Brooks Glycerin 22 vs Mizuno Wave Sky 8:
Which to Choose

On paper these shoes are close siblings — high cushioning, no plate, moderate responsiveness, and a stable-but-neutral platform that steadies the stride without a medial post. The differences are real but subtle. The Glycerin 22 runs a 10mm heel-to-toe drop over roughly a 38mm stack of nitrogen-infused DNA Tuned foam, giving it a traditional, heel-friendly geometry that favors heel strikers and a classic cushioned transition. The Wave Sky 8 sits a touch taller at about 41mm in the heel and runs a lower 8mm drop on dual-layer Enerzy foam, so it feels a little more level underfoot and rolls through the midfoot with a slightly more forgiving transition for midfoot strikers. Both foams are soft and protective rather than propulsive; the Glycerin leans toward a composed, predictable, gently springy ride, while the Wave Sky's deeper, dual-density stack gives a marginally livelier rebound but can feel floatier and vaguer the harder you push. On weight the Mizuno has the edge — roughly 271g versus about 293g for the Brooks in men's sizing — which is notable given the Mizuno's taller stack, and it makes the Wave Sky feel a shade nimbler despite both being firmly in the cushioned-trainer camp rather than the fast one. The most practical split is range: the Glycerin is comfortable stretching all the way to the marathon, while the Wave Sky is happiest topping out at the half, where its cushioned depth is at its sweet spot. Fit-wise both use accommodating engineered mesh uppers; the Mizuno's stable-neutral build also extends a little grace to mild overpronators, whereas the Glycerin is a purer neutral shoe.