The Brooks Ghost 16 is the update to arguably one of the most popular and best-selling running shoes on the planet and sees Brooks make some pretty big changes to its much-loved workhorse daily trainer.
The headline news is that DNA Loft v2 cushioning technology is out and DNA Loft v3 is in, while there’s also changes made in the upper and outsole departments.
Testers Nick, Kieran and Mike have got the new Ghost in to test and have put in some early running time to find if diehard Ghost fans are going to love the changes and whether this might be the best Ghost that Brooks has launched.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
00:36 – Price and what’s different from Ghost 15?
01:37 – How does it fit?
04:58 – The Run Test
12:54 – Initial verdict
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Hey this is M from the runers and this Is the Brooks ghost 16 the update to Arguably one of the most popular Bestselling shoes running shoes on the Planet now Brooks has made some changes To this Workhorse daily train and shoe Are they going to be the kind of changes That die hard ghost fans are going to Love or not love we'll get into all of That in this video now myself Nick and Kieran have all got this shoe we've done Some initial running in it first we'll Get you into watch new from the ghost 15 And then we'll get into some initial Running thoughts and how we've been Finding the Brooks ghost 60 so here's the key details you need to Know about the Brooks ghost 16 Brooks Sticks to the same price as the ghost 15 For the 16 both in the UK and the US so It remains at the slightly more Affordable end of the daily trainer Market weightwise Brooks quotes 280 Grams for the 16 to suggest it comes in Slightly lighter than the 15 our UK size 8 weigh in at 265 G in terms of drop You're getting a shoe with a 12mm one And some minor changes in the stack Height departments the upper remains a Mesh one but is now designed to offer Enhanced stretch and structure but it's The midsole where the headline change Lies with Brooks swapping its DNA Loft V2 cushioning technology for the DNA
Loft V3 one that features in the Brooks Glycerin 21 on the outs salt Brooks has Introduced its rotac rubber one which Also appeared on the Gin 21 and us this Is a mix of rubber and recycled silica To keep that outs salt both light and Durable so in terms of fit I've got my GH 16 in a UK size8 that's my typical Running shoe size I've also got it in The medium fit width option now a bit Like the ghost 15 you do have options in Terms of going something a little bit More narrow in terms of that fit or Going a little bit wider to give it the Biggest scope to work for the you know The largest amount of Runners now what Say when I first put it on definitely Felt a little bit on the snug side for Me um it wasn't an issue on the Run Itself um I think the space up front of To was generally fine but it did feel a Little bit tight maybe going a bit Further back into the middle of this Year there is a lot of padding in General on the go 16 whether it's kind Of the Hill collar whether it's at the Tongue as well um for that hour run it Felt fine but I would be interested to See how it would feel over longer Distance whether I'd have any issues From that point of view so there may be An argument to go half size up maybe Looking at a different width fit for me And my kind of pretty skinny feet I
Think the medium fit should work fine For me in general but there may be you As I said i' like to see how it kind of Pans out over more testing but yeah a Little bit on the snug side for me my Usual size it wasn't an issue uh or Didn't pose any issues in the hour run I Did but I interesting to see what it's Like when I've done a bit more running In it and whether those kind of tighter Elements I found uh in the shoe so far In that first run will kind to replicate Itself um over longer distances the fit Was all good for me uh in my nor running Shoe size with the Brooks GH 16 I've got A uk9 here which is a us10 that's a size I've used across the years in The Ghost And the glycerin sometimes I have a bit More of a uh up and down fit with Actually Brooks's speed shoes which Sometimes come a bit big on me but with The ghost uh my normal size is always Really good enough room in the toe box Good hold around the heel and Mido of All the padding you have here there's a Lot of padding at the back I'd say That's not my absolute preference I Prefer slightly less in the way it's Position in terms of a little bit of Achilles irritation on the first run but Nothing bad at all really like it's not Something I noticed the next day very Structured heel counter as well that's Really firm around there so that's
Something that's quite noticeable but Again wasn't a problem for me really on The run but if you find you know very Stiff heels with lots of padding do Irritate your ailles occasionally I Think this is a shoe that might do that Have the potential to do that but Overall I was happy in my normal size so When it comes to fit I've running a UK 8 And a/2 which is my regular Brooks Running shoe size that's a US 9 and A2 And overall I found the fit to be really Good in the shoe so I talk you through The fit and what's going on here you Know I've got a decent R up front in the Toe box there's about a thumb's width With which is what you really want Actually there's quite a lot of flex Because of the way the uppers work you Can kind of definitely wiggle your toes There's enough room across the top of The toe box there enough room at the end Of the toe box and they're moving back Into this kind of toe knuckle area which Sometimes that's where fits can be a bit Tricky again these uppers work really Nicely there is enough Flex I don't feel Cramped it's a very roomy feeling shoe As a result of that I got good lock down Across the midfoot from the lacing here You've obviously got these big thick Padded tongues that bring a bit of plush Comfort as as well take out any lace Pinch and then moving into the heel
