Brooks Glycerin Max 2

With the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 the American brand keeps going all-in on maximum cushioning: a daily trainer designed for long runs, recovery runs and easy miles where comfort rules. In Brooks' range it sits above the Glycerin 23, with considerably more stack height and a much more pronounced rocker geometry, while anyone who needs some extra support has the Glycerin GTS 23 with the GuideRails system, something this Max 2 does not have. To complete a rotation with an everyday shoe, the Ghost 18 is a very good choice for brand loyalists.

Compared with the first Glycerin Max, the most visible change is on top: the upper moves to a heavily padded triple-layer jacquard mesh that holds the foot firmly. It is extremely comfortable, although it runs a bit warm and the tongue is not gusseted. The fit is not narrow, but all that padding takes up some room in the forefoot, so anyone with wide feet should try it on first. Underneath, the base is wider, especially at the front, and the outsole has a new tread pattern.

The DNA Tuned midsole is a nitrogen-infused foam with larger cells in the heel to cushion heel-strike landings and smaller ones in the forefoot for a slightly livelier toe-off, within reason. With 45 mm of stack height at the heel (above the World Athletics limit, although this is not a racing shoe anyway) and a 6 mm drop, it has hardly any flexibility, and it is the GlideRoll Rocker system that takes care of making the transition as smooth as possible. The result is a stable, protective ride, but firmer than you would expect with so much foam, and with little bounce. Ideal for easy runs, long runs at a comfortable pace and even walking, if you can live with that towering stack height.