Brooks Ghost Max 4
The Brooks Ghost Max 4 is a well-cushioned everyday running shoe designed to be comfortable and protective for the neutral road runner. The midsole has a slight curve that helps the runner move with a smooth gait, carrying the foot from impact to toe-off.
Brooks running shoes are split into two distinct types. There are running shoes that have a rocker, which helps to control the gait and give the runner a level of propulsion, and those that allow a more natural gait, requiring the runner to generate all their own force to move forward. One isn’t necessarily better than the other. They have a different feel and ride. The running shoes with rockers feel like you are riding the shoe and give a smoother feel to the running action. The more traditional shoes require a bit more effort from the runner to push themselves forward, so you need to push off a bit harder.
The Brooks Ghost Max 4 and Brooks Glycerin Max 2 both have rockers and are designed to give some propulsion, maintain a high cadence and give the feel of a smooth ride. The Brooks Ghost 18 and Brooks Glycerin 23 are the more traditional Brooks neutral road running shoes, requiring the runner to do a bit more push-off.
So, what has changed in the Brooks Ghost Max 4 compared to the previous version? The midsole has increased in stack height by 1mm and is now 40mm in the heel and 34mm in the forefoot. The midsole is made from DNA Loft v3, which is the same foam as the Ghost Max 3; however, the ride is a bit different. It feels like there is a bit more compression in the midsole than in the previous version.
Brooks shoes are usually firm when compared to other running shoe brands. This is a good thing, as your foot knows it has touched the floor, so it will spread and function inside the shoe rather than just being a passenger and getting weaker as the miles tick by. The Brooks Ghost Max 4 has that bit more compression on impact. As the midsole is nitrogen infused, which means that it is sealed to prevent air from escaping, the ride stays consistent for the length of your run. So, the shoes don’t become soft, mushy and unresponsive at the end of your long run, just when your legs are tired and need a little help. Instead, the foam keeps compressing and rebounding, so you get the same spring as you did when you set off.
The extra bit of softness makes the Brooks Ghost Max 4 feel a bit more flexible than the previous version, which allowed my feet to do a bit more of the running.
Brooks is well known for making running shoes with a very plush upper and a nice step-in feel. The kind of soft upper that hugs the foot and makes the shoe feel cosy. The Brooks Ghost Max 4 is a running shoe made for daily use, so the padding and comfort level of the upper are as you would expect. There is a firm plastic heel cup; however, this is still pliable and, when the laces are pulled tight, it pulls in around the heel of the foot. The heel tab is very soft and flexible, and the inside of the heel cup and around the cuff of the running shoe are very well padded. The tongue is also nicely padded, soft and pliable.
The engineered mesh upper is smooth on the inside and has an open mesh on the outside to assist with breathability. It is soft and pliable, with a knitted look and feel. There is an additional lace hole at the top of the laces. This allows the heel fit to be made snugger or the shoes to be butterfly laced.
The big improvement in the upper for me is that it isn’t pulled as tight around the big toe. The original Brooks Ghost Max had a straight big toe line to help with a positive push-off, as did version 2, but version 3 had a bit less volume and pushed my big toe into a point. This was noticeable on the flat and uphill, especially as the shoes wore in, but it became an issue for me on downhills. It is very hilly where I live, so all my runs are up and down. The more pointed toe box led to sore big toes if I ran in the shoes too often. Thankfully, the Brooks Ghost Max 4 doesn’t suffer from the same affliction. This makes it comfortable to wear even on long downhills.
To say that the Brooks Ghost Max 4 is a cruiser is probably the best description. The GlideRoll geometry carries your foot from landing to toe-off really smoothly and allows you to get into a nice rhythm. The running action that the shoes promote doesn’t feel forced or controlling. The shoes are flexible enough to make it easy to run up steep hills where you are landing on your midfoot with every step. The GlideRoll is effective for the heel striker or midfoot striker. The heel-to-forefoot drop of 6mm and the curve of the midsole are designed to reduce overstriding and heel striking, but still facilitate a heel strike if that is your natural gait.
The primary use of the Brooks Ghost Max 4 is easy runs and long runs. They are essentially a cruiser. However, the midsole isn’t mushy or unresponsive, which means that they don’t feel bad at a steadier running pace. So, they could be used for tempo runs or pickups in the middle of your long runs.
The Brooks Ghost Max 4 is lighter than the previous version by about an ounce. A men’s UK 8 weighs 292 grams and a women’s UK 5 weighs 260 grams.
Despite the 40mm stack height, the Brooks Ghost Max 4 isn’t at all unstable. Although the foam does compress on impact, it doesn’t collapse or bottom out, and it recoils quickly. The foot sits inside the midsole, which also helps with stability and allows the foot to follow the curve of the midsole without deviating. This guides the foot quickly from landing to toe-off. The base of the Brooks Ghost Max 4 is also broad, increasing the stability of the ride.
Brooks running shoes are similar in length to Saucony, Altra, Topo and 361. If you use Karhu, Hoka, New Balance, Inov-8 or La Sportiva, then we would suggest trying half a UK size smaller. For example, a UK 11 in Brooks is a similar length to a UK 11.5 in Hoka. The Brooks Ghost Max 4 is available in two women’s widths and two men’s widths, so you can get the perfect fit.
In summary, the Brooks Ghost Max 4 is a well-cushioned daily cruiser that also feels smooth and comfortable at slightly quicker paces. The cushioning feels a bit softer and the midsole a bit more flexible. The toe box has a bit more room to allow the big toe to sit straight. However, these are minor tweaks, and if you have happily been enjoying the Brooks Ghost Max 3, then the Brooks Ghost Max 4 should be equally enjoyable to cruise along in.
Alternatives to Brooks Ghost Max 4
Mount to Coast C1: A similar straight big toe line but with a roomier toe box. The initial contact with the ground is softer but there is a firmer feel to the toe off. Less flexible and a bit more controlling. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/mount-to-coast-c1-review/
Topo Atmos 2: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet more room to spread and function. The feel to the foam is softer and less responsive. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-atmos-2-review/
New Balance 1080v15: Less volume in the toe box and a lot more bounce in the midsole. Three width Men’s and two width Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-1080v15-review/
Altra FWD VIA 2: A broad rounded toe box allows more foot function with a much less noticeable rocker. This makes the ride feel a lot more natural. The foam is firmer and more responsive. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-fwd-via-2-review/
361 Centauri 3: A much softer feel to the foam. The toe box is more pointed and the rocker more noticeable. Available in two width Men’s and Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-degrees-centauri-3-review/
Hoka Clifton: A softer foam. Hoka increased the heel to forefoot drop from 5mm to 8mm as they expect the foam to get compressed reducing the heel to forefoot drop back to 5mm. The rocker is more noticeable. Available in two width Men’s and Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-clifton-10-review/
Karhu Mestari 1.5: A straight big toe line. A rocker and the Karhu Fulcrum gives the shoes a lot of propulsion. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-mestari-run-1-5-review/
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