The Ghost Max 2 is a max-cushioned shoe focusing firmly on cushioning and comfort for daily training miles. Like the Ghost Max, it uses a wide base to provide a stable ride and combines that with a Glideroll rocker design to promote a smooth heel-to-toe transition for cruising through miles.
The biggest update in the Ghost Max 2 is the new nitrogen-infused DNA Loft V3 midsole, working alongside the rocker to improve the softness and comfort of the ride as well as decrease pressure in the heel and forefoot.
Tom, Nick and Kieran give their verdict on the cushioned cruiser.
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00:00 – Intro
00:13 – Stats
00:24 – Design
01:06 – How’s the Fit?
02:47 – The Run Test
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Hey Tommy from other in testers in this Video we are going to be reviewing the Brooks ghost Max 2 let's have a [Music] Look the Brooks ghost Max 2 costs 140 or $150 it weighs 308 G or 10.9 Oz for men In a size 8 and the drop is 6 Mm the ghost Max 2 is a Max cushion shoe Focusing firmly on cushioning and Comfort for daily training miles like The ghost Max it uses a wide base to Provide a stable ride and combines that With a Glide roll rocker design to Promote a smooth Heel To Toe transition For cruising through miles the biggest Update in the ghost Max 2 is the new Nitrogen infused DNA Loft V3 midsole Working alongside the rocker to improve The softness and comfort of the ride as Well as decrease pressure in the heel And forefoot the upper is made from a Flexible breathable mesh built for Comfort and breathability and is a Generous layer of outso r for grip and To improve durability the shoe also Features raised sidewalls for additional [Music] Support comes to the fit of the Brooks Ghost Max 2 I've had no concerns at all With it in my normal running shoe size I've got a uk9 which is a us10 for Brooks it's a size I've had across the Brooks range for a few years and it fits Me very well I've got enough room in the
Toe box got a good hold around the Midfoot loads of padding at the heel and On the tongue which does hold the foot Quite securely can be a little bit hot At times but you got loads of padding There it's a signature feature for Brooks got this very structured heel Counter sometimes can be a problem for Me with my killes but actually it wasn't A problem with the ghost Max 2 I found It you know perfectly fine at the back There so I was completely happy with the Shoe in my normal running shoe size fit For me and the ghost Max 2 fit well true To size the fit is quite snug and I Found it hugging rather than roomy Particularly in the toe box around the Little pinkies here but I have quite High volume feet and there's enough Flex In the uppers across the top to avoid it Getting restricted it's basically the Same deal as the original ghost Max I Got good lock down and heel hold from These super sort of padded heel colar And I had no problems with my regular Running shoe size I was also a little Bit worried that the big heel cers here Might have the problem that the ghost 16 Had and the curve pinching against the Achilles but none of that at all so I Would recommend going true to sizing These shoes so the fit for me and the Brooks ghost Max 2 I'm a size eight in The UK I found this to be a very
Comfortable shoe there is loads of Padding on it it's classically Brooks um And I had plenty of space just before The big toe and a nice bit of space Around the side of my toes I had no Issues at all with it there's it's a Very um plush shoe holds the foot nicely In place with all that padding I didn't Have any rubbing or anything like that It's a very structured upper as well so Really holds the foot down comfortably No issues at all I definitely stay to my Size in the Brooks ghost Max 2 so I've done around 55k in the shoe Including a long run of around 21k and Then other mostly quite easy runs not Really picked up pace too much in the Shoe I see this very much as a daily Trainer built for those easy and long Runs little bit of Versatility there for Those who like very cushion shoe to be Their one shoe but for the most part I Think this is at its best when you are Moving at a nice relaxed pace it's an Easy shoe to like when you're doing that As well you can just pull on roll Through your miles take it off again go Again tomorrow it's got the new mids Cell foam in here which is a very good Foam for easy miles I found with the Glycerin and the ghost shoes that have Had it in the past it's not a sinking Squishy foam but it's got a nice light Feel to it it's resilient foam that
Stays very consistent throughout run so Does feel like it's giving you a good Amount of support and you can push back Against it and yeah over the course for The long run it's not going to bottom Out or anything like that like you might Get with more squishy shoes it's not Going to deliver that a load of Bounce Or a load of excitement underfoot but it Does give you a nice comfortable and Consistent ride as with the original Ghost Max I found that the foam isn't Quite as noticeable on the shoe as some Others just because you've got that Pronounced rocker and that's really the Feeling I get from the shoe is that nice Smooth roll through from heel to toe and The extra foam under the for that you've Had with most Brook shoes for a long Time they tended to have quite High Drops which obviously results in a Fairly thin 4ot compared to other brands At times and that gives you quite a Snappy ride through but you get much More of a smooth rocker with the ghost Max and that means that although I do Think it is an upgrade to have the DNA LOF V3 foam in here which is a lighter And more enjoyable foam than what you Had on the ghost Max it's not as Unnoticeable an upgrade with the ghost Max as it was when you went from the Good Brooks ghost 15 to 16 because the Phone makes a bigger difference I think
