Our verdict

The Ghost is a renowned daily trainer from Brooks, and the v15 is a top recommendation from us for its exceptional comfort and durability. Ideal for daily training at varying speeds, it particularly benefits heel strikers with its generous cushioning and enormous heel-to-toe drop. Offering a modern face and up to four widths, we found it remains a versatile option that's reasonably priced.

brooks Brooks Levitate 2 Pros

  • Supreme comfort
  • Plush, stable ride that's a delight
  • Brooks Taps Actor David Harbour of Stranger Things for Its Your Run Brand Campaign
  • No heel slippage
  • Great grip in wet conditions
  • Built to endure countless miles
  • Impressive value for $140
  • Great for both running and walking
  • Available in up to four different widths

brooks Brooks Levitate 2 Cons

  • Slightly heavier than its predecessor
  • Selim Brooks England que combina o conforto do couro com o amortecimento das molas traseiras
  • Not a good one for forefoot strikers

Audience verdict

88
Great!

Who should buy

The Ghost 15 offers fantastic comfort, and it's a great choice for daily workouts, especially when cruising at slow or moderate speeds.

Moreover, this workhorse from Brooks showcases generous heel cushioning and an ultra-durable outsole, so in our view, it's an ideal match for heel strikers that tend to wear out shoes quickly in that area.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes

Who should NOT buy

We don't recommend this shoe if you:

Furthermore, this shoe might not be the best choice for you if you're a forefoot striker. With its CRAZY heel-to-toe drop of 13.2 mm, there's an excess of foam in the heel and insufficient support where you actually hit the ground.

We suggest considering other options such as the brooks Brooks Levitate 2 or the Brooks Revel 4 Running Shoes instead.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes parts

Cushioning

Heel stack

Boasting a higher-than-average stack height of 36.3 mm, we're convinced there isn't a heel striker out there who could possibly need more cushioning than this.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Heel stack
Test results
Ghost 15 36.3 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Number of shoes
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

Now, forefoot time. We measured it at 23.1 mm, so it's shy of the typical shoe, though we figure it's more than enough for the majority of runs.

That being said, midfoot or forefoot strikers might find this shoe a tad too slim for their longest runs. In those instances, we recommend adding a high-stack shoe like the Hoka Bondi 8 for those 20-milers.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Forefoot stack
Test results
Ghost 15 23.1 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Number of shoes
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

Naturally, a skyscraper-high heel and a modest forefoot suggest a two-digit heel-to-toe drop. And there it is—we measured in our lab an eye-popping 13.2 mm, which is nearly 5 mm more than the average shoe and 0.8 mm more than the Brooks Ghost 14.

This shoe is a dream-come-true for heel strikers or those wrestling with Achilles or calf troubles. However, for midfoot or forefoot runners who doesn't suffer with lower-leg problems, we think there are better daily trainers in the market like the Hoka Mach 5.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Drop
Test results
Ghost 15 13.2 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Number of shoes
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Switching gears to the midsole, it hosts DNA Loft v2, a foam made from plain EVA. It's slightly disappointing considering the Glyceryn 20 boasts DNA Loft v3, a nitrogen-infused foam. But at the same time, at 15.9 HA, it's 29% softer than the DNA Loft v1 of its predecessor. Not bad!

And we genuinely enjoyed its ride—it's a blast and one of the softest shoes we've ever tested in the lab.

If you're interested in a deeper dive into midsoles and how do they work, don't hesitate to zapatillas de running Brooks mujer constitución media 10k talla 44.5, it's full of information!

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Midsole softness
Test results
Ghost 15 15.9 HA
Average 20.9 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 330 running shoes
Number of shoes
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Midsole softness in cold (%)

In chilly weather, the midsole keeps its softness, scoring better than the typical shoe with a 24.5 HA rating.

But that's not a great result after all. The midsole gets 54.4% firmer in chily temperatures, which is a letdown.

