Price: From R2400
Type: Road
Weight: 289g (M), 238g (W)
The Right Shoe For: Long runs, and new runners

This year, the Brooks Ghost racks up its seventh Editor’s Choice award for its appeal to a wide variety of runners. Newbies love its comfy cushioning, marathon vets pick it for pounding out high-mileage weeks, and road runners like its quick, smooth ride. And the 11th version of the shoe is no exception. The Ghost delivers again with an almost spooky consistency, with some notable updates to its midsole.

Brooks revamped the Ghost 11 with a new midsole foam that promises a lighter feel, without a loss of softness or bounce. (It’s the same material that replaced the soles of the Ghost’s more-cushioned sibling, the Glycerin 16.) While this didn’t affect the weight of the shoe, our testers who have run in several models of the Ghost thought that it did add an extra spring absent in previous versions. Some testers went as far to say that the shoe felt light, despite the Ghost’s recurring quibble for bulkiness in models past.

“The Ghost continues to improve with each new version,” said one tester. “I have tested previous versions of the Ghost, and the 11 is just a perfect combination of lightweight cushioning, comfort, and support.”

The only negative that cropped up in our RW Shoe Lab data was that the Ghost did fall a few points in stability from its 10th iteration. But our testers didn’t mind, feeling that the neutral shoe already did plenty to support them on runs. In fact, one Brooks newcomer admitted that when he ran in the Ghost, he could finally ditch his orthotic insoles at home.

Better Shock Absorption

The Ghost’s refreshed foam midsole also gets a better crash pad to boot. Divided into a matrix of shock absorbers, the new platform design disperses impact more efficiently when you land and sends you rolling smoothly right into the next stride. Heel-striking testers especially like this improvement in the shoe’s ride, and felt as though they could transition quicker from heel-to-toe with solid protection.

Testers who reported a midfoot or forefoot strike liked the Ghost more for its cushioning than its responsiveness, and preferred to save the shoe for their easy days. As comfortable as the Ghost was, it just didn’t deliver the speedy on-foot experience they were looking for.

“The Ghost was not a very responsive shoe [for me],” one midfoot striker said. “But its cushioning and comfort has me doing recovery and long runs with it.”

Trusted Traction

Brooks left the Ghost 11’s outsole unchanged from 10, and it continues to perform well on a variety of terrains and conditions. Several of our testers ran in the rain without any slipping or sliding – even in heavy downpours and on slick blacktop – and thought that the traction far surpassed the average road shoe.

Most pointed to the 11’s deep tread for the great grip, which handled gravel, light mud, and wet grass with ease. A few testers even liked the Ghost for tame trail excursions.

Remixed Mesh

A new, structured mesh upper means the Ghost 11 wraps your foot more securely – and with a better fit – than the 10. The stretchy material is designed to fit snug through the midfoot and heel for more support, with a little more wiggle-room when your foot needs to flex. This means the 11 has a looser knitted mesh around the forefoot, and also offers an extra roomy toe box. Our testers also liked that the Ghost 11 shed some of the heavier overlays of its previous model, dubbing the shoe much more breathable and accommodating to sweaty feet.

Gripes for the Ghost were few and far between among testers. While some felt the toe box was a bit too generous for narrow feet, or missed the 10’s extra pinch of stability, most believed that the 11 was another win for the Ghost line.

All the Stats You Need!

Men’s

Weight: Moderate | 289g
Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Very High | 12.7 mm
Heel Height: Very High | 35.6 mm
Heel Cushioning: Very Soft
Forefoot Height: Moderate | 22.9 mm
Forefoot Cushioning: Soft
Flexibility: Stiff
Stability Features: Moderate
Energy Return: More

Women’s

Weight: Moderate | 238g
Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Very High | 11.4 mm
Heel Height: High | 32.8 mm
Heel Cushioning: Moderate
Forefoot Height: Moderate | 21.4 mm
Forefoot Cushioning: Moderate
Flexibility: Stiff
Stability Features: Moderate
Energy Return: More

We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective – and exclusive – data. In addition to measuring a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.

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