ShoeGeometry

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 vs Mizuno Wave Sky 9

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneBrooks Glycerin Max 2: heel 45 mm, forefoot 39 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 33 % of length, radius 34 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 16 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Brooks Glycerin Max 2: toe rocker 33 % of lengthMizuno Wave Sky 9: heel 44 mm, forefoot 38 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 33 % of length, radius 37 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 22 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Mizuno Wave Sky 9: toe rocker 33 % of length
  • Brooks Glycerin Max 245/39 mm · toe rocker 33 % · heel bevel 12 %
  • Mizuno Wave Sky 944/38 mm · toe rocker 33 % · heel bevel 11 %
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-offAbout the same33.1 vs 33.3 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same45 vs 44 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same39 vs 38 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same6 vs 6 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootMizuno Wave Sky 973 vs 90 /100 stiffness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same119 vs 120 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 Max 2
Max cushion · Road
Mizuno Wave Sky 9
Max cushion · Road
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated6 mmDerived
Heel stack45 mmStated44 mmStated
Forefoot stack39 mmStated38 mmStated
Weight312 gStated292 gStated
Toe rocker33 %est.33 %est.
Rocker radius34 %est.37 %est.
Rocker rise angle33 degest.34 degest.
Rocker angle at toe61 degest.68 degest.
Toe tip over ground46 mm*est.45 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset78.7 %est.76 %est.
Toe spring (relative)22.4 %est.22.5 %est.
Heel bevel length11.6 %*est.10.7 %*est.
Heel bevel height16 mm*est.22 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)119 mmMeasured120 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)97 mmMeasured99.9 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width96.5 mmMeasured95.7 mmMeasured
Toebox width73.4 mmMeasured70.4 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness73Derived90Derived
Midsole firmness40Derived—
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamDNA TunedMIZUNO ENERZY NXT (nitrogen-infused EVA) + ENERZY base, Foam Wave
List price$200$180

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for Brooks Glycerin Max 2, 6 mm for Mizuno Wave Sky 9.
  • Brooks Glycerin Max 2's heel stack is 45 mm, 1 mm thicker than Mizuno Wave Sky 9's 44 mm.
  • Brooks Glycerin Max 2's forefoot stack is 39 mm, 1 mm thicker than Mizuno Wave Sky 9's 38 mm.
  • Brooks Glycerin Max 2's weight is 312 g, 20 g heavier than Mizuno Wave Sky 9's 292 g.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 33 % of length for Brooks Glycerin Max 2, 33 % of length for Mizuno Wave Sky 9.

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 Max 2

Mizuno Wave Sky 9

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Brooks Glycerin Max 2 details · Mizuno Wave Sky 9 details · Add more shoes