Colar you've got a nice thick padded Heel color I'd say that's kind of Thicker than most it's at the sort of Thicker end it's got like a roll top Which I think holds the heel really Nicely and again I had no slipping from The heel at all it doesn't raise come up Too high so I had no problems from the Base of the Achilles either and overall I found this kind of fit was yeah just Really sort of comfy nice and Disappearing exactly what you would want In a clip along along shoe Just heading out to do first run in the Brooks go 16 I've got my Sunday long run On the plan going do about 90 minutes Something like that in the forest which Should be nice the trails are pretty dry And hard now so it should be all the Good in Road shoes and there some Road Sections there as well PL is to run Pretty easy May pick up in the second Half most of the first half's uphill the Second half is mostly downhill and Looking forward to running in the shoe I Was a big fan of the books glycerin 2 I Am a big fan of the BL Cen 21 which Obviously uses this DNA Loft V3 foam It's a foam we've been waiting to come To the ghost so we'll see how it feels Today with a slightly different setup You have on the ghost which is I think Slight lower stack and certainly higher Drop than the glycerin anyway looking
Forward to [Music] It so it was enjoyable first run the Shoe in the end ended up being a lot Migher than I expected so for the most Part the forest was nice and dry as I Expected and I was just pounding along Nice dry Trails but there was basically Quite a long swampy section at the back End at the top end of the forest which Uh did see me coming on sty this is not Shoe designed for that I've had to Actually clean it since because it got Pretty disgusting and I fell over once But for the most part I'd say of the 21k You know like 19k was on nice hard Trails and Roads and the shoe felt good On that like there a definitely slight Step down in Comfort compared to the Glycerin under the foref foot I would Say because it's a lower stack higher Drop but it is still a comfortable shoe And it's a nice lightweight feeling shoe And it's definitely a nicer feel than I Got from the last few generations of the Ghost I really wanted DNA Loft V3 in the Ghost for a while I like this foam a lot Like it's not the cushiest foam or the Softest foam in the world but it's got a Pleasant firmness to it where it's not At all harsh the firmness turns into Resilience and feels good over the Course of a long run like yesterday Where you're getting a nice base to push
Against a little bit of Bounce a little Bit of resiliency there it's not like an Amazing super foam really despite the Fact that you know it's nitrogen infused And all that but it is a really good Balanced foam for daily training like This it's a foam I think that will work For lots of different Runners it's not Too squishy reasonably stable but it is Comfortable got a bit of Bounce there When you pick up the pace so towards the End of the run yesterday I picked up the Pace a little bit cuz I had to get home Cuz endless kids parties to get to it The weekend so I was back for that and It was fine to do that in the shoe I do Think it's got a lot more potential as a Versatile daily trainer than the Previous models of the ghost I found a Bit heavy and dull and dead for me like I didn't really want to use them for Anything fast at all but picking up the Pace a little bit in the shoe was fine So yeah it was an enjoyable first run or Round I think you are going to have that Little differentiation between this and The glycerin which is that bit more Comfy a bit nicer feeling under F in Actually a similar weight despite the Fact it's got I think a bit more foam Under Foot the ghost I think was still Suit all the people who liked it in the Past who enjoy the really high drop on The shoe which is one of the distinctive
Features it has now on today's market And I think other people who aren't Necessarily fans on line will like this Version more than previous models so I Just got back from my first run in the Brooks go 16 it was an hour run pretty Easy Pace I think I was averaging kind Of 5 10 kind of kilometer kind of Mile Pace um and then dropping it below that To kind of slightly run a little bit More Up Tempo in this shoe because is a Shoe that is supposed to offer a little Bit of Versatility um now my experience Of the ghost range in the past has been I know they solid shes I know they're Reliable consistent comfortable well Protected I can see why loads of people Would run in the shoe and be a good First shoe I think ultimately you when I've looked at it against other daily Train of shoes I think there's just been More memorable shoes and shoes that I Would instantly grab for over the ghost So I was interested to see that Brooks Has decided to bring in the DNA L E3 Foam from the um glycerin the shoe that Is probably my favorite series of shoes In the Brooks range and brought it in to The ghost now in terms of what it felt Like to run in it today it I would say It's definitely instantly feels a lot More memorable than the ghost shoes that I run in previously now what would say Is you definitely do notice that you
