Brooks Ghost 13 Review

The Brooks Ghost 13 comes in with a lot to live up to. Does it actually deliver the goods? Let’s find out! 

Noble drops some great insight on the Brooks Ghost 13 in the video below.

UPPER - Materials and Lockdown

Brooks did a nice job with this upper overall, as it locks your foot down without constraining your foot excessively. The tongue and lacing system work well together and give just the right amount of cushioning without being excessive.

The upper is constructed primarily of an engineered mesh material that is similar to what we have been seeing out of most daily trainers coming out from Brooks lately.

These shoes are breathable, supportive and the internal liner makes it feel like you could go sockless for your runs (although I would not recommend that). 

There are shoes that compare to the Ghost but the ghost is the by far the best choice between them. 

The heel counter in the Ghost 13 actually feels similar to the counter in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21, although without any guide rails on the medial and lateral side of the shoe this does not provide any real pronation stability it will still keep your ankle locked in and secure for just about any run type.

The upper of the Ghost 13 distinguishes itself from other brands with its new soft engineered mesh, called Air Mesh. On my first run with them on a cold winter morning, I could feel the icy wind on my feet, so they're definitely airy and breathable. The rest of the upper is what you come to expect from a Brooks Ghost: generous amounts of foam in its tongue, collar and heel. Its tongue isn't gusseted but it stays in place thanks to its wide wings.

The Ghost 13's internal heel counter does an excellent job of keeping the heel in place. Additionally, there are double last row eyelets for heel-lock lacing, although I never needed to use them.

The toe box is roomy and provides plenty of space for your feet to spread out. There is also an internal toe stiffener for structure and support near the toes.

Compared to the Ghost 12, the heel counter on the Ghost 13 is more streamlined and less padded . As a result, your foot sits further back in the shoe , which creates extra room in the forefoot area .

Runners with wide feet will feel more comfortable in the Ghost 13 shoes because of the extra space in the forefoot area. The standard width size is already roomier than previous versions, but if you have narrow feet, make sure to purchase the narrower version. Otherwise, it also comes in wide and extra-wide for those runner who need even more space.

The toe box and heel of the Ghost 13 have reflective strips for improved visibility at night. The only downside to the shoe is that it doesn't have a gusseted tongue.

POSITIVE: Comfortable Heel Collar

DRAWBACK: Toe box feels a little narrower than other Brooks Models

For a smooth transition, the Ghost 13 boasts well-placed Omega Flex Grooves to optimize forefoot flexibility without compromising cushioning.

Aiding further in the ride is the Segmented crash pad, which flexes with the foot, offering customized cushioning and stability for a smooth heel-to-toe transition.

The Ghost 13 has a dual foam setup in the midsole with DNA Loft on the lateral side and BioMogo on the medial side. Both foams are similar in density, so the ride is balanced and stable.

You'll hardly even notice the new full-length DNA Loft part of the Ghost 13 when you're running. The midsole is co-moulded, so there are no seams or gaps where the two foams meet. This makes for a smoother ride. Additionally, theGhost13 rides medium soft - just like previous versions (e.g., Ghost 12 and 11). In other words, it's an incredibly versatile shoe that all daily trainers aspire to create.

The Ghost 13 is my favorite shoe for easy runs that are between 6 and 20 miles, but its midsole is not too soft. This means that it can also handle the occasional tempo run. The only downside is that it is a bit heavier than other shoes, which might be a problem for some runners.

POSITIVE: Plush with responsiveness

DRAWBACK: Firm forefoot may feel too firm for some.

OUTSOLE - Simple and Durable Traction

The outsole is simple, and delivers on the goods!

The Blown Rubber pretty much covers up most of the bottom of the shoe, which will aid in traction, durability, and a responsive transition. Other than that, not much else to say except that it gets the job done!

While Brooks' Ghost 13 references itself as "the perfect blend of softness and responsiveness", I found that it was only particularly soft.

The midsole foam that Brooks uses in the Ghost 13, though new, lags behind in responsiveness when compared to the explosive forefoot of Pegasus 37 with its Zoom Air unit or Ride 13 with its bouncy TPU-EVA blend Pwrrun midsole.

The 12mm heel-to-toe offset of the Ghost is more than other daily trainers, making it ideal for beginner runners who often strike with their rearfoot. The additional foam in the heel also provides increased shock absorption to cushion against impacts. Furthermore, I found that the gentle slope of the 12mm drop helped me roll through my stride and made transitions feel smoother. In terms of stability, the Ghost 13 remains one of the most stable neutral trainers available on the market today.

The Ghost 13's midsole has no lean bias, and its density is not too soft. The foot sits below the black part of the midsole, which acts as a guidance rail to keep your foot centred during transitions.

On the outsole of the Ghost 13 are two different rubbers: harder wearing rubber in the heel and softer blown rubber in the forefoot.

The rubber that Brooks uses is soft and spongy, and thicker than on most shoes' outsoles.

The full contact outsole and three wide flex grooves make ride transitions in the Ghost 13 velvety smooth. The entire width of the shoe is very flexible, resulting in a durableGhost 13. However, its EVA midsole will lose cushioning over time while its outsole rubber wears down faster than super hard-wearing rubber like the BRS 1000 found on the Pegasus 37 or AHAR+ on the Cumulus 22.

Only 150 miles in and the rubber on the lateral heel area is already half as thin as when I started. At this rate, my midsole foam will be visible by 200-250 miles.

Durability Prediction - 500-600 Miles

Speaking of that outsole, it will definitely increase the lifespan of this shoe for most users. It is thick and comprehensive enough to preserve the shoe for a long time.

I think the midsole foam is strong enough to keep you rolling for at least 500-600 miles of high-quality running. It may wear down after around there, but for some, it could go longer. I currently have over 250 miles on my Ghost 13 and they are still going strong! 

Durability has a lot to do with running mechanics as well, which is pretty individual for most athletes, but no matter who you are I am sure you will be able to “go the distance” in a pair of Brooks Ghost 13s.

Bottom line, you are going to get plenty out of the Brooks Ghost 13, more than most shoe models for sure. So rest easy knowing you’re in good hands.

Best Uses - Recovery Runs, Daily Training, Steady Runs, Long Runs

The Ghost 13 should pretty much do it all for you. It will be a stand out as a recovery day shoe and then also as a daily trainer, but you could use it for just about any type of run other than fast reps on the track (and I bet most could even use them for this too).

You will find comfort and performance in no matter what you use this shoe for, so you can purchase it knowing that it will be able to handle (and maybe enhance) anything you throw at it!