Confession: Apart from one pair of New Balances I received a few years in the past, I’ve at all times run solely in Hoka footwear. I’m a bonafine Hoka Honey, if you’ll. All that cushioning and shock absorption are precisely what I crave once I’m pounding the pavement.
However Hoka is way from the one model providing max cushioning today. And once I realized that Brooks Operating was popping out with a comfortable new possibility based mostly on its hottest shoe, the Ghost, I knew it was time to department out.
With the American Podiatric Medical Associations’s Seal of Acceptance, the Ghost persistently tops operating shoe lists everywhere in the world, and the OG is at present on its fifteenth iteration. Now, in response to shopper suggestions, the model is introducing the Brooks Ghost Max ($150).
As its title implies, the Ghost Max takes the design of the ever-popular Ghost and provides extra cushioning to the midsole. With that additional foam underfoot, the heel-to-toe drop comes down from 12mm to simply 6mm for a flatter placement of the foot within the shoe. The crew additionally added a extra exaggerated rocker backside, meant to assist propel you ahead with every stride.
So what does all that really really feel like on a run and within the fitness center? I received a pair to attempt them out for myself.
Brooks Ghost Max — $150.00
Full stack peak: 39mm:33mm
Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
Higher: Structured breathable mesh
Insole: Detachable
Midsole: DNA LOFT v2 Cushioning
Outsole: GlideRoll Rocker that promotes easy heel-to-toe transitions
Weight: 9 oz. (ladies) | 10 oz. (males)
Match: True to measurement
Sizes: 6-12
Colours: 5
- Thick, detachable insole for additional shock absorption if you need it
- Padded tongue and heel collar for consolation
- Higher mesh is breathable and supportive
- Light-weight
- Not tremendous bouncy
- Barely dearer than the common Ghost
How the Brooks Ghost Max performs throughout totally different actions
Once I acquired the Brooks field, I used to be shocked at simply how mild this pair was. At first look, the midsoles on the Ghost Max are significantly larger than these on the standard Ghost, however they’re nonetheless not as thick as those I’m used to in Hokas. Curious to see how they carry out in varied situations, I took them out for runs on the road, dust paths, and the treadmill.
Associated Tales
Highway operating
Operating on the sidewalk within the Brooks Ghost Max was a welcome change of tempo—actually. I used to be capable of run every mile a little bit quicker than ordinary. In actual fact, I shaved off about 30 seconds from my typical mile tempo once I hit the pavement in these footwear.
So far as consolation, I observed that there was a slight bounce—which was good however not that important. In actual fact, for the reason that heel-to-toe drop (that means, the peak distinction between the underside of the heel and the underside of the toe) was solely 6mm, I didn’t discover the rocker backside was a lot assist when it got here to propulsion. That mentioned, the cushioning and padded insole provide strong shock absorption. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rank the Brooks Ghost Max a strong 9 in terms of highway operating.
Path operating
Right here, I take advantage of “path operating” loosely to imply operating open air whereas not on the highway or sidewalk. Because the grip on these footwear isn’t precisely constructed for extra technical terrain, I didn’t take them up any mountains.
As a substitute, I largely used them to run on the park on flat, dust floor. On this setting, the Ghost Max carried out properly—however the traction isn’t completely splendid for dust terrain. These are not at all path trainers (nor do they declare to be) however as soon as I received a superb sense of my footing and made positive I wouldn’t slip, I spotted that I may comfortably dash in these kicks. For that purpose, I’d give the Ghost Max an eight out of 10 for operating on flat, packed dust trails.
On the fitness center
I’m a runner. Extra particularly, I’m a highway runner. I’m additionally a journalist who wished to offer a well-rounded evaluation. That’s why I knew I needed to take a look at the Brooks Ghost Max on the treadmill once I went to the fitness center. On this case, the Ghost Max was a dream. I barely felt them on my toes—however once I considered how they felt, supportive and lightweight are the 2 issues that got here to thoughts.
Regardless of my love for operating in Hokas, these footwear are admittedly not nice for energy coaching as a result of they’ve the next heel-to-toe drop, making it troublesome to maintain your steadiness when lifting weights or doing leg exercises. I’m blissful to report that that is not the case with the Brooks Ghost Max. Although there’s loads of cushioning, the decrease heel-to-toe drop makes me really feel extra secure on the fitness center ground.
So in terms of the fitness center, I favor these footwear over my Hokas. And for me, that’s definitely saying lots.
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