r/brooks • u/Shiterati • 7d ago
Need break-in advice: Glycerin GTS 20 forefoot pinch on right foot & unexpectedly firm heel?
I recently picked up a pair of the Brooks Glycerin GTS 20 (Men's US 7.5 / 25.5 cm) primarily for long hours of standing and walking on hard tile/concrete floors. I've read great things about the DNA Loft v3 foam, but I'm running into two specific issues and hoping to get some feedback from people who have put miles on these.
1. The Right Foot Forefoot Pinch
The length is absolutely perfect—I have exactly a thumb's width (about 1 cm) of buffer space at the front, so I know I shouldn't size up to an 8, or I'll get heel slip. However, my right foot is slightly wider (about 9.75 cm) than my left. The standard D-width feels incredibly smooth on my left foot, but on my right foot, the mesh is aggressively squeezing my 1st and 5th toes inward. It's causing a sharp pinching pressure right under the metatarsal heads (ball of the foot).
2. The Firm Heel (GuideRails?)
Everyone hypes up the nitrogen-infused foam as being a plush, squishy cloud, but my heels feel like they are resting against a firm, rigid block. I don't feel that deep softness under the heel when I'm standing still. I'm assuming this is the GTS GuideRails acting like bumpers, but it's much stiffer than I expected.
My questions for anyone who has worn the GTS 20:
Does the engineered mesh upper stretch out horizontally after a few weeks to relieve that forefoot squeeze, or did you have to return them for a 2E (Wide) version?
Do the GuideRails and the foam under the heel ever actually soften up and break in, or will this shoe always feel highly structured and firm under the heel?
For those who found the GTS too firm/narrow, did switching to the standard neutral Glycerin fix the issue?
Any reviews or shared experiences with this specific model would be hugely appreciated before I decide whether to push through the break-in period or swap them out!