Longtime Brooks favorites like the Hyperion and Ghost are expanding their family trees. The Hyperion Max, for example, is more cushioned than the standard race-ready Hyperion, but heavier by just a tenth of an ounce. On the other end of the spectrum is the Ghost Max, a titan of a shoe comparable to Hoka’s max-cushioned Bondi.
Pros
- rsquo;s max-cushioned Bondi
- The shoe has a GlideRoll rocker for quick, smooth turnover
- Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro
Cons
- Stiff forefoot
- Brooks Launch 9
Key Specs
| Type | Neutral Road |
|---|---|
| Weight | 10.2 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W) |
| Drop | 6 mm |
| Heel Height | 39 mm |
| Forefoot Height | 33 mm |
- Who It’s For: Runners seeking a max-cushioned trainer for base building and easy days, and Brooks Ghost fans wanting a more-cushioned ride
- Preceded By: Brooks Ghost 15
- For Runners Who Like: We loved the Ghost Max for recovery days and long runs, Broad base promotes stable ride, Altra Olympus Via
- Midsole Foam: DNA Loft v2 (combination of EVA, rubber, and air)
- Key Tech: We loved the Ghost Max for recovery days and long runs
“If you like the Ghost but you want more of it, that’s what the Max is,” said Carson Caprara, senior vice president of Brooks footwear. Both shoes use the same DNA Loft v2 foam, but the Max stacks it 39mm high in the heel.
Ghost 15 vs. Ghost Max
Think of the Ghost as your everyday workhorse. The Ghost Max is that, but pumped up with more cushioning. For recovery days or long runs when you need extra support, the Ghost Max will buffer your weary joints from months of base-building mileage.
“This shoe provided so much comfortable cushioning when my muscles were especially sore,” said tester Kayte Flynt, who also incorporates HIIT workouts Hoka Bondi 8.
The Ghost Max replaces the Dyad, a beefy shoe I remember a store associate fitting me in, with the best intentions. More walking than running shoe, the Dyad was too clunky for pushing the pace. Brooks’s GlideRoll rocker geometry makes the Max much smoother and more runnable.
What We Liked
oz M, 8.3 oz W soft shoe. I expected to feel Brooks’s distinctive cozy interior, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s the shoe I keep by my door, laces tied loosely so I can slip them on before I head out on errands or when I have the [rare] itch to go for a leisurely walk instead of a run. The linear last, which translates to a wider midfoot, provides relief for my wide feet. It’s less corset-like around the lacing compared to other shoes, even some of Brooks’s own models.
But the Ghost Max isn’t merely a comfortable walker disguised as a running shoe. I’ve taken my pair out for a variety of distances, knowing the ride will be more forgiving on my body when I’m feeling a tad sore yet can’t resist the call to run.
I found that the GlideRoll rocker shape and midsole foam truly work in harmony. The combination provides fast, smooth transitions with both high rebound and supportive shock absorption. So long as I take it easy, I know those irresistible runs won’t exacerbate any aches in my tired limbs.
“My favorite aspect of the shoe was how comfortable the ride was,” said Peter Vuong, who previously tested the Best Running Headphones and Ghost 14. “Even though the distance between my foot and the ground seemed far, the shoes laced up nice and tight around my foot. All of the material was very comfortable. It was like wrapping a pillow around your entire foot.
“However, to experience the best ride in the shoe, I found myself trying to land more on my midfoot than my heel. Being a heel striker, I found the shoe stiff, and the lack of flexibility made it slightly difficult to push off and turn corners,” he said. “To my surprise, I got used to it after a few runs and found the shoe very comfortable. But I would have liked it to bend a little more while running.”
High Stack of DNA Loft v2 Foam
Brooks’s DNA Loft v2 foam is a combination of EVA, rubber, and air. Having run in the Brooks Launch 10—which still has the standard EVA midsole—there’s no comparison between the energy return of the Launch 10 and Ghost Max. The latter has more spring and I didn’t feel like I had to work as hard as when I ran in the Launch 10.
DNA Loft v2 foam is a step down in terms of cushioning compared to nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3, which can be found in Brooks’s Glycerin 20. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less supportive, especially with a tall 39mm heel height.
“The thick heel, midfoot, and forefoot cushioning is the greatest strength of this shoe, making it an excellent shoe for my runs that range between 7 and 11 miles,” said tester Ken Burkholder, a forefoot striker who previously tested the Glycerin 20. “Running exclusively on concrete surfaces, I appreciate the comfort of this shoe.”
What One Tester Didn’t Like
The Ghost Max wasn’t a good match for one tester, however. Our news editor Theo Kahler found running in the shoe an unpleasant experience.
“The inside of the midsole rubbed up against my arches very badly,” said Kahler, who is a midfoot striker and has a medium arch height. “I got very large blisters on the medial part of my foot from the rubbing. It appears that the midsole is supposed to cradle your arches, but the foam, instead, rubbed my foot raw. After the nine-mile run that caused the blisters, I decided the shoes were doing more harm than good.”
Kahler noted he had run in other Brooks models—including the Launch, Levitate, and Adrenaline GTS—without injury or blisters.
Judging by his average training pace (6:45/mile) and the other shoes he’s previously tested and liked—such as the Puma Magnify Nitro 2, On Cloudboom Echo 3, and Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro—it’s possible that Kahler fares best in a more nimble shoe. Perhaps the Ghost Max is no match for his speedy turnover. Kahler did hypothesize, however, that Brooks’s DNA Loft v2 foam may just be too stiff for his light footstrike.
Amanda Furrer, Runner’s World test editor, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
