Brooks Glycerin 17 Expert Review

I like to write reviews about running shoes. But even more than that, what I do like is to write reviews about great running shoes. If you pronounce Brooks Glycerin 17 (actually any other Brooks shoes) that’s what I immediately imagine as a premium quality shoe for running. I had the chance in the past to try Brooks Ghost 11 (for more specifications about Brooks Ghost 11 check here) and also, a model from the Glycerin series, the older version Brooks Glycerin 13. They both offered what I call “the above average running experience”. Is this Brooks Glycerin 17 on the same level? How did the shoe evolve in time? Let’s relate to these questions in a few lines here…

Step by step. The upper. Saying it openly, the one piece mesh that the upper is made of makes compared to Brooks Glycerin 13 a real difference. Because of the fact it is just from a one piece, the shoe looks less bulky, synthetic and I would call it maybe even simple. But that doesn’t mean that the design is not interesting. Opposite is the fact. The color scheme is very interesting. The colors are original and in all versions the shoes have interesting dots all around the middle part of upper. Here definitely thumbs up. And!!! Not just for the design. As the upper of Brooks Glycerin 17 is from one piece, seamless and having larger holes, it is then more breathable than Glycerin 13. That’s what I was really complaining about in the previous review. Brooks this time definitely improved. 🙂

As nicely as I praised this model for its brilliant upper, I cannot say that premium would be the midsoles. It is the DNA Loft and many times pronounced as one of the best from Brooks. It is true that it feels soft and the Pressure zones that are supposed to be inside the midsole, actually deliver a kind of smooth transition between every step that you do. So that the shoe feels very comfortable on short runs. But every time I went for a longer run than 5 miles, I started feeling that there is lacking support. I tried this approximately 10 times and every time I felt slight pain in the middle of my arches. I would like to point out that I am a normal foot runner. I do not tend to pronate excessively or not enough either. 

Unfortunately, this lowered the quality of Brooks Glycerin 17 in my eyes quite a bit.  As I also mentioned, I had on me in the past also Brooks Ghost 11 and it has a different midsole BioMoGo DNA. What I can confirm is that that midsole of Ghost 11 for me felt more responsive, but firmer. So we can say that Brooks Glycerin 17 is rather comfortable, bringing a plush feeling… For long distances, though I would still rather go for the older Brooks Ghost 11. 

What else can I say in the end? I expected the shoe to be narrow as some of the reviewers mentioned elsewhere but not for me. Brooks Glycerin 17 has a good fit. Moreover, it is nicely padded around the ankles so that your foot remains in the same position and doesn’t wiggle inside. Also it is then a bit more safe on unpaved roads. At least, that was my obeservation after taking Brooks Glycerin 17 to the forest. 

All in all, is it a great, premium shoe? Well, that depends on what you expect from it. For long distances, I would rather go and try for example for Brooks Launch 6 . Otherwise, yes. It feels very good. For lighter exercise, this shoe won’t be a disappointment.