Brooks’ Ghost Max sneaker offers cloud-like cushioning without feeling clunky
More cushion without a towering platform makes these shoes our new go-to Brooks shoe.
Sizes: 7 to 15 | Widths: Medium, wide and extra wide | Heel drop: 6 mm | Weight: 10.0 oz (283 g)
Sizes: 6 to 12 | Widths: Medium, wide and extra wide | Heel drop: 6 mm | Weight: 9.0 oz (255.1 g)
Malin and Rabinowitz tried the Brooks Ghost Max running shoes for three weeks.
Malin wore the women’s version of the shoe and ran indoors on a treadmill and outdoors on pavement in New York City. To date, she’s logged about 63 miles in the sneakers. Most of Malin’s runs are between four and six miles in weather between 60 and 80 degrees. She typically prefers cushioned, sturdy running sneakers that offer bounce and stability. Malin has previously run in Brooks sneakers, including the Adrenaline, Revel, Glycerin, Catamount, Ghost and Levitate models.
Rabinowitz wore the men’s version of the shoe, running outdoors on the paved streets and sidewalks of New York. About half of that time was spent on gentle hills. Most of his runs were between three and six miles in weather between 60 and 80 degrees. Rabinowitz typically prefers cushioned running sneakers with ample traction and support. He’s previously run in Brooks sneakers, including the Adrenaline GTS, Glycerin, Catamount, Ghost, Revel and Levitate models.
Malin: In my experience, it’s hard for a running shoe to add cushioning without adding height. I don’t want to feel like I’m running in platform boots, and ultra cushioned sneakers tend to be too thick and heavy for me to find comfortable. I also don’t want my running sneakers to be too flat — the Brooks Revel, for example, does not have enough cushioning for me to feel a spring in my step.
The Brooks Ghost Max manages to give me just the right amount of height and bounce with its thick layer foam, but it doesn’t lift me off the ground so much that I feel unsteady. The foam is well distributed across the shoe, and I’m easily able to find my center of balance while wearing them. I don’t feel like I’m leaning forward or sinking backward as I’m standing still. I’m impressed by how stable I feel in the shoe even with how much cushioning it has. My ankles usually feel very wobbly in highly cushioned shoes, but I feel secure in these because they have a wide base.
Rabinowitz: I have had basically the same experience. I’ve noticed that running shoes generally have gotten taller and chunkier, leading to a high platform that makes me more wary of rolling my ankle. The Ghost Max are taller than the Ghost, but maintain a similar form-factor to the Glycerin, one of my favorite running shoes. After about a week of running in the Ghost Max, I started to prefer them over all of my other shoes. The even, relatively-flat, cushioned support led to a steady stride that absorbed the impact of running on pavement well.
Rabinowitz: I’ve run in the Brooks Ghost, Adrenaline and Glycerin for years — I wouldn’t call any of them fast shoes. To be fair, they are everyday trainers, not race shoes. But the Brooks Ghost Max feels slightly faster than those other models because of its subtle rocker, which helps propel my steps. It’s slight — nowhere near the forward-leaning roll of something like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 — but it makes these shoes feel faster than the original Ghost. My mile times weren’t dramatically different wearing these shoes, but the comfortable, rolling feeling was notable.
Malin: The first time I wore the Ghost Max on the treadmill, I ran the fastest 5K pace I have in a long time and it was 100% due to the gentle rocker. It propelled me forward and helped me keep a consistent pace. The rocker aids in rolling through the heel to toe motion and I found that my legs didn’t have to work as hard as they do when I’m running on flatter shoes, so they did not get tired as quickly. Like Harry, the Glycerin is also one of my favorite running shoes, but the Ghost Max’s rocker won me over the moment I put them on.
Rabinowitz: Something I’ve always appreciated about the Ghost shoe is its roomy interior — the shoe doesn’t feel overly tight or restrictive. The Ghost Max maintains this design. Having reasonable space around my toes is especially useful for longer runs, when my feet naturally start to swell.
Malin: I also like the shoe’s roomy interior because I can wear thicker socks, which is very important to me as we’re going into cold weather months. I’m also prone to blisters, and having a roomy interior to spread my toes out helps prevent them.
Brooks offers a 90-day trial with all its shoes — you can return a new pair in any condition online if you aren’t satisfied, according to the brand. Gently worn gear is resold on Brook’s ReStart resale storefront.
Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor at NBC Select who covers fitness, fitness apparel and fitness equipment including workout apps, sports bras and pilates rings. For this piece, she tried the Brooks Ghost Max shoes for three weeks after the brand sent her a pair ahead of the launch date.
Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including running shoes, fitness trackers and workout earbuds. For this piece, he tried the Brooks Ghost Max shoes for three weeks after the brand sent him a pair ahead of the launch date.
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