Sinking a little bit more into this shoe Now it's not overly plushed which I Think is really important for people who Love the ghost range but it is Definitely a little bit of a softer Edge There's a nice bounce there I think the The Rocker is pretty good in here as Well too I think what's crucial here I Think what maintains that kind of ghost Feel is that what you're getting in the Outside ultim it's quite a lot of rubber Here and I think it almost tempers the Ride and stops it from being a little Bit too Lively I think if people wanted Something that's very as I said stable Consistent smooth but also very Protective as well and very ghostlike I Still think you get that but ultimately I think having that DNA L V3 in there Just makes it a more enjoyable Feel For Me overall in terms of what I felt in That first run and I think it's a real Positive here I think in terms of the What you're getting in the upper I think All the things you'd want from a ghost You know comfortable supportive it's Going to protect as well to and give you A fair amount of material there I think The weight feels generally pretty good For a daily trainer as well I do think That having that DNA L E3 in there is Going to make this a shoe that's I think Going to appeal to a lot more Runners as Well just not you know maybe not just
For the ghost uh kind of fans I think People maybe looking at a daily trainer That's at affordable price this feels Like a shoe that you know I use that Word memorable and it definitely felt a Lot memorable in that first run I did Compared to my other runs of testing in The previous G shoes Wise I said there's a lot of rubber here Um and I think for a durability point of View it's going to be very well Protected going to be a shoe that you're Going to do a regular amount of running In this shoe from that point of view That's going to be solid think grip Traction wise you know it's very dry Conditions it's hot today so no problem That point of view and I don't think Having that extra um kind of extra Amount of rubber in this out soole has Made it a Cluny or heavy shoe to run Which I think is crucial here so yeah a Very positive surprising uh performance Uh in my first run in the Brooks ghost 16 be intered to see how it handles over Some longer distances over some more Regular runs see how that mid so holds Up over kind of a bit more running but So far so good and yeah probably the the Nicest ghost I've run in um I think full Stop so I'm just back from my first run In the Brooks ghost 16 it was a really Really easy 4 and a half mile recovery Run I ran the Hackney Half Marathon
Yesterday and put myself in a big hole After playing football on Saturday as Well so today my body was actually quite Broken everything was really quite stiff And quite sore so today was I really Needed a shoe that was going to look After me and protect me for some very Very shuffly slow miles CU I was doing 10 11 minute mile Pace really really Steady and I was a bit worried actually About what the shoes would give me I Needed something that was going to give Me cushioning now my first run response To these shoes is that they're very Nicely balanced actually the stepping Comfort I thought was really great There's plenty of flex in the toe box There's plenty of Flex from the uppers As well you've obviously got big thick Kind of padded heel collars everything Holds nicely and yeah they were sort of Disappearing on the foot which I really Needed today that s of stepping Comfort There and that disappearing feel is There in Spades I think I guess you'd Kind of expect that from the ghost That's kind of a shoe that you'd want That from and you're expecting that kind Of comfort overall so way I describ the Ride of the shoe I would say this is Nicely balanced actually the cushioning Was there it's good protection took away Any kind of Road impact I felt very Stable in the shoe I felt very balanced
You know it's not too sinky it's not too Soft but also there is a little bit of Of spring in it there's a little bit of Energy there I don't know what the Weight of the shoe is I haven't put them On the scales but they didn't feel too Heavy either sometimes with more cushion Shoes you're going to get things that Feel a little bit heavy and cumbersome I Didn't get that off this first run and Actually overall I really kind of they They did the job that I needed them to Do today so in it's blur Brooks Describes this shoe as having kind of Smooth cushioning and that is exactly How what I found out there I think it Has nice kind of roll nice to it nice Clip along kind of vibe to the shoe I Didn't feel like I was in a shoe that Was a aggressive you know I didn't feel It was over squidgy and over soft I Can't wait to actually go out and see if How it runs when you pick up the pace a Little bit in it because I do think There is going to be a little bit of Energy there I think it's going to be One of those happy shoes that you can go And do like 10 miles where you're going To be running you know slower than a Marathon pace but you know not kind of Really really ploty as well and I think Maybe it's going to have fairly good Versatility Overall okay so some initial for on my
