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Brooks introduces DNA Tuned, a nitrogen-infused compound that adapts to impact for a smoother, more cushioned and responsive ride and has different densities.
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Glycerin Max and Glycerin 22 offer increased comfort, reduced shock perception, increased energy return and reduced weight for an optimal running experience.
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Confirmed Brooks’ environmental commitment to using bio-based materials in midsoles, thereby reducing carbon emissions to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
When the history of running shoes is written, midsole compounds will surely get their own chapter. The investments and innovation in this space are staggering. Brooks, true to its ethos of getting as many people as possible to enjoy running, has always been a pioneer. Early on, they explored non-Newtonian materials that adapt to force (their original DNA technology). In recent years, Brooks has refined nitrogen-infused foams to make midsoles lighter and more responsive.
The latest leap forward? DNA Tuned, unveiled in London and debuting in the Glycerin Max and Glycerin 22.
Brooks Glycerin Max
DNA Tuned: what it’s all about
DNA Tuned is a supercritical foam—infused with nitrogen to create a softer, more responsive ride. What sets it apart is its ability to offer localized variation in cushioning by altering cell size:
- Larger cells in the heel absorb impact for maximum softness.
- Smaller cells in the forefoot enhance responsiveness and propulsion.
- Consistent feel throughout ensures uniform comfort whether you land heel-first or midfoot.
This design eliminates the “unloaded” sensation some runners feel in the forefoot of high-stack shoes, making the ride smooth and balanced across the length of the shoe.
In fact, laboratory tests showed eloquent numbers compared with previous models:
- +10% comfort and cushioning
- -11% shock perception for a smoother ride.
- +4% energy return, increasing stride efficiency.
- -6% density, for an even lighter shoe.
But beyond the numbers that tell only part of the story (the measurable one), it is the running experience that matters. As Nikhil Jain – Director of Footwear Product Line Management and BlueLine Lab – tells us, ” Overall weight is relatively important in a shoe. There are medium-weight ones that are perceived as light and very light ones that are perceived as normal. What matters is the balance of several factors including weight, and above all experience. How you run in it and what feeling it gives you “.
This compound is for now applied to the Glycerin Max and the Glycerin 22. The former is one of the most interesting super shoes of recent months (it is impossible to remain indifferent to its design and size-and we are talking about a thickness of 45 mm in the heel and 39 in the toe) and one of the most classic and beloved Brooks ever, namely the Glycerin.
An integrated system
Of course, it is not enough to just use more material to create balance and precision in a shoe. That’s why the Max also features GlideRoll Rocker technology, which is a rocker (the characteristic “rocking” side profile, i.e., with a toe that curves upward) that makes for a smoother transition, a very important aspect in a shoe with such a pronounced stack.
The differences
So far we have talked about what the Glycerin Max and Glycerin 22 have in common, and that is the presence of DNA Tuned foam in both. What differentiates them are substantial details, making them two models intended for runners who seek different experiences in their runs. First of all, the stacks: that of the Glycerin Max is 45 mm in the heel and 39 in the toe, for an overall drop of 6 mm; that of the Glycerin 22, on the other hand, is 38 and 28 respectively, with a drop of 10 mm.
It is clear, then, that the Maxes are such mainly because of the extra material they use, which translates, however, into different running experiences. Softer and more protective in the case of the Max, more stable in that of the Glycerin 22, partly because they have a lower center of gravity. The latter also come in two versions: neutral, for those seeking a balanced ride, and GTS, for those seeking more support and stability.
An ongoing commitment to the environment
Brooks continues its push toward climate neutrality by 2030. The midsoles of the Glycerin Max and 22 incorporate 18% bio-based materials, like sugarcane, reducing carbon emissions by 15% compared to traditional processes.
Availability and price
Glycerin MAX is available at authorized dealers and on the official Brooks Running website for 200 euros. Glycerin 22 and Glycerin 22 GTS cost 180 euros instead.