Brooks continues to innovate their shoe lineup, and the latest example appears in the form of a ghost—but this is not your father’s Brooks Ghost. The Brooks Ghost Max arrived in October as a beefier version of one of the most iconic running shoes. So, how does it compare to the regular Ghost? Find out in this Brooks Ghost Max review.
Background
You never forget your first running shoe. Ok, that’s not true. I don’t remember my first running shoe. Likely because it was trash. But I do remember the first shoe that made running start to feel enjoyable. That shoe was the Brooks Ghost 4, in the mouthful of a colorway named Pavement/Emp Yellow/Atomic Orange/White/Silver.
Nearly a decade and a half later and I can still vividly recall my runs with the shoe. Every stride felt easier, every step felt softer, every run was more enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, running was still very difficult. But, it was less difficult having a good pair of shoes that worked with my mechanics and stride.
Over the years, as my mileage increased and my running aptitude improved, the Ghost vanished from my running shoe rotation in favor of pairs that provided a more exciting ride.
When the Brooks Ghost Max released, I had to try the shoe, if nothing else than for nostalgia’s sake. I’m happy to report, all fond Ghost memories aside, the Ghost Max is objectively a good shoe.
Brooks Ghost Max Review
Weight: 10.0 oz/283.5g (US M9) 9.0 oz/255.1g (US W8)
Stack height: 39 mm/33 mm (6 mm drop)
Price: $150
Ride
Let’s start with the drop—no, not the excellent podcast from Believe in the Run. Rather, it’s the difference in height between the heel and forefoot. If the Ghost Max had kept the 12 mm drop from the regular Ghost, I wouldn’t have bought the shoe. Thankfully, few shoes these days have a drop north of 10 mm, as the industry continues to move away from crazy-large drops. Brooks cut the drop in half to a much more reasonable 6 mm. While the regular Ghost is often prescribed for many runners, ironically, lowering the drop makes the shoe more accessible to more experienced runners while still serving beginners. Ok, I’ve officially dropped the word “drop” way too many times now.
Despite its label as a neutral shoe, the Ghost Max has a very stable ride; runners have the shoe’s broad base to thank for that. While I wouldn’t consider the Ghost MAX to provide a soft ride, it’s not exactly a firm feel either.
Even with a huge stack of cushion, it’s not a shoe I would pick for recovery days. I prefer to have a softer feel underfoot for those easy days. I’d much rather reach for the ultra-soft ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25. The Max is also not a shoe for speed day, but it’s not designed to be. Daily miles are where the shoe shines—not to be confused with the act of shoe shining—a total waste of money in my opinion. Just buy another pair of dress shoes or be more careful when you walk!
Midsole
With a tall stack of DNA LOFT v2 cushioning (39/33 mm), it lives up (literally) to its MAX name, much more than the Brooks Hyperion Max. Comprised of EVA foam, rubber, and air, Brooks’ DNA LOFT v2 foam is nothing new or revolutionary, but pairing with Brooks’ GlideRoll Rocker, “Decreases pressure underfoot for protective comfort and actively promotes smooth heel-toe transitions,” according to Brooks. It’s a smooth enough ride that you don’t have to think much about. I took the pair for a 12-miler right out of the box with no issues.
Upper
The shoe’s got a very comfortable mesh upper, although it’s not very breathable, if you care about that. Personally, I always choose comfort over breathability, except for race day. Of course, you could certainly argue that part of a running shoe upper’s comfort is determined by how breathable it is; I couldn’t care less.
Weight
At 10 oz for a men’s size 9, the weight is nothing to write home about. But when you consider the volume of cushioning, the plush upper, and amount of rubber underfoot, 10 oz seems light for this shoe. Still, I would think they can reduce the weight by making the upper more breathable (now I sound like a hypocrite) and reducing the amount of rubber on the outsole.
Outsole
There’s plenty of rubber coverage underfoot, (probably a bit too much) providing great traction in any conditions. Similar to most Brooks shoes, with the durable outsole, you can expect to get close to 400-500 miles out of this shoe. It’s a rather traditional Brooks’ outsole that looks the same as most other Brooks shoes with DNA LOFT v2.
Design
The shoe isn’t as eye-catching as some of Brooks’ more attractive shoes like the Aurora-BL, Hyperion Max, or even the Glycerin. Plus, the available colorways upon release are nothing to write home about—a lot of stale black and white and no fun colors. However, the shoe’s comfort and durability make up for what it lacks in the looks department. Function over form, right?
Price
Brooks was smart not to charge higher than $150 for this shoe. In fact, if it were priced at $160 like the Glycerin but without its nitrogen-injected DNA LOFT v3 foam, I probably wouldn’t have purchased it. The Brooks Ghost Max is available to buy at Brooks.
Brooks Ghost Max Conclusion
The Brooks Ghost MAX isn’t going to wow runners with its looks, ride, or anything in particular, but it’s a very solid daily trainer that can go the distance without falling short of your expectations. The GlideRoll Rocker is the highlight of the shoe, and provides a boost to the rather ordinary DNA LOFT v2 foam.
While the Ghost MAX may vary wildly from the regular Ghost, elements of what make the original shoe suitable for so many—comfort, durability, and dependability—are found here, in a better, more versatile shoe that will have you rooting for, not “boo-ing,” Brooks to continue to innovate their shoe lineup.
I purchased the Brooks Ghost Max with my money and Brooks had no input or influence on what I wrote. I was not compensated for this Brooks Ghost Max review.
