Brooks Ghost Max 3 Review
By Matthew Klein
Brooks Ghost Max 3Price: $159.95 (available late summer)
Weight: 10.8 oz, 306 g (men's size 9 / women's 10.5)
Stack Height: 39 mm heel / 33 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Orthotic Friendly Running/Walking Daily Trainer
Pros: Comfortable Fit, Good Cushioning, Better Heel Transition, Excellent Walking/Standing Shoe, Highly Durable
Cons: Midsole Not Responsive, Somewhat Heavy, Limited to Easy/Slower Paces
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is an easy going, stable neutral daily walking/running shoe for those with orthotic needs, lower arches and/or wider feet. A redone upper features a comfortable jacquard mesh that provides a wider, well-padded, comfortable fit for all day wear. A DNA Loft v3 midsole sits underneath with a far better heel bevel than version two and a longer forefoot rocker that makes for a smooth ride no matter where you land. A ton of outsole rubber and a wide base make this a durable and stable neutral shoe that is a great option for those wanting a comfortable easy walking, running and standing shoe.
SIMILAR SHOES: Saucony Echelon
PAST MODEL: Brooks Ghost Max 2
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Brooks Ghost Max 3 fits me true to size in my normal men's size 10. Initially, the mild toe box taper made me concerned the shoe might fit a little short, but this broke in within a few minutes of walking. The upper is a Jacquard mesh that fits slightly wide throughout the length of the shoe. The volume is average, but the stretch of the upper provides a little extra room if needed. The forefoot fits slightly wide with extra stretch both side to side and up and down. This transitions into a slightly wider midfoot with an ungusseted, moderately thick tongue. The tongue did slide laterally but did not cause me major issues.
The heel fits normal to slightly wider with a thick amount of padding around the heel. There is a stiff heel counter that did not bother me due to the extra padding. Those with sensitive heels should still be cautious. I did have to tighten the laces to get a secure fit but did not experience and heel slippage after that. The upper security is solid with the large Brooks logos on the lateral side providing some mild resistance to motion. I still would not use this shoe for lateral motion as there is a bit of foot translation. Running movements in the forward direction were absolutely fine. The most exciting part of this shoe was how comfortable the upper is, especially the inner liner. I have worn this shoe sockless extensively and not had any issues outside of mild abrasion early on from the toe guard. Those with experience going sockless will do fine in this shoe while those new to this may want to slowly transition in.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Somewhat
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is an easy day walking and running shoe. The midsole is full length DNA Loft v3, which provides a softer, compliant ride underfoot. The midsole is not responsive, which combined with the 10.8 oz weight (men's size 9) makes the Ghost Max 3 feel heavier on foot for the first 10-15 miles. As the midsole breaks in, there is a little more bounce and the geometry rolls you along decently. However, this shoe is best for easier efforts. The 6mm heel drop is noticeable but offset slightly but the decently rockered ride. The heel transition is decently smooth thanks to a moderate posteriolateral heel bevel and lateral midsole geometry that promotes compression at the lateral heel. This takes a few miles to break in but then creates a smooth heel transition. The midfoot is slightly stiff but then transitions into a smooth forefoot transition thanks to the early forefoot rocker. There is almost no flexibility in the forefoot outside of movement due to midsole compression. Those with toe mobility issues should do well in this shoe.
As referenced above, the ride is comfortable, rockered but easy going. While running, the midsole feels like it absorbs shock well but does not respond great to picking up the pace. This shoe is best for plodding along. This makes it an excellent longer walking and standing shoe due to the stable neutral ride and smooth transitions. Like many walking/orthotic-friendly shoes, there is extensive outsole coverage. The durability is extremely high and I have not been able to make even a dent on the outsole after 30 miles. However, it is a bit smoother, making the Ghost Max 3 a better option for road, track and smooth, non-rocky trails. The midsole material has broken in slightly, providing a slightly softer ride as the miles progress. However, everything is holding up extremely well and I expect this shoe to last an above-average number of miles for a training shoe.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is a stable neutral shoe that is orthotic and flat foot-friendly. There are no traditional stability mechanisms in this shoe but there are extensive newer methods. The sole is incredibly wide throughout the length of the shoe with a deep guidance line that stays lateral and additional sole flare. The extensive rubber outsole and thick midsole provide torsional stiffness throughout the length of the shoe. There are sidewalls at the medial and lateral heel and midfoot that are not overbearing but are noticeable. There is a small medial sidewall at the medial forefoot as well. All of these things make for a stable neutral ride at the heel, midfoot and forefoot.
