Brooks Ghost Max 3 Performance Review

As we unboxed the new Brooks Ghost Max 3, we fondly remembered the original Ghost Max while recalling the Ghost Max 2 was a mixed bag (some of our team liked it, some thought the original was infinitely better, and some hated it). When a model starts out on such a promising trajectory and loses its way…it’s often hard for it to find the right mix again.

Can the Brooks Ghost Max 3 find the path back to the top tier of an increasingly crowded running shoe heap? Let’s find out.

What is the Brooks Ghost Max 3?

According to Brooks, the Ghost Max 3 is for “[r]unners (and walkers) looking to reduce pressure underfoot for comfortable and protected miles.”

I mean…isn’t that basically the value proposition of the majority of running shoes? Usually I don’t love a description that’s too marketing-heavy, but this reads like someone wrote it in the last 5 minutes before close of business on a Friday. It’s so generic I’m now going against my better judgement and asking for more pizazz.

Oh well, I guess we have to do it ourselves. Time to figure out what the Ghost Max 3 does best…

Cushion

The evolution of the Ghost Max franchise’s cushion has been interesting: from pillowy soft, to way too hard (for me), and now to something that might just be in the goldilocks zone for many. DNA Loft v3 returns from the second version but in a softer iteration. It’s still not as soft as the DNA Loft v2 in the original Ghost Max, but it’s more in line with other supercritical midsoles on the market.

I found running in the Brooks Ghost Max 3 to be good but not great. There was some good softness in the forefoot, and the impact protection was there; but the shoe is neither plush enough to be a go-to shoe for recovery miles, nor peppy enough to be a pick-up-the-pace kind of shoe. 

Annie found the Ghost Max 3 a dramatic shift that was apparent to her feet. The rest of her body tended to feel like it was working a little harder instead of getting some added oomph.

In other words, I like it – but more as a walking shoe than a running shoe. I just ended up wanting to reach for something else anytime I went on a run. The Ghost Max 3 doesn’t make running feel easier. But, when picking something for walking around downtown or standing for hours at a track meet, I found it among my top picks.

Maybe the Ghost Max 3 will break in more over time, but I’d have a hard time picking it over the Brooks Glycerin 22 or Asics Novablast 5. Those shoes were either more plush or more peppy and better suited to the runs on my calendar. That said, the Ghost Max 3 passes the theme park test, and we may see it on lots of touristy feet this summer.

Support

A wide base, a large internal heel counter (that does show itself at the back bottom of the upper), and nicely fitting upper combine to make this shoe fit well and land it on the stable-neutral continuum. You may not need stability, but the Brooks Ghost Max 3 is a shoe that will curtail any side-to-side sloppiness and be trustworthy on broken pavement or cobblestone.

Traction

While I wasn’t able to test the Brooks Ghost Max 3 in rainy or wet conditions I did find some sprinkler runoff to test the dry/wet/dry transitions. I didn’t have any issues with that transition or gripping any type of surface from cement to asphalt to packed gravel.

The Ghost Max 3 also includes a thick rubber outsole with a deep pattern that’s only showing slight wear where I toe off. This is an outsole that is built to last. When combined with the midsole’s resilience, I think you’re looking at a shoe that can last longer than 500 miles – a rarity in the footwear industry.

Upper

The upper of the Brooks Ghost Max 3 is similar-looking to the upper on the Brooks Glycerin Max but is less premium-built with a fairly basic engineered mesh. The upper fits well (though wide-footers may not love it…more on that later) and includes the typical-for-Brooks extra padding in the tongue and heel collar. It’s a running shoe that can handle all-day wear.

Is the Brooks Ghost Max 3 wide foot friendly?

While the Brooks Ghost Max 3 fits true-to-size lengthwise, the toebox is a bit cramped. So wide-footers aren’t going to love the standard width. Luckily, the Ghost Max 2 came in 3 different widths for men and 3 different widths for women. So once this shoe gets a few colorways and those widths out into the market, wide-footers will have a chance to enjoy this shoe.

Annie found it fairly wide-foot friendly in the base width. If you have a significantly wide foot, embrace the wide option. Many slightly wide-footers and even a few true wide-footers will be comfortable in the standard width due to an accommodating midfoot.

Is the Brooks Ghost Max 3 worth $150?

The Brooks Ghost Max 3 includes all the necessary elements of a $150 shoe, so I can’t quibble with that price point…except…the $140-$160 price band has a huge amount of options across the running shoe market with many of those finding a place on our best running shoes list.

It’s hard for me to recommend the Ghost Max 3 above those high-performers, but if the Ghost Max 3 works for you, you’re getting solid value.

How to use the Brooks Ghost Max 3

The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is best used for daily miles at easy or recovery pace, for walking, and for jobs that require lots of time on feet.

Brooks Ghost Max 3 Summary

Drew: The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is a solid everyday running and walking shoe that isn’t spectacular in any way but can get the job done. I believe there are better options available, but if you want a hybrid run/walk/stand shoe, the Ghost Max 3 should be in consideration.

Annie: The Brooks Ghost Max 3 is better than v2 but it’s difficult to really use my feet in the Ghost Max 3. But in a way, that’s not not a stated goal of the shoe. Brooks intentionally shapes the geometry (as described in marketing materials) to relieve pressure. While that creates a somewhat laborious experience for me in which I struggle to push off normally, it may be exactly what some runners and walkers find helpful for their unique needs of relieving different kinds of foot pressure.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Annie Keris (age 39, 5’0” 117lbs): Typically follows a “two days on, one day off” running routine. “On” days include daily miles, speed work, and long runs. An “off” day usually involves yoga and mobility/recovery work. Enjoys occasional racing but perhaps enjoys the training process even more. Gravitates most toward the half marathon distance, but ventures into the 10k and 5k as well. The marathon is thus far uncharted territory…

Disclosure

While Brooks did provide a pair of the Ghost Max 3 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.