Sam: Unstructured front of upper could use a gusset tongue for better front lockdown Nils/Sam: If you need stability search somewhere else, like the GTS versions of Launch and Glycerin Sam: Brooks first carbon neutral run shoe. Sam/Steph: Well balanced, smooth daily training ride Sam/Nils/Steph: Simple, comfortable upper with mostly effective hold Sam/Nils/Steph: Gains snap and response: still soft and now all DNA Loft, but no longer has a mushy overly flexible forefoot This was promising as it seemed this more extensive coverage might help stabilize the forefoot and give it more pop.įinally the Ghost 14 is the brand's first carbon neutral shoe incorporating recycled materials, assessment of manufacturing, and using well vetted carbon offsets as part of a more general initiative at Brooks to have net carbon zero emissions by 2040 While the outsole appears quite similar I immediately noted a more filled in less segmented medial forefoot. More clearly seen is that the midsole geometry changes with what appears to be a wider rear and mid foot platform and more vertical side walls. I say 1.x as Brooks never says much if anything beyond marketing words about their foam. The 14 has the regular or maybe a v1.x flavor.

I sat up when I read this dreading a yet softer mushier midsole but was curious as in 2021 Brooks has 2 flavors of DNA Loft in addition to regular v1: DNALoft v2 a firmer more responsive flavor in the trail Cascadia 16 ( RTR Review) which all our testers loved and Loft v3 a supercritical very light and energetic flavor in the Aurora-BL ( RTR Review), a wildly innovative and light max cushion trainer. Instead of dual density midsole with softer DNA Loft on the lateral side and firmer BioGoMoDNA more medially, its midsole is now entirely DNA Loft. It does see changes underfoot, some significant. The upper is similar to the 13’s but is now a yet softer more pliable engineered mesh with no overlays beyond the logo and 3D printed shapes towards the rear of the shoe so as to provide some lace up and rear collar structure. The Ghost 14 retains almost exactly the same 9.88 oz /280g US men’s 9 weight, the big 12mm drop, and as far as we know the full 35mm heel /23m forefoot stack also remains unchanged. Quite frankly, I have never gotten along that well with the model remembering stiff versions, firm versions, some with dense and suffocating uppers and in the 13 ( RTR Review ) getting away from the overly dense uppers but ending up with a very soft, flexible mushy forefoot which a firm outsole tried to back up, and not so well as that. A neutral sub 10 oz neutral shoe with a 12mm drop it can be called, given the evolution of running shoes, traditional in geometry.

Sam: The Ghost is one of Brooks’ most popular trainers. Article by Stephanie Beck, Nils Scharff, and Sam Winebaum

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