Brooks Glycerin GTS 21 - Womens Running Shoes

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!!

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.

My heroes

These shoes have saved my life. I'm exaggerating, but not that much. For months I've had pain in my lateral left heel due to my slightly flat feet which I overpronate while walking. My plantar fascia and peroneus muscles are very tight as well, and despite tons of stretching, manual treatments from my fellow physical therapists at work, the pain lingered. Until these shoes. I can walk again! I was literally crying happy tears after the first day I wore them to work. They have plenty of arch support, lots of cushioning under my entire foot, keep my calcaneus in place, and support my ankles to prevent them rolling during direction changes. Haven't tried them running yet, still finishing the healing progress on my leg first. Overall, they are magical. If you have any ... MoreThese shoes have saved my life. I'm exaggerating, but not that much. For months I've had pain in my lateral left heel due to my slightly flat feet which I overpronate while walking. My plantar fascia and peroneus muscles are very tight as well, and despite tons of stretching, manual treatments from my fellow physical therapists at work, the pain lingered. Until these shoes. I can walk again! I was literally crying happy tears after the first day I wore them to work. They have plenty of arch support, lots of cushioning under my entire foot, keep my calcaneus in place, and support my ankles to prevent them rolling during direction changes. Haven't tried them running yet, still finishing the healing progress on my leg first. Overall, they are magical. If you have any lower leg issues that will could be helped with supportive, cushioning shoes, these shoes are your only hope.

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.

Sadly not for me-

I purchased the GTS 21 on recommendation from a friend who is on her feet a lot for work. I purchased them because I thought the thick cushion would be helpful in minimizing stress while on my feet. I’ve had the Brooks shoes shoes for a few months and never recognized how sore my feet felt after a day at work while wearing them, And truth be told I didn’t figure it out until this past weekend-The shoes by all account have a thick sole and appear to give needed cushion to those who are on their feet a lot or who simply walk a lot. But I wore the Brooks GTS 21 shoes on Sunday and was on my feet off an on the entire day as we had company over and we were building a gazebo. By evening my feet were in so much pain that I couldn’t wait to take them off .Today I wore my ... MoreI purchased the GTS 21 on recommendation from a friend who is on her feet a lot for work. I purchased them because I thought the thick cushion would be helpful in minimizing stress while on my feet. I’ve had the Brooks shoes shoes for a few months and never recognized how sore my feet felt after a day at work while wearing them, And truth be told I didn’t figure it out until this past weekend-The shoes by all account have a thick sole and appear to give needed cushion to those who are on their feet a lot or who simply walk a lot. But I wore the Brooks GTS 21 shoes on Sunday and was on my feet off an on the entire day as we had company over and we were building a gazebo. By evening my feet were in so much pain that I couldn’t wait to take them off .Today I wore my ASICS shoes to work instead and had them on the entire day into the late evening. I came home and did not have any foot pain.Kind of a shocking revelation as I think back over the past month wearing my Brooks shoes- I’ve had knee pain and sore feet multiple times and never put the occurrences together.Sadly these shoes are not for me.:-(

[Rewarded Review] Comfy and great durability for lots of miles!!!

The Brooks GTS Glycerin have been my go-to daily running trainers for over a year now. I run 55 miles per week on average and gone through 4-5 pairs now and these new ones did not disappoint! These shoes usually last for around 500 miles for me and I find them to be super durable all over too. I have had these for a month already and as always, the Brook Glycerin GTS is always bringing out the best in my training, especially this long summer of many miles getting ready for my junior year collegiate cross country season this fall! I would highly recommend these shoes for anyone who is aiming to feel more recovered after runs and take on lots of mileage on the roads. They also work great for long runs!!! Even though they are a heavier shoe than most daily trainers out ... MoreThe Brooks GTS Glycerin have been my go-to daily running trainers for over a year now. I run 55 miles per week on average and gone through 4-5 pairs now and these new ones did not disappoint! These shoes usually last for around 500 miles for me and I find them to be super durable all over too. I have had these for a month already and as always, the Brook Glycerin GTS is always bringing out the best in my training, especially this long summer of many miles getting ready for my junior year collegiate cross country season this fall! I would highly recommend these shoes for anyone who is aiming to feel more recovered after runs and take on lots of mileage on the roads. They also work great for long runs!!! Even though they are a heavier shoe than most daily trainers out there, it is a good thing to get used to, so that when you change into lighter workout shoes or spike up for a race it feels even more amazing! :)

[Rewarded Review] Glycerin sneakers like running on a cloud!

I love these sneakers! When I took them out of the box I noticed they were very lightweight. When I tried them on I couldn't believe how comfortable they were for weighing so little. My foot is on the narrow side and these fit very well and true to size. I was able to adjust the laces to a comfortable fit and my foot stayed in place without shifting.As a mom of two toddler boys, I am constantly on the go and these provide a stylish and super comfortable option for daily wear, in addition to a great running and gym shoe. These are great for an outdoor walk/jog and on the treadmill, too. I like that I can wear them for errands and then squeeze a workout in without having to change. The style of the shoe and the blue/black/pink color combination works great with my ... MoreI love these sneakers! When I took them out of the box I noticed they were very lightweight. When I tried them on I couldn't believe how comfortable they were for weighing so little. My foot is on the narrow side and these fit very well and true to size. I was able to adjust the laces to a comfortable fit and my foot stayed in place without shifting.As a mom of two toddler boys, I am constantly on the go and these provide a stylish and super comfortable option for daily wear, in addition to a great running and gym shoe. These are great for an outdoor walk/jog and on the treadmill, too. I like that I can wear them for errands and then squeeze a workout in without having to change. The style of the shoe and the blue/black/pink color combination works great with my wardrobe. I feel like I can wear them with anything and they still match.I would highly recommend this shoe for any moms out there running errands, working out, and those who spend a lot of time on their feet.

[Rewarded Review] My New Favorite Shoes

I have been loyal to another big shoe brand for years, but recently decided to give Brooks a try, and O M G, I'm so glad I did! These are truly THE most comfortable pair of running shoes I have ever worn! I ordered these shoes in my usual size, and when I tried them on, I immediately fell in love. They seem to run a little wide, which is a plus for me, and they have thick, cushiony soles that make you feel like you are bouncing on clouds. I originally wore them around my house to make sure they felt okay. Yep, felt great! Then I took them to the gym and wore them on the treadmill for an hour. Still loved them! Next, I decided to try them on my outdoor run, and ended up running 8 miles. Amazing. No break-in time needed and they felt so good the entire time. Of course ... MoreI have been loyal to another big shoe brand for years, but recently decided to give Brooks a try, and O M G, I'm so glad I did! These are truly THE most comfortable pair of running shoes I have ever worn! I ordered these shoes in my usual size, and when I tried them on, I immediately fell in love. They seem to run a little wide, which is a plus for me, and they have thick, cushiony soles that make you feel like you are bouncing on clouds. I originally wore them around my house to make sure they felt okay. Yep, felt great! Then I took them to the gym and wore them on the treadmill for an hour. Still loved them! Next, I decided to try them on my outdoor run, and ended up running 8 miles. Amazing. No break-in time needed and they felt so good the entire time. Of course when it came time to run my first race of 2024, it was a decision as to which shoes I would wear... my new Brooks. This review might sound a little over the top, but I really do love these shoes, and will definitely be adding more to my closet soon!