First run in the Brooks ghost 16 I think First I'll say if you are a Brooks ghost Fan I think you'll be happy and not need To be concerned about the changes Because I still do think it feels like a Ghost shoe but I do think having that Change in the midsole and having that Foam that I think has been great in the Glycerin and having in the ghost makes It a more appealing shoe I kind of put It up against other kind of daily Trainer shoes like the ad Supernova rise Which I've been running in recently also The P velocity Nitro 3 obviously that's Got that kind of nitrogen infused um Kind of midsole foam in there as well Too I would say that this compared to Vel nitro3 what I'm seeing so far I feel Like that shoe maybe has a touch more Versatility about it I still think that Would probably be the shoe if I was Looking at this price range where the Brooks goes 16 kind of cents I would Probably still be looking at the Velocity nitro3 you're getting a great Outso in there the ride is great I think It works slightly more Tempo running uh As well too and easing off as well look At something the ad Supernova R I think It's very similar kind of traits here I Think you're get a little more padding Here I think maybe getting something a Bit more stable and controlled here but It's I don't think there's a huge amount
Between that shoe and this shoe as well But ultimately I think the main thing For me is that it's a gooe that I've Liked on that first run a gooe that Actually I'm looking forward to running A bit more in and I think it's going to Be a gooe that or you know um an Iteration of the shoe that I think is Not going to put off kind of Die Hard Fans but also maybe bring in some new Fans that maybe think maybe the glycerin Maybe is a bit too much of a kind of big Shoe wants something that kind of has a Little bit more a touch more versatility In it still likes that kind of Brooks Feel of the upper and what what it's Kind of doing the midsole and the out Soole I feel like that's what you're Getting here with the go 16 at least That's what I'm seeing in those kind of In that initial first run early verdict On the go 16s it's a successful upgrade It's one that's a bit overdue I think This is a phone that Brooks has had Available for a while and they've Restricted it to other shoes and I think They could have put it in the ghost Earlier because this is not an Overwhelming change I think that will Alienate people who've liked the shoe Line for a while I think they will still Enjoy the shoe if you like previous Models of the ghost you're just getting A similar feeling that highy drop with a
Slightly better foam that makes it a Lighter shoe a slightly poppier shoe and A more versatile one and in there I Think it might appeal to some more People who want a high drop shoe and This is really the stand out option of The market if you're looking for over 10 Mm of drop as a daily trainer there's Not many of those around now looking at More like 10 millim of things like the Pegasus of the losty Nitro 3 which are Both good shoes but I think the ghost is Now also a very good shoe to consider as Well i' probably a slightly larger up Myself for a slightly more rocket shoe But I do think this is a really good Option looking forward to running in it More which is not really been the case With previous models of the gos like I've got them in they've been okay They've been the ghost this is I think a Slightly different ghost it's one I'm a Bit more excited to use again and I Think it's going to be a more versatile Shoe and a more enjoyable shoe all Around so yeah good first run out in the Go 16 so quick sum up then from that First run obviously I've just done four And a half miles really slow much more Testing needs to be done before give any Kind of verdict on this shoe but for That run that I just did I really really Needed a shoe to be kind to me give me a Little bit of energy but also get enough
Softness to sort of take the edge off And uh yeah have my feet held in Comfort Everything else was hurting so much I Wanted something that was going to bring Some comfort to the run but not be kind Of too ponderous and too saggy and Soggy And actually this shoe has that it's Very smooth there's a good roll to it There's a good sort of clip along along Vibe it's a little bit little bit of Spring into that sort of DNA Loft Midsole the stack was just about right It's not overdone the shoe I think feels Sort of nicely balanced in terms of Weight on the foot and yeah I'm excited To get out and do more miles in it I Don't think this is a shoe that's going To blow anyone Away by any stretch of The imagination but I think it's going To be you know at the moment my instinct Is this is a very sort of competent shoe That is going to be one of those sort of Shoes that be happy for you know your Slower to midlevel Pace runs maybe You'll be able to do a few sort of Slightly faster than that and it's going To be one you know if you're going to go And do a long run with your head up it's Going to be one of those shoes that yeah You' be happy for that okay so they have Some initial running thoughts on the Brooks go 16 obviously plenty more Testing to do before we go to a full Multitester review now in the meantime
If you've got any questions about the Shoe or other shoes you'd like to see it Compared to do let us know in the Comments as always like And subscribe Hit that little bell to find out about Our latest videos and yeah we'll see if The next run test this video
