Brooks Ghost 16 Running Shoe Review

by Niels Oomkes · Published July 19, 2024 , 11:11 am · Updated June 14, 2025 , 6:52 am

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It’s been about 5 or 6 years since my last Brooks Ghosts. Those were version 12, and I crushed the total mileage on those surpassing some 650 miles. That’s not necessarily recommended (300-500 is common), but I like to push my running shoes to see how they hold up. In the meantime, I have not been a stranger to Brooks’ shoe offerings. The Trace, Cascadias, Ricochet, Levitate, and Hyperion Elite have all seen significant action. Answering the obvious question that Brooks works well for me, but I am always intrigued to see what they come up with next.

That said, these Brooks Ghost 16 feature a nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 cushioned midsole. This foam technology is a newer updated introduction that can also be found in a few of Brooks’ other models. This has me excited as it’s supposed to be lighter while adding airiness or cushioned support. I feel that the Brooks Ghost has always been ahead of its time in that it isn’t necessarily one of the big thick cushioned foam shoes. However, from my experience, it does provide a similar supportive soft ‘feel’. In addition, a lightweight RoadTrack Rubber should help with that longevity running aspect.

I hope that these running shoes will absorb the road, and provide the support for this Masters running body.

Technical Details

Neutral Support Level
Weight: 9.5oz / 269.3g
Heel Toe Drop: 12mm
More cushioning
Stack Height: 35.5 mm/23.5 mm
Engineered Air Mesh Upper
Updated DNA Loft v3 midsole

Fit Of The Brooks Ghost 16

I will call the fit ‘true to size’. Every aspect feels quite normal. The width is good, the length (11.5 in my case) seems about right. Out of the box, the ankle cuff feels a bit thicker than what I’m used to. I’d like to think that will conform to my ankle with time. The one thing I did notice on my first run was the stitching on the tongue was slightly noticeable on the upper of my foot. Again, that should smooth out with use, but it is something I will keep a close watch on.

As I’ve matured in age and running experience, sizing is something I am starting to dabble with more these days. My feet are flexing more and are likely flattening a little bit. In that vein, I do feel running keeps the feet poised to stay strong and should help in the long run.

Therefore, I sized up by one half to a size 11.5. For me, the 11’s were starting to feel a little bit cramped at the width where the metatarsal and phalanx front bones meet. Moreso during more intense speed and tempo sessions, the toes tend to slide a little (especially after longer distances) to bump up against the front of the shoes. Everyone is different, so I urge you to try these out at your local running store for an optimal fit. I opted for a little extra room in hopes that the extra length wouldn’t make me more clumsy than I already am when encountering subtle uneven lips and trip hazards.

Brooks Ghost 16 Midsole

Here we are looking at that nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 cushioned midsole. I snicker a little at the highly creative technical naming from shoe manufacturers. It usually involves highly technical jargon and a hyphen or two. I get it, they all want to be unique, trend setting, and forward thinking using all the scientific tools available to the industry. Brooks has certainly evolved, experimented, and done their homework when it comes to using all that knowledge to create a superior shoe.

Brooks Ghost 16 Outsole

The RoadTrack rubber certainly is an all encompassing name. I visualize the rubber track material fused with road asphalt. I will presume that they will stand the test of time. By the time of publishing, I have roughly 73 miles on these Ghosts. Not enough to know the ultimate longevity, but no real warning signs that they wouldn’t make it hundreds of miles more. I’m sure my running form is not perfect, which is evident by a pattern of wear on certain parts of the sole on my other shoes. That said, the segmented crash pads allow for some absorption with even the slightest of inconsistencies, cracks, pebbles, etc.

First of all, I’m sorry about packed dirt in the soles. I know these are ‘road’ shoes, and aren’t necessarily meant for ‘off the beaten path’ type running. However, I have a wonderful path and trail system, and the last half mile or so to my house is nicely packed trail. It had rained recently, so some of the gravelly dirt stuck. I do want to make mention that a road shoe can easily traverse many a dirt path or trail. The need for a trail shoe really only comes into play when the angle slants up or down, and the technical rocks and roots start becoming an obstacle.

Anyway, I have a distinct wear pattern on my shoes after hundreds of miles. It’s nothing extreme, but does show a glimpse into my running form. That used to speed up the demise of my shoes rather swiftly. At this point, the technology has vastly improved to give a shoe’s sole a much longer life. The Road Track Rubber is lightweight, resilient, and strong. The segmented crash pads also play a role. Firstly, to provide for a smoother ride when encountering even the slightest of inconsistencies. Secondly, I also feel like this feature of multiple points of contact extends the wear over a singular or a dual front/back sole system.

