Brooks Ghost Max 2 Performance Review

There may be no way of overstating the impact of the Brooks Ghost on the sport of running, it’s one of the few shoes you know that every running store will carry and recommend, and it’s the shoe that many runners will cite as their first “real” running shoe and the gateway into enjoying those endless miles.

So when Brooks debuted the Ghost Max last year, a shocking max cushion iteration of what many consider a no frills runner, it left a lot of people confused, and even more, like the WearTesters team, absolutely thrilled when they got it on their feet.

Like any good sequel, there’s a lot of hype and excitement for the Brooks Ghost Max 2. Mostly because the original proved to be such a versatile daily trainer. But will this be a hit like Deadpool & Wolverine or more divisive like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

(Editor’s Note: surprised but mostly disappointed Arune didn’t go for a 2 Fast 2 Furious joke since the binary is right there. Also, not sure you can call Batman v Superman divisive when it was universally panned).

Lucky for us, the team at Brooks made sure all three of our regular running shoe reviewers got advance pairs of the Ghost Max 2 for testing early enough that we got to run a whole lot of miles in them.

What is the Brooks Ghost Max 2?

Brooks describes it as:

“Soft, smooth, and protective, the Ghost Max 2…road-running shoes deliver maximum comfort for running or walking. With lots of our soft, lightweight cushioning, a rocker shape that actively helps you move from landing to toe-off, and a broad base for added stability, the Ghost Max 2 is ready to roll.”

Upper/Fit

Arune: One of the reasons that Brooks is so popular is the comfort – starting with their incredibly accommodating uppers and that’s no different with the Ghost Max 2.

While I loved the OG Max, and ran some 5K races in it, I did feel like I was at the very border of needing a wide size, not just for my wider forefoot but because my midfoot felt like it was fighting the standard width shape too.

Luckily the Brooks Ghost Max 2 feels like it has a broader base to accommodate folks like me who aren’t true wide footers but also don’t have the narrower feet that can fit into a standard Nike or Hoka. That means full toe splay and a smooth, natural ride out of the gate.

One area of concern is that the Max 2 felt a bit short. I don’t know that I should go up half a size, but my toes definitely could use a bit more length.

And in terms of aesthetics, I think Brooks has found a great balance between the anodyne aesthetic that’s made their shoes so ubiquitous while also adding some personality with the midsole tooling.

Annie: For me, Brooks historically has one of the most reliable fits in the business, and I’d say the Ghost Max 2 continues that streak for the most part. I do agree with Arune that it might feel a tad shorter than is typical on my women’s 6.5. But as someone who is really between a 6 or 6.5 most of the time anyway, the 6.5 had a perfect amount of length for me. But take note if you tend to be at the top end of your usual size.

It’s also worth noting that the heel padding is even more robust on my Brooks Ghost Max 2 than on my original Ghost Max. It is very, very plush. So I have to wonder if that extra padding may be boosting my foot farther forward in the shoe, in essence shortening up the forefoot a touch. For me, this also resulted in a barely slimmer fit at the ball of my foot on the lateral side (which happens to be the exact spot where my feet are wide, which is probably the only reason it even registered for me).

Given that Arune had an opposite experience regarding the width, though, I got curious. I pulled out the insoles of my original Ghost Max and my Ghost Max 2 to compare directly, and the size and shape of the two (both a women’s 6.5) were virtually identical. Ultimately, I found a runner’s knot helped keep me pulled back into heel padding with more oomph, which in turn freed up the forefoot (both in width and length), allowing me to continue on comfortably and give me a fit that more closely resembled the one I so enjoyed in the original Ghost Max.

The padding is otherwise great for comfort, especially given the very firm heel counter. But all that plushness takes a couple of days to dry if you get caught in a downpour (and/or you-sweat-like-crazy-because-summer-humidity-is-so-real-and-wait-why-do-we-do-this-to-ourselves-maybe-I-need-a-treadmill…). A-hem. How was the upper/fit for you, Drew?

