Brooks Glycerin GTS 21 Women's Black/White

These are terrible! I miss the 20 model. First, there appears to be an extra layer of fabric and/or stitching where the tongue is sewn onto the top of the shoe. Even after loosening my laces, that extra fabric and/or stitching hurts to top of my foot constantly. They were so painful that I had literally to tear them off my feet the other day after wearing them for a few hours (standing most of the time). When I took them off, there was significant visible indentation on my skin from this issue. It was such a relief to put my old 20s back on, even though they are worn down and definitely need to be replaced.Next, the entire sole of the shoe feels harder and less comfortable than the 20s, even though it seems like there is a lot more "cushion" (from the outside, at ... MoreThese are terrible! I miss the 20 model. First, there appears to be an extra layer of fabric and/or stitching where the tongue is sewn onto the top of the shoe. Even after loosening my laces, that extra fabric and/or stitching hurts to top of my foot constantly. They were so painful that I had literally to tear them off my feet the other day after wearing them for a few hours (standing most of the time). When I took them off, there was significant visible indentation on my skin from this issue. It was such a relief to put my old 20s back on, even though they are worn down and definitely need to be replaced.Next, the entire sole of the shoe feels harder and less comfortable than the 20s, even though it seems like there is a lot more "cushion" (from the outside, at least). Very uncomfortable.Finally, whatever material was used to reinforce the area that goes around the toes is hitting my big toe differently than the 20s, causing discomfort.I've tried to break these in for over a week now, but the more I wear them the less I like them. Every few years Brooks comes out with an awful model of this shoe, so I guess 21 is the dud. I will be returning these shoes as soon as I can.

Cushiony for every day wear and travel

I was getting inner arch pain and went into a running store to try out different brands of shoes. I really thought I would walk out with a Hoka but their arches were too high. To my surprise, I really liked the Brooks Glycerin 20. This is the first Brooks that I have ever bought. However, the store did not have the color that I wanted. When I came on the Brooks website and saw that there is now the GTS 21, I decided to purchase it. I like that they have a generous return policy. How else are you going to know whether something is going to work until you've tried it in real world situations. What I like about these shoes: I like that they are very cushiony and supportive. I have worn these on my recent vacation and walked a lot in them and my feet were fine. I am ... MoreI was getting inner arch pain and went into a running store to try out different brands of shoes. I really thought I would walk out with a Hoka but their arches were too high. To my surprise, I really liked the Brooks Glycerin 20. This is the first Brooks that I have ever bought. However, the store did not have the color that I wanted. When I came on the Brooks website and saw that there is now the GTS 21, I decided to purchase it. I like that they have a generous return policy. How else are you going to know whether something is going to work until you've tried it in real world situations. What I like about these shoes: I like that they are very cushiony and supportive. I have worn these on my recent vacation and walked a lot in them and my feet were fine. I am also not experienced very much inner arch pain these days. I am not a runner but you don't have to be one to wear these. I would have loved if these shoes came in a grey color which is my favorite neutral color in shoes. I did get the black and they're fine. My only nitpicking complaint is that they look big on my feet. LOL. They just look wide. But I guess I'm at a age where looks don't really matter as long as they're functional and these shoes work for me. I will also say that since I got "slip on" shoes where you can just slide your feet in and out without bending over, I've been a bit of a shoe snob. I would like it if these were just like the slip ons! Slip ons make it so easy going through the airport and because I have tenosynivitis in my hands, struggling to put on shoes strain the tendons in my hands. To make it easier on my hands, I change out the laces to tie-less laces on every shoe that I own that have regular laces. I also use a shoe heel to help get my feet in easier. Overall, I like these shoes.

