Disclaimer: I received pairs of Brooks Ghost 14 to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!
Ask any runner what the most vital item to their running repertoire is and the majority will agree that it is their running shoes. Sure, the entire running outfit is usually carefully thought out, especially for those of us who like to have fun with color coordination, however shoes are usually what we most particular about. Why, you ask? If you think about how much wear and tear the feet of runners endure, it is easy to understand why proper shoes are key to a runner’s success.
All running shoes are created equally, right? That statement could not be further from the truth. When I first started running, I was guilty of assuming this and focused on the fancy patterns or flashy colors over the actual design of the shoe. I spent several years trying different shoes to no avail before I gave Brooks a chance. Not to sound hypocritical, but the fun designs and colors are what initially swayed me to try Brooks Launch. Since my first pair of Launch, I have collected a handful of different pairs over the years, but honestly switched to using them more as my every day or walking shoe instead of running. The main reason is the weight of Brooks versus the brand that I use for running, it’s about a 1-ounce difference which does not sound like a lot, however that adds up during long runs.
While I’ve been loyal to my brand of running shoes for a few years now, I am very much an openminded person and am always willing to give new products a try. I mean, that’s how I found all of my favorite running products, through trial and error, so why would I change that?
I’ve always viewed Brooks as a high quality, ethical brand and in addition to my pairs of Launch shoes, I have a few pieces of Brooks running gear in rotation. So, I was excited to have an opportunity recently to test out the new Brooks Ghost 14 running shoe which is a style I haven’t tried before.
Upon returning from a trip to Montana for a half marathon I was greeted by a package of run happiness from Brooks. My first impression upon unboxing the Ghost 14 was how fun and vibrant the fuschia color was. Later that night I broke them in on a trip to the grocery store and I kept being stopped by customers to compliment my shoes, which usually doesn’t happen with running shoes. An added bonus of the new Ghost 14 is they are Brooks first carbon neutral shoe, made from ~30% recycled material.
The summer in Vegas is blistering hot, so while I would have loved to test out the Ghost 14’s on a road run, they made their debut on my treadmill. I’ve been on a kick of long treadmill runs lately, so while I usually wouldn’t break a new pair of shoes in on a longer run, I decided to give it a shot. The treadmill track is pretty unforgiving, so the first few miles in I definitely noticed the responsiveness of the shoe. Around mile 10 the cushioning was much appreciated as my feet typically start to feel a bit fatigued, but they were still running happy. The Ghost 14 is a little over 2-ounces heavier than my normal running shoe, so my legs did feel a bit tighter towards the end of my 13.1 mile run, but I honestly didn’t notice the weight as much as I thought I would. At the end of my run, I did notice a little bit of rub on my feet in comparison to normal, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well my feet felt after a half marathon in brand new shoes.
I did get an opportunity to test them on a road run when I was vacationing in Playa del Carmen, Mexico earlier this month. The first test was a pretty tough run on the beach in thick sand and humid 100-degree temps. I don’t think the cushioning and responsiveness were felt much during this run given that I was running in sand, however even though my feet were wet from the tide I didn’t have any issues during my run. Given the heat and sand, a lighter weight shoe would have been ideal, but I survived! The next test was on the street by my resort, this is where I really had a chance to see how they performed. Although it was still hot, I felt much better and could feel the assistance from the responsiveness as the transition was very smooth. I’d definitely recommend these shoes for the road over sand 😉
I also decided to take the Ghost 14 for a stroll up and down the Las Vegas Strip on a Saturday to see how they held up in the heat. I’ve got to say, these shoes are fun to walk in thanks to the DNA LOFT cushioning and responsiveness. They almost have a slight bounce to them. Altogether I probably walked about 4 miles and I didn’t have any issues with blisters or rub from the side effects from the heat (hello, swelling and sweat!). I also received several compliments from tourists on my shoes while I was out and about.
I definitely feel that the new Brooks Ghost 14 are a strong contender for runners that are seeking a shoe that will provide cushioning during their runs when weight isn’t a factor. For me, I will probably flex these shoes in for some of my shorter, easy pace runs, however I see them being in my regular rotation of travel and walking shoes.