Brooks Ghost 6 Review

I can't focus right now... so I'm going to write another shoe review!

This time we have the Brooks Ghost 6 on deck!

This is Brook's flagship neutral trainer.  It weighs in at 10.7 ounces and has about an 11-12mm drop.

     The Brooks Ghost series has won numerous awards for the last +4 years.   The Ghost has won the Jogger's World "editors choice" award 4 separate times.  You'll see a ton of people wearing this shoe not just for running, but for walking and casual wear.  Brooks knows their stuff and people really like their shoes, regardless of their activity of choice (or lack thereof).

    So what do I think of the shoe?  I've got a little over 150 miles on them.   They are really soft.  I know Brooks DNA (their cushioning system made of  a non-Newtonian fluid) is supposed to be soft, but this is "my feet are being absorbed by the shoe" soft.  These are cushioned trainers.  To be honest, the Brooks Glycerin 11 is the firm neutral shoe and the ghost is the cushioned one.  Even though they are marketed as the opposite.  I've run into this having tested both shoes and gotten similar customer responses (working at Foot Traffic in Portland, OR).  The Glycerin is more stable and protective, but the Ghost is softer.

   So do I understand why the general public seems to love this shoe?  Yes.  It's soft to the point that you start hallucinating and a ghost whispers in your ear, "Your form doesn't matter.  Ignore it and slam your feet into the ground."  Hence why it's called the Brooks Ghost.....

Not really.

However......

     I do have some major issues with this shoe.  I will start out by saying that I have regulated the Ghost 6 to non-running duties and it is permanently benched.   And I pushed it +50 miles more than I wanted to.

     My first issue is the major toe spring.  I personally feel like it's excessive and annoying.  But that's me.  I like a shoe that is responsive and doesn't have or has little toe spring.  That is not the Brooks Ghost 6.  Running long distances in this shoe made my plantar fascia feel like it was being uncomfortably stretched.   Constantly.  I also experienced a large amount of friction and blisters at the end of my toes, even though the shoe fits a bit long on me.  Or is supposed to.  I have a little over half a thumb width between the end of my foot and the end of the shoe (the optimal amount).  However, that doesn't take into account that toe spring.  I'm sure it feels great if you like that.  The shoe rolls you right along without much effort.  I don't like it.  I like putting my effort in, but instead feel like I'm fighting the Ghost in regards to who gets to do the work.

   Did I mention the Ghost was soft?  Oh wait yes I did.  A million times.  Most of that softness is in the heel. This is a great protective shoe for heel strikers.  That combined with the excessive toe spring gives it a very smooth ride.  However, this shoe is not responsive and your foot will just sink into it.  I have tried to do workouts in this shoe, but for me it just doesn't respond well.  Trying to get up on your forefoot/midfoot is a little awkward, mostly thanks to the toe spring.  The Brooks Ghost 6 is a normal run, recovery run and long run shoe.  Not a fast shoe.  In fact it feels a little slow.  I personally call it the "my feet are messed up and I don't want to feel them" shoe.  Or just the cheaper Hoka shoe made by Brooks.

   It's so soft that I get an odd fatigue that is the fatigue same fatigue you get from running on sand for too long.  I have heard of this fatigue from people who wear mushy shoes or Hokas.  I just get extremely tired in the hips and upper thigh areas.  Not glutes though.  If I come back from a hard run and my glutes are sore, I know I'm using the right muscles.  With these shoes I just get an odd soreness that makes running more than 5-6 miles in this shoe uncomfortable for me.  I also felt this when I was running in the Altra Torins.  Like I mentioned, I like firm shoes.  These are not firm.  I've done +20 miles in the Brooks Racer ST5 and the Brooks Adrenaline and don't feel this at all.  In fact I don't feel anything except that I'm flying over the ground.  Fast.  The Brooks Ghost?  It feels like a Ghost is holding onto my legs and telling me to slow down.  Again with the hallucinations.  On a serious note I think it comes from this extreme cushioning causing all your smaller stabilizing muscles to have to work harder to keep your limbs straight through the gait cycle from footstrike to the propulsion/toe-off phase.  That's fine for short distance, but long distance?  I think that could cause problems.  On the opposite end of the spectrum?  Long term running in too little/barefoot?  Stress fractures/injuries.  Each end of the spectrum, from barefoot to super cushioning has it's own issues.  Find what works for you and don't follow fads until they've been proven to work.  Also remember that every person is different.

Stepping off soap box now....

