What replaced the Brooks Glycerin 21?
Updated August 3, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Glycerin 22 replaced the 21 in February 2025 and swapped the foam: DNA Tuned, a supercritical dual-cell midsole inherited from the Glycerin Max, replaced nitrogen DNA Loft v3. It is stiffer, slightly heavier, roomier in the toebox and $5 more. Reviewers approved; the transition split longtime Glycerin runners, and one warned the new foam may not be for older Glycerin lovers.
- Brooks Glycerin 21Men's at AmazonWomen's
- Brooks Glycerin 22Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 3, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The Glycerin 22 is 0.4 oz heavier
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Glycerin 21 vs 22.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterThe DNA Tuned reboot. Believe in the Run called the 22 a perfect example of how far Brooks has come on comfort, performance and longevity, and most reviews landed positive. But the foam is a different animal from the DNA Loft v3 the line built its following on: denser, stiffer, more structured, less step-in soft. For runners who chose the Glycerin precisely for the old feel, this is the version where their shoe stopped being made.
Stick with the Glycerin 21 if
- You loved the DNA Loft v3 feel; the 21 is the last version with it, and the 20 and 21 sell cheap
- Your Glycerin size runs snug on you; the 22 fits tighter through the midfoot in the same size
Move to the Glycerin 22 if
- You found the 20 and 21 mushy or dull; DNA Tuned is denser, springier and more structured
- You need the X-Wide; the 22 is the first Glycerin with a 4E
Where the Brooks Glycerin is now
Two updates on, the Glycerin 23 (2026) is what sits on shelves today. Against the shoe you own rather than the one that directly replaced it:
- The Glycerin 23 is 0.8 oz heavier
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $15
What loyalists said about the update
The divisive transition this line is now known for. The warning that stuck came from a January 2025 thread: try them on first, the new foam may not be for older Glycerin lovers. Disappointed posts followed (one runner who loved the 21 called the 22 incredibly uncomfortable through the arch; another compared recovery runs to running in sand), alongside genuine converts who called DNA Tuned everything they needed and the sweet spot of the new lineup. Fit reports skewed tighter than the 20 and 21 in the same size.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Glycerin 21 stock
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Aug 3, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Glycerin 22, these come closest to what the Glycerin 21 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 21: 0.7 oz heavier, 8 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 21: the same weight, 5.5 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 21: 0.8 oz lighter, 2 mm more heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Brooks Glycerin 21 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the Brooks Glycerin 21, 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 22 a downgrade from the Brooks Glycerin 21?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Glycerin 22 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Brooks Glycerin 21 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- How much heavier is the Glycerin 22?
- 0.4 oz heavier in a men's US 9: 10.2 oz against the Brooks Glycerin 21's 9.8 oz.
- Is the Brooks Glycerin still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Brooks Glycerin 23, released in 2026, 2 versions on from the Brooks Glycerin 21.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Brooks Glycerin 21?
- 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.