Reviews You Can Rely On

Brooks Ghost 12 Review

Yet another excellent generalist comfort model from Brooks
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brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review
Credit: Brooks
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Brooks
By Ryan Baham ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 19, 2020
72
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Responsiveness - 25% 7.0
  • Landing Comfort - 25% 8.0
  • Weight - 20% 5.0
  • Durability - 10% 8.0
  • Upper Comfort - 10% 10.0
  • Breathability - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

Brooks has done a fine job of preserving all of the best features of the Ghost line with the new Ghost 12. It continues to deliver a smooth, plush-yet-responsive ride suited to just about any type of running, whether it's a local 5K or the tail end of an Ironman. It's also a surprisingly durable model, so it's a pretty solid choice for folks putting in tons of time out on the road. Brooks also did you the favor of offering tons and tons of different colors and styles, from subtle to obnoxiously vibrant.
REASONS TO BUY
Plush ride
Broad range of styles
Durable
Versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
Possibly too plush
Limited stability for some runners
Toebox may be too small for some runners

Our Analysis and Test Results

We spent weeks researching materials, performance, feedback, and every other aspect we could find to inform our testing and views of these kicks. We put in quite a few miles at varying distances and intensities to see where they excelled and where they weren't so great.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - the brooks ghost 12s are great comfort shoes, even when it's hot as...
The Brooks Ghost 12s are great comfort shoes, even when it's hot as hell out.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Performance Comparison


To tease out as many details as possible about the shoes we review, we break up performance across six weighted measures, which allows us to evaluate each pair against their peers with objectivity.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - the ghost 12s outperform many other shoes in their field.
The Ghost 12s outperform many other shoes in their field.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Responsiveness


Given their malleability, we're surprised at the responsiveness of the Ghost 12. In most cases, firmness is pretty closely correlated with responsiveness. We love that this shoe is able to balance these two qualities so that you have a lot of kickback and return with each step, but you're not fighting against a rigid shoe for an hour. This is achieved by combining BioMoGo DNA under the forefoot and plush DNA LOFT under the heel to cushion your landing and get you transitioned into the next step. Another contributing factor is the Flex Grooves in the forefoot that provide the perfect amount of flexion during the heel-to-toe transition of the gait cycle.

The firmness of the horseshoe-shaped heel pad, coupled with the fact that the Ghost 12 is a neutral, flexible shoe with exceptional responsiveness, illustrates why it's one of our favorite running shoes. It's not just comfy; it's a performer with pop.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - there's nothing quite like a running shoe with kick-ass kickback.
There's nothing quite like a running shoe with kick-ass kickback.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Landing Comfort


These smooth landers received an admirable score for landing comfort, right alongside the best performers in our group. The BioMoGo DNA cushioning and DNA LOFT respond to each person individually, depending on size and landing pattern. When pressure is placed on the DNA cushion, it instantly reacts by dispersing the cushion throughout the midsole, creating the perfect amount of comfort specific to each runner.

Forged below this DNA cushion is the caterpillar crash pad. This divided landing pad gives you more mobility and just the right amount of cushioning a neutral shoe needs. Now that the shank is removed from the midfoot, you can expect complete contact with the ground during your gait cycle. Combined, these features create a continuous and fluid ride.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - the ghost 12 uses a fat, multi-layer stack to make it one of the...
The Ghost 12 uses a fat, multi-layer stack to make it one of the best landers out there.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Weight


At 22.4 ounces for a size 11, these comfy kicks receive a slightly-below average score for our group, though they're still light so far as the market goes. This version also saves an extra once for the pair, compared to the last version. Despite being much heavier than lightweight racing flats, this contender runs fast, which is yet another reason we were happy to grab them when we're headed out even on short fast runs. Some super comfortable shoes.

Every time we took the Ghost 12 out for a run, we immediately noticed they that they feel almost as fast as much lighter shoes. Often times, a shoe will sacrifice comfort and durability to reach a light weight, but that is not the case here. Though it runs lighter than some of the more fortified shoes we tested, we believe it still maintains the best overall comfort. That said, the only thing that would be nice to improve upon is the weight; we would love to see how it could perform in the sub-20 ounce range, like some of its racing flat sistren and brethren.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - the ghost 12s come in at a little under 22.4 ounces per pair of...
The Ghost 12s come in at a little under 22.4 ounces per pair of men's 11. Not bad for a big comfort model.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Durability


With an abrasion-resistant rubber on the heel and a blown rubber forefoot, the Ghost 12 proved to be resilient through our relentless testing. Numerous shoes in our group only use rubber on small high-impact points of the outsole — or even just thicker EVA — but these use it through most of the outsole, which gives it added durability.

