REASONS TO BUY
Smooth landings
Protective midsole
Generous upper fit
REASONS TO AVOID
Feels clunky
Lacks stability
Poor breathability
Poor pace versatility
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Review
This shoe has a ton of midsole to protect you from the pavement, but also feels massive and runs warm
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ January 9, 2026
RELATED: The Best Running Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
The Brooks Ghost Max 3 keeps you up off the ground when you run, aiming to provide a big dose of comfort, and it mostly succeeds. The midsole foam is protective, though firm, and the shoe rolls very smoothly at slow paces thanks to a bit of rocker geometry. Unfortunately, this smoothness does not translate to faster paces, and it feels very unnatural at anything more than a relaxed jog as the relative instability and overall bulk become readily apparent. Honestly, the Ghost Max 3 is great for logging miles, especially if you prefer a firmer and predictable landing. It offers plenty of comfort, but it's big and clunky on the foot, making it a shoe that falls short of key competitors.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Brooks Ghost Max 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Everyday Running Shoe |  Best for Race Training | Best for New Runners |  Best Runner on a Budget | |
| Price | $160 List Check REI (on sale!) | $150 List Check REI (on sale!) | $150 List Check Backcountry (on sale!) | $145 List Check Price at REI | $130 List Check Backcountry (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This shoe has a ton of midsole to protect you from the pavement, but also feels massive and runs warm | One of the best all-around running shoes that can reliably handle whatever you throw at it, but not the best for new runners | Thanks to a premium midsole foam and no-nonsense design, this shoe pairs great cushioning with top-notch pace versatility | A forgiving, well-rounded daily trainer with reliable grip and a ride that makes easy miles feel effortless | A great value shoe that can crush fast or slow runs, but it might be a little too narrow for some |
| Rating Categories | Brooks Ghost Max 3 | Asics Novablast 5 | Adidas Adizero Evo SL | Saucony Ride 19 | Adidas Adizero SL2 |
| Comfort and Fit (45%) | |||||
| Cushioning (30%) | |||||
| Breathability (15%) | |||||
| Traction (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Brooks Ghost Max 3 | Asics Novablast 5 | Adidas Adizero Evo SL | Saucony Ride 19 | Adidas Adizero SL2 |
| Who is it best for? | Slow/steady paced runners looking for comfort | Everyday runners | Everyday runners | Everyday neutral runners | Everyday runners |
| Best Use | Relaxed running | Versatile for variable paces | Versatile for variable paces | Daily training, long runs | Versatile for variable paces |
| Measured Weight | 11.69 oz | 9.50 oz | 8.73 oz | 9.54 oz | 9.36 oz |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 7 mm | 5 mm | 9 mm | 7 mm | 9 mm |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 39 mm | 41 mm | 39 mm | 35 mm | 38 mm |
| Available Sizes | 7-15 US regular, wide & extra wide |
6-15 US, regular & wide | 6.5-16 US, regular | 7-16 US, regular & wide | 4-19 US, regular & wide |
| Midsole | DNA LOFT v3 | FF Blast Max | Lightstrike Pro | PWRRUN+ (SCF reformulated) | Lightstrike Pro, Lightstrike |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered jacquard mesh | Engineered mesh | Engineered mesh | Engineered mesh |
| Outsole | RoadTack HPR | AHAR LO | Continental rubber | XT-900 rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | None | Finger loop | None | Pull tab | Pull tab |
| Style | Max-Cushion | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
Our Analysis and Test Results
We don't love how big the Ghost Max 3 feels on the foot. Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Comfort and Fit
The Ghost Max 3 placed in the middle of the pack for comfort and fit. The upper materials are high quality, but the fit is a bit odd, and there is less of a comfort focus than we're used to seeing in Brooks shoes.
There is a relatively firm heel cup at the back, with no pull tab or heel loop. Soft touch materials line the interior of the ankle and heel, but don't extend all the way to the top. This design led to a slight abrasion on our Achilles when we increased the pace in low-cut socks. Sure, this shoe isn't meant for faster running, but we think a seam right where the Achilles contacts the top of the shoe was a poor choice, nonetheless. The tongue is well-padded and non-gusseted, but it slides around a bit on longer runs, likely due to the high-volume upper.
We found the fit to be sloppy, requiring a lot of lace adjustment. Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
The fit runs a little wide and sloppy. While we were able to achieve a solid lockdown, our average-width forefeet required significant snugging down of the toe box, which led to tongue rolling issues. Brooks offers a medium (which we tested), as well as wide and extra-wide widths. The midfoot is a little wider than average, as is the heel. The upper's general width reflects the midsole's wide base. This shoe has a pretty large footprint.
There's a lot of foam, but it has limited compression and energy return. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Cushioning
Typically, when a shoe is marketed as having “super soft, responsive” foam, we expect it to compress under weight and then rebound explosively, providing an energetic ride. The Brooks Ghost Max 3 does neither of those things. Landings feel very protective and smooth, but not as soft or energetic as those of key competitors.
The shoe features 39mm of Brooks' DNA Loft v3 midsole foam, a nitrogen-infused EVA foam. While Brooks advertises it as “supremely soft,” in our experience, it's far firmer and less responsive than premium midsole foams, such as the PEBA or TPU-based options offered by competitors. Compared to other shoes, this one is best described as sedate and understated.
The shoe feels quite comfortable for long efforts, although it can feel ungainly if you try to increase your pace too much. We had no issues during long runs, although we did notice a slight increase in fatigue than usual due to the overall weight. The shoe is quite stiff, so when paired with the high-volume upper, our feet often pulled up against the midsole rather than working with it. At the same time, even though the wide platform helps provide some stability, this shoe doesn't feel the most supportive and would be less ideal for those who require support and stability.
The warm upper was uncomfortable in the summer heat, but we didn't mind it in the winter. Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Breathability
The upper on the Ghost Max 3 is pretty warm. The whole shoe runs toasty, leaving feet sweaty. We believe this could be an asset for easy runs in cold weather, but those in warmer climates may find it a little uncomfortable.
Traction was never an issue. Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Traction
There's a lot of multi-direction tread on the rubber outsole of the Ghost Max 3. It grips most surfaces pretty well, including gravel, wet asphalt, and cold pavement. We had no issues throughout testing.
Should You Buy the Brooks Ghost Max 3?
This is a comfortable, predictable shoe that offers good protection for longer, easier runs. But there are better options available. Multiple competitors in this price range offer a similar (or improved) level of cushioning, but with lower weights, greater pace versatility, and better comfort.
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The Nike Vomero 18 is our first pick for max-cushioned shoes. It does everything the Ghost Max 3 does, but better. It rolls more smoothly, feels more energetic underfoot, and offers better pace versatility. Then there's the Asics Novablast 5, which we think is one of the best all-around running shoes available.
—Nathaniel Bailey
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