SHOE REVIEW: Brooks Glycerin GTS 19
The Glycerin GTS 19 provides a plush, soft ride that is perfect for long runs
Category: Neutral
Available: February 1
Drop: 10 mm
Weight: Men 303 g, Women 269 g
Price: $190
The upper
The Gylcerin GTS 19 upper hugs the foot comfortably, delivering a snug fit without being too narrow or tight. The upper is also very soft to the touch, so you won’t have to worry about blistering when you’re trying the GTS 19 out for the first few times, adding to the overall comfort of the shoe. The mesh design allows your feet to breathe, which, while always a positive, will be extra welcome in a few months when it starts getting warmer outside.
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The midsole
The midsole is why the Glycerin GTS 19 will win so many runners over. Looking at the GTS 19, you probably wouldn’t be inclined to call it a maximalist shoe, but that is exactly what it feels like when you take it for a run. It is extremely comfortable, which makes it ideal for runs of any length, from a quick 5K around the block to a seriously long run. The GTS 19 has more DNA Loft (Brooks’s softest midsole cushioning material) than any shoe before it, providing a soft and comfy barrier between your foot and the ground from your heel to your toes.
The GTS 19 midsole also has Brooks’s GuideRails support technology, which is wrapped around the shoe between the layer of DNA Loft and the upper. Brooks developed this GuideRails system to help runners maintain a natural and ideal line with every step. It works not by correcting your stride or locking your foot in one position, but instead limiting your foot’s movement. This adds to shoe’s comfort by ensuring you run with stability and support at all times.
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The outsole
The outsole is reliable on wet and dry roads, and it performed well on snow, too. Most of the shoe’s innovative and new features are in the midsole, so there isn’t much to say about the outsole. All that prospective buyers really need to know is that it performs well. If you’ve ever used a Brooks shoe before, then your guess as to what this outsole feels like is probably pretty accurate.
Final thoughts
The Brooks Glycerin GTS 19 is a great trainer. It’s durable yet comfortable, and while it’s far from lightweight shoe (weighing in at just over 300 g), it’s not too heavy. Anyone looking for a new shoe to take out on long runs will love the GTS 19, but fair warning: if you decide to test this shoe out, you might never go back to your old favourites.
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