Puma MagMax Nitro 2 vs Brooks Glycerin Max 2
MagMax Nitro 2 or Glycerin Max 2? Here’s how they compare on feel, fit, brand specs and price, from the fitting team at The Run House.
The short answer
Want a super max-stack shoe that’s lighter than before? Get the MagMax Nitro 2.
Want the plushest, most comfortable Brooks? Get the Glycerin Max 2.
Get the MagMax Nitro 2 if
- You’d like a little less squish underfoot
- You want more bounce and energy back
- You like a less rigid forefoot
- You want the lighter shoe, by about 1.9 oz
Get the Glycerin Max 2 if
- You want the softer, more cushioned ride
- You’re on your feet all day or walk a lot
- You like a stiffer, rocker-style forefoot that rolls you forward
- You prefer a lower drop (6mm vs 8mm)
On the run
MagMax Nitro 2: Super max stack, much lighter. Super max-stack cushion with re-tuned supercritical Nitro foam, now much lighter than the original.
Glycerin Max 2: The plush, max-stack cruiser. A true SUV for easy miles: massive, plush cushioning with a smooth rocker and surprising stability for its size. Heavy, with little bounce.
The MagMax Nitro 2 hasn’t been lab tested by RunRepeat yet, so its feel ratings are estimated from the MagMax Nitro lab test (RunRepeat), RTINGS’s lab test of the 2 and Running Warehouse’s description.
Specs side by side
| MagMax Nitro 2 | Glycerin Max 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.95 | $149.95 (was $200) |
| Stack height (heel / forefoot) | 46 / 38mm* | 45 / 39mm* |
| Drop | 8mm* | 6mm |
| Weight, men’s | 9.4 oz* | 11.3 oz |
| Weight, women’s | 8.2 oz* | 10.2 oz |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Plate | None | None |
| Widths | Standard | Standard |
| Built for | Easy days, Long runs, Recovery runs | Easy days, Recovery runs, Long runs, Walking & all-day wear |
| Expected life | 350–450 miles | 350–450 miles |
Stack, drop and weight come from each brand’s own website. Numbers marked * aren’t published by the brand and come from other published specs. Weights are for the size each brand quotes. Expected life is our estimate.
Fit
MagMax Nitro 2. True to size with a roomier toebox than the first version.
Glycerin Max 2. True to size with an incredibly comfortable, foot-hugging upper, though it’s low over the toes.
Try them on
Come try on both at The Run House in Walpole, Needham or Falmouth. Gait analysis is always free.
Shop the MagMax Nitro 2 · Shop the Glycerin Max 2 · Compare other running shoes