- Brooks’s marketing pitch: Max-cushion. Max protection. Max comfort.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, no sleeve.
- Midsole: Full-length DNA Loft V3 supercritical foam. 6 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Soft blown rubber under forefoot, firmer rubber under the heel.
- Weight: 306 gms/ 10.8 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 39 mm (heel), 33 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E – wide, 4E – extra wide.
- Previous model: Brooks Ghost Max V1.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Recovery run trainer, half-marathons, marathons at slow speeds.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 450 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 5:00 min/km (8:00 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Long-distance comfort
- Plush upper
- Roomy forefoot and toe box
- Optional widths
- Outsole grip
Cons
- Heavier than Ghost Max 1
- Low versatility
- Lower stability than Ghost Max 1
- Scarce reflectivity
- Mild tongue slide
Also consider:
- Nike Invincible 3
- New Balance Fresh Foam More V5
- adidas Ultraboost 5X
- Hoka Bondi 8
- Brooks Glycerin 21
- Asics Nimbus 26
- Puma Magmax Nitro
- Puma Magnify Nitro
- Mizuno Wave Sky 8
- Use the Brooks Ghost Max 2 for long and easy runs
- Use Brooks Hyperion 2 for tempos, intervals, and short races
- Use the Brooks Ghost 16 or Saucony Ride 17 for daily runs
- Use the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 for half-marathons and marathons
In this review:
SUMMARY AND VERDICT
As a running shoe, the Ghost Max 2 has limited versatility. But it’s an excellent choice for low-impact activities.
If Brooks plays its cards right, the Ghost Max 2 has all the markings of a shoe that can become the next favorite for doctors and nurses. Currently, the Hoka Bondi 7/8 is the unofficial sneaker for healthcare workers.
All that Brooks needs to do is pair the soft DNA Loft V3 midsole with leather uppers. An all-white and all-black in smooth leather would be a good place to start, followed by suede variants.
If Brooks decides to release a Ghost Max 2 variant with a waterproof upper and slip-resistant sole, it will probably outsell the Hoka Bondi SR.
Not only is this midsole soft and bouncy, but it’s also tall with an ultra-wide base. Interestingly, this is a max-cushioned shoe with a 6 mm drop. These traits make the Brooks Ghost Max 2 unique, and there aren’t many directly comparable shoes. Except for the New Balance Fresh Foam More V5 and Nike Invincible 3, maybe?
However, what makes a shoe great for walking and standing doesn’t necessarily make it a versatile running shoe.
If you’re looking for a soft trainer for recovery runs and marathons over a 4:30 finish time, then the Ghost Max 2 has much to offer. The 39 mm and 33 mm stack heights produces a deeply cushioned ride during the duration of a run.
This is not a do-everything daily trainer; rather, it’s best utilized as a part of a shoe rotation. The DNA Loft V3 midsole struggles under 5:00 min/km paces, so this is certainly not the shoe to do tempo runs in.
A lot has changed on Ghost Max 2 since the last version, so that’s something to keep in mind as well.
THE BROOKS GHOST MAX 2 COMPARED WITH GHOST MAX 1
The more supportive Ghost Max 1 wasn’t as bouncy as the Ghost Max 2.
This redesign will gain new followers but may disappoint runners who would rather stick with the previous model.
While both versions maintain the 6 mm heel offset and a wide midsole base, the composition of the foam has changed, and so has the ride experience.
The DNA Loft V3 midsole of the Ghost Max 2 is bouncier and softer than the Ghost Max 1. Whereas the Max 1 had a somewhat flat and predictable ride character, the new foam is much livelier in comparison.
The 1 mm increase in stack height adds more foam under the foot.
The added bounciness and foam volume isn’t without tradeoffs.
The Ghost Max 2 is 0.8 ounces (23 grams) heavier than before, and it’s not as supportive as the Ghost Max 1. Runners who liked the predictable stability of the G-Max 1 may not like the changes.
A similar thing has happened with the Brooks Glycerin 21, so this transformation isn’t limited to the Ghost Max. The Glycerin went from a very stable running shoe to a softer and bouncier version; Brooks even made the fit of the shoe shorter.
THE MIDSOLE DESIGN AND RIDE EXPERIENCE
The Ghost Max 2, like many soft running shoes, has poor proprioceptive feedback. The thick and bouncy foam midsole filters most of the feedback from the ground, so it’s hard to find your footing during aggressive speeds.
The foot has to work through the tall (and soft) stack of foam, so quick transitions are out of the question.
What of the rocker, then? Brooks claims that the Ghost Max 2 benefits from a ‘Glideroll’ rocker, but it isn’t practical.
A rocker shape – meaning that the front end of the midsole has a sharper curve than normal – usually makes it easier for the foot to roll forward.
But a rocker midsole doesn’t work in isolation, does it? To be fully functional, a rocker midsole needs a stiff forefoot, a somewhat firm foam (using a plate also works), and a solid rubber outsole. Also, a tight upper fit does a better job of driving the power to the midsole.
The Ghost Max 2’s midsole architecture doesn’t meet any of these criteria. The DNA Loft V3 foam is soft, the blown rubber outsole is soft, and there’s no stiff component (like a plate). The forefoot has plenty of room, so the power transfer to the midsole is diluted.