On that shoe because of the higher drop And the way you really snap into the Foam and get the kind of push back Against it with this shoe it's much more The rolling sensation I found with it But certainly appreciate the new foam in There and it does give you a little bit More pop under the foref and it really Helps the shoe feel a lot lighter than It is like it's not a light shoe on the Scales but it actually feels quite a lot Lighter than other cushion shoes I've Been testing just because of that foam And the way it nimbly moves from Heel To Toe so yeah very nice and relaxed VAR For those easy runs long runs in Particular you can tick through these Like I said it doesn't feel like amazing Like some of these crazy big cushion Shoes out there like the scar deex which Feel super bouncy and something like That but it does feel nice and Comfortable and supportive underfoot so I have mve through the gears a little Bit at times in the shoe but I just Don't think it's a very pacy or ver Style shoe for me this would very much Be an easy shoe in my rotation if you're Looking at as a cushion daily trainer I Think you can do every running the shoe If you're a newo runner or someone is Really focused much more on just getting Out there and logging miles and not so Worried about Pace then the ghost Max
You can pick it up every day and use it But if you're someone like me who's got A training plan you got those Speedy Days on your training plan I would pick Up something else to do those in you Know in Brooks's range you got the Hyperion Max too but in general just a More lightweight shoe that's a bit more Focused on speed and gives you a bit More punch off the forefoot and that Kind of thing ghost Max 2 I think does Have more versatility than some cushion Shoes because of the way the rocker Pushes you through but I still don't Think it's a particularly first style Shoe but overall it was certainly an Enjoyable run test I like the Brooks is Adding this kind of MAX Line to its Range it's opening up the best Brooks Features to people who prefer lower drop Shoes just because Brooks do make very Consistent durable shoes they work for a Range of Runners and while they're not Necessarily the most glamorous shoes out There they certainly do the job and I Feel like the ghost Max 2 is a great Example of that it's a she would be very Happy to pull on every day for those Easy runs and does its job very well now In testing I've done a range of runs in The Brooks ghost Max 2 that includes a 90minut easy a couple of steady 5Ks and A mixed past hourong 10K and a few other Things I also threw in some uptempo
Miles in some of those including one all Out mild to test that top Pace in this Shoe I also did a sidebyside mile with The Brooks ghost Max OG shoe and the Ghost Max 2 one on each foot to get a Sense of what's really changed here when It comes to the ride and the field on The foot and in all honesty I think the Differences between the two generations Are really very subtle certainly when it Comes to the fit and feel on the foot Brooks hasn't really messed with what Was a pretty good formula in that first Ghost Max You' still got big plush Padded heel collors and tongues you know Even thick laces for good Comfort along With uppers that swaddle and hold but With enough Flex to avoid feeling too Restrictive the uppers are still quite Thick in this shoe so it's not the Airest and it's heavier than the first Gen shoe as well but that kind of goes With the territory when you're talking About these big cushion daily trainers And I don't think the weight really when You're running in it makes a huge Difference overall maybe does limit its Upper Pace potential slightly further But when it comes to the ride the main Change for me here was from the midsole Performance DNA Loft V3 that you're Getting here is tuned soft The Landings I think with a bit more sink and also a Shade more spring coming back again I
Find the differences between this and The ghost Max quite subtle the ghost Max Had a touch more stiffness and immediacy In the response I felt we're not talking A huge change the ghost Max 2 is like One step along the scale of the Soft Spring cushioning kind of ride and Overall it's still very noticeably Firmer and more responsive than Something like the New Balance 108 v13 I'd say it's more akin to an aex Joel Nimbus 26 I wasn't particularly a fan of The original Brooks ghost Max I'm a big Lover of soft cushioned shoes I like Ms That really have a nice little bit of Engine return in have a nice bit of Softness in and really just bounce you Along as you're running in them uh the Brooks ghost Max was a bit firmer than That it was quite a solid shoe and I Just didn't really work very well with It I wasn't a big fan fan of the midsole And as a result I just didn't really Enjoy running in it I didn't find it a Good for easy runs and I didn't find it Enjoyable for longer runs it was just a Solid stable Workhorse for me but Definitely didn't compete with some of My favorite cushion shoes out there the New Brooks ghost Max 2 I'm actually Actually quite like this shoe um the Mids salt in it I think is the big the Big change in it it's actually if you Look at both shoes there's not the
