Brooks Ghost Max Preview: A Max-Cushion Contender Worth Watching

Introduction

Brooks is adding a new name to its lineup, and early images show the Ghost Max shaping up as a souped-up max-cushion shoe in the same vein as the ASICS GEL Nimbus, Saucony Triumph, and Nike Invincible. It targets a very competitive corner of the market: the plush recovery-run shoe that riders of the brand, and plenty of others, log easy miles in.

On paper, it sits right down the center of that category: relatively lightweight, reasonably priced, and built around a foam that is meant to be adaptable, soft but also structured. Here is everything we know so far.

Specs at a Glance

The biggest departure from other Brooks shoes is the drop. The Ghost Max uses a 6mm drop, while most of the rest of the Brooks lineup, including its other max-cushion models, sits at 10 to 12mm. The Hyperion Max is the other exception with a lower drop.

Stack heights are 39mm in the heel and 33mm in the forefoot, which is standard range territory for max-cushion shoes. The source who posted the early images puts it at around 10 ounces for a US men’s sample, so expect roughly 10 ounces at the standard US men’s size 9. That puts it alongside the GEL Nimbus at 10.2 ounces and the Triumph at 9.8, with the Nike Invincible and New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 heavier at around 11 ounces.

The Ghost Max is expected to launch in October 2023 with a $150 price tag, which undercuts the market a little. The New Balance More v4 also sits at $150, but most of the rest of the soft max-cushion category is closer to $160 to $180.

How It Compares

The closest match in feel and specs is the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3, which also runs a lower drop (4mm) and uses an aggressive rocker, much like the Ghost Max. Brooks appears to be playing the same role Saucony does with the Shift 3 and Triumph pairing: the Shift 3 is the pronounced-rocker, slightly firmer shoe, while the Triumph is the very soft, squishy true recovery shoe. The Ghost Max follows the same pattern, with a strong rocker up front, while the Glycerin remains the higher-drop, squishier option.

The competition is deep. The category includes the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 and Triumph, the New Balance Fresh Foam More v4, the ASICS GEL Nimbus 25, and the Nike Invincible 3, among others. Brooks is putting another contender in the ring for the recovery-run max-cushion slot, but it will be a tough sell for runners who already have a favorite in this category. The question is whether Brooks can pull some Ghost runners up into the Ghost Max, or win over New Balance, Nike, ASICS, or Saucony loyalists.

Design and Materials

The Ghost Max uses DNA Loft v2 foam. Brooks is among the most transparent companies on the market when it comes to its foams, publishing detailed explanations of which foams are in which shoes. DNA Loft v2 is currently used in relatively few models, including the Cascadia 16 trail shoe, while the core premium lineup uses either standard DNA Loft or DNA Loft v3. The standard DNA Loft is in the most recent Ghost, and DNA Loft v3, the softer feel, is in the Glycerin and Aurora BL. The faster Hyperion Max and Hyperion Elite use a different foam entirely called DNA Flash.

DNA Loft v2 has been described as soft, forgiving, and smooth-riding, but not overly soft and squishy like the Glycerin. That structure is what allows Brooks to stack up 39mm in the heel and still keep a decent level of stability, a key point since many runners choose Brooks for stability and for how well the shoes work for a range of mechanics, specifically runners who are not the fastest lead-of-the-pack athletes.

The design direction is promising. Brooks has historically plastered busy patterns across its uppers, but recent releases have cleaned things up, including a fade pack collection for the Glycerin with clean uppers, white midsoles, and just a touch of color. The Ghost Max colorway seen so far is pure white with black and a lime green, yellowish accent throughout the platform. It looks sharp and would be an easy choice for recovery runs through the neighborhood, even if it is less of a casual everyday shoe.

Should You Buy It?

If you are shopping in the max-cushion recovery category, the Ghost Max makes a compelling case. It lands in the middle of the market on weight, sits slightly below most rivals on price, and uses a foam with enough structure to keep a tall 39mm stack manageable. Runners who prefer a rocker and a lower drop than typical Brooks shoes should find it especially interesting.

If you already own and love a shoe in this category, there is no urgent reason to switch, but as an addition to a rotation, or as a first max-cushion shoe, the specs suggest a well-balanced offering. How it actually rides will be the real test once it lands on foot.

Conclusion

The Brooks Ghost Max looks like a thoughtfully positioned shoe: 6mm drop, 39/33mm stacks, DNA Loft v2 foam, around 10 ounces, and a $150 price that undercuts much of the soft max-cushion market. With a strong rocker and Brooks’ reputation for stability, it is shaping up as a serious contender worth keeping an eye on ahead of its October 2023 release.