The only use for the G-Max 2 is that of an easy-pace runner. As long as you keep the speeds slower than 5:00 min/km (8 min/mile), the very comfortable midsole keeps the feet fresh. The shoe weighs nearly 11 ounces, but that’s not noticeable as the Ghost Max doesn’t feel bottom-heavy.
That was the gist of the ride experience. Now, to the basics.
The Ghost Max 2’s midsole has three primary ingredients. First is the foam, which happens to be the reformulated DNA Loft V3. The other two have to do with the midsole geometry; namely the height and width.
There aren’t many shoes of this kind. While soft running shoes with a tall midsole exist, trainers with a wide base and 6 mm drop are not commonly found. The New Balance More V5 with its 4 mm drop comes close.
Unlike many running shoes that have a wide forefoot base with a narrow midfoot waist, the Ghost Max 2 is wide even under the midfoot. While we don’t have a Brooks Beast 24 GTS on hand for comparison, the Ghost Max 2’s outsole footprint appears wider.
Brooks has updated the DNA Loft formulation for most of its models for 2024, including the Glycerin 21 and Ghost 16. The goal, it would appear, was to dial up the softness and bouncy feel. Brooks has succeeded in doing that with the Glycerin and Ghost Max, and to a lesser extent on the Ghost 16.
As if the 39 mm and 33 mm tall midsole wasn’t enough, there’s a dual layer of footbed and lasting for step-in softness.
The Ghost Max 2 is ridiculously cushioned regardless of where the loading takes place. The heel has a soft and springy feel, and so does the forefoot. Rather than just being vertical, the cushioning has a spread-out quality – much like the Brooks Addiction 15, but in a softer and more neutral way.
Unlike the Addiction GTS 15, the Ghost Max 2 has a balanced midsole design sans ‘Guiderails’. The heel cushioning feels centered, something that is also helped by the deep channel under the heel.
Despite the neutral ride and wide base, the heel stability isn’t rock solid. A soft and springy midsole isn’t the right recipe for midsole support.
That said, as long as the Ghost Max 2 is operated within its performance boundaries, the heel stability won’t be a problem for most runners.
The outsole traction is excellent. Save for the heel section, most of the outsole is the soft blown rubber kind. The grooved lugs telescope into the midsole and push back for excellent grip on the road.
RECOMMENDED ROTATION
Outside of recovery runs, the Ghost Max 2 has limited versatility, so we recommend rotating it with an everyday trainer like the Brooks Ghost 16.
For marathons, the Hyperion Max 2 does well. For tempo runs and short-distance races, the Brooks Hyperion 2 (the unofficial replacement for last year’s Hyperion Max) is worth considering.
Or – you can rotate the G-Max 2 with the Saucony Ride 17 for your daily mileage needs, and either the adidas Adios Pro 3 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 for marathons.
IS THE BROOKS GHOST MAX 2 DURABLE?
The midsole creasing may appear sooner on the softer DNA Loft V3 than the Loft V2.
The rest of the shoe should hold up well – the upper is well-built, and the segmented outsole will do a good job of spreading the wear and tear.
400-450 miles is a reasonable ask for the Ghost Max 2.
THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT
The Ghost Max 2 has what one would call a ‘comfort fit’.
The sizing fits true to size, the forefoot is roomy, and the toe box has ample splay room. A sizeable toe bumper creates room around the toes and helps maintain a ceiling. In select colors, two other widths are available – wide (2E) and extra-wide (4E).
Brooks uses plush materials to make the insides very comfortable. The mesh is slightly spongy, and the foam-padded tongue and heel use soft lining fabrics. There’s no sleeve holding down the tongue, so that results in a minor slide.
The sideways movement isn’t extreme, and there’s always a plush tongue over the instep to filter the lacing pressure.
The padded heel is reinforced with a stiff counter, and the lockdown is excellent. On the outside, there’s some cosmetic detailing that matches the midsole grooves, but the reflectivity is scarce.
During the warmer days, the Ghost Max 2 does okay on ventilation. It may not be as breezy as plated marathon racers, but it doesn’t get stuffy either.
SHOES COMPARABLE TO THE BROOKS GHOST MAX 2
Except for the sensation of the ZoomX foam and higher heel drop, the Nike Invincible 3 is directly comparable to the Brooks Ghost Max 2. The Invincible 3 is an easy-pace shoe with limited versatility and a whole lot of cushioning.
The New Balance Fresh Foam More V5 is also a max-cushioned trainer for less aggressive paces. It’s got a low heel offset (4 mm) with comparable weight and pricing as the G-Max 2.
Like the Ghost Max, the NB More V5 has an ultra-wide base with a high-volume midsole.
While the adidas Ultraboost 5X also fills that slow run and walking shoe niche, it’s more versatile than the Ghost Max 2. It’s lighter with a narrower upper fit and a firmer Continental rubber outsole, so the transitions are better.
The Nimbus 26 is also a great pick as a cushioned marathon shoe.
Finally, you could consider standard soft running shoes like the Asics Nimbus 26, Brooks Glycerin 21, Hoka Bondi 8, Mizuno Wave Sky 8, Puma MagMax Nitro, and Puma Magnify Nitro.