Massive differences between these two Shoes apart from the midsole but the Slight change to how the midsole rides Does make a big difference for me me Definitely feels a little bit softer I Think it's still on the firm side of Cushion shoes but there's definitely a Bit more in this now it just feels like There's a little bit more uh compression In it when you're running just feels Like there's a little bit more energy Return in it and I definitely enjoyed Running this shoe a lot more I know Nick Mentions the uh transitions the way that It rolls forward with that rocker design Definitely noticed that as well it just Feels like it works really well with This midsole now to just have a really Nice fluid motion when you're doing Those most easier runs also it is a bit More versatile than a lot of cushion Shoes that you'll get shoes like the New Balance Mo V4 and earlier versions shoes Like the A6 GEL Nimbus 26 they are Firmly easy day shoes for me I wouldn't Use those for um running faster I won't Do intervals in them I won't do Tempo Runs in them I do think the Brooks ghost Max 2 has got a little bit more to it Because of that mid and being a little Bit more responsive than what you Getting a conventionally soft running Shoe uh designed for easy day Uh so it's not by any means a massively
Versatile shoe I I wouldn't pick this Shoe if I was going on holiday and I Knew I had loads of interval sessions or Uh Tempo workouts or anything like that But it definitely has a bit more to it So if I'm going out on a nice easy run If I'm going to do a 10K and at some Point I want to pick up the pace maybe I'm doing strides or something like that Definitely feel that this shoe works a Bit better for that than some of my Other uh more cushioned softer shoes so I've enjoy testing it I've done probably About 60k in this shoe so far and that's Mainly been easy runs but I have done a Few faster blocks in it as well to see How it um delivers when you pick up the Pace a bit and it is fine it's it's by No means an amazing shoe for running Faster in but uh I think the thing about This shoe and the majority of shoes that Brooks brings out for its more Accessible uh Runners people that are Looking for a really solid stable Comfortable shoe I think this is one of The better ones out there at the moment It just feels like uh it's it's a bit Better balanced than than some of the Older shoes that Brooks created it's Pretty much due to that that midell foam So um very much enjoy testing this uh It's not my favorite cushion shoe around But it's definitely a shoe that I'm Happy to pick up now and I think it's
All due to that mid cell phone change uh It's very comfortable shoe as well all That cushioning and everything just Makes for a very nice shoe and I think It also be very good for longer runs as Well if you're not going really fast uh More if you just want a consistent Rolling motion for those uh training Sessions where you just want to run for A long time um and you don't want some Sort of soft sappy midsole that's going To take the energy away from [Music] You ver here this is another very solid Shoe from Brooks we're putting out a lot Of very solid shoes at the moment There's not a lot of big Wow shoes Coming out of the brick stable in the Training area there not like not going For super high stackit or very soft Foams or anything like that or chucking Plates in just cushion shoes but you do Now have the GH 16 the glycerin 21 and The ghost Max 2 as very good suppored Workhorse training shoes that you can Rack up a lot of miles in you'll enjoy Using them they're comfortable they've Got overly padded uppers which I'm not a Huge fan of but some people will like That they do give you a nice comfortable Feel obviously and they just feel very Resilient and like I said consistent Under Foot you pull it on you know what You're going to get it's going to feel
It the same at the end of the run it's Just going to feel pretty good the whole Time out of the kind of Brooks Trio you Know you've got the ghost 16 the gling Tri this is probably my preferred option Now that they all have the same foam I Do like this foam and I prefer the Rocker design of the ghost Max 2 to the More traditional designs with the higher Drops on the glycerin and the uh G 16 I Just feel as a high Cadence heel Striker It rolls me through my foot strike Nicely helps me tick over it's a shoe That really kind of gets out of the way When I'm moving at easy paces and like I Say you can move through the gears a Little bit especially on longer runs Wouldn't be a terrible option for Someone looking at a marathon for the First time that kind of thing but for me It's very much more enjoyable on those Easy runs it's also at a pretty good Price given the way that the Cushing she Market is going at the moment with Prices really spiraling out of control There are some really good Alternatives In the market though especially if You're looking for like this kind of Rocked shoe that has this feeling under Foot like I really enjoyed testing the Sakon hurcan 24 recently that's got a Similar design but it's got a I think a Livelier midsole feeling it's a bit Softer it's a bit bouncier it's