Upper

The upper has a nice clean and streamlined look. There are no extra frills and added padding which I like. This version has a new enhanced air mesh upper which is a combination of being very breathable, but also carries stable structural qualities. Subsequently, that is something I have focused on while running.

Will the shoe contain my slightly wider foot in such a manner that I am not floating or swaying with each and every step? That’s a question that has been answered during my testing period. It does! If you squeeze the sides, there is a stiffer element keeping the shape of the shoe while also locking my feet in comfortably.

Putting These Brooks Ghost 16 To The Test

Lighter and more cushioned is definitely at play here, which makes these shoes almost feel like a racing shoe. The 12mm drop is harkening back to the days of old before zero drop (and zero cushioning) became a huge industry push. Which in hindsight, didn’t quite work out so well for some. I’d say, its fine with the 12mm drop. I personally run the gamut from a drop standpoint with lots of rotation between the various shoes. When speed was more of a driver, I wanted 4mm or 0mm, but now that I am looking for endurance and body longevity, I see myself more in the traditional drops ranging from 8mm to 12mm.

Track Workouts do not come natural to me these days. First of all, there is not a track close enough to just wander onto, and that’s 50% of the reason (or excuse). The slow moving easy running guy in me kind of revolts at the thought of a track workout, because if forces me to get out of my comfort zone. Above all else, I am afraid of speed work because of the chances that I will injure myself. I’ve had plenty of popped calf muscles, hamstring strains, inflammation of the Achilles, and hip flexor soreness when I pick up the speed.

The Brooks Ghost 16 provided me with more confidence to tackle those speed intervals. And boy, did they ever get me out of my speed funk. I started with a Jacob’s Ladder of 100, 200, 400, 800, 400, 200, 100 with recovery in between. The push off was there, the absorption was great, and I felt fast and on my toes the entire time. It allowed for increased cadence, but most of all after 3 weeks of this, I am feeling stronger (not injured).

I set out for a tempo run to shake off some traveling cobwebs. For me at the moment, a tempo run is anything sub 8:00 minute pace. Now, in essence that is not very fast, but at this point in my training it’s enough to take me out of my comfort zone. Going for a run for quite some time with no goal basically meant moving in some form or fashion that would allow me to label it as a run. Nine or ten minute pace was easy and nice. There were fun social runs! There were runs that involved navigation and site seeing! Plus, there was even a 50krun that involved stopping at 10 taco bells along the way. That’s another story, but let’s just say that focus, goals, and serious training were not a thing for quite some time.

As I suspected, the fit of the Brooks Ghost 16 has come around nicely. The initial cuff thickness and tongue stitching has not ever really surfaced for me again. Longer runs (10+ miles) have not caused any issues for me, and the fit has only improved as my foot has conformed to the insole.

The lacing and tightness is something I also dabble with over time on various runs. I tend to start out fairly tight on my first few runs, but then I tug and pull to loosen in all the right places. I like to keep the fit snug, but also want to eliminate any hot spots or tightness to allow for maximum foot splay on every step. Lastly, comfort is my main goal at this point. I mean, I want to be able to enjoy my runs and races without having to think about my feet. My legs and lungs is another story, but if the shoes are a non issue, everything will align just fine.

Now that a race is on the horizon, the runs all of a sudden have more meaning. I haven’t even started an official training plan, but when my legs feel good, I will push myself to all of a sudden find myself in that uncomfortable zone. And right now, that is something in the 7:00 to 7:30 minute range. The shoes provided good stability as I transitioned over a variety of surfaces. The cushioning absorbed each and every step with enough bounce back to transition into the next stride.

I have a fall marathon on the books, and will use this Ghost to train the rest of the summer. Hence, I may have to pick up another pair for the actual race.

Final Thoughts

Although I am a Brooks fan, I do look at all angles of a particular shoe, and I like what I see. To sum it all up, the Brooks Ghost 16 has come out ahead well above average on all fronts. The cushioning is supportive enough to appeal to many types of runners. An enhanced sole with segmented crash pads adds that little bit of comfort and longevity.

This shoe has been touted as a great trainer. I would not hesitate to see this shoe from training all the way through races from 5k’s to marathons. Changing things up to lightweight racers might cause injury anyway, so sticking to what works is not a bad idea. The Brooks Ghost 16 is a wonderful neutral all-around shoe that suits many a runner. Lastly, the Ghost is a certified carbon neutral shoe which is a great added bonus. I’d say, give this one a try, and I don’t think you’d be disappointed. For more specs and details please visit www.brooksrunning.com or www.amazon.com.