Still, it's no surprise to us. After testing hundreds of shoes in the lab, we wrote a guide about how EVA foams are infamous for underperforming in Winter.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Midsole softness in cold
Test results
Ghost 15 54%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
Midsole softness in cold
63%

Insole thickness

We were anticipating an ordinary insole, and that's exactly what Brooks provided. It's cozy, cushioned, and resilient—everything we need in a daily trainer!

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Insole thickness
Test results
Ghost 15 4.5 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes is true to size (69 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Brooks clearly understands that this shoe must accommodate a variety of feet. For our medium-to-wide feet, the fit was amazing.

However, the truly exceptional aspect of the guys from Seattle is its renowned tradition of crafting the Ghost in... (drumroll, please...) four sizes!

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes up

From narrow and medium to wide and extra-wide, their approach makes this one as the "universal" shoe. In fact, only a select few models in the market boast such a range of width options.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Ghost 15 96.8 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Number of shoes
91.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
104.9 mm

Toebox width - big toe

We've noticed that the area for the big toe is somewhat wider compared to other shoes, which, in our view, is a positive aspect.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Ghost 15 77.7 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
Number of shoes
67.6 mm
Toebox width - big toe
89.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Given how soft the foam is in this shoe, we knew this wasn't going to be the most stable option. But to our surprise, it holds up pretty well!

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer amortiguación media talla 41.

Torsional rigidity

This stability is because Brooks intentionally designed this shoe to minimize lateral motion. 

In our torsional rigidity test, it earned a 3 out of 5 rating—somewhat less than the average shoe but far better than many daily trainers. Take the with Brooks GuideRails technology for example, it only managed to score 2 out of 5.

Test results
Ghost 15 3
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The Ghost 15 scored 5/5 on our heel counter stiffness test, meaning it's incredibly rigid in this area. Such a stiff heel counter benefits us by:

  • Brooks England Stuurlint Guidoline.
  • zapatillas de running Brooks neutro verdes.

However, this advantage doesn't come without trade-offs. The stiffness can lead to discomfort, particularly during runs lasting longer than an hour. This felt for us like too high a price for the stability it provides in those long runs. However, it worked great for us during short easy and aerobic runs.

Indeed, kudos to Brooks for this move, straying from the conventional path rather than following the crowd.

Test results
Ghost 15 5
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Womens Brooks Addiction Walker 2 Shoes

The Ghost 15 it's your run-of-the-mill shoe when it comes to the width of the forefoot, nothing fancy to report. It just does its job, and it does it well.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Ghost 15 112.9 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Number of shoes
102.2 mm
Womens Brooks Addiction Walker 2 Shoes
126.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

Brooks had one more stability-enhancing feature up their sleeve. The Ghost 15 sports an impressively wide heel that we measured in the lab at 95.8 mm.

This las convinced us that the shoe designers in Seattle had heel-striking runners firmly in their thoughts when designing this one.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Ghost 15 95.8 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Number of shoes
70.8 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.6 mm

Aaron Brooks pulls up in a Nike KD VI iD

The Ghost series has always been renowned for being one of the more flexible daily trainers on the market. So, for the 15th edition, our stiffness lab test clocked it at just 9.5N.

This measurement is significantly lower compared to the majority of other shoes we've tried!

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Aaron Brooks pulls up in a Nike KD VI iD
Test results
Ghost 15 9.5N
Average 15.6N
Compared to 124 running shoes
Number of shoes
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
28.5N

brooks Brooks Levitate 2 | Weight

Weighing in at 9.8 oz (279g), the Ghost 15 just slips under the critical 10 oz threshold, and it's in the same range that most daily trainers—except a few outliers.

Shoe Weight (US 9)
zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes 279g
with Brooks GuideRails technology 275g
Saucony Triumph 20 282g
ASICS Novablast 3 242g
HOKA Clifton 9 249g
Brooks Run Visible Mens 2-in-1 Short 297g
Test results
Ghost 15 9.84 oz (279g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
Number of shoes
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

The Brooks Ghost 14 was a great shoe, but the major criticism it got was about its lack of breathability. In fact, we awarded it a 3/5 in our smoke-pumping test, which is a disastrous result for a road running shoe.