Disappointed in the quality and longevity

I have been a glycerin wearer for years and have been really disappointed in the quality of these shoes! Like others, I had the issue of the toe box collapsing in certain spots, putting pressure on certain toes and making my workouts super uncomfortable. In addition, I got these on April 8th and the tread on the shoes is already completely worn down on the ball of my foot. I use these for walking (not every day) and for indoor workouts, so I am shocked that they have worn out so much in 2 months. I usually get about 4 months out of my Brooks. I do high impact workouts, so usually they lose cushioning, but I have never had a shoe wear down so quickly in other areas. The cushioning also seems to be breaking down pretty quickly. I feel ready for a new pair and it’s ... MoreI have been a glycerin wearer for years and have been really disappointed in the quality of these shoes! Like others, I had the issue of the toe box collapsing in certain spots, putting pressure on certain toes and making my workouts super uncomfortable. In addition, I got these on April 8th and the tread on the shoes is already completely worn down on the ball of my foot. I use these for walking (not every day) and for indoor workouts, so I am shocked that they have worn out so much in 2 months. I usually get about 4 months out of my Brooks. I do high impact workouts, so usually they lose cushioning, but I have never had a shoe wear down so quickly in other areas. The cushioning also seems to be breaking down pretty quickly. I feel ready for a new pair and it’s only been about 2 months! Super disappointed and honestly not sure which shoe to buy now…I need new shoes, but I really don’t want to keep dropping $150 every 2 months and with these being newly released I will be waiting for a long time. I hope Brooks brings back the quality!!

Excellent customer service

I was compelled to give a review based on an excellent customer service experience I had with a problem with a different shoe (and I would give the customer service 5 stars, or more if possible), I felt very well taken care of by Brooks and note the company and customer service agent went above and beyond to help me. As for this shoe, I picked it as a replacement to the now-defunct Levitate line as I needed a neutral support shoe with which to replace it. The Glycerin 21 certainly avoids a blister problem I had previously on the last iteration of Levitate#6 (sadly! The prior ones I tried including Levitate #2 and #5 were perfect) and this model is also quite roomy in the toe box (maybe a bit too roomy for my narrow feet). It also has an abundance of cushion. My ... MoreI was compelled to give a review based on an excellent customer service experience I had with a problem with a different shoe (and I would give the customer service 5 stars, or more if possible), I felt very well taken care of by Brooks and note the company and customer service agent went above and beyond to help me. As for this shoe, I picked it as a replacement to the now-defunct Levitate line as I needed a neutral support shoe with which to replace it. The Glycerin 21 certainly avoids a blister problem I had previously on the last iteration of Levitate#6 (sadly! The prior ones I tried including Levitate #2 and #5 were perfect) and this model is also quite roomy in the toe box (maybe a bit too roomy for my narrow feet). It also has an abundance of cushion. My critiques of the shoe (which I knew going into purchasing it but chose it anyway) are that in comparison to the Levitate, there is perhaps too much cushion and so it is a little clunky and I lack sensitivity of the ground. It's more of a walking than running shoe in this regard, I think it might hamper my speed if using for running, but I use it exclusively for long walks and at work, and it will fit my needs just fine for the season. It also kind of looks like a "clown shoe" due to so much rubber on the bottom/sides - I don't care about this myself, but just to note for those ordering this online. I'll probably end up gravitating toward a different pair for the future, but it will work well for me for now. Thanks again Brooks for your spectacular customer service!

Functionality is great; Aesthetics needs work

The fit and feel of this shoe is everything I know the Brooks brand to be. Durable materials, lightweight and well made. They are comfortable, snug without being tight, cushioned well from the balls of my feet through the arches to my heels. I feel like I'm almost bouncing when I walk. These are overall very nice shoes, especially in functionality, which is paramount for me. I've worn these at the running track and around my neighborhood and really like the feel.I will say, though, that I don't love the look and design of these. The toe box is pretty wide, and the bottom bubbles out in a way that make my feet look kind of boxy and weird. I typically like a slender shoe or sneaker, and this just isn't that. I would also prefer a little more design in terms of color ... MoreThe fit and feel of this shoe is everything I know the Brooks brand to be. Durable materials, lightweight and well made. They are comfortable, snug without being tight, cushioned well from the balls of my feet through the arches to my heels. I feel like I'm almost bouncing when I walk. These are overall very nice shoes, especially in functionality, which is paramount for me. I've worn these at the running track and around my neighborhood and really like the feel.I will say, though, that I don't love the look and design of these. The toe box is pretty wide, and the bottom bubbles out in a way that make my feet look kind of boxy and weird. I typically like a slender shoe or sneaker, and this just isn't that. I would also prefer a little more design in terms of color - these are solid black and would work great for work shoes in a restaurant or as good shoes to go with a work uniform, but they definitely aren't what I would consider fashionable. Again, not their intended purpose, per say, but I'm not sure I'd buy this particular style again. Just a bit boring and boxy for me.

