Brooks Ghost 16 - Women's Review

The heel of the Brooks Ghost 16 stands 33 mm high, providing a comfortable amount of cushion beneath the rear foot. The DNA Loft v3 midsole offers a smooth underfoot feel, with its 10 mm differential helping each footfall roll into the next.

Side View Cut in Half

Cushioning

One of the highlights of the Ghost is its underfoot cushion. It doesn't have a double-stuffed style stack, but it offers plenty of cushion in all of the right places. The Ghost is comfortable, but not in a maximalist way. Its rearfoot sits at 33 mm while its forefoot sits at a much lower 23 mm off the ground. That 23 mm is stuffed with predominantly recycled materials-turned-cushion with a hefty dose of nitrogen-infused foam. The culmination of these materials and the Ghost's segmented CrashPad landing make this a shoe you can wear all day, from punishing road miles to the gym and then to work. A few internet reviews noted that the Ghost lacks a bit of arch support. The Ghost is a neutral shoe, so its ride feels less supportive than some of Brooks' more structured shoes. For all-day running comfort, the landing comfort and cushioning of the Ghost 16 are smooth and creamy without feeling overstuffed or overstacked.

Upper Comfort

Aside from its updated midsole, this is where the new Brooks Ghost has seen a bit of a glow-up. With each release, Brooks seems to make its uppers feel a bit lighter and more breathable. The redesigned engineered mesh upper is smooth to the touch and remains breezy and comfortable on warm days. The levity of the upper textiles doesn't compromise the stability or durability of the upper, making it a great choice for summer marathon training and beyond.

Stability

Brooks is known for making reliable and stable shoes, and the new Ghost follows that model perfectly. While the Ghost is not a shoe with built-in supports for stability, its overall ride, forgivingly rigid structure, and heel collar cushion help your ankles stay strong as you run. This is actually a great shoe to consider for runners seeking a daily trainer that is stable and plush without feeling over-architectured. It doesn't offer very strong arch support, but it feels very similar to all of the previous versions from this line. The stability of the Ghost hasn't been upgraded, but it holds true to its history in that it is stable, strong, and ready to tackle long, slow distances with you.

Responsiveness

The swap from the previous version's midsole to nitrogen-infused foam makes the Ghost more responsive than it's been in the past. However, this is still not a shoe that runners seeking responsiveness should consider. The Ghost 16 offers some energy return but pales compared to the numerous super shoes now readily available at your local running shops — or even most of the other speed-forward shoes I've tested. This version of the Ghost can handle mellow tempo runs slightly better than its predecessor, but this hearty training shoe isn't going to propel you forward. It has a rather clunky overall body and lacks the streamlined fit and bounce of shoes that are made for uptempo kicks. With this in mind, opting for the potentially budget-friendly past version might be a good choice for you.

Weight

While the upper textiles of the new Ghost 16 feel lighter and breezier, the overall weight of the shoe is 0.01 oz heavier than the Ghost 15. I love picking apart each detail of my running shoes, but that minor of a weight difference is truly negligible. The Ghost is a plush, well-built shoe that isn't really meant to feel light or streamlined. Each women's size 6.5 shoe weighs 7.70 ounces. As road shoe materials are getting lighter and lighter, this weight remains firmly planted in the middle of the pack. The weight and bulk of the Ghost may prevent it from being your go-to tempo running and racing shoe, but for mellow miles and long training days, it offers the support and comfort that many runners need.

Traction

The Ghost has great traction. It held its grip well on most surfaces, save for an algae-slick rock I attempted to find purchase on while crossing a stream. Since the Ghost is made for stability, it makes sense that it comes with a beefier rubber outsole than many of its competitors. Still not a trail shoe, this stable and comfortable runner is trustworthy enough for mild dirt paths and the like.

Should You Buy the Brooks Ghost 16?

Depending on your running needs, yes. There is nothing wrong with the Ghost, which is something I need to make very clear since it scores lower than many of the other shoes in our lineup. It doesn't offer exceptional responsiveness, out-of-this-world stability, or a profoundly lightweight. This is the kind of shoe that you buy when you want a ride-or-die shoe for long miles in comfort. Time after time, the Ghost is a shoe that I am super happy to have in my closet for average runs, long days of walking, or unending standing work. Runners who want a regular running shoe will find that the Ghost is one of the most reliable road shoes on the market.

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