Sometimes one should stop and ask why shoes have the names they do. With the Ghosts I should have been doing this all along, also because they are basically the shoes I started running in.
Perhaps the first time I wore them I even asked myself, “How come they are called Phantom?” Maybe it’s just any name, maybe it makes you smile and it’s just friendly because it’s obvious that if it’s a ghost, it’s certainly a nice ghost who is friendly to you.
Several years have passed since that day, and many more versions of Ghost have come out, up to the 13th.
Together for a lifetime (as runners)
Knowing shoes for so many years also gives you a chance to evaluate and appreciate their evolution: my first ones were-if I remember correctly-the 4s, and I have raced with almost every version since then. What were they like? Stiffer, heavier, made with more components.
Today’s Ghost 13s are much lighter and surprisingly sparingly constructed: there is a midsole that rests on a sole with harder rubber inserts and an upper on top. And then there are the details.
In the midsole for example, the fluidity in heel-to-toe transitions has been improved, so that it is even more of a shoe you forget about: because it is comfortable and protective, lightweight and snug.
How was the balance between lightness, comfort and protection achieved?
Thanks to the combination of BioMoGo DNA with DNA Loft-the latest evolution of Brooks’ DNA, a “non-Newtonian” material that has the ability to adapt to runners of all weights and speeds-achieved by adding air and rubber to Brooks’ classic DNA so it is softer, lighter and more durable.
Protection is achieved through DNA in its two variants and cushioning through their mechanical nature. And there’s more: the Loft DNA now extends from the heel to the toe to ensure comfort throughout the shoe.
Rounding out the balanced and protective system is the Engineered Air Mesh upper, a soft and stretchy fabric capable of providing support, flexibility and breathability.
Do we still run?
It is no coincidence that the Ghost is one of Brooks’ most popular shoes: it has taken so many runners and so many first-time runners for a run, and many have remained fond of it. She has been able to evolve with them, always giving protection and comfort but in a lighter and more comfortable guise each time, so much so that you forget them. Read like ghosts, but good ones.
Brooks Ghost 13 is available online at the Brooks store and at authorized retailers for 140 euros.