Glycerin GTS 21 - little arch support and no pull-tab on back (Sketchers Archfit and Fitflop F Mode better)

Purchased these, Ariel 20, Sketchers Archfit and Fitflop Fmode to compare for everyday use. My feet are a mess with high arches, Morton’s Neuroma, Achilles tendonitis, and general inflammation from multiple autoimmune disorders and I need everyday shoes with great support for my entire foot and my high arches. I usually wear a size 10, but occasionally a 10W if they are a material that doesn’t stretch or runs narrow. I need to space to reduce toe pinching that triggers the Morton’s Neuroma. I ordered this in a 10W. The Ariel 20 was a 10 and fit perfectly size-wise. The Gycerin in 10W (1D) was too wide. They felt too wide. Unfortunately, they did not have a pull tab on the back of the shoe, so they were harder to put on than the Sketchers and Fitflops (Ariel was also ... MorePurchased these, Ariel 20, Sketchers Archfit and Fitflop Fmode to compare for everyday use. My feet are a mess with high arches, Morton’s Neuroma, Achilles tendonitis, and general inflammation from multiple autoimmune disorders and I need everyday shoes with great support for my entire foot and my high arches. I usually wear a size 10, but occasionally a 10W if they are a material that doesn’t stretch or runs narrow. I need to space to reduce toe pinching that triggers the Morton’s Neuroma. I ordered this in a 10W. The Ariel 20 was a 10 and fit perfectly size-wise. The Gycerin in 10W (1D) was too wide. They felt too wide. Unfortunately, they did not have a pull tab on the back of the shoe, so they were harder to put on than the Sketchers and Fitflops (Ariel was also missing a pull tab). I also didn’t feel any arch support when walking. Sketchers and Fitflops were better in that regard and had the pull strap. So, decided to return these. Felt I had to give them a try, but just didn’t work for my foot issues.

Jury still out but starting to sway in favor...

Ok... so I switched from the Ghosts to try the Glycerin's as I've been needing more cushion and wanted to try a lower heel/toe drop. I got the coconut in wide and love the pale blue/orange color combo. Traditionally, with my flat feet and wide toe-bed, I like to feel more of the ground when I run and was concerned the cushion on these would simply be too high and too soft. Well, in a way, they are a little. Let me explain: I first ran on the treadmill with these (while away from home) with a 0.5 incline. They ran beautifully, no issues. Then I ran on the road and it felt a bit too think and heavy. Then I returned to NYC where I run on a gravel trail in Central Park and on my first run, I found it VERY awkward with zero toe-off to propel myself and a lot of fatigue. ... MoreOk... so I switched from the Ghosts to try the Glycerin's as I've been needing more cushion and wanted to try a lower heel/toe drop. I got the coconut in wide and love the pale blue/orange color combo. Traditionally, with my flat feet and wide toe-bed, I like to feel more of the ground when I run and was concerned the cushion on these would simply be too high and too soft. Well, in a way, they are a little. Let me explain: I first ran on the treadmill with these (while away from home) with a 0.5 incline. They ran beautifully, no issues. Then I ran on the road and it felt a bit too think and heavy. Then I returned to NYC where I run on a gravel trail in Central Park and on my first run, I found it VERY awkward with zero toe-off to propel myself and a lot of fatigue. On the plus side, my knees, hips, back and neck were not in pain after my run which can sometimes happen (I'm so misaligned, lol) so I allowed myself to recover and then ran again today and it felt very different than the first difficult run. This time, while there still was little toe-off and the leg fatigue hitting me faster than I'm used, I realized that I could feel my calf muscles more elongated and my butt muscles activated and realized that the fatigue might have more to do with a different part of my body being activated that wasn't activated before. And a part of my body that I WANTED to work out more anyways, so maybe this was actually a good thing! Also, the run was far easier than my first attempt on the gravel trail. Then I ran on NYC concrete back to my apt and noticed how wonderful the cushion was this time, allowing me to run longer than usual when on concrete.So... all this to say: I think my body is simply adjusting to the lower heel/toe drop, the higher cushioning (which may be harder for me to run in when I'm already physically exhausted, but it's certainly more protective) and I want to give this a few more weeks of running in Central Park to see if I stick with this or return to the Ghosts... Thank goodness for their 90-day return policy that allows you to actually try out the sneakers... Very grateful, Brooks!

