ShoeGeometry

Brooks Glycerin 23 vs Nike Vomero 18

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneBrooks Glycerin 23: heel 38 mm, forefoot 30 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 33 % of length, radius 45 % of length; heel bevel 10 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Brooks Glycerin 23: toe rocker 33 % of lengthNike Vomero 18: heel 46 mm, forefoot 36 mm (drop 10 mm); toe rocker 39 % of length, radius 55 % of length; heel bevel 13 % of length, 24 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Nike Vomero 18: toe rocker 39 % of length
  • Brooks Glycerin 2338/30 mm · toe rocker 33 % · heel bevel 10 %
  • Nike Vomero 1846/36 mm · toe rocker 39 % · heel bevel 13 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offNike Vomero 1832.9 vs 38.8 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelNike Vomero 1838 vs 46 mm heel stack
More under the forefootNike Vomero 1830 vs 36 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropBrooks Glycerin 238 vs 10 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootAbout the same38 vs 42 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelAbout the same33 vs 38 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootBrooks Glycerin 23120.4 vs 116.6 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricBrooks Glycerin 23
Max cushion · Road
Nike Vomero 18
Max cushion · Road
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStated10 mmStated
Heel stack38 mmStated46 mmStated
Forefoot stack30 mmStated36 mmStated
Weight301 gStated325 gStated
Toe rocker33 %est.39 %est.
Rocker radius45 %est.55 %est.
Rocker rise angle28 degest.25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe58 degest.53 degest.
Toe tip over ground37 mmest.38 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset78.2 %est.74.2 %est.
Toe spring (relative)17.5 %est.17.7 %est.
Heel bevel length10.3 %est.13.5 %*est.
Heel bevel height20 mm*est.24 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)120.4 mmMeasured116.6 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)98.6 mmMeasured96.5 mmMeasured
Toe box shape75 %*est.72 %*est.
Interior forefoot width96.1 mmMeasured95.6 mmMeasured
Toebox width73.9 mmMeasured69.6 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness38Derived42Derived
Midsole firmness33Derived38Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamDNA TunedZoomX + ReactX
List price$175$155

Key differences

  • Brooks Glycerin 23's heel-to-toe drop is 8 mm, 2 mm lower than Nike Vomero 18's 10 mm.
  • Brooks Glycerin 23's heel stack is 38 mm, 8 mm thinner than Nike Vomero 18's 46 mm.
  • Brooks Glycerin 23's forefoot stack is 30 mm, 6 mm thinner than Nike Vomero 18's 36 mm.
  • Brooks Glycerin 23's weight is 301 g, 24 g lighter than Nike Vomero 18's 325 g.
  • Brooks Glycerin 23's toe rocker is 33 % of length, 6 % of length shorter than Nike Vomero 18's 39 % of length.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Brooks Glycerin 23

Nike Vomero 18

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Brooks Glycerin 23 details · Nike Vomero 18 details · Add more shoes