Reviews You Can Rely On

Brooks Ghost 16 Review

A boring and limited daily trainer that doesn’t stand out
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Brooks Ghost 16 Review
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $140 List
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Manufacturer:   Brooks
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2024
54
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#28 of 30
  • Landing Comfort - 30% 5.0
  • Responsiveness - 20% 3.5
  • Stability - 15% 7.0
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 7.3
  • Weight - 15% 5.0
  • Traction - 5.0% 7.0
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

The Brooks Ghost 16 brings some welcome changes to the Ghost lineup, namely an updated DNA Loft v3 midsole foam, but the shoe still shows its age. This is the most popular running shoe out there… and we struggle to see why. The updated foam is still boring and lacks the resilience we've come to expect from the best daily trainers. Landing transitions feel rough and choppy through the midfoot, particularly for midfoot runners. The 14 mm drop can feel unnatural for many runners. There are some positives — the upper is very comfortable, the geometry is easy to approach, the shoe is extremely durable, and it is pretty stable. All that makes it a safe choice for beginners. But this shoe significantly underperforms its price point. Even though it is a popular shoe, we do not recommend it for the vast majority of runners, especially not for runners who land anywhere but their heels.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable upper
Durable
Relatively stable
REASONS TO AVOID
High drop can feel awkward
Still firmer than it needs to be
Unresponsive

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Brooks Ghost 16
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Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Men's Running Shoes
Top Pick Award
Excellent Performance without a Plate
Best Buy Award
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Price $140.00 at REI
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Bottom Line A reliable shoe that can’t keep up with the rest of the marketAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Brooks Ghost 16 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Landing Comfort (30%)
5.0
8.0
8.3
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (20%)
3.5
8.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (15%)
7.0
5.7
7.0
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
7.3
7.5
8.0
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
5.0
6.8
5.8
8.4
5.3
Traction (5.0%)
7.0
5.0
4.0
6.2
9.0
Specs Brooks Ghost 16 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Measured Weight 10.31 oz 9.03 oz 9.76 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Measured Heel Stack Height 36 mm 38 mm 43 mm 30 mm 38 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 14 mm 11 mm 7 mm 7 mm 11 mm
Plate Type None Nylon None None None
Rocker Angle 20.5 deg 25.0 deg 22.5 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 70.0% 67.7% 66.5% 62.2% 66.7%
Style Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer
Upper Engineered knit Engineered mesh/knit Engineered woven/knit FantomFit Engineered knit
Midsole DNA Loft v3 PWRRUN PB FF Blast + Eco FuelCell NITROFOAM
Outsole Rubber Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type None None Finger loop None None
Sizes Available 7 - 15 US, narrow, medium, wide & extra wide 7-15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular

Our Analysis and Test Results

We get it. The Ghost line is extremely popular, so making radical changes is a huge risk for Brooks. But honestly, this shoe feels more like an option from the mid-2010s than 2024.

Performance Comparison


brooks ghost 16 - the ghost 16 has been updated, but still feels "old-school"… and...
The Ghost 16 has been updated, but still feels "old-school"… and not in a good way.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Landing Comfort


The Ghost 16 brings significantly improved cushioning with the DNA Loft v3 midsole foam and higher forefoot stack. It's comfortable underfoot, particularly when landing at the heel. The foam has less compression than we've come to expect, and while resilience is improved, the shoe still doesn't have much in the way of energy return.

brooks ghost 16 - the shoe doesn't compress as much as we expect from more modern foams.
The shoe doesn't compress as much as we expect from more modern foams.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Transitions from the rear of the foot forward are awkward; somewhere around the arch of the foot where we would expect a smooth transition, we instead find a rough drop forward. Thanks to the 14 mm drop, we don't think this is a good choice for anyone who isn't a heel striker. Finally, the foam at the forefoot feels firmer than we'd prefer. That leads to some discomfort over 15+ mile runs.

brooks ghost 16 - the low and firm forefoot makes this shoe a poor option for runners...
The low and firm forefoot makes this shoe a poor option for runners who land midfoot and want cushioning.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Responsiveness


The Ghost 16 is moderately responsive, thanks to the firmer foam and lower stack. The nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 has more energy return. However, the difference isn't as much as we'd hoped. This is a shoe for logging daily miles. It's alright for moderate paces, and it can be wrangled into threshold sessions. However, this isn't a great choice if you're looking for a shoe to run workouts in regularly.

brooks ghost 16 - between choppy transitions and poor forefoot comfort, this shoe...
Between choppy transitions and poor forefoot comfort, this shoe isn't a good choice for uptempo training.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


The Ghost 16 is a neutral shoe, but it errs on the side of stability. That's thanks to the crash pads that help direct motion and the lower stack with small sidewalls. We think this is a decent choice for heel-strikers who don't need support but prefer a shoe that feels very stable.

brooks ghost 16 - this shoe errs on the side of stability for a neutral daily trainer.
This shoe errs on the side of stability for a neutral daily trainer.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Upper Comfort


The Ghost 16 upper is quite comfortable, as are most Brooks uppers. The soft materials around the stiff heel prevent rubbing, and we experienced great lockdown. The toe box does run a bit narrower than average, particularly in comparison to other Brooks shoes we've tested. Overall, the shoe takes high marks for upper comfort.

brooks ghost 16 - the upper is one of the highlights of this shoe.
The upper is one of the highlights of this shoe.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Weight


The Ghost 16 weighs about average for a daily trainer, coming in at 10.31 ounces in our testing. For the daily mileage orientation of the shoe, that's a perfectly acceptable weight.

brooks ghost 16 - it's no lightweight, but it isn't too heavy either.
It's no lightweight, but it isn't too heavy either.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Traction


Overall, traction on the shoe is above average. The durable outsole grips well on wet surfaces, and the rectangular lugs help bite on loose gravel. While we haven't tested it on ice yet, we're confident that the siping and patterning of the outsole should grip well in bad conditions.

brooks ghost 16 - the traction of the ghost 16 is solid, thanks to a durable rubber...
The traction of the Ghost 16 is solid, thanks to a durable rubber outsole.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Brooks Ghost 16?


Honestly, we don't think this shoe is worth it. Unless you absolutely love the Ghost line, we think there are more versatile and equally comfortable shoes for the same price. If you're a heel striker who prefers a stable-neutral shoe and rarely will use this shoe for uptempo running, then you might consider it. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


If you just want a simple daily trainer to handle your miles, you should consider the Puma Velocity Nitro 3. It has a higher stack but is similarly stable, has more comfortable cushioning, and is far more versatile. It's also cheaper. The Asics Novablast 4 is one of our favorite daily trainers, sits at the same price point as the Ghost 16, and significantly outperforms it as well.

Nathaniel Bailey