Running happy! But I have notes.

My first Brooks after decades and decades in wide NB stability shoes, which I have to admit long ago stopped being running shoes and turned into diabetic/walking shoes. I'm not diabetic or heavy and I really use these for running, so the stiffness & lack of forefoot cushioning was becoming a real problem. I chose Glycerin GTS after way too much research.These are a revelation. The cushioning is a total gamechanger. I'm recovering from a tibial BSI and I really have to be careful in these not to run more or faster than I should right now, because I feel great. I am indeed running happy, like actually smiling. I haven't felt this happy running in years and years and years, and when I get off the treadmill I don't feel all beat up -- I feel honestly like I could go a ... MoreMy first Brooks after decades and decades in wide NB stability shoes, which I have to admit long ago stopped being running shoes and turned into diabetic/walking shoes. I'm not diabetic or heavy and I really use these for running, so the stiffness & lack of forefoot cushioning was becoming a real problem. I chose Glycerin GTS after way too much research.These are a revelation. The cushioning is a total gamechanger. I'm recovering from a tibial BSI and I really have to be careful in these not to run more or faster than I should right now, because I feel great. I am indeed running happy, like actually smiling. I haven't felt this happy running in years and years and years, and when I get off the treadmill I don't feel all beat up -- I feel honestly like I could go a lot longer.That said:The guiderails are good, but they're no medial posts, and I found that within a couple of runs I was starting to cook up plantar unhappiness. Put in Currex insoles, problem solved for now, feels great. If I were going to run long distances, though, like 10+ mi runs, I don't think that'd be enough.This "wide" toebox is not wide. I am a good honest D, and my big toe's developing a pretty chonky callus because it's rubbing up against the inside of the shoe. I've heard this complaint from others as well, and I get the impression that this is a "unisex last" (meaning "men's last") problem, because the midfoot is about as wide as it could be without being too wide -- these are designed for blockier-footed men, I think, with more bone mass in the midfoot.Similarly, the heel collar is too high and the ankle notch is a little weirdly placed -- you can tell the shoe designers expected me to be several inches taller -- again, this can be solved by using an actual women's last and designing with women in mind. I'm 5'1", which is short but not super-short for a woman. So I''m just paying attention to how the heel collar rubs, bc in the past a high heel collar has contributed to Achilles problems. Also paying attention to front-of-ankle rubbing. For now I'm just careful not to wear low-cut socks.Finally -- I don't know why this is, but around mi 1.3 in these I pretty reliably get hot feet? Doesn't really make sense to me, there's plenty of airflow in the mesh. Maybe this foam traps a lot of heat. In any case it's noticeable, then I stop noticing, but we'll see how it goes in summer.Overall, great shoes, making a significant difference to my running. But I think work can be done on the "designing for women" angle -- especially at $170 per pair when you figure you're going to lay out money for 2 pr/yr. We deserve that much.

