The Brooks Ghost 11 is one of the most common and traditional shoes out there. Anyone working in run specialty will tell you it’s one, if not the most sold neutral trainers. It feels comfortable when you try it on and has a full toe box. Plus, it’s made in wide too.
I’ve worn the Ghost before, and one of my favorite pairs was the Ghost 9. I had hoped to get a pair of Ghost 11s in the New York City color, but I wasn’t able to order them through running specialty. (I guess they sent too many to bloggers?).
Each year, the Brooks Ghost is a consistent and reliable neutral shoe. There is plenty of cushion, but it’s still light.
Upper:
Since the Ghost 10, the look and design have been changed the most. It aesthetically looks better than previous years (What is better anymore in the running world?
As mentioned, the major update comes in the upper. It uses new materials but maintains the breathability. Like most of Brooks shoes, there is a double layer of mesh, which keeps air filtering through but also keeps dirt out.
Fit wise, the Brooks Ghost has always been close to size. I wear anything from a women’s 10-11 wide, and I’ve found the 10 wide to fit the best year after year. A few people have complained the toebox is slightly more narrow in the Ghost 11, but that hasn’t been an issue for me.
The most common complaint from the Ghost is the lack of structure at the top. Your feet are free floating around in the top. You never want any running shoe toebox to feel tight, but for many, this isn’t comfortable or natural. Personally, I like it. There are no seams, no overlays, and my feet can just chill without worrying about rubbing or being irritated by seams (technical, I know).
Ride:
The Ghost 11 does feel slightly different. The Ghost used to have a more chunky, thick layer of DNA foam. There is now less “DNA” foam and more DNA Loft Foam.
Okay…so?
The Loft foam is softer but also more responsive under the heel. Previously, the shoe was a much softer trainer. Now it’s transitioned into a shoe that you can do a workout, or easy run. I’ve done both in the Ghost, and it responds accordingly.
Another thing to note is that the Ghost is my go to, rainy day shoe. The grip is more substantial than many trainers. It’s not a trail or rain shoe, but it has a lot more grip than many other similar shoes.
Conclusion:
The Brooks Ghost 11 is a great shoe. There is plenty of cushion, and it’s one of the cheaper traditional shoes. I’ve run about 300 miles in mine. I’ve run fast runs, slow runs, easy runs, hard runs, I’ve pretty much done everything with no issue.
Current Shoe Rotation (Keep in mind, I haven’t run since NYCM, but it’s what I left with)
Easy Runs: Brooks Glycerin 16, Brooks Ghost 11, On Cloudace, Underarmour Sonic, Hoka Cavu,
Workouts: Nike Fly, Hoka Cavu, On Cloudrush
Races: Nike Fly, Nike Pegasus Turbo, Nike Fly 4%
Questions for you:
What is your staple shoe?
Do you use a different shoe for rainy days?
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