Additionally, the smooth and efficient roll from the heel to toe prevents premature wear in the outsole. After logging over 15 miles in this shoe, we noticed almost no degradation, whereas other shoes in our cohort had clear wear. And, when you have finally logged all the miles this shoe can take, happily retire your shoe knowing that Brooks implemented a more eco-friendly biodegradable sole.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - multiple layers of durable foam covered by a tough outsole help...
Multiple layers of durable foam covered by a tough outsole help extend the life of the Ghost 12 a little farther than a lot of its competitors.
Credit: Ryan Baham

We also aren't scared to mix up our runs and take our road shoes on the trails every now and then. Not only is the outsole rubber on the Ghost quite durable, the design of the segmented crash pad actually improves traction because of the separate individually placed nubs.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - you'll notice how great the ghost 12's tread is when you're out on...
You'll notice how great the Ghost 12's tread is when you're out on wet mixed terrain.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Upper Comfort


These trainers are easily our most comfortable shoes. Instead of stitching the overlays in the forefoot, more areas are welded. This trims just a little weight while adding some seamless durability to the forefoot upper, which looks better. Less stitching also means fewer places where chafing can occur. This creates a secure heel fit and gets it right where some models don't quite pass muster.

The Ghost gives a reasonable amount of wiggle room for the toes in the forefoot. Runners with average to slightly wide feet should have no trouble fitting nicely in this shoe. The flat laces are generic and lightweight, but we had no issues with them coming loose. For those of you who have issues with the tongue sliding into the shoe, Brooks also made a nice addition of a small eyelet to string one of your laces through.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - the thick tongue is one of our favorite features of the ghost 12.
The thick tongue is one of our favorite features of the Ghost 12.
Credit: Ryan Baham

The upper is also one of the most padded things out there, which we've all come to love and expect from Brooks. That padding fully wraps around the ankle, top of the foot, and down each side, making it one of the best out there.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - brooks is one of the best, if not the best producer of...
Brooks is one of the best, if not THE best producer of highly-comfortable shoes that deliver proper running performance.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Breathability


We found these to have slightly better than average breathability compared to the rest of the shoes in our test group. Lighter shoes tend to have more minimal uppers, which is nice to cut some weight, but also means less protection from the elements. Brooks claims to use a newly engineered mesh in its upper, which adds flexibility while also keeping the weight down.

On the wet days, we noticed the Ghost 12 didn't keep our feet as protected as some of the other shoes we tested and, indeed, made a perfect sponge once fully inundated. If you're sold on this shoe but want the weather protection, you'll be happy to know, as with previous versions, Brooks made a tougher waterproof Gore-Tex version just for you. Otherwise, suck it up, buttercup, you're gonna have squishy shoes when it rains.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - these heavily padded shoes are pretty great on the heat-release...
These heavily padded shoes are pretty great on the heat-release side, but you'll really notice they retain water when you're out running in the rain.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Value


This version comes in just a bit steeper than the last model, but we think the premium is worth it. They still run at just about the average cost for a new pair of road running shoes, but they're not average shoes. They're much more comfortable than your run-of-the-mill kicks whether walking, jogging, or sprinting. Beyond that, they're very durable, making them a better investment than many of the other shoes that break down after a single season. It's well worth it and your feet will thank you.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - these make good sense for someone looking for a comfy all-around shoe.
These make good sense for someone looking for a comfy all-around shoe.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Conclusion


With the updated Ghost 12, Brooks has created yet another excellent comfort model that we loved taking out for a spin. They retain most of their best features from earlier iterations, but include an updated 3D Fit Print upper that hugs the foot even more naturally than in previous models. This, along with the carryovers like plush midsole composition, supple collar padding, and a generous sockliner propel them to the top of our favorites list. They're a really good choice for runners who put in lots of miles and want a good deal of cushioning underfoot but without the bulky overcrowded feel of many comfort models. The one word of caution worth pointing out here is that this is a comfort model, not a stability model. Yes, it has some stability features and can control some degree of motion, but it's not as aggressive as some runners expect with Brooks shoes. We had a great time in them and we think a lot of runners will agree with us.

brooks ghost 12 running shoes men review - the ghost 12 is a really versatile shoe with awesome qualities, from...
The Ghost 12 is a really versatile shoe with awesome qualities, from its rebound to its pillowy upper, to its great traction and on to a good deal more.
Credit: Ryan Baham

Ryan Baham