Brooks Glycerin Flex Review: Should You Spend £165?

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The Brooks Glycerin Flex is a bold-looking daily trainer that’s been popping up everywhere lately—and that’s no accident. Brooks have put serious marketing weight behind this shoe and its headline “Flex” technology. The big question is simple: is it actually worth £165?

Where the Glycerin Flex Fits In

The Glycerin Flex sits within the broader Glycerin lineup alongside the Glycerin 23 and the Glycerin Max 2. Brooks deserve credit for expanding what used to be a very simple range (Ghost and Glycerin) into something more diverse. New foams, new silhouettes, and a willingness to experiment are all positives—and that experimentation is exactly what the Flex represents.

Stats & Key Specs

• Price: £165 (UK) / approx. $170 (US)

• Weight: 282g (UK 9.5)(For comparison, the Glycerin 23 comes in at around 334g)

• Stack Height: 36mm heel / 30mm forefoot

• Drop: 6mm

• Midsole: DNA Tuned supercritical foam

• Upper: Knit

• Use case: Neutral daily trainer with a “natural feel” focus

That weight reduction compared to the Glycerin 23 is significant and immediately noticeable on paper.

Upper & Fit

The knit upper is genuinely excellent. It’s soft, comfortable, and well-padded around the heel collar—very much in keeping with the Glycerin’s comfort-first DNA. The pull tab at the heel is a nice touch, and aesthetically the shoe looks sharp and modern.

That said, the lockdown isn’t great. The laces are elastic and require a lot of cinching to feel secure, and the tongue isn’t gusseted. While the tongue has enough padding to be comfortable, the combination of laces and tongue makes the fit feel a little sloppy. This is an area that really needs attention in a potential version two.

Midsole & “Flex” Technology

The big talking point is the decoupled forefoot design—a clear separation between heel and forefoot designed to promote natural foot movement and flexibility. On paper, it sounds intriguing.

The DNA Tuned midsole uses Brooks’ dual-cell concept:

• Larger cells (primarily in the rear) for stability

• Smaller cells (towards the forefoot) for responsiveness and toe-off

Visually, it looks great, and the colour-blocking highlights the tech nicely. Unfortunately, while the shoe looks innovative, it doesn’t feel innovative underfoot.

Despite the aggressive flex grooves, the ride doesn’t deliver a noticeably more natural or engaging running experience. There’s a lack of underfoot substance in the forefoot, and the promised “natural feel” never really shows up in practice.

Ride & Performance

The Glycerin Flex handles a range of easy-to-moderate paces without issue. It’s fine for general mileage, treadmill runs, and even some goal-pace work. But “fine” is really the key word here.

It’s not particularly lively.It’s not especially cushioned.And it doesn’t feel distinct from many other daily trainers—especially at this price point. Crucially, the Flex technology doesn’t translate into anything you can clearly feel or benefit from while running.

Outsole & Grip

This is one of the shoe’s weakest areas. Grip is mediocre at best and genuinely poor in cold or frosty conditions. On damp paths or mossy surfaces, traction is sketchy—almost roller-skate-like at times.

The upside is durability: there’s plenty of rubber coverage, so wear shouldn’t be an issue. But confidence underfoot, especially in winter, definitely is.

Value & Who Is This For?

At £165, the value proposition is hard to justify. Runners looking for a “natural” experience are more likely to choose lower-cost, lower-stack alternatives. Meanwhile, runners buying into the Glycerin name usually want maximum comfort, and the Flex doesn’t improve on that core promise compared to other models in the range.

If you enjoy high-stack, rockered shoes with lots of cushioning and a smooth ride, this probably won’t land for you. And if that’s your preference, there are better—and cheaper—options available.

Final Verdict

Brooks deserve genuine credit for trying something different. Innovation should always be encouraged, and the materials and foam quality here are undeniably high. But honesty matters: the Brooks Glycerin Flex doesn’t hit the mark.

The ride feels underwhelming, the outsole grip is poor, and the headline Flex technology doesn’t deliver a meaningful on-run benefit. At £165, it’s a risky purchase unless you already know this very specific style of shoe works for you.

Verdict: No. A brave idea, but one that doesn’t quite come together. Hopefully, version two refines the concept—because the intent is good, even if the execution isn’t.

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