Brooks Glycerin Max vs Mizuno Wave Horizon 9:
Which to Choose

Start with what's identical, because a lot is: both sit at maximum cushioning with no rigid plate, both lean on comfort over snap, and both fade above roughly 5:15–5:30 min/km when their tall stacks start to feel vague under a fast effort. The differences are structural. The Glycerin Max is the taller, softer shoe — a 47 mm heel / 41 mm forefoot platform of DNA Tuned nitrogen foam on a 6 mm drop, with the GlideRoll rocker doing the work of moving you forward. The Wave Horizon 9 rides lower at 41 mm heel / 33 mm forefoot on a steeper 8 mm drop, and pairs a soft, springy Enerzy NXT top layer over a firmer Enerzy base, so landings feel cushioned but transitions feel planted and controlled rather than pillowy. Despite its "substantial" reputation, the Glycerin Max is actually the lighter of the two at about 300 g in a men's US 9 versus roughly 320 g for the Horizon 9. The decisive split is support philosophy: the Glycerin Max is stable-neutral, steadying its tall stack purely through a wide base and rocker geometry with no posting, while the Wave Horizon 9 is a true stability shoe, using FOAM WAVE geometry and an enhanced medial wall to actively guide overpronation. That also shows in range — the Horizon 9 is happy dropping down to 10K, whereas the Glycerin Max is happiest from the half up through the marathon.