Brooks Ghost 15 Review
This week we finished our much anticipated Brooks Ghost 15 review! The Brooks Ghost is a running shoe designed for everyday training. It is in the mid cushioning range, durable and offers a high level of comfort. The heel collar is well padded with a smooth Lycra cuff that gives a luxurious feel to the shoes the moment you put them on. The upper is now made of an engineered air mesh that uses a 3D printing technique to enhance the fit. This has reduced the volume in the upper of the Ghost 15 giving it a much snugger and more precise fit than the Ghost 14. As well as improving the fit of the Brooks Ghost, the new upper is also kinder to the environment being made of 62.5% recycled materials. A step in the right direction for Brooks, who want to be a Carbon Neutral company by 2040.
The heel cup is reinforced to give a firm fit at the heel and enhance the stable feel of the Ghost 15. As you would expect on a shoe designed for daily comfort, the tongue is well padded. This adds to the soft cushioned feel that you get when you slip the Ghost on. The lace loops are reinforced so they won’t pull through with 6 lace holes plus an additional whole further back. So, that the shoes can be laced in multiple ways including using the last loop to butterfly lace the shoes if you require an even snugger heel fit than the Ghost 15 already provides. The laces are also flat. This means that they sit comfortably on top of the padded tongue and don’t create any hotspots or excessive tension.
As well as the change to the upper the other major change made to the Ghost 15 is the midsole material. The Ghost 15 now uses DNA Loft V2, which was used for the Glycerin 19. To me this feels firmer and more dynamic than the original DNA Loft, which I found was very soft. This firmer feel makes the Ghost 15 feel more of an all-round shoe than a shoe designed just for ‘plodding’ through the miles. The outsole pattern is also slightly different. The splits in the sole of the Ghost 14 designed to make the shoe more flexible have been filled in on the Ghost 15. This has made the Ghost 15 a little stiffer, which adds to the snappy feel of the shoes. This makes the Ghost 15 suitable for some quicker running.
The heel to forefoot drop of a Ghost is 12mm (stack height is 35mm/23mm). That is the classic heel to forefoot drop that was settled on by most brands from the 1990’s onwards. 12mm would now be considered quite a high drop and a shoe designed for heel strikers. I tend to land more on my midfoot and although I am aware of the 12mm drop when standing up in the shoes, it is less prominent when running. This is probably due to the softness of the midsole. Although it’s firmer than the previous version it is still soft, so your foot still sinks into it on impact. The forefoot feels firm and responsive and makes the Ghost 15 feel a lot smoother than the softer Ghost 14. In the Ghost 14 I felt the midsole compressed more compared to Ghost 15, which impeded forward motion. It is quite hilly where I live, and this firmer forefoot made it noticeably easier to run up the hills in the Ghost 15 than the previous version, which was great.
Underfoot the Ghost 15 feels very stable. The midsole splays out wider than your foot that delivers that very stable, smooth feel to the ride of the shoes. You very much feel like you could keep plodding a long in comfort. However, if you decide to up the pace then the midsole is responsive enough to allow you run quickly with ease.
Summary
If you are looking for a fast paced shoe specifically for racing or intervals then the Ghost 15 wouldn’t be the first choice as it’s not designed for that specifically. If you are looking for a comfortable, everyday trainer that’s versatile enough for some quicker running, then the Ghost 15 will tick those boxes. It’s well designed for putting in the all-important regular mileage, but feels good enough for a few striders, tempo runs or the odd interval or hill reps session. Plus the Brooks Ghost 15 is available in three widths men’s (D, 2E, 4E) and two widths women’s (B, D) so you’ve got extra room should you need it.
Other Considerations
Brooks Glycerin 20: If you prefer a soft ride then you could consider the Brooks Glycerin 20. These use the DNA Loft v3 midsole which is softer than the v2 and nitrogen infused. This gives it more energy return, so it has a bouncier feel. Less feel for the floor:
https://www.northernrunner.com/search/glycerin
New Balance 880: The New Balance 880 is a very similar shoe to the Ghost. The cushioning at the heel is softer but, New Balance use fuel cell foam in the forefoot to give a positive push off. They are available in three widths Men’s and two widths Women’s. Here is a link to our review for more information: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-880v12-review/
Altra Torin 5: If you prefer a shoe with a more rounded toe box and less drop then the Altra Torin would be the shoe to consider. Here is a link to our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-torin-5-review/
Topo Phantom 2: Broad rounded toe box with 5mm heel to forefoot. Here is a link to our review that will give you some more information:
https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-phantom-2-review/
Karhu Fusion: A 6mm heel to forefoot drop. The fulcrum helps increase cadence and encourages you to run with a more natural upright style. Here is a link to our review for more information: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-fusion-ortix-2021-review-by-northernrunner-com/
Hoka Clifton 8: 5 mm heel to forefoot with a rocker. The rocker does a similar job to the Karhu Fulcrum in that it increases your cadence and encourages you to run with a more efficient upright running style. The cushioning is quite soft but, the rocker stops you from sinking into the cushioning and lets you make good forward progress. Despite the soft cushioning the rocker allows you to pick the pace up if you wish. https://www.northernrunner.com/hoka-m92/clifton-t147
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