Do you know what moon shoes are? My brother got a pair for one of his birthdays when we were kids, and these things are weird. They’re massive from top to bottom, especially for a kid, and you instantly grow 6 inches when you put them on.
You’re supposed to jump in these things, but in practice this is far from reality. They’re terribly unstable and the rubber bands feel like they can snap any moment. (And that’s exactly what happened to us when we were kids.)
The Brooks Glycerin Maxs are like adult moon shoes in so many ways. So much so, that I’m not sure what kind of runner these are for.
Running Shoes?
By the look of them, the Glycerin Maxs seem like shoes for runners that want extra cushion in each step. If that’s the case, then you might like these. However, if you’re going to rely on these to help alleviate knee pain, sensitive foot arches, or some other type of discomfort. STOP!
If you experience consistent, replicable pain on your runs, then I highly recommend you visit a running-specific physiotherapist to remedy that pain. Not a pair of shoes. (Footwear does play a part in your training, but your form is far more important and impactful.)
Similar to moon shoes, these instantly add an inch to your total height. Making the first mile or two feel unstable, squishy, and unlike any other shoes I’ve tried yet. Because of how thick the foam midsole is, it kind of feels like you’re running in sand or damp mud.
Your feet compress so much, that you lose a bit of momentum. Momentum that doesn’t seem like much at first, but by mile 3 or 4, it adds up.
Obviously, the tradeoff for this small drop in momentum is exceptional cushioning. But similar to other thick soled shoes, like the Hoka Mach 6s, you don’t get a lot of feedback from the ground to your feet.
Numb Steering
I’m a bit of a car guy, and I enjoy watching car videos; anything from walkthroughs, reviews, challenges, etc. In most of the reviews, especially Throttle Houses, they note what the steering is like because good steering gives the driver crucial information. Thinks like what the surface is like, how the car is behaving, and how to respond.
Bad steering doesn’t communicate any of this. Instead, it feels numb.
That’s what the Glycerin Maxs are like. You can’t accurately judge how the ground is like. So, when you step in grass, gravel, or asphalt, it all feels the same. Making it really hard to gauge how to angle your foot, how much to kick off, and if you need to change your stride slightly.
For example, one of my runs was a half marathon and the terrain changed between snow, gravel, and road constantly. Wearing these shoes, I can’t tell if the surface was icy, soft, slanted, or completely fine. So, there were a couple moments on that run where I nearly twisted my ankle or tripped on the side of a ditch.
Just to be safe, I’ve resorted to tiptoeing like Scooby and Shaggy when it’s hard to visually gauge the ground.
Full On Marshmallows
These things fully embrace the marshmallow look. The giant puffy soles, thick tongue, multilayer fabric upper, and bloated laces. I don’t know why Brooks has yet to move away from the thick fabric materials, but I hope this changes sooner than later.
Although, I’m very happy to share that they moved away from a minimum heel-to-toe drop of 10 mm. The Glycerin Maxs use a 6 mm drop, which prevents pain in the arch of my feet the Ghost line always gave me by mile 5 or 6. (For context, these are the first pair of Brooks I’ve tried in the last 4+ years, so maybe the new Ghosts wouldn’t cause the same pain now.)
The Recap
I wanted to try these because I typically prefer thin-soled shoes. I thought if I went to the complete opposite side of the scale, then I’d like those just as much as.
Clearly, I wouldn’t recommend the Brooks Glycerin Maxs to anyone that intends to use these for running. BUT these are perfect for walking! If you spend all day on your feet, or you’re going to have a 12+ hour day at Disney World, then try these.
Or, if you want to relive your childhood memories of moon shoes, these will do that too.