The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is one of the rare orthotic-friendly shoes. The removable insole is thicker and can be easily replaced by a higher volume orthotic. The wider sole can also encapsulate an orthotic well without interfering with it. There is a low arch that won't interfere with an orthotic and will not be irritable to those with low arches or flat feet. Finally, the wider upper can compensate for the extra volume an orthotic can take up.
Thoughts as a DPT: The Impact of Midsole Folds
By Matthew Klein
While not considered by everyone person out there, Brooks is known to have a purpose for almost every design in a shoe. One of the more common ones that are often mistaken for artistic elements are the folds or cut outs seen on the lateral and medial sides of the midsole. These folds may look like they are only there for appearance, but like all geometrical components of a shoe, they can have a major impact on comfort and transitions.
The Ghost Max 3 has several great examples of this. There is a large fold at the heel than transitions to the lateral midfoot. This provides a smooth landing at initial contact, allowing sole compression along the lateral edge no matter how anterior or posterior the individual's heel strike is. The medial side of the midsole does not have this, facilitate motion more to the lateral side due to the contrast. The cut out begins again the forefoot, adding more contrasting stiffness in the midfoot. The forefoot midsole fold continues, allowing for either an appropriate compression with a lateral forefoot strike and/or keeping the foot more centered during toe off. These are subtle things that often have varying impacts depending on their exact geometry, midsole compliance/softness and individual running mechanics. However, they do make an impact and can be something to look for to predict how a shoe will transition for you.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is a great update over version 2. The fit is much better, fitting true to size and not crushing my toes like last time. The heel has a much better and smoother transition, making this a runnable shoe. The forefoot rocker is much improved, providing a smooth transition rather than a stiff and clunky one compared to version 2. I have one minor suggestion and a major suggestion. The minor suggestion is to consider gusseting the tongue to offset the lateral slippage.
The major suggestion is to do something to drop the weight without impacting the ride of this shoe. This could be accomplished with a DNA-tuned midsole similar to the Glycerin Max and Glycerin series, which would not decrease the weight but can make the shoe feel lighter. I would not reduce the outsole rubber as the durability is a major plus (and rarity in today's market). This weight may just be how things are but I would encourage Brooks to consider different ways to get this down but it isn't a priority given the purpose of the shoe.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is a slightly wider fitting, orthotic-friendly, softer, taller stack height shoe for those wanting a rockered, stable neutral training shoe for running, walking or standing. The upper will work best for those with normal to wider feet or those with a higher volume orthotic. The midsole will work best for easier efforts and those wanting a softer but stable ride. The higher weight and less resilient midsole will keep this shoe most suitable for easier efforts. The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is a much better evolution of the original Ghost Max than version two was. Its design is important in an age of radical shoe designs that often do not do well with orthotics or do not consider people with flatter arches who don't want a true stability shoe or a shoe their foot is falling off of. The extensive outsole coverage also makes for a rare, extremely durable shoe.
It is key that companies don't forget about these models, despite the hype of super shoes and trainers. Most of the US population buys running shoes for walking/standing. These shoes still need to be runnable and smooth transitioning, with geometrical principles that can be applied to both walking and running concepts. The Brooks Ghost Max 3 finally joins shoes like the Saucony Echelon 10 as good options for those looking for this shoe type and I hope these models continue to be developed and improved.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Slightly wider fit with comfortable against skin feel for those who need a bit more room. Tongue slides a bit)
Performance: B (Comfortable rockered shoe that is only good for easy efforts but can handle walking, standing and running)
Stability: A- [Stable Neutral] (Wider sole, sidewalls, posteriolateral and sole geometry make for a stable neutral, orthotic friendly shoe)
Value: A- (High durability makes the Ghost Max 3 worth it for certain people who are not looking for a faster shoe)
Personal: B+ (Comfortable upper and ride that are drastically better than the previous version. Wish there was more pace versatility and responsiveness personally)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DORBrooks Ghost Max 3Price: $159.95 at Brooks (available late summer)
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FURTHER READING
Brooks lightweight plated trainer.
ASICS legacy stability trainer gets a refresh.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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