Making running fun…by making fun of it
After reviewing a lackluster 2nd edition of the Ghost Max, my expectations for the third version were as low as the approval rating of the U.S. President (he who shall not be named). And then when I learned the 3rd version wasn’t getting any notable updates and was adding weight—again—my expectations sank even lower than the droopy, oversized tie of “he who shall not be named.” But find out why three was the lucky number this time, in this Brooks Ghost Max 3 review.
Let’s not bury the lede: the Wave Rider 29 has a plate! Before you cream your jeans, it’s not a real plate. The MIZUNO WAVE plate is made of PEBAX RNEW, a “plant-based high-performance TPU.” Told you it wasn’t the real deal. Don’t expect this plate to provide the same experience of carbon fiber or nylon plates. It doesn’t. And that’s not its purpose. The plate helps provide a more stable platform and extra cushioning. Yawn.
The Balos has accomplished quite the feat: it’s the first running shoe you can simultaneously pronate and supinate in! I didn’t think that was conceivable, but as New Balance says: “Impossible is nothing.” Wait, I think that’s Nike’s tagline. I’m exaggerating, of course, but if you’re not a neutral runner, do not try this shoe. Hell, even if you are a neutral runner, this shoe may not work for you. It’s one of the least stable shoes I’ve run in…ever.
When you look up the word “smooth” in your online dictionary of choice, there’s a picture of the New Balance FuelCell Rebel. Just kidding. There are no pictures in online dictionaries, only printed versions as ancient as the fever-brained fogeys who still use them. But if there were pictures in online dictionaries, there would definitely be a photo of the Rebel; it just feels so…well…smooth to run in.
Perhaps the most prescribed shoe by lazy running store employees for beginner runners, the Brooks Ghost is omnipresent. If you didn’t think apparitions existed before, you sure as hell became a believer when you started seeing the Ghost on the feet of everyone and their mother…and their mother’s mother. Because, apparently, the only prerequisite for donning a pair of the Ghost is having feet
Mizuno features what it calls “Foam Wave,” two layers of foam in the midsole. On the top layer is U4icX foam—which, contrary to how it sounds, is not the name of one of Elon Musk’s 14 children. This is a firmer foam offering stability without feeling too stiff. Underneath, the midsole is greatly enhanced with nitrogen-infused ENERZY NXT foam for increased energy return.