    The fit of the shoe in the forefoot and toes is not something I am a fan of.   It has a great midfoot, but from there it struggles.  The heel is pretty lose, so make sure you lace lock this shoe.  The forefoot looks like it starts well, but then turns into this bullet shape that squeezes all my toes.  That combined with the toe spring?  Uncomfortable.  If I leave my feet in long enough they get used to it, but I don't have that problem with any of the other shoes I'm using right now.  The Brooks Racer ST5, the T7 Racer and the Brooks Adrenaline 14 don't cause me any issues, especially in the forefoot.  The Brooks Ghost 6?  Uncomfortable and narrow in the toes.  Again, I can handle this for a while, especially as a casual shoe, but long term I am concerned (hence the benching).

And lastly? The durability of the outsole is terrible. The midsole is fine and stays soft for a long time. The outsole after 75 miles had a ton of wear on the rubber nubs. Particularly in the forefoot and heel. 150 miles? The nubs are destroyed. I'm starting to see the midsole. When I run I can't feel it, but again I start thinking about that upper thigh fatigue thing. Friends of mine have worn this shoe down almost past the midsole and they didn't notice any issues due to the shoe being so cushioned. So maybe I just need to suck it up and wear them completely down the midsole.

    So overall a good shoe, but it's just not for me.  It's a good "my body is destroyed" soft shoe or a Brooks Hoka.  I think I would hate Hokas based on my body's response to these, but that's just me.  I really like shoes that are firmer, have little to no toe spring and are responsive.  The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14 (current trainer), the Saucony Fastwitch 6, the Brooks Racer ST5 (my current tempo/longer race shoe) are are responsive and on the firmer side.  I really like the new Mizuno line for those same reasons.  The Wave Sayonara (which I have worn.  Review on the way), the Rider 17 and Inspire 10 are all awesome.  Plus they have great toebox width and shapes.  So check those out too if you're like me.

   Again though, everyone is different.  If you have a medium width foot, like a really soft ride and are a heavy heel striker, check these out.  I know plenty of people that love this shoe, swear by them and wear them everywhere.  I personally am looking forward to the Brooks Ghost 7.  Why?  Because Brooks is switching it to a DNA-BioMogo midsole mix (instead of the separate DNA) like the Ravenna 5.  From the short time I tried the Ravenna 5, that combination is much more responsive, but still protective.  So stay tuned.  Plus that toebox looks better too.

Thanks for reading!

These were a personal purchase and as always, my thoughts are my own.

Tack On!

-Matt Klein, SPT

*Images obtained directly from the Brooks Running website.  Head over to your local running specialty store to check them out!

Brooks Racer ST5 Review

Shoe Review TIME!!!

Today I am reviewing the Brooks Racer ST5.  This is Brook's supportive racing shoe.  It comes in at 8.6 ounces and has a 12mm drop.  It is a personal favorite of mine.  Read on to find out why.

     Imagine the Brooks Launch, but more responsive, supportive,  and lighter.  And the Launch is an awesome shoe (review on the way).  The ST5 is just more of a racer.  Not to say you couldn't race in the Launch.  It's a similar weight (just a bit lighter), but it is quick.  REALLY quick.  It always throws me off a bit how fast I can run in an almost 9 ounce shoe.  And with that quickness comes a much firmer sole as well.  Whereas the Launch is much softer and not nearly as responsive.  However, the firmness of the Racer ST5 does not deter from the shoe being protective.  It's like a track spike with a 12mm drop and some support via a medial post, called a "Diagonal Roll Bar" or DRB (see the fourth picture).  That coupled with the DRB Accel (see the fifth picture.  It's that black crossing plastic thing in the midfoot) provides a ride that is stable and launches you forward.  Brooks should have called this shoe the "Brooks Launch Racer ST."  Or not because the name is too long.    

     The shoe fits very well.  Think of a the typical racing flat feel where your foot is held down well, but there is good room in the forefoot/toes (no compression).  They are very comfortable (yes I would sleep in them) and the Racer ST5s disappear off your feet.  I might say the heel is a tad wide, so make sure you do the special lace lock/bunny ears lacing technique (whatever you want to call it.  If you don't know what this is, I'll do a post about it.  Or head down to your local run specialty store and ask!).  

     Color wise I chose red... because I saw Ryan Vail wearing that color on a Flotrack video.  That's really why I chose it.  I fully admit that.  If you can wait until February 1st, 2014, Brooks has an awesome new colorway coming out in a crazy blue and nightlife (neon yellow) color.  

Crazy right?

    Unlike almost every racing flat out there, the Brooks Racer ST5 is EXTREMELY durable.  You will get as many miles out of these as typical trainers (if not more because right now I think my Brooks Ghost 6 is going to last 200 miles at max before the sole is totally destroyed).  I have +150 miles on this shoe and there is almost ZERO wear.  The shoe feels like it did when I first got my paws on it (except it's molded to my foot a bit).  I detect almost no midsole breakdown and I check all this every single time I wear them because it blows me away every single time.  You could definitely use these as lightweight trainers.  They have enough protection to do that.  The only reason I don't is that I like being able to step down from a heavier trainer so that my racing shoes feel lighter on race day.  

