. What’s more, Caprara said the Ghost Max 2 — which debuted in August — is forecasted to sell roughly 2 million pairs.
When looking to see what else it could accomplish with max cushioning, Caprara said the Glycerin franchise was the ideal choice. “The Glycerin, for us, as a franchise stands for ultimate luxury. It’s our ultimate cushion. We thought, ‘If we add a max to that, what could it be. This is where we ended up and we’re pretty proud of it,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Bhark told FN that Brooks plans to further build out the Glycerin franchise “in the coming years,” and that consumers will see DNA Tuned “proliferate beyond just the Glycerin Max.” Also, Bhark stated there will be “exciting” new updates to the Glycerin franchise and the Adrenaline GTS in 2024 and into 2025.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
Launch Gallery: Brooks Reveals Its Glycerin Max With Max DNA Tuned Cushioning: Photos
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