Drew: As the prospect of my first Colorado winter draws nearer, I too am asking myself whether I need to pony up the cash for a treadmill. But back to the topic…the Brooks Ghost Max 2 is well padded at the heel and not the most breathable shoe. Running in my current dry climate, it ran hot just like the original Ghost Max. Luckily, I didn’t have to deal with the upper’s incredible ability to absorb a huge amount of sweat. But if you live in a hot and humid hellhole location you may not enjoy the Ghost Max 2’s well padded upper as much as others.

And yes, I agree with both Arune and Annie that the Brooks Ghost Max 2 runs short. It’s almost enough that I wanted a half size up…almost. There’s still enough wiggle room in the toebox for the Ghost Max 2 to be comfortable up front…but if you’re a runner who values a good thumbnail of space beyond your toe, either go up a half size or skip the Ghost Max 2.

Midsole/Ride

Arune: I say this in every review, but being over 200 pounds means that your running shoe needs differ vastly from many other lighter runners.

That’s what made the OG Ghost Max so exciting, as the midsole provided enough cushion for us heavier runners to feel comfortable and kept us moving forward at a steady pace. It wasn’t a shoe for tempo running or speed days, but it was an awesome daily trainer or recovery shoe.

The Brooks Ghost Max 2 improves on the midsole and ride in nearly every way while still retaining a running experience that’ll put a smile on your face.

It starts with that incredible DNA Loft V3, Brooks’ nitrogen-infused midsole foam, that feels like pillows under your feet without feeling unstable like some max cushion shoes. That instability is especially exhausting for us big guys! 

Add in the GlideRoll Rocker and this shoe helps rehabilitate heel strikers like me into midsole strikers and pushes us forward onto our toes for a more natural, effective, powerful gait. It also means that you can pick up a bit more speed in the Ghost Max 2 than with its predecessor. It still isn’t a speed shoe (nor does it need to be), but you can pick up the pace when you’re feeling it.

This might just be me, but while I liked the Ghost Max 2 a lot on the roads, I especially loved it on the treadmill and it’s easily my first choice for any indoor running sessions.

Annie: I can neither corroborate nor refute your claims on the treadmill front, Arune, as I don’t have access to one (and how dare you remind me of that fact as I sit here waiting for my heel padding to dry out). But I’m inclined to believe you.

Back to the ride. I was likewise excited to see DNA Loft v3 in the Brooks Ghost Max 2. I loved the ride of the original Ghost Max and was looking forward to what I thought might feel like a lower drop, GlideRoll-rockered Glycerin 21.

I agree that the midsole upgrade made for more rebound (note: I did find it took ~15 miles to soften up a touch). But despite having the same stack height as the original version, the Ghost Max 2 somehow made me feel more disconnected from the ground than its predecessor. To be clear, I’m not crazy enough to expect groundfeel from a shoe with a 39mm of foam stack in the heel and 33mm in the forefoot. But I felt a lot more natural cruising around in the original Ghost Max than I did in the Ghost Max 2.

I think that’s for a few reasons.

While DNA LOFT v3 has a little more softness and a little more bounce underfoot, the feedback didn’t feel as immediate to me as the slightly firmer (but still plenty soft imho) DNA Loft v2 did in the original Ghost Max.

The shaping of the midsole sidewalls has also changed, and that gives the Ghost Max 2 a more structured presence on foot. That feeling of added security may be welcomed by many, and understandably so; but it just made an already substantial shoe feel less willing to follow my lead. The original Ghost Max, despite its equal stack height, felt smoother, more responsive, and generally more pliable to my gait.

And finally, there’s the increase in weight. I thought I was imagining things at first, but several test runs in the Ghost Max 2 led me to take the original Ghost Max back out on the roads to make sure my memory wasn’t playing tricks on me. And the spec sheets eventually confirmed my perception: the Brooks Ghost Max 2 is significantly heavier than last year’s version (9.5 oz vs. 9.0 oz in the women’s sample size, and 10.8 oz. vs.10.0 oz. in the men’s sample size).

Even with a reasonable margin for error, that’s…kind of a lot. Whereas I always felt like the original Ghost Max ran lighter than its weight on paper, the weight of the Ghost Max 2 – despite being well-distributed between the upper and the midsole/outsole – was quite noticeable to my 5’0” self. I can totally understand it not having the same effect on taller, stronger, and/or more powerful runners. But still.