   The durability is incredible.  I really don't know what to say other than "wow."  That might be the trade off for having a little more weight in the shoe.  I don't know.  I seriously wish more shoes were like this and this is a RACING FLAT.  Flat being a generous term with the 8.6 ounces and +12mm heel drop.  But I have nothing to complain about because this shoe has taken me through my fastest tempo runs and an incredible 71 minute half marathon that I prepared very little for (it was also my first one.  And no I didn't taper.  Why?   I'm an idiot that's why).  

See that red part of the midsole?  That's the DRB.  Never feels intrusive.

    Some people may worry about the shoe's weight being heavy for a flat at 8.6 ounces, but the shoe is VERY fast and feels much lighter.  The weight never gets in the way and as mentioned I can run really fast in this shoe.  I have even run very quick 5ks in them but do prefer the T7s or Mach Spikeless for that distance (if you're into Brooks).  They have quite a bit of pop to them, but not in a jarring way.  I think that helps make them such a responsive and fast shoe.  I use them for all my workouts and longer races (including the 71 minute half marathon I mentioned earlier).    

    And yes, the shoe has a fairly high heel drop for a racing shoe at 12mm (although it actually feels a bit higher).  Once I get going though, it is not noticeable at all.  This shoe is so smooth and fast you will completely forget about what's going on at your feet.  I thought I was going to have a terrible workout the other day being a little sick and not getting enough sleep.  Yet I flew through a 4.2 mile tempo run in about 21:30 on a route that was NOT flat.  Yes.  That's 5:07 pace per mile while sick.  I know it's not just the shoes, but they help.  

Dang, I almost ran my sophomore year college 5k PR in these will doing a tempo run...  

     I think this shoe works best racing longer distances.  This is the shoe I used during my (first) half marathon and I do not regret that decision.  Yes my quads were busted up because I got tired and was heel striking pretty hard.  But my feet were completely fine.  I'm pretty sure I would have destroyed myself if I'd chosen the Brooks T7.  I even ended up running pretty quick, averaging ~5:25 pace for 13.1 miles!  I eventually would like to move to the T7 for half marathons, but right now my body is not ready for them racing that distance.  

   So yeah.  You could say I kinda love these shoes.  They have carried me through some awesome times.  Who knew a year ago that my racing and workout shoe would have support, a 12mm drop and weigh 8.6 ounces?  I was training in shoes that were much lighter and had much lower heel drops than that!

     Do I think they could be improved?  Yes.  I think Brooks could bring the weight down by reducing that heel drop a bit.  I think 8-10mm would be great.  That would probably bring the shoe down to around 8 ounces (I think).  Then it could compete better with the Adidas Adios Boost,  Saucony Fastwitch, Asics DS Racer and the Nike Lunarspeed Lite+.  All of which are lighter.  But lighter does not mean better.  Of those shoes, the Racer ST5 fits the best (with the exception of the Fastwitch 6, which is also very comfortable after a few runs), is the most protective and the most durable based on the wear I've seen from those who race/train in those shoes.

     I think people will shy away from this shoe because of the weight and support.  But please don't let that deter you!  The Racer ST5 may look like it has more "junk in the trunk", but it will not hold you back at all.  Trust me.  The phrase "more cushin' for the pushin'" applies here.  Except it's talking about running speed... not sex.  And the "cushin'" is firmer.  Like it being due to muscle rather than fat..... because strong glutes are important for running fast and injury free..... alright I'll stop now (this is not a good way to end a review but I'm going to anyway).

    I really cannot say enough good things about the Brooks Racer ST5.  As I said they are a personal favorite.  If nothing else take a look and try them on.  They are well worth your time.

Thanks for reading!

These shoes were a personal purchase and as always, my thoughts are my own!

Tack On!!

-Matt Klein, SPT

2/8/14 UPDATE:  I am now using these and the Brooks Purecadence 1s as my training shoes and am doing all workouts in the Brooks T7.  Heading back down the minimal rabbit hole again...

*Pictures obtained from the Brooks Running website.  Go over there and check them out or head over to your local running specialty store!

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14 Review

Time for another shoe review!!  This time the Adrenaline GTS 14!

 

The Shoes I've Worn

I just posted my first shoe review about 2 hours ago and I started thinking about all the different shoes I've worn over the last few years.  I really started thinking about shoes my freshman year of college at University of Puget Sound.  Before that they were pretty much a mystery to me.  I barely remember what I was wearing my senior year of high school when I started competing.  Before that I have no idea.

Brooks T7 Racer Review

Alright!  Time for a shoe review.

Why Hips Don't Lie: Thoughts On Knee/IT Band Pain

Being an obsessed runner who loves running as much as possible, you can imagine how many people ask me if I'm worried about my knees.  Knees knees knees.  That's all people think about.