Brooks Ghost AMP Review
The Brooks Ghost Amp is a neutral road running shoe that could be described as a trainer/racer. It is versatile enough to be used for easy running but also responsive enough for quicker sessions. A lot of road running shoes in this category use an active rocker geometry in the midsole. This keeps the foot rolling forwards as it touches the floor, helping to maintain a high cadence and good posture. It can feel like you are constantly running down a slight gradient, building speed as you go.
Running shoes with this type of rocker can be great for running quickly in but difficult to run easily in. The rocker is always pushing your foot through the gait cycle, which can mean you speed up even when you just want to run easy. The Brooks Ghost Amp doesn’t have a rocker-shaped midsole, so you can jog along in these shoes in complete control of the pace. This makes them more suitable for both training and racing than some other shoes within this category.
Like other Brooks running shoes designed primarily for training rather than being stripped-back racing shoes, the Ghost Amp has a well-padded, soft upper. The heel cup is stiff and firm, giving the shoe some stability while the rest of the upper remains soft and pliable. The generous padding in the heel cup extends around the cuff of the shoe, while the tongue is also well padded and very soft.
There is no lace tab on the outside of the tongue. Instead, the tongue is attached to the base of the shoe by a piece of stretchy mesh on either side. This pulls the tongue down over the top of the foot and gives the Ghost Amp a snug feel around the midfoot. The upper is made from a double jacquard mesh. It is smooth on the inside, with a more open mesh on the outside, making the upper comfortable and breathable. There is also an extra lace hole at the top, which can be used to make the heel fit more snugly or to butterfly lace the shoes.
The fit and shape of the Brooks Ghost Amp is very similar to the Brooks Ghost 17 and 18. It has the same snug fit at the heel and a similar shape at the toe, although there is a little more volume and height in the toe box. This wasn’t an issue and wasn’t something I noticed when running in the shoes, but it was visible in the way the upper rose up when the laces were pulled tight. I have quite a narrow foot but don’t have the same amount of space above my foot in other Brooks running shoes.
When easy running or jogging in the Brooks Ghost Amp, I found the midsole to be bouncy without being overly soft. This is in line with other Brooks running shoes. Brooks have never been the softest of running shoes, and I see this as a good thing because your foot knows it has touched the floor and gets the message to function. Although the Ghost Amp feels relatively firm compared with a lot of other running shoe brands that make very soft, highly cushioned shoes, there is still a noticeable degree of bounce and energy return. This bounce increases as you run faster and put more pressure through the midsole.
I live on a hill, and the only flat section of road I can use for faster running is at the bottom. This means all my faster sessions start with six minutes of steep downhill running and finish with a steep climb that takes a little longer to run back up. Usually, I trot back up the hill and notice the tired muscles that have worked hard during the quicker running I have just done. In the Ghost Amp, the rebound from the midsole allowed me to spring back up the hill without the same feeling of tired and fatigued legs.
When running quickly, the midsole feels softer and the bounce becomes very noticeable, but my running gait still felt natural and controlled by me. I wasn’t being bounced down the road by the shoes, which is sometimes the feeling you get from a very bouncy midsole. I found the Ghost Amp to be an effective fast-running shoe over a variety of distances and have even enjoyed using them for short track intervals. As there is no plate or stiff, rocker-shaped midsole, they are easy to get around the bends of a running track and don’t feel too stacked when running fast 200m or 300m repetitions.
The midsole is nitrogen infused, which helps give the foam its bounce while also contributing to its durability. Its closed-cell structure helps prevent water and dirt from getting into the foam and contributes to the midsole maintaining a consistent feel over time, both throughout a long run and over the life of the shoe. The midsole foam, which Brooks calls DNA Hype, is a blend of PEBA and EVA designed to provide both energy return and durability. In addition, there is a co-moulded piece of PEBA/EVA that is firmer in the forefoot. This has been formed into a curved shape to add toe spring. It is this part of the shoe that helps give the Ghost Amp its snappy feel when you pick up the pace and helps me spring back up the hill at the end of my faster sessions.
Brooks running shoes are a similar length to Saucony, 361°, Topo and Altra. If you usually wear New Balance, Hoka, Inov-8 or La Sportiva, we would suggest trying half a UK size larger in Brooks to achieve a similar length. For example, a UK 11 in Brooks is a similar length to a UK 11.5 in Hoka.
The heel-to-forefoot drop is 6mm, making it easy to land through the midfoot and discouraging a heavy heel strike. This helps the shoe feel light on your feet and makes it easier to run faster in. A women’s UK 5 weighs 226g and a men’s UK 8 weighs 255g. Combined with the bounce from the midsole, this makes the Brooks Ghost Amp feel very light on your feet.
In summary, the Brooks Ghost Amp is a very bouncy-feeling neutral road running shoe designed to be versatile enough for everyday easy training runs as well as faster running. It offers cushioning and comfort when running easily, with plenty of propulsion and rebound when required.
Alternatives to Brooks Ghost AMP
Mount to Coast R1: The Mount to Coast R1 sits in the trainer/racer category. Designed as a racing shoe for Ultra’s it is in no way bulky or over cushioned and is instead a nice responsive running shoe that flexes up over time. It doesn’t have the same level of bounce in the midsole as the Brooks Ghost Amp and for that reason isn’t quite as quick but, the more authentic feel to the cushioning allows you to get a nice rhythm going which can be maintained comfortably without relying on the rebound from the shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/mount-to-coast-r1-review/
Hoka Mach 7: The Hoka Mach 7 has a rocker, but it isn’t too aggressive, so it is possible to run slowly in these running shoes. There is slightly less bounce, and the midsole feels a bit more flexible. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-mach-7-review/
Saucony Endorphin Azura: A higher stack height and a firmer feel to the midsole. The rocker is more noticeable but only at push off and at slower speeds less so. These had a surprisingly quick ride for such a solid feeling shoe. The big toe line is straight which gives a strong feel to the push off. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/saucony-endorphin-azura-review/
New Balance Rebel v5: A much softer midsole. So, much so that it is surprising that you can run so quick in these shoes. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-fuelcell-rebel-v5-review/
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