The Brooks range is well-stocked with cushioned trainers, with the long-running Ghost and Glycerin lines being top choices for runners seeking a comfortable shoe for years.
The Brooks Ghost Max 2 stands out from the other shoes in the range and many of the best running shoes by having a more cushioned and rockered design, which I found creates a smooth feel on the run.
Compared to the original Ghost Max, the big update to the Ghost Max 2 is that the midsole is now made from Brooks’ DNA Loft v3 foam, a nitrogen-infused EVA material that’s softer, lighter and more responsive than the DNA Loft v2 foam used on the first Ghost Max.
This upgrade in the midsole, along with the effective rocker and stable design, make the Ghost Max 2 one of the best cushioned daily trainers available, and one I loved racking up the miles in during my testing of the shoe. Here are four things that stood out to me during my runs in the Ghost Max 2.
The DNA Loft v3 foam is comfortable and responsive
I’ve enjoyed running in Brooks shoes that use the DNA Loft v3 foam in the past, such as the Glycerin 21, so I was pleased to see it brought to the Ghost Max 2. It’s a comfortable foam that retains its bounce and responsive feel over long runs, and isn’t so soft and squishy as to be unstable.
The balanced feel to the midsole foam makes the Ghost Max 2 great for daily use, because it's comfortable for easy and long runs, but has a bit of pop for faster runs too. While the DNA Loft v2 foam in past versions of the shoe was comfortable, it didn’t have the responsive feel of DNA Loft v3 for me.
The GlideRoll rocker creates a smooth ride
The rocker on the Ghost Max 2 is very noticeable on the run and it makes the ride of the shoe enjoyably smooth, especially when running longer distances. I used the Ghost Max 2 for two Sunday long runs during my testing of the shoe and it helps the miles tick by almost effortlessly at times.
This rocker, along with the 6mm heel-to-toe drop, is what makes the Ghost Max 2 different from the Ghost 16, and the Glycerin 21, which both have higher drops. Which you prefer will differ from runner to runner, but I like the extra cushioning under the forefoot you get with the Ghost Max 2 as well as the rocker.
It feels light for such a cushioned shoe
The Ghost Max 2 is listed as weighing 10.8oz for the men’s shoe and 9.5oz for the women’s, which is a pretty typical weight for a cushioned trainer like this, but I found it felt lighter than that on the run.
I put this down to the poppy feel of the DNA Loft v3 foam, and the fact that the weight is balanced in the shoe between the well-padded upper and the midsole and outsole, so it doesn’t feel bottom heavy at all. This lightweight feel makes it more enjoyable for runs at any pace, but is particularly beneficial for faster runs in the shoe.
It’s stable for a high stack shoe
High stacks of cushioning are certainly in fashion now with running shoes, and the Ghost Max 2 follows that trend with 39mm of foam under the heel and 33mm under the forefoot. However, unlike some other high stack cushioned shoes, the Ghost Max 2 is still very stable, thanks to the wide design and sidewalls of foam that cradle the foot.
That stability makes it more suitable for daily use, especially if you’re running on less-than-perfect sidewalks like me — negotiating potholes, cracks and cambered surfaces is a feature of most of my runs, and doing that in a shoe that’s at all unstable can reduce the fun of my runs.
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