Review Time: Brooks Glycerin 22

There hasn’t been much writing happening lately — and certainly not much about running — mostly because there hasn’t been much actual running until about six months ago. Since then, it’s been a slow and steady commitment to consistency, easing my way back into regular, easy running. Recently, I marked that milestone with an upgrade to the runners.

For the better part of the last 15 years, I’ve run in one shoe: the Brooks Ghost. I do, however, exclusively use Salomon for trail and hiking shoes, so after six months of sticking to a weekly run plan, it felt like the right time to try something different. Enter the Brooks Glycerin 22s.

The first thing I noticed was the cushioning. Not in a squishy, unstable way, but in a thank you very much, legs kind of way. The ride feels noticeably softer than the Ghost, especially on tired days, but still predictable. Nothing flashy, nothing trying too hard just a smooth, forgiving landing that makes easy runs feel easier and longer runs less demanding. Exactly what I’m after right now. It also makes me wonder why I resisted the move to boat-like runners for so long.

A slightly random part of the shoe that I really like is the stretchy, sock-like upper thing, which I initially assumed was just a cute fashion feature. Turns out it’s a bit more functional than that. The fit feels secure without being tight, and there’s no rubbing or hot spots something I’ve very grateful for!

And finally, the colour. Let’s be honest, this is about 85% of the shoe choice. I’ve gone with white, with touches of — what else — blue. It’s important to match the rest of the outfit, after all.

I’m not chasing pace, PBs, or big mileage right now. I’m chasing consistency. Comfortable, reliable shoes that support that goal matter more than ever, and so far the Glycerin feels like the right choice for where I am right now: steady, cushioned, and quietly doing its job. So much so, I might need to upgrade to the Glycerin 23 the moment it goes on sale.