Details
Brand
Brooks
Heel To Toe Drop
12mm
Breathability
10/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Brooks’ BioMoGo DNA cushioning• Segmented Crash Pad for added shock absorption• Brooks’ DNA Loft cushioning & crash pad• Breathable upper
Upper
The upper in the Ghost 11 has been re-engineered to provide an even more lightweight-feeling fit that feels more like a second skin than a pair of shoes. The new structured mesh found in the 11 wraps your foot securely and is designed to fit snugly through the midfoot and heel. This adds extra support where you need it and gives your foot more flexibility to move where it needs to. The mesh is stretchier in this version and also helps to provide the runner with a more breathable running shoe. Compared to the Ghost 10, the mesh on the newest version is not only smoother and seamless, but it really helps to keep the dirt out, too. The material found on the rear of the upper is woven a little differently, providing a denser weave for added support in the midfoot area. The dual layer of mesh is supposed to wrap around the foot without causing any irritation. That said, however, one reviewer mentioned that it felt like their small toe was pushing on the material of the upper as if there wasn’t enough room in the toe box. This same reviewer said that they’ve never required wide fit shoes in the past which makes us here at RunnerClick wonder if the sizing is inconsistent for all of the Ghost 11 shoes. Another negative comment we read about the upper was that it seems to lack the structure that the previous Ghost models offered. The midfoot overlays that helped to hug the foot and lock it in during their runs are missing in this new iteration. On the positive side, the heel counter in the 11 helps to support the heel and keep it locked in place. There is one tongue glide loop present on the tongue of the shoe which is a nice feature to have as it helps to keep the tongue in the correct place during the entirety of your run.
Midsole
The midsole of the Brooks Ghost 11 features the brand’s BioMoGo DNA technology. This is Brooks’ adaptive cushioning system. It takes your weight, pace and the terrain you’re running on into account to help provide a stable and responsive ride. The BioMoGo DNA really gives each wearer a unique running experience. Not only does it help to make you run better, further and faster, but it provides 30% more cushioning than other midsole materials on the market today. Instead of a thick layer of DNA foam inside the 11, Brooks has opted for their newer DNA Loft foam technology. This material is supposedly not only more comfortable and responsive than the original material, but it’s light and not going to sink under your weight. It’s made with a gel base that allows it to respond uniquely to the force that it receives. What does this mean in layman’s terms? If you’re a larger runner, your shoe would provide you with a firmer cushioning or if you’re able to run at a fast pace already, the shoe will provide you with a greater bounce back.
Outsole
The outsole of this shoe is comprised of two separate crash pads. The first of which is the DNA Loft technology that is strategically placed at the heel of the shoe. Also found on the outsole of the Ghost 11 is Brooks’ typical segmented crash pad. This is comprised of shock absorbers to not only add extra cushioning and comfort but also provide a smoother heel-to-toe transition. The outsole is still made from a blown rubber material on the forefoot, as in the previous versions of this shoe, and will still offer the runner a grippy and flexible ride, especially during the toe-off phase of their run. The heel of the Ghost 11 features a durable carbon rubber that is meant to ensure a long lifespan for your new kicks.
Breathability
The redesigned engineered mesh upper present in this shoe helps to provide a breathable top-foot coverage that runners have come to expect from the Ghost models. This material is dual-layered to ensure that air can get in, keeping your feet dry and comfortable during your runs while keeping dirt from getting inside the shoes.
Comfort
The Ghost 11 fits true-to-size when it comes to the length and width of the shoe. It is available in different width profiles, which is a fantastic way to really be able to feel that you can customize the fit of your shoe. Men can choose from narrow, medium, wide and extra wide while women have the option for narrow, medium and wide for their shoe.;Many of the reviews we read online praised the comfort level. As mentioned above, the BioMoGo DNA that is featured in the Ghost 11 provides a gel base that really ups the comfortability of the shoe. Some reviewers, however, were not fans of the updated upper. One reviewer mentioned that their toes dug into the mesh part of the shoe, causing them great discomfort until they decided to return them for a different running shoe option. Others mentioned that the toe box in the Ghost 11 feels smaller than in its predecessor.
Style
The Ghost 11 is an attractive looking shoe. Taking a look at the upper, one will see that it is woven differently towards the rear of the shoe. This is strategically done so that the more dense fabric found in the midfoot region is able to properly support the foot. It does add a cool style element to the shoe, as well. The panel that holds the laces and eyelets appears to be reflective, adding another nice visually appealing aspect. The women’s version is available in five different colorways: pink/black/aqua, navy/gray/blue, all black, gray/silver/white or white/pink/black. The men’s version is also available in five colorways including gray/silver/blue, all black, ebony/gray/silver, navy/red/white or black/silver/orange.
