Brooks Ghost Max 2 review

We think the Brooks Ghost Max 2 is an outstanding choice for:

• Fans of the original Ghost Max, or any loyal Ghost runner looking for added cushioning.
• Runners seeking a high-stack, durable daily trainer that offers impressive comfort at a reasonable price.
• Beginners interested in trying a maximalist shoe without the premium price tag.

We think the Ghost Max 2 missed a big opportunity to lighten up from its predecessor. Instead, it adds weight, so if a nimble ride is a priority, consider the ASICS Novablast 4. It offers similar cushioning and price point but feels significantly better at faster paces.

In our view, the Ghost Max 2’s midsole, while not overly firm, lacks the cloud-like ride some runners seek in a high-stack shoe. For those desiring a softer, cushioned experience, we suggest the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5, featuring one of the softest foams we've tested in a maximalist running shoe.

The 3D Fit Print upper of the Brooks Ghost Max 2 shows only slight changes in ventilation from its predecessor, which makes sense, as it performed exceptionally well. Minor tweaks have helped this second version reach a solid 5-out-of-5, ensuring maximum airflow.

After testing with our smoke machine, we switched to an LED flashlight to reveal Brooks’ approach. We found numerous ventilation holes in the toebox, with additional perforations extending through the lateral and medial sections.

Under our microscope, these ventilation holes appeared in a straightforward yet effective engineered mesh pattern, with consistent vertical openings.

This airy design may impact durability, but we’ll worry about that in a minute.

Taking a broader view, the upper remains familiar—Brooks opted for a safe design with generous cushioning in the heel and tongue, paired with thin mesh elsewhere.

We hinted at concerns over durability, as uppers with extensive ventilation holes often struggle in durability tests. However, the Ghost Max 2 held up surprisingly well given its airy design.

Despite the orange mesh tearing apart, the inner black fabric provided enough resilience to keep the structure of the upper. In our view, the dual-layer construction was a smart choice—earning the Ghost Max 2 a respectable 3/5 for durability.

A major concern for many runners is the durability of heel padding in new shoes—once it wears a hole, discomfort usually follows quickly.

In our lab, we tested the heel padding of the Ghost Max 2 using the Dremel, and it held up well, earning a solid 4/5. No need to worry here!

After assessing the toebox and heel padding, we turned our focus to the outsole—a key concern for anyone investing in a running shoe for daily miles.

In our experience, the outsole performed well in terms of grip for its 79.0 HC hardness. We believe Brooks achieved an excellent balance here, offering solid coverage with ample rubber for traction and what looks to be a promising level of durability.

With moderate hardness in the blown rubber used on the outsole, we expected an average durability score.

In our test, the Ghost Max 2, while slightly underperforming its predecessor, showed a minimal 0.8 mm indentation. We believe this result indicates strong durability and reliable wear resistance, even for those running on multiple surfaces.

We measured the rubber thickness and found 3.8 mm in two stacked layers—a flat base layer topped with grippier, textured pods that also enhance flexibility through horizontal cutouts.

In our experience, this feels like an excess of rubber, especially given its strong performance in our Dremel test. The added thickness likely contributes to the Ghost Max 2’s slightly heavier feel, which we found noticeable during all of our runs.

In our own words, the weight of the original Ghost Max was “reasonable”—not exceptional, but also not a drawback. With this update, however, the weight jumps from 10.25 oz (291g) to 10.8 oz (305g), and we believe it’s starting to become a concern.

While not disastrous, we feel this shoe would benefit significantly from a lighter build, and getting the Ghost Max series under 10 oz should be a priority for future iterations.

This shoe earns the “Max” moniker for a reason—its impressive 39.0 mm heel stack height.

In our view, the Max 2 is the perfect Ghost for those of you with heavier builds.

We found it 3.9 mm taller than the Brooks Ghost 16, delivering a welcome boost for those long runs marathoners crave.

Most of the cushioning upgrades in the Ghost Max 2 are focused in the forefoot, making it especially rewarding for midfoot and forefoot strikers. We firmly believe that these runners will truly benefit from the added underfoot comfort.

While the regular Ghost 16 offers 22.7 mm in this area—consistent with its high-drop design—the Ghost Max 2 brings 29.1 mm, adding 6.4 mm of foam under the ball of your foot. We think that this substantial increase transforms the shoe from an everyday workhorse to a superb long-distance companion.

Aside from the stack height increase, the most noticeable difference between the regular Ghost, with its 12 mm heel-to-toe drop, and the Ghost Max, listed as 6 mm, is indeed the drop. However, our measurements don’t fully align with Brooks' specifications.

Following World Athletics guidelines, we measured an actual drop of 9.9 mm—much closer to an 10-mm feel on runs than the claimed 6 mm. This discrepancy aligns with our experience from the OG Ghost Max, where we also found similar differences from Brooks' official specs.

It seems to us that Brooks simply took the regular Ghost and made every component a bit more substantial—the insole included! This thicker, comfort-focused footbed measures 6.3 mm, adding a welcome boost in plushness that’s rare outside of some brands like Saucony, which occasionally uses similarly thick insoles.

The standout upgrade in the Ghost Max 2 over its predecessor is the midsole. We discovered that Brooks introduced DNA Loft v3—a supercritical, nitrogen-infused EVA.