SO Comfortable, New Favorite

The moment I slipped these shoes on my feet, I knew I was going to be a Brooks customer for life. These shoes have the perfect amount of cushion, support and tread. -- Fit is perfection, sizing is true to size and the width is also true to size. The profile of the shoe is sleek, I feel stylish while running/working out which sometimes is a trade for comfort.The fabric is conducive for many different weather trends. Where I live, we get rain, cold, snow, etc. I feel comfortable enough wearing these shoes in all different types of weather without compromising their fit or structure. In a sporadic climate, that is a treat!What I like the most is the comfort and overall fit. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes within a running shoe, one or the other is compromised. This ... MoreThe moment I slipped these shoes on my feet, I knew I was going to be a Brooks customer for life. These shoes have the perfect amount of cushion, support and tread. -- Fit is perfection, sizing is true to size and the width is also true to size. The profile of the shoe is sleek, I feel stylish while running/working out which sometimes is a trade for comfort.The fabric is conducive for many different weather trends. Where I live, we get rain, cold, snow, etc. I feel comfortable enough wearing these shoes in all different types of weather without compromising their fit or structure. In a sporadic climate, that is a treat!What I like the most is the comfort and overall fit. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes within a running shoe, one or the other is compromised. This shoe embodies both a strong fit and comfort while looking good and stylish.In addition to running, I utilize these shoes for everyday wear as well. The additional support and profile works well in versatile environments. My new go to sneaker for both running, working out and leisure.

Tongue piece design HURTS at end of day for latest versions of Brooks' shoes

The issue I have with all of the Brooks shoes I have ordered in the last two years is the tongue of the shoe. Full disclosure: I'm not a runner, but I am a shoe wearer who wears these Brooks shoes all day long for comfort and stability. I noticed a strange aching discomfort at the end of the day on the top part of my foot in the upper ankle area. This has gone on for so long that I went to see a doctor and got scans only to finally come to the conclusion that it's these Brooks shoes I've been buying/wearing all day. The tongue is especially long in the center and also can slide to the side leaving the corner poking into that part of your ankle. The design department needs to revisit this issue because previous versions of this shoe along with other lines like ... MoreThe issue I have with all of the Brooks shoes I have ordered in the last two years is the tongue of the shoe. Full disclosure: I'm not a runner, but I am a shoe wearer who wears these Brooks shoes all day long for comfort and stability. I noticed a strange aching discomfort at the end of the day on the top part of my foot in the upper ankle area. This has gone on for so long that I went to see a doctor and got scans only to finally come to the conclusion that it's these Brooks shoes I've been buying/wearing all day. The tongue is especially long in the center and also can slide to the side leaving the corner poking into that part of your ankle. The design department needs to revisit this issue because previous versions of this shoe along with other lines like Adrenaline had shorter, flatter tongues that did not cause as much of an issue (see pic comparison). I love the shoes, hate the unnecessary pain, and the fact that I spent a lot of money for an unnecessary doctor's visit w/diagnostic testing (since my insurance is so terrible). Since you may not be able to tell what I'm talking about based on the online pictures advertising this shoe, I'm posting my own pics to show this tongue which is found on the latest versions of the shoes of Glycerin 21 along with the others I mentioned. I bought Ghost Max because tongue piece appeared in the ad pic to be a little straighter, lower, less angular than these, but it still causes an aching discomfort when I remove my shoes at end of day just not to the degree that the Glycerins do. I didn't get an Adrenaline version this year because of ugly colors/design. Aside from the tongue piece issue, which sadly is proving significant or I would not have sought a dr and been willing to pay the medical bills, the shoe feels great. It has a similar Ghost Max cushiony sole (without the heel drop feeling that Ghost Max has). Brooks please reduce the size of the tongue pieces! You did before 19 versions and prior, I know you can do it again. If this is a runner enhancing design, can you make a shoe with a removable tongue piece and sell an alternate piece for non-runners that could be attached?