Durability
As mentioned earlier in our review, the outsole features two different types of rubber – carbon and blown – for long-lasting durability. We didn’t read any negative reviews from consumers during our research about the shoe falling apart or not withstanding long, grueling runs. It seems that the strong outsole really plays a part in the longevity of the Ghost 11.
Protection
It seems like Brooks really hit a home run here. The Ghost 11’s updated midsole has a better crash pad than its predecessor which helps to disperse the impact when you land, sending you into the next step of your run seamlessly. The outsole, with its two different types of rubber components, will help protect runners who choose to take it to the streets during rainy weather. This shoe really held up well in a number of different weather situations without issue due to its superior traction. Runners who are heel strikers will love this upgrade in the Ghost 11 as it will feel as if their heel-toe transitions are quicker. Folks who are midfoot or forefoot strikers will find that this model is more cushioned and responsive for their runs.
Responsiveness
Thanks to Brooks’ DNA Loft foam they introduced in this iteration of the Ghost shoe, runners should find that they get a ton of responsive cushioning and soft comfort during their runs. The midfoot to toe-off phase of your stride will feel particularly responsive in this model. Most of the reviews we came across really praised the under foot feeling of this shoe. One reviewer, a midfoot striker, found that the Ghost 11 wasn’t a very responsive shoe for them. That said, they still liked the shoes and chose to wear them for recovery and longer runs. This version of the Ghost does seem to ride a bit firmer than the previous models.
Support
The Ghost 11 is a neutral running shoe, perfect for folks who don’t need any additional arch support for their runs. It’s best for runners who have normal, medium or higher arches. That said, a few comments we read online said that the Ghost 11 worked for their supination or pronation just fine despite there being no extra support or posting present. This might be a preference thing so if you are a known over or under pronator, you may want to consider giving these a test run! Reviews online mentioned that this shoe felt soft around their ankles, giving them enough support to make it feel that they were ‘locked in’ to their shoe. One reviewer mentioned that, as a heel striker, the added cushioning on the heel was a bonus for them.
Terrain
The Ghost 11 is a road running shoe. This means that it’s meant to be taken on paved roads and light gravel. That said, some of the reviews we encountered during our research claimed to have taken these shoes on trails without any issue at all.
Price
The MSRP for the Brooks Ghost 11 is $120. This iteration of the Ghost shoe is brand new as of publication time, having only been released in July 2018. Because this is such a new model, it isn’t available for much lower than the MSRP. You can find it slightly cheaper on Amazon, however, as both the men’s and women’s models are priced at $115.
Drop
The drop for both the men’s and women’s version of this shoe is 12mm. This is the same drop as featured in the previous version of the Ghost. The significant heel-to-toe drop is great for runners who heel strike.
Stability
The Brooks Ghost 11 provides a rather smooth and stable ride. This smoothness is due in part to the Brooks’ Segmented Crash Pad that they integrate into a lot of their running shoes. This technology is actually a system of little shock absorbers that provide cushioning during your entire gait cycle.
Flexibility
The Ghost 11 is an extremely flexible running shoe. The forefoot area of the outsole features a blown rubber material as well as a new lug pattern that not only adds flexibility but responsiveness and longevity as well. There are Omega Flex Grooves present in the midsole that help to make the sole more flexible. As mentioned earlier in our review, the upgraded mesh fits around the foot securely and snugly but allows for some wiggle room whenever your foot needs to flex.
Traction
As previously mentioned, the outsole of the Ghost 11 is made of a blown rubber material that provides runners with just enough grip. It performed well on wet surfaces and different types of terrains. Product testing was done during heavy downpours and on slick blacktop, lightly muddy surfaces, and wet grass and the Ghost 11 outperformed the expectations of the testers. The deep tread on these shoes is to thank for the fantastic traction it provides. It should be noted that the 11 doesn’t have as much grip as its predecessors, however. One reviewer mentioned that the reduction of grip was actually a ‘pro’ for them as previous models had too must grip that ended up fatiguing their knees.
Bottom Line
Brooks just keeps raising the bar with the Ghost model. This 11th iteration was generally well-received by consumers. This is a great choice for an everyday trainer with just enough cushioning and protection to take you most distances during different types of weather conditions. While they’re not the cheapest option out there, we believe these shoes are well worth their modest price point.
