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.
I’ve had a long history running in the Brooks Glycerin. My first foray with the shoe was pre-COVID, with the Glycerin 17 back in 2019. That feels like 10 years ago, not five. With the nitrogen-injected DNA LOFT v3 foam, the shoe has improved leaps and bounds from its previous iterations. But how does it stack up against the Glycerin 20 and Ghost Max?
People sure love lists. There’s a list for everything: to-do, waiting, shopping, laundry, naughty, and nice, to name a few. My favorite lists are of the top running shoes. However, “top” is subjective. Running shoe reviews are flawed; experiences running in shoes vary wildly depending on body type, biomechanics, foot strike, and more. There are no top running shoes just like there are no best political candidates or no best investment strategies—ok, maybe those are bad examples. Instead of saying “top running shoes of 2023” these are my favorites of 2023. Admittedly, I sure am partial to max cushion shoes.
Brooks continues to innovate their shoe lineup, and the latest example appears in the form of a ghost—but this is not your father’s Brooks Ghost. The Brooks Ghost Max arrived in October as a beefier version of one of the most iconic running shoes. So, how does it compare to the regular Ghost?