Best Brooks Running Shoes for 2023: Five Models Worth a Look

Introduction

Brooks has one of the most consistent lineups in running, and the 2023 range continues that pattern: a few core trainers that get meaningful updates, plus speed-oriented options for tempo days, race day, and the trail. Here are five models that stand out, what changed in each, and who they suit best.

Brooks Ghost 15

The Ghost is Brooks’ top-selling shoe, and the Ghost 15 arrives with a brand-new midsole compound called DNA Loft v2. It is an EVA-based foam that comes in a bit lighter and feels a touch softer than before, without changing the shoe’s dependable daily-trainer character.

The upper has been thoughtfully reworked as well: it is soft and plush where you want cushioning, with targeted breathability and structure where you need support and fit. It is available now at $140.

For neutral runners who want a familiar, comfortable trainer that keeps getting slightly better each year, the Ghost 15 is the obvious starting point in the lineup.

Brooks Levitate 6

The Levitate 6 is the most pure expression of Brooks’ energized running experience. Its midsole uses DNA AMP v2, a PU-based compound that is 10 percent lighter than the original. Rather than simply cutting weight, Brooks put those savings back into the shoe by adding two millimeters more DNA AMP underfoot, so you get a little extra comfort alongside the bouncy ride.

You have options here: the standard Levitate and the Levitate GTS share the classic fit, while the Levitate StealthFit comes with a lighter mesh upper and a sleeker silhouette that sits closer to the foot. The GTS version adds higher walls on the medial and lateral sides to guide the stride, which makes it the pick for runners who pronate and want support. These were on pre-order and became available on December 1.

Brooks Hyperion Max

When it is time to go faster, the Hyperion Max is Brooks’ answer. It uses the DNA FLASH midsole compound, a supercritical nitrogen-infused foam, with more of it than before. Midsole heights are 18mm at the heel and 26mm at the forefoot for a quick heel-to-toe transition, and there is no plate, which keeps it more flexible than a race-day shoe.

That flexibility is the point: Brooks positions the Hyperion Max not just as a tempo shoe but as something runners can feel quicker in every day. Compared with the Hyperion Elite, which is all about race day with its carbon plate and stiff, controlled ride, the Max gives you more foam, more protection, and a livelier but more versatile feel. It launched in January 2023 across all channels at $170.

Brooks Catamount 2

On the trail, the Catamount 2 builds on a fan favorite and stays Brooks’ lightest, fastest trail shoe. It keeps the nitrogen-infused DNA FLASH supercritical foam from the first version, and its biggest update is a new PEBAX plate in the midfoot, replacing the rock plate of the original. Sandwiched into the midsole, it adds stiffness and rigidity that creates more spring going forward, with the focus on making uphill running feel easier.

Other changes round the shoe out nicely: gaiter attachments, higher sidewalls for added stability, an internal saddle that locks the foot in, and a new TPE mesh upper that is durable and abrasion-resistant outside but soft and plush inside, fixing the looser fit of the first version. It drops on January 1, 2023 at $170.

Brooks Hyperion

Finally, the Hyperion Tempo gets a simplified name: it is now just the Hyperion. Brooks treats the Hyperion and Hyperion Max as a family for runners who want a quick, fast ride, with the Max carrying more DNA FLASH for extra protection and cushioning. Dropping the Tempo name also signals that this shoe belongs on everyday runs, not just workouts.

The midsole stays the same in compound and height, still DNA FLASH, but the outsole is redesigned for a faster transition and a slightly more dynamic ride. The upper is the bigger change, going lighter and faster through the mesh. Two bonuses: the price actually goes down to $140, and the shoe gains a GTS version, so runners who pronate can get extra support that the Tempo never offered. It launches on July 1, 2023.

If you loved the Hyperion Tempo but wanted a touch more support or a better price, the Hyperion now covers both.

Overall Buying Advice

The Brooks lineup in 2023 covers the full spectrum. Pick the Ghost 15 for a proven daily trainer, the Levitate 6 for a bouncier ride with a support option, and the Hyperion Max if you want speed work and quick-feeling daily miles in one shoe. Trail runners should look at the Catamount 2 for fast, uphill-friendly outings, and the renamed Hyperion is the value pick of the group for runners who want a fast ride at a lower price.

Conclusion

Brooks’ 2023 updates are refreshingly practical: a new softer, lighter midsole for the Ghost, extra cushioning in a lighter Levitate, more foam in the versatile Hyperion Max, a smarter plate and better fit for the Catamount, and a cheaper, more accessible Hyperion. Match the shoe to how you actually run, and there is a clear pick in this group for almost any runner.