Brooks Glycerin Max 2 vs Asics Gel-SlowCush:
Which to Choose

The headline difference is the character of the foam. The Gel-SlowCush leans fully into softness: its FF Luxe Plus midsole over foamed PureGel Plus swallows impact with a cloud-like, cushion-first feel, but rebound is moderate (3/6) — it absorbs rather than springs back, so it won't reward a surge. The Glycerin Max 2's nitrogen-infused DNA Tuned foam is tuned a notch livelier (4/6 responsiveness), with a plusher heel but a deliberately firmer forefoot that keeps toe-off from going mushy; the practical upshot is that it feels a touch more structured and controlled underfoot, not marshmallowy, despite the "Max" billing. Geometry splits them too: the Gel-SlowCush sits taller at 48mm heel / 40mm forefoot, while the Glycerin Max 2 runs a little lower at 45mm / 37mm — both share the 8mm drop, and both rely on a rocker geometry to roll you forward at cruising speeds. Weight is the other real gap: the Gel-SlowCush is about 298g in a men's US 9, the Glycerin Max 2 a heavier 318g, and that heft is noticeable late in a run. Both trade some steadiness for all that height — each can feel a little tippy or vague when you slow to a walk or make quick direction changes — and neither wants to go much faster than roughly 5:15–5:30 min/km before the cushion starts working against you. In short: same mission, with the Asics biased toward pure plush softness and lower weight, the Brooks toward a slightly firmer, livelier, more planted ride.