Because of all those factors, I actually got less versatility out of the Ghost Max 2, even with its technically higher-quality midsole. I happily took the original Ghost Max out for long runs, knowing that its comfort would hold up over long miles without getting heavy on foot. I even did some lighter speed work in it and was pleasantly surprised (though it wasn’t its primary strength). I’m not keen to do either of those things in the Ghost Max 2. While its comfort is still top-notch, I never felt enticed to pick up the pace or even to cruise around for more than ~75 minutes due to the more structured, heftier feel.

So, we’ve got a couple of differing perspectives so far. Arune is 5’11” and basically a real life version of [insert muscled, comic book superhero of choice here] (Editor’s Note: you can just say The Rock because we’re all thinking it). And I resemble a vertically challenged, but sturdily built modern-day gymnast (yet with none of the actual skill). Seems only fitting we find out what our resident speedy, 6’6” guy thinks to really mix things up. Take it away, Drew.

Drew: I was speedy, until I put on the Brooks Ghost Max 2. I kid. Sort of. Like Annie, I thought I would absolutely love the new midsole on the Ghost Max 2. But I didn’t. Not even after it broke in.

The original Ghost Max was the softest implementation of DNA Loft v2 I can remember. It made the ride plush and cushy and screamed maximal comfort with every step.

But now? The DNA Loft v3 midsole is bouncier, more responsive, and more stable…and easily more durable than the Charmin soft original Ghost Max midsole. But while that sounds good, on foot, the fun factor was gone.

The Brooks Ghost Max 2 can pick up the pace and the extra weight didn’t bother my 200 pound frame. But I didn’t want to run in it. It felt firm and lifeless and kept me turning to other shoes. Where the original was a tour de force in how to do a line extension, the Ghost Max 2’s midsole makes it ho hum and pedestrian.

Traction

Arune: I live in LA so I’m fairly useless here. I didn’t experience any weather of note except for a heat wave – and the only mildly unusual surface was a gravel trail near the LA River.

In any case, I was able to cut across surfaces without any issue.

Annie: While I didn’t find the outsole outperformed that of the original Ghost Max when it came to grip (both were trustworthy, though not elite), it has thus far outperformed it with regard to durability – at least visually. Brooks doesn’t list anything about a rubber upgrade to my knowledge, but I’ve nevertheless seen less aggressive wear and smoothing of the tread pattern on the Ghost Max 2 despite just as many testing miles on the same variety of road-type surfaces.

It’s not going to compete with RoadTack (the hard-wearing rubber and silica mix that comprises the impressive outsoles of the Glycerin 21 and Ghost 16). But the softer underfoot feel of this compound serves the intended ride of the Ghost Max 2 well. DNA Loft v3 is also more resistant to the (mostly cosmetic) fraying we saw with exposed areas of DNA Loft v2 on the original Ghost Max.

But I’m especially curious about your take on this one, Drew. Because you burned through the rubber on the original Ghost Max pretty swiftly from what I remember. Did the Brooks Ghost Max 2 hold up any better for you?

Drew: You remember correctly Annie. With the Brooks Ghost Max 2, I’ve still burned through some of the rubber in my forefoot high wear area (where I push off) but it’s not near as noticeable as on the original Ghost Max.

I’d be willing to bet a more durable, heavier rubber compound was used for the outsole even though Brooks’ technical info is mum on the topic. At the very least, it’s more resilient than the previous version.

As for the traction itself, I didn’t run into any problems with the Ghost Max 2 during wet/dry transitions or other surfaces that could induce slippage. This outsole setup is an all around upgrade. 

And with both the midsole and outsole beefed up from a durability standpoint, the Brooks Ghost Max 2 should last 400-500 miles, vastly improving on the original’s lower than average durability.

Is the Brooks Ghost Max 2 worth $150?

Arune: Yes. Go buy it.

If you want a top daily trainer that won’t break the bank (even though $150 is by no means “affordable”) so you can simply crush loads of miles each week, this is the shoe for you.

It’s the kind of special running shoe that excites veteran runners, will turn rookie runners into lifetime fans of the sport, and will last you a very long time.