Despite its airy name, DNA Loft v3 is a bit firm when compared to other supercritical foams. Our Shore A durometer confirmed this with a reading of 20.6 HA. Sure, it's not as rigid as the On Cloudflyer 5, but if you see this one marketed as “cloud-soft,” don’t be fooled, it’s not.

While foam softness often depends on personal preference, we believe that a slightly softer feel would have been ideal for the Ghost Max 2, especially as it also feels a bit stiff while running. Again, for those expecting a plush ride due to the midsole’s maximalist design, it’s worth noting that it’s firmer than it looks.

To examine DNA Loft v3 closely, we also used our microscope. In our view, the visible nitrogen-infused bubbles demonstrate the foam’s bouncy and lightweight qualities. Indeed, this third version of DNA Loft brings significant improvement over the v2 in terms of energy return, but keep in mind that it definitely feels much firmer underfoot.

To evaluate the Ghost Max 2’s performance in extreme cold, we placed it in a freezer for 20 minutes and then retested it. After freezing, it registered a teeth-grinding 28.0 HA—a 35.7% uptick that’s certainly noticeable.

Brooks claims that the shoe’s GlideRoll Rocker technology is designed to promote an efficient gait. While we don’t dispute this, in our experience, it’s simply a standard forefoot rocker with a fancy name. It begins at the usual spot for daily trainers and rises just 4 cm.

The heel design, however, was a bit more unexpected. With a minimal heel bevel for such a high stack height, it reinforced our impression during testing—this shoe is clearly more tailored to forefoot and midfoot strikers, providing little assistance in transitions for rearfoot strikers.

Despite being a neutral running shoe without dedicated support features, we believe Brooks has prioritized stability in this model. We found that the central channel in the outsole contributes significantly to a balanced, centered ride, as well as the supportive midsole sidewalls and broad dimensions.

In our testing, the shoe’s wider heel and midfoot—considerably broader than an average daily trainer—offers a solid, steady feel that’s ideal for runners seeking a tall-yet-stable platform.

Another key factor in this shoe’s stability is its rigidity. Scoring 4/5, it’s on the upper edge for an everyday trainer and might even feel overly stiff for some runners. Increasing the stack height demands certain trade-offs...

The heel counter stiffness scored another 4/5, though this one didn’t surprise us.

After testing numerous Brooks shoes here in the lab, we've observed their love for concrete-like heel counters, and the Ghost Max 2 is no exception. We could barely flex it, making it an ideal choice for those needing extra heel stability.

Widening this shoe compared to the regular Ghost was essential; otherwise, stability would’ve taken a significant hit.

Using our digital calipers, we measured 118.7 mm in the forefoot—undeniably on the broader side and a welcome feature for forefoot and midfoot strikers.

We found the heel to have a substantial width at 99.3 mm—proportionally even wider than the forefoot compared to the average shoe.

This extra width is well-suited for extreme heel strikers. However, in our experience, the lack of a heel bevel is still a problem for this group of runners, reinforcing our view that this shoe remains best suited for forefoot and midfoot strikers.

The Ghost Max 2, though a non-plated shoe, feels stiff due to its thick midsole construction. In our 90-degree bend test, we found it scored 33.6N.

From our perspective, flexibility in a shoe’s longitudinal axis is essential for those who want a shoe that can double as a lifestyle shoe. If a more flexible feel is a priority for you, the Ghost Max 2 may feel a bit clunky, and we suggest trying the Nike Vomero 17 instead.

Those who enjoyed the fit of the Ghost Max v1 will appreciate our measurements here—our tests show the Ghost Max 2 offers a nearly identical fit with a slight, comfortable increase. The width grows by just 2.1 mm, reaching 99.4 mm in the toebox's widest area, providing a touch more room without feeling overly spacious.

We found the toebox volume equally satisfying. In our experience, there was no pressure on the toes, and those needing a bit of extra space in this area should feel at ease.

Our second measurement is essential to assess toebox space, as overly tapered designs can seriously limit comfort.

We found the Ghost Max 2 provides a decent 78.1 mm at the big toe—enough to maintain comfort and avoid cramping for most runners.

When we unboxed the Ghost Max 2, our first check was the tongue—one of the biggest drawbacks in the original Ghost Max, if you ask us. Unfortunately, our concerns were confirmed, as Brooks once again opted for a non-gusseted tongue in this update. Maybe third time's a charm?

We were genuinely disappointed to find yet another non-gusseted tongue, though we appreciated that Brooks retained the plush, 8.7-mm tongue padding, making the tongue itself incredibly comfortable.

While the tongue does shift a bit due to its non-fixed design, we found that Brooks tried to address this by moving the tongue loop higher up compared to the previous generation, to help keep it centered while running.

It’s not a perfect fix (hey, Brooks!), but we think it’s fine for now, especially given the shoe's reasonable price.

We observed a similar design in the heel when compared to the first-gen Ghost Max, once again skipping the convenient heel tab and extending the heel collar cushioning slightly toward the outer part of the upper. This approach also aligns well with recent Brooks design trends.

You can easily swap out the removable insole of the Ghost Max 2 for custom footbeds, and we found that its thick stock footbed leaves ample space inside the shoe when removed, making it one of the most orthotics-friendly daily trainers available right now.

One of the standout benefits of the Ghost Max 2 is its price—only $10 more than the standard Ghost 16—while offering significant improvements in cushioning and comfort. Compared to similar daily trainers on the market, we think it’s competitively priced.

Brooks missed an opportunity by omitting reflective elements in the Max 2—a letdown given our hopes for this update.