Brooks Glycerin 19 vs Glycerin 21
Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Two updates and 2 years separate the Brooks Glycerin 19 from the Glycerin 21. Net change: 0.4 oz lighter, 7 mm more heel stack, a new midsole, $10 more at list. The Glycerin 20 is where the character changed, and that is the update Glycerin 19 owners notice first.


The two updates in between
Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.
- Step 1Glycerin 19 to Glycerin 202022Changed character
- Step 2Glycerin 20 to Glycerin 212023Refined, same shoe
Glycerin 19 vs Glycerin 21: every spec, side by side
The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.
| Spec | Glycerin 19 | Glycerin 21 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 10.2 oz | 9.8 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered warp knit |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 31 mm | 38 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 21 mm | 28 mm |
| Drop | 10 mm | 10 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | DNA Loft, softer density | Nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $150 | $160 |
Or buy the Glycerin 20 instead?
The Glycerin 20 is worth a look only if you want the ride it introduced, because that is the update that changed the shoe. Buying it to soften the jump does not work: you would be adapting to the same change either way, just at an older spec.
Buy the Glycerin 20
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Aug 3, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Can I go straight from the Brooks Glycerin 19 to the Glycerin 21 and skip the Glycerin 20?
- Yes, but going Glycerin 19 to Glycerin 21 means taking one change in a single step: the Glycerin 20 is where the ride moved. Drop holds at 10 mm, so the difference is foam and fit rather than geometry: DNA Loft, softer density to Nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3.
- How much did the weight change across these two updates?
- 0.4 oz off in total, 10.2 oz to 9.8 oz in a men's US 9. The Glycerin 20 took it to 10.5 oz first.
- Is the Glycerin 20 the better buy than either of these?
- On paper it splits them: 10.5 oz against 10.2 oz for the Glycerin 19 and 9.8 oz for the Glycerin 21, on a 34 mm heel and a $160 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Glycerin 20 update actually did, which the section above works through.
- Did the Glycerin get taller between the Glycerin 19 and the Glycerin 21?
- Heel stack went 31 mm to 38 mm, by way of 34 mm on the Glycerin 20. Drop held at 10 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
- Where does the Glycerin 21 sit in the Glycerin lineup now?
- Two versions on from the Glycerin 19, and already replaced itself: the Glycerin 22 arrived in 2025. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Glycerin 21 against it before deciding.