The only reason not to get this shoe would be if you want a shoe that can do everything – but at that point, I’d say you’ll be looking at something like the Asics Superblast 2 that carries a much higher price point ($200) and is a fundamentally different experience.

Annie: The biggest weakness of the original Ghost Max was its durability. But the myriad strengths it had to offer still made it a great option at $150. With the Ghost Max 2’s long-lasting (and technically more premium) DNA Loft v3 and a slightly better-wearing outsole to help mitigate those durability concerns, it’s likewise a worthy, comfort-oriented performer at $150 (and it’s actually cheaper than many similar offerings with premium foams that hover around $160).

As someone who doesn’t easily burn through shoes, however, I would trade a little durability and structure for something lighter but with just as much comfort. So, I personally get more value out of the original Ghost Max – especially now. With this new release, that original version can be picked up for a steal. Just something to keep in mind, depending on which factors most impact your own preferences.

Drew: Does the Brooks Ghost Max 2 offer the right amount of technology and durability to merit a $150 price point? Yes. And if you love a firmer yet bouncy feel underfoot, you’ll likely get your money’s worth. But for my money, I feel like I have much better options in the $140-160 range on our best running shoes list.

Brooks Ghost Max 2 Summary

Arune: To paraphrase Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, “There are daily trainers and then there are daily trainers – this is the latter.”

The Brooks Ghost Max 2 is my favorite daily trainer on the market and the #1 shoe I’d recommend to any everyday runner.

While I may use the ASICS Superblast 2 for many of my road runs and the Saucony Hurricane 24 for recovery days, I would probably choose the Ghost Max 2 as the one running shoe I owned simply because of the joy in each step.

Annie: The Brooks Ghost Max 2 remains an easy shoe to recommend on the whole. And while I very well may be in the minority, I would say that recommendation comes with a few caveats for some who really enjoyed the original Ghost Max – particularly depending on what exactly they most loved about that debut model.

I think (as is clear from our multi-runner review) that the Ghost Max 2 successfully retains some of its identity while also gaining new strengths – namely durability, an upgraded foam, and an even more stable ride –  which could bring new fans into the fold or make some previous fans fall in love even more (Arune). The flip side of that, like any sophomore album, is going to be the possibility of a few original fans drifting away a bit (me). That’s inevitable as a model continues to develop over the years.

I viewed the original Ghost Max as either a daily trainer that also offered max comfort for recovery runs or as a recovery shoe that wouldn’t weigh you down if you were looking for more versatility out of it, especially for long runs at a more moderate effort. The Ghost Max 2 sits much more firmly in recovery shoe territory for me. That takes nothing away from it being a really well put together shoe. It successfully provides a great fit, a TON of protection, and is very easy on the body. But I already got those benefits from the original version, along with a ride that happened to better align with my preferences.

Drew: It’s actually really interesting to me that Arune loved the changes, Annie slightly preferred the original while seeing why the second version could be interesting, and I’m completely out on the Brooks Ghost Max 2. It’s a good example of how different runners with their unique feet and sizes can vastly influence enjoyment of any one shoe. It’s also why there are so many shoes on the market. There’s no universal answer to the question of what’s the best running shoe.

Depending on what you value, the Brooks Ghost Max 2 may be a great option. But if you’re like me, you’ll be turning to either other Brooks running shoes or options from other brands because the experience changed so drastically from the original. 

Whichever camp you fall into, the Brooks Ghost Max 2 is a shoe you should try on in your local running store. Wearing it for yourself is really the only way to find out if you’re an Arune, Annie, or Drew. And, to find out how much, or how little, you enjoy the Ghost Max 2 experience.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Annie Keris (age 39, 5’0” 117lbs): Typically follows a “two days on, one day off” running routine. “On” days include daily miles, speed work, and long runs. An “off” day usually involves yoga and mobility/recovery work. Enjoys occasional racing but perhaps enjoys the training process even more. Gravitates most toward the half marathon distance, but ventures into the 10k and 5k as well. The marathon is thus far uncharted territory…

Arune Singh (age 42, 5’11”, 220lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming from Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Disclosure

While Brooks did send a pair of the Ghost Max 2 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.