Luckily, the Ghost 15 design lead to an improvement in this regard. As evident in the video above, it doesn't quite measure up to the jaw-dropping Saucony Triumph 20 in our lab, but it does surpass its predecessor, earning a commendable 4 out of 5.

Illuminated by our light, we revealed hundreds of well-positioned ventilation holes. And they work great! But what truly captivates us is their distribution—extending beyond the toebox, along the medial part of the shoe.

This feature makes the shoe a top-notch choice for those prone to blisters or similar issues in the arch of the feet. However, you may be thinking right now: if there are hundreds of ventilation holes, why it only achieves a 4 out of 5?

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes microscope

Well, let's uncover the reason. Beneath the ventilation holes lies a thin fabric. This layer enhances comfort but does so at the expense of airflow. Can you see that?

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes zoom

If you're still unsure, there's no better way than dissecting the upper and inspecting it up close. This way, the thin, comfort-enhancing yet airflow-restricting fabric becomes evident.

Test results
Ghost 15 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Daily trainers often rank low on the durability scale. Yet, even by these standards, when we subjected this shoe to our Dremel test, it's hard for us to recall a shoe that suffered more damage than this one.

So, don't bank on this shoe for hardcore durability. But for those of us who aren't notorious for wearing out shoes with our big toe or pinky toe, that's not a concern. We should be able to run on roads with them for their full lifespan without a problem.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Toebox durability
In our lab test with the Dremel, the Nike Alphafly Next% 2 truly surpassed the Ghost 15. Yet, it must be mentioned that it's crafted from a fabric that felt less comfortable to us.
Test results
Ghost 15 1
Average 2.6
Compared to 267 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The heel, constructed from a material akin to the toebox, does a slightly improved job, earning a 2/5.

While it's an improvement, it still falls short of our expectations for a $140 shoe, though it outperforms the upper (1/5). The Metaspeed Sky+ (right) easily outperformed the Ghost.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Heel padding durability
Test results
Ghost 15 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 262 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

We clocked the hardness of the outsole at a substantial 84.4 HC in our lab. That's a notable 6% higher than your average shoe, which makes this robust model an exceptional choice for heavier runners who often wear out the outsoles of their running shoes first.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Outsole hardness
Test results
Ghost 15 84.4 HC
Average 79.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 384 running shoes
Number of shoes
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

brooks Brooks Levitate 2 | Outsole durability

And the good news just keeps coming. We pulled out the Dremel again to destroy the rubber, and we received a mind-boggling result.

The tool only erased 0.40 mm of rubber, which leads us to believe this shoe has the long-haul durability to exceed 1000 miles for most runners.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes
Test results
Ghost 15 0.4 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 245 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Although the durability displayed by the previous two test was simply amazing, this result falls squarely into the average category. But it's fine!

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes outsole
There's enough rubber covering the midsole, offering extra durability.

We genuinely consider a 3.5 mm thickness ample for just about any everyday trainer—except perhaps when running on highly abrasive surfaces.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Outsole thickness
Test results
Ghost 15 3.5 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

While the Ghost 15 does sport some reflective elements, we find them to be insufficient.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Reflective elements
Test results
Ghost 15 Yes

Tongue padding

Sure, we're missing out on a gusseted tongue, but the heavenly cushioned padding more than makes up for it. This is one of the thickest tongues we've ever measured!

At 11.4 mm, it's a whopping 41% thicker than its predecessor and an impressive, plus 2x the average shoe.

In fact, they've used two separate pieces of plush foam in the tongue, a rare approach to attain this level of thickness.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Tongue padding
Test results
Ghost 15 11.4 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Under Armour talla 33

Regrettably, there's one tradition they persist with that doesn't quite meet our expectations—the absence of gusset.

It would be great to see the Ghost equipped with a semi-gusseted tongue for enhanced lockdown, but it looks like we'll be keeping our fingers crossed until at least the 16th iteration.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Under Armour talla 33
Test results
Ghost 15 None

Removable insole

We successfully managed to remove the insole and insert our own from various other models.

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer tope amortiguación maratón talla 42.5 verdes Removable insole
Test results
Ghost 15 Yes