Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Review

Brooks Ghost 12

The Brooks Ghost 12 is now available! This popular daily neutral training shoe continues to deliver the comfort and feel that runners expect from a brand like Brooks.

The last Brooks Ghost review I did was a few years ago so I was excited to give this latest version a try. I read that the redesigned upper was something that other runners were raving about. In addition to hearing that the upper was great, my brother-in-law asked me to find him a pair of the Ghost 12 so that he could continue to train for the Chicago Triathlon. Long story short, the Brooks Ghost 12 was a shoe in high demand.

This shoe is great for a number of reasons, but one of the things I wish Brooks did was to offer more lighter color shoes. They currently have 11 color options and only 1 are light in color. While I like both light and dark shoes, I always appreciate both color options.

I will update this review if my experience changes while running in the Brooks Ghost 12.

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Verdict

Our Rating:
Viewer Rating:

The Brooks Ghost 12 continues to be a very popular Brooks neutral running shoe. The updates to this shoe improve the upper and overall comfort, something you will notice if you have worn earlier versions of this shoe.

The main updates to the shoe are the redesigned upper and a few small changes to the mid-sole make this an even better shoe than last years version. These updates continue to make this shoe ideal for daily training. The one thing I’ll be keeping an eye on is the toe box, which appeared to be slightly narrower than previous versions.

If you are looking for a comfortable neutral running shoe, consider trying the Brooks Ghost 12. This shoe not only feels great, but the $130 price-point make this a very affordable option.

Shop Brooks Ghost 12 »
Pros Cons
  • Comfortable
  • Value Priced ($129)
  • Responsive
  • True to Size
  • Narrow Toe Box
  • Color Options

Here are a few pictures of the Brooks Ghost 12 that I wore for this review.

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Initial Thoughts

Knowing that this shoe was popular, I was very excited to give these shoes a try. As I mentioned earlier, I haven’t worn this shoe for a few years and wanted to try out all of the changes to this shoe.

When I first opened the box I immediately was drawn the color of the shoe and the feel of the sole. I have liking lighter colored shoes and really liked the look of the shoe along with the plush feel of the sole.

The upper portion of this shoe was not only comfortable but way more stable than expected.

The shoe has a 12mm drop (rear to front), which I actually liked and is higher than some of the other shoes I have run in. These initial thoughts made me excited to give these a try.

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Specifications

  • Shoe Type/Category: Neutral
  • Weight: 10.1 oz (Size 9 D)
  • Shoe drop: 12mm
  • Shoe Height: 31mm (Heel), 19mm (Forefoot)
  • Sizing: Standard running shoe length
  • Heel: Medium
  • Forefoot: Medium to narrow width
  • Previous model: Brooks Ghost 11

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Overview

The Brooks Ghost 12 running shoe continues to be a top-rated neutral running shoe ideal for daily training and long distances.

The comfortable sole along with a  redesigned upper portion of the shoe make this great for pretty much any kind of run. The shoe is light, fast, and more comfortable than a number of other running shoes I reviewed thus far. The one thing I haven’t done in these shoes is race in them.

As I mentioned earlier, the majority of the color options are dark in color, which isn’t something I prefer. The color option worn for this review were the best color option in my opinion.

Weighing in at 10.1 oz for a men’s size 9, these shoes are light enough to run fast and comfortable enough to run long.

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Sole

The Brooks Ghost 12 sole had some minor updates with the latest version of this shoe. Similar to some of the other Brooks shoes, the DNA foam provides a comfortable and responsive feel.

The sole of the Ghost 12 has a rounded heel, DNA Loft midsole material, and blown rubber compound improving durability. You can see the rounded heel in the pictures below.

The DNA Loft midsole continues to provide incredible comfort by adding air and rubber to their famous DNA foam, creating a soft and cushioned midsole. When I first put this shoe on, the sole reminded me of the Glycerin model.

In addition to the DNA Loft midsole, the shoe has IDEAL pressure zones on the sole that help distribute the pressure and increase the responsiveness of this shoe.

Below are a few pictures of the Brooks Ghost 12 shoe sole and heel.

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Upper

When I took the Brooks Ghost 12 out of the box, I noticed the redesigned upper of this shoe. In addition to looking and feeling great, the engineered mesh material was stable, yet flexible.

As I mentioned above the main update to the Brooks Ghost 12 was the redesigned upper portion of the shoe. The mesh is woven tightly so that it provides the stability you need and the comfort expected.

One of the things that I have heard from some other runners is that some though the upper portion of this shoe was more narrow than desired. I didn’t notice this, but only wore these for runs of 6-10 miles.

The padded tongue feels soft and comfortable when the laces are tied.

Below are a few pictures of the Brooks Ghost 12 upper shoe area.


Where to buy the Brooks Ghost 12

Buy on Amazon.com

Buying OptionsBrooks Running | Jack RabbitRoad Runner Sports | REI.com | Holabird Sports

Running and Fitness Discounts

Let me know what you think of the Brooks Ghost 12 running shoe!

If you need help finding deals on this shoe, contact me.

Looking for other shoe reviews? Check out RunRepeat.com for additional shoe reviews.

Please note: Some items ordered from theActiveGuy.com help support the ongoing maintenance of the site.

Brooks Ghost 12 Shoe Ratings
  • 9/10
    Overall Rating - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Upper - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Sole - 9/10
9/10

Please note, theActiveGuy.com may earn a commission when you follow some of the links and make a purchase.

Let me know if you have questions, comments, or feedback!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.