Extremely comfortable but can move a bit For such a big shoe and I'd probably Slightly refer it to the ghost Max Myself and would use them for similar Roles it's a little bit more expensive To Hurricane but it's not too much more So I maybe look at that shoe if you want A slightly livelier feeling underfoot And there are some lighter cushioned Options out there that I think have nice Rocker designs that might be a better Option for some people who you know are Looking for a more versatile cushion Shoe that still does those easy miles Well but once maybe maybe a slightly Higher top end it's a slightly lighter Shoe just started testing the hoker sky Flow I think that's a pretty good shoe With a nice rocket feeling gets out the Way it's a bit lighter than the ghost Max 2 and can increase your pace a bit Better in that shoe I would say and then There's also the aex no blast 4 which Isn't really pushed as a cushion shoe But it's got you know ridiculously high Stack heite and it's got a nice rocker Design I think that's a very verstile Daily trainer that is very cushioned and I think really would work well for loads Of people as well so I think maybe you Get a slightly more stable wide Supportive design from the ghost Max 2 But I would say those two shoes have a Bit more lightness and versatility if
You are a one shoe Runner who doesn't Want to max out on support and comfort Who wants something that can do a bit More and then like I said if you're Looking for a cushion shoe to Chuck into Rotation with this kind of rocker design I probably slightly refer the Hurrican But certainly wouldn't be put off the Ghost Max 2 I think a lot of people Could pick the shoe up and enjoy it I Think it's a really good offering from Brooks and another good addition to Their training range of shoes verdict Then the Brooks ghost Max to 100% the Kind of shoe that I can happily use to Eat long runs and cover easy low heart Rate miles this update largely offers More of the same as you got from the Ghost Max yes you've got let change your Phone from DNA Loft V2 to V3 but Brooks Has gone for evolution not Revolution Here the geometry the uppers the padding All of that is a very close match to What you got in the last shoe and if you Like the original ghost Max the chances Are you're going to enjoy this one there Is a softer Edge to the cushioning with A bit more rebound compared to the Ghosts marginally firmer stiffer Snappier more responsive cushioned feel But despite those changes to the middle In practice I think the ghost Max 2 is Every bit as capable as the original It's maybe lost a tiny wafer thin Mor of
The snappiness but generally speaking I Think it will handle the same types of Run as the ghost Max it's better at the Easier runs where you want cushioning Protection over speed and high energy But if you really want to you can clock Faster miles in this it's okay up to About 70% effort though you will have to Work harder to get that out of the shoe At those faster paces and you wouldn't Likely choose it for that kind of run so If you wanted ghost Max cushioning with A slightly bouncier Edge the ghost Max 2 Now delivers more of that but if you own The ghost Max I don't see any reason to Really rush out and upgrade what Brooks Has here is a very likable well put Together generally capable moderately Versatile cushion trainer that's Certainly a good rival to similar shoes In this area from the New Balance a 1080 V13 and the aex Joe imbus 26 those Particularly when you consider the price I think this is good value for easy Miles so my verdict on the Brooks ghost Max 2 uh I think it is a really good Entry for B Brooks I think it is a Nicely balanced shoe I think that's a Really nice mid sole now and I think It's a lot more accessible to more People I think people who really like Brooks aren't going to be massively Surprised by the midso I think they'll Be pleasantly surprised that uh it's
Maybe just a little bit softer but still Has all the hall marks of a Brooks uh Shoe so it's still very stable still Really holds your foot in place nicely Definitely good for uh beginners because Um you you probably want a shoe that's Going to just give you a little bit more Uh support um in those early days of Running and I think the shoe does do That but also equally people that don't Necessarily go for Brooks shoes or Especially Brooks cushion shoes I think This this is more applicable to those Now so I think it's a more interesting Shoe for a lot of people and I think It's um uh going to be more popular as a Cushion shoe from Brooks at the moment Other shoes out at the moment I would Compare it with I know Nick mentions the Hurricane 24 from saky very good Comparison that uh and I think they are Very similar shoes in a lot of ways but Again like Nick I do prefer the Hurricane 24 I think in many ways it is Quite similar to new band more V4 I Haven't tried the V5 yet um but it's Just got a very similar midsole so nice Solid comfortable midsole there a little Bit of softness in it and a nice rolling Motion as well which is essentially what I'm getting from New Balance Mo V4 I do Think the mor V4 is a bit more enjoyable To run in I like the wider base on the Mo V4 uh and it just seems to work a bit
Better for me I think it's a tiny bit Softer as well um but I think this is This is getting up there now with some Of the the better Max cushion shoes out On the market and I definitely uh Suggest this to people who maybe want a Max Cushing shoe but still want to Retain some of the stability uh and Support elements that you you probably Want if you're new to running or if you Just really want a good stable reliable Shoe to run in that's just a little bit More enjoyable than the older version of The ghost Max that's it from us on this Review of the Rooks ghost Mass 2 thanks A lot for watching don't forget to like Subscribe click the little bell and if You go to the catch and blow you can Find L to our podcast which comes out a Couple of times each month thanks lot For watching catch you next time
