by John Davis, Marathon Sports staff member
Last year I had the pleasure of testing and reviewing the Brooks Ghost 8. It was my first experience in this running shoe and I quickly fell in love with it – the Ghost quickly became a staple in my rotation. [READ REVIEW]
However, I was a little hesitant when the new model came out at a slightly beefed up 10.6 oz compared to last year’s 10.3 oz (the women’s is 9.1 oz compared to last year’s 8.8 oz). Such a weight change might not seem like a lot, but as someone who routinely wears lightweight shoes, I have a tendency to notice these subtleties. All of that was forgotten once I stepped into the shoe.
SOME NOTICEABLE CHANGES:
- A more plush interior; soft and comfortable step-in feel
- Added padding around the heel collar, giving your achilles a nice cozy feeling
- Redesign of engineered mesh upper; removal of most if not all plastic overlays for an almost seamless fit
THINGS THAT STAYED THE SAME (IN A GOOD WAY):
- An incredibly smooth ride; subtle changes to the flex grooves on the outsole helped enhance the heel to toe transition
- Light and fast feel; although I was hesitant with the gain of 0.3oz of weight, you don’t even notice it
WHO IS THE GHOST FOR?
The Ghost can fit into a bunch of different running shoe categories. For me, it’s a nice change when I want something softer and more substantial than my speed shoes. (Editor’s note: John is pretty freakin’ fast!) For others, it could be a great everyday trainer. And for some, it could serve as a great short run/speed shoe – all depends on your level of running and what you’re currently training in. (Another editor’s note: I am much slower than John, so I like the Ghost as a short run/fartlek shoe!)
SOME TECH SPECS
The Ghost falls into the neutral category with a lightweight to moderate level of cushioning. This means it does not offer any correction/stability for overpronation. So the shoe is designed for a runner that has a somewhat rigid arch and bears their weight neutrally through the gait cycle. The shoe has a 10mm heel-to-toe offset. This means that your heel sits 10 mm higher than your toe, making it a great shoe for heel strikers.
The Brooks Ghost 9 ($119.99) is available in men’s size 8-13 (both D and 2E widths) and women’s size 6-11 (both B and D widths) in all Marathon Sports locations and at marathonsports.com