What replaced the Brooks Glycerin 20?
Updated August 3, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Glycerin 21 replaced the 20 in fall 2023. It added 2 mm of the same nitrogen DNA Loft v3, cut real-world weight by around half an ounce or more, and introduced the RoadTack rubber outsole and a warp-knit upper at the same $160. It reviewed as smooth, predictable and a little boring; the 20 stayed the version its fans kept buying on clearance.
- Brooks Glycerin 20Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Brooks Glycerin 21Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 3, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The Glycerin 21 is 0.7 oz lighter
- 4 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Glycerin 20 vs 21.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe 21 sanded down the 20 without changing what it is: same nitrogen foam plus 2 mm, most of an ounce lighter, tougher outsole. Doctors of Running graded it B plus to A minus and put the appeal plainly: predictable and smooth, a little boring, and that is fine for easy days. Believe in the Run called it soft and stable with a step-in feel. Nobody called it exciting, including the people who bought five pairs.
Stick with the Glycerin 20 if
- You want the 20's slightly firmer, denser ride and its cheap clearance pairs
- Warm feet bother you; the 21's knit upper runs hotter than the 20's mesh
Move to the Glycerin 21 if
- You want the same ride most of an ounce lighter with a more durable outsole
- Smooth and predictable is exactly what you ask of an easy-day shoe
Where the Brooks Glycerin is now
The line has moved three versions past the Brooks Glycerin 20, and the current model is now the Glycerin 23 (2026). Measured against your shoe:
- Weight is unchanged
- 4 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $15
What loyalists said about the update
Divided between contentment and boredom. Repeat buyers stockpiled it (one owned five pairs and called it their favorite daily trainer), while the other camp found it dull and flat next to the 20 and said the upcoming DNA Tuned version was the thing to be excited about. When the 22 landed, some of the bored camp regretted what they wished for.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Glycerin 20 stock
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.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Glycerin 21, these come closest to what the Glycerin 20 did.
- 10.5 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 46 mm heel
- $150 list
The Vomero is the other premium plush neutral, and reviewers run the head-to-head every year. The Vomero 18 is softer, taller and $25 cheaper at list; the Glycerin is firmer, smoother-rolling and less of a commitment to maximal stack.
Against your Brooks Glycerin 20: the same weight, 12 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $10 less at list.
- 9.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 43.5 mm heel
- $165 list
The Nimbus is the pillowy take on the premium cruiser and the Glycerin is the composed one: firmer, lower, a touch heavier. Runners who find the Nimbus too tall and soft tend to get along with the Glycerin.
Against your Brooks Glycerin 20: 0.6 oz lighter, 9.5 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $5 more at list.
- 9 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $170 list
The 1080 does the plush flagship job at nearly two ounces less weight, and it turned soft and bouncy with the v15 foam swap. The Glycerin is the steadier, more traditional ride of the two.
Against your Brooks Glycerin 20: 1.5 oz lighter, 6 mm more heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Brooks Glycerin 20 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the Brooks Glycerin 20, but the size run is thinning and prices swing with remaining stock. If your size is there, this is the late window, not the early one.
- Is the Glycerin 21 a downgrade from the Brooks Glycerin 20?
- No. Most runners rate the Glycerin 21 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- How much lighter is the Glycerin 21?
- 0.7 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 9.8 oz against the Brooks Glycerin 20's 10.5 oz.
- Is the Brooks Glycerin still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Brooks Glycerin 23, released in 2026, 3 versions on from the Brooks Glycerin 20.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Brooks Glycerin 20?
- The Nike Vomero 18. The Vomero is the other premium plush neutral, and reviewers run the head-to-head every year. The Vomero 18 is softer, taller and $25 cheaper at list; the Glycerin is firmer, smoother-rolling and less of a commitment to maximal stack.