Brooks Ghost 15 Review

Brooks Ghost 15 Review

The Brooks Ghost is one of Brooks' best-selling running shoes and is currently in its 15th iteration. Soft, secure, and relatively firm underfoot, it is an ideal running shoe for beginners. For the Brooks Ghost 15, they added a new DNA Loft v2 midsole foam and tweaked the upper to make it more comfortable and supportive. Says Brooks, "It's smoother, more balanced, and better than ever."

But how does this shoe compare to some of the best running shoes on the market, and who is this shoe best for? To learn more, I ran a variety of running sessions in the Brooks Ghost 15, ranging from long, easy runs to faster tempo sessions. My verdict. Brooks Ghost fans won't be disappointed, but faster runners may be. Read our review of the Brooks Ghost 15.

The Brooks Ghost 15 will be available in November 2022 and is widely available online and in running stores. The shoes are priced at $140/£130 and are available in men's and women's sizes. The men's shoes are available in sizes U.S. 7 to U.S. 15 and in four widths: medium (regular), narrow, wide, and extra wide. Men's shoes come in 13 different colorways to fit all styles of runners, although some of these are special editions.

The women's Ghost 15 is available in sizes US 5 to US 13 and comes in three different widths: medium, wide, and narrow. The shoes come in 15 different colorways, some of which are limited editions, but there is a huge range to choose from.

The Brooks Ghost 15 fits true to size, like most other Brooks running shoes on the market. I tested a UK5/U.S. 7 and wear a UK4 in my everyday running shoes (confused. Check our guide to buying running shoes here). There was plenty of room in the toe box and no issues with soreness or scuffing.

The shoe looks very similar in design to the Ghost 14, but Brooks has made some changes. The midsole foam has been updated, and the mesh upper has been tweaked for enhanced support and comfort.

Upper

Let's start by digging the upper, which Brooks describes as an "air mesh upper." It is fine-tuned to provide a more secure fit around the foot, keeping it in place as you move. I didn't have any issues with my feet slipping on the heel or hot spots forming while running in the shoe, but it didn't feel that much different. This is very similar to the uppers of the Ghost 14 and Ghost 13. The shoes are very similar to the Ghost 14 and the Ghost 13, but the upper is very similar to the Ghost 14 and the Ghost 13, and the upper is very similar to the Ghost 14 and the Ghost 13, but the upper is very similar to the Ghost 14 and the Ghost 13.

It is as far from the new bootie uppers on the market as you can get. Brooks did not worry about saving weight with this shoe.

Midsole

The midsole of this shoe contains Brooks' DNA Loft V2 midsole foam, which Brooks claims is lighter and softer than previous iterations. It feels very similar to the DNA Loft used in the Ghost 14 - it's quite firm underfoot, and you don't get the sink-in, soft feel you get in shoes like the Asics Gel Nimbus 25 or the Nike Invincible 2 or Nike Invincible 3.

While the stiffer midsole does the job in slow, easy miles, it is not overly responsive. Trying to do a tempo session in this shoe felt a bit 'meh' and it took hard work to get my legs moving in this shoe.

Outsole

The outsole of this shoe is designed to be durable and it does that well. There is a lot of rubber, which provides good grip on wet concrete and light trails, and Brooks calls it a "crash pad" for smoother transitions. I had no problems with the grip of these shoes, and after 50 miles or so, they showed no signs of wear.

The Brooks Ghost 15 is a decent, everyday running shoe that will no doubt be popular with fans of the line and beginners alike. However, they are neither versatile nor exciting. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but there are more exciting shoes on the market for the same price.

I found that the shoes just weren't that responsive or snappy while running. Plus, compared to many other "everyday" shoes on the market, the Brooks Ghost line feels a bit left out. I have been reviewing running shoes for the past 6 years and this feels like a return to the same shoes. While some runners will find this very reassuring, many other shoe brands are doing more with form.

This is also one of the few shoes on the market with a 12mm drop - a drop is the difference between the heel and forefoot distance from the ground. 12mm is one of the higher drops, but there isn't much rocker in the shoe so you don't notice this as much.

The Brooks Ghost 15 is nothing new, and for many runners, that's okay. It is a decent everyday running shoe for beginners, and if you are a fan of the Ghost line, you will love this shoe. However, it is not the most comfortable cushioned shoe on the market, nor is it the most versatile.

If you're looking for sink-in comfort, bouncy foam underfoot, I would look at the Brooks Glycerin 20, the New Balance 1080v12, or the Asics Gel Nimbus 25. All of these shoes are a bit more versatile and can pace you through both tempo and speed sessions. For a super-plush shoe, check out the Nike Invincible 3.

If you're on a budget, save your money and buy the Brooks Ghost 14.

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