Brooks Ghost foam is super hard now? Just me?

Always was

Ghosts have always been high-heel bricks. I thought that was why people loved them so much?

The asics novablast is a good cushioned shoe. It isn't as nimble as the pegasus turbo but it's better than the new pegasus.

The 13’s are more than likely ‘old’.

The 14’s are already out.

Your 13’s were manufactured about a year ago, and already dehydrated.

fourteens wrote:

The 13’s are more than likely ‘old’.

The 14’s are already out.

Your 13’s were manufactured about a year ago, and already dehydrated.

It doesn't happen that quickly. The Ghosts have always been firm I've been using them for the last 5 years and have been selling them for longer. What has happened is that shoes have changed rapidly in the last 2-3 years. In general much more energy return/bounce/softness whatever you want to call it. It happens all the time some brands are slow to realize changes in the industry. It happened to Asics and Mizuno and now Brooks is late. They won't square it away for a few years I'm guessing.

fourteens wrote:

The 13’s are more than likely ‘old’.

The 14’s are already out.

Your 13’s were manufactured about a year ago, and already dehydrated.

Probably part of the reason, but also plenty of shoe companies have stepped it up in terms of softness. OP, try out the Ghost 14, full DNA Loft midsole is a step up in cushion from the lateral edge of the Ghost 13. That being said, the ZoomX in the Pegasus Turbo or the Fuelcell in the Rebel will likely blow it out of the water as far as softness, and the Ghost might feel firm by comparison if you've run in older Pegasus models before they switched over to React with the 37. The DNA Loft V3 in the Aurora-BL is a good step forward, but you likely won't see that foam out in a normal shoe until at least the Glycerin 20.

Firmer midsoles in the Brooks. They are much more stable and durable than the super soft midsoles from some other brands. They offer more consistent protection over the life of the shoe. Feel the same at mile 10 and mile 350++.

Soft midsoles allow people to use sloppy biomechanics and high impact foot strikes.

You need to be run more efficiently and with better biomechanics/foot strikes to do any kind of mileage in shoes with firmer midsoles. Run as more of a forefoot midfoot striker, lighter on your feet letting your muscles absorb impact forces more than the midsole.

fourteens wrote:

The 13’s are more than likely ‘old’.

The 14’s are already out.

Your 13’s were manufactured about a year ago, and already dehydrated.

Nonsense. I recently took out a pair of unused NB890v4 out of their box. They are from 2014 and they felt perfect.

Losers.

this and this wrote:

Firmer midsoles in the Brooks. They are much more stable and durable than the super soft midsoles from some other brands. They offer more consistent protection over the life of the shoe. Feel the same at mile 10 and mile 350++.

Soft midsoles allow people to use sloppy biomechanics and high impact foot strikes.

You need to be run more efficiently and with better biomechanics/foot strikes to do any kind of mileage in shoes with firmer midsoles. Run as more of a forefoot midfoot striker, lighter on your feet letting your muscles absorb impact forces more than the midsole.

They're more stable for sure but I don't agree with any of the rest of it especially not the durability. I never got more than 500 miles out of a pair of Ghosts. Infinity reacts are getting me close to 800 miles so far and I'm not ruling out the possibility of reaching 1000. The form stuff is all nonsense at least half the time a ghost wearer I see on the road has terrible form. When will people stop looking to footstrike as a solution or insight to anything? It makes very little difference if at all.

Thank you for posting. Found the exact same in last 2 pairs of the Ghost, so thought I'd upgrade to Glycerin, but found the same issue (poor cushioning compared to earlier models). Very disappointing as the Ghost has been my favorite for the past 8 years. Recently made costly switch to the Nike Invincible and really like them.

Mods delete this thread. Ghosts are THE best shoe of all time and this thread is nothing but a bunch of Nike shills trying to protect Nike stock price.

Started with the Ghosts' at 9 I believe, just breaking in the 14's. Love them. Durable, consistent, and I've always had less injuries with Brooks.

The Brooks Ghost 13 is not very hard at all. It is you, just like when a Computer commits a 'mistake,' it's because of the person on the keyboard. The density, is pretty soft, such as my guess, a 40 on a durometer scale. Shoes really don't 'age' sitting on shelf much either.

I am a former Shoe Rep/Tech guy and most these days are softer, it not too soft. For example, the Nike Pegasus is like a bedroom slipper. I was around in mid 70's when that shoe first came out. Shoes, prior, like the Adidas SL-72 were as hard a rock. Even the Tiger, pre Asics, Monterrey was softer! Foam synthetic EVA has generally always worked for most runners.

I tell runner's, that it's the purpose of a shoe to compress/absorb the impact and save our bodies. Better for the shoe to break down than us. Thus 500, for most if max life. Even with gels, grid, air, you name it, the surround foams break down. But, that's a good thing. I've been running/racing 50 years, luckily, due to genetics, but a former college coach that was a shoe expert. Later, when on the write the Runner's World Shoe Review's for 25 years! Hint: Tom Brunick who worked along with Amby Burfoot with Runner's World. Bob Wischnia and many others.

Presently, some shoe manufacturers might not like this, but many seem to be skimping on materials? Perhaps intentionally as most runner's aren't like we used to be in the 70's when 'high mileage' was the norm. 100-miles a week, or you were considered a 'light-weight!'

Again, back to the current footwear these days, most of lighter/softer. Look a Hoka, Nike Pegasus, Brooks Ghost, especially the ever popular Adrenaline GT. When that shoe first came out, it was very stiff! Density of maybe 35..firmer/denser, the lower on the Durometer scale.

Not to favor anyone, but Saucony is pretty consistent as is New Balance. With NB, the 'fresh foam' is excellent. I like and train in the NB 860v. I used to like the Brooks Adrenaline, but these days it's way too soft for me. The guide rail system simply doesn't provide enough stability for my fallen arches. Another pretty good shoe is the Saucony Guide. Ever so consistent and I personally love the foams Saucony utilizes. Ironically, I can't even think of a Nike stability shoes that gives enough support, for an over-pronator. Again, I'm 65 years-old now, have a life and don't run 100 miles a week. I've got my retirement to enjoy. Running is not a priority, but having good shoe are!

Finally, getting back to the Brooks Ghost being hard, I really don't think so! Companies are giving up less bang for our buck. It's now about 'profits' over quality, Not all, as Saucony and NB continue to deliver! Most all, these days have manufacturing in Vietnam. Cheaper labor, less product, it all adds to inferior product in my opinion. (don't shoot the messenger, but, look next time at the tab on your shoes..see: Made in Vietnam) Sure, the shoe factory are modern and all, but again, it comes back to cheaper components in my humble opinion. I've not vested interest in any shoe company. Nobody is paying anything, but I just had to chime in when I saw this topic. Bottom line, runner's, 'Better to have a softer shoe." Let it break down, better the shoe than you. Help prolong life of the shoe and stay off the sidewalks. Concrete kills shoes, joints, knees and lower backs. Run on the asphalt but safely. Best if you run on trails.

Stay fit friends! Good luck to our Olympians as they head to Tokyo!

byron evans wrote:

Mods delete this thread. Ghosts are THE best shoe of all time and this thread is nothing but a bunch of Nike shills trying to protect Nike stock price.

Dude the current Ghost does not do well when you offer almost any other brands competitor alongside. I work at one of the highest volume stores on the east coast that offers a run specialty experience. The Ghost killed two years ago when the Pegasus was a lightweight low (for it's category) cushioned shoe and asics were hard as a rock. Those brands and models have changed whereas Brooks and the Ghost are nearly the same since Ghost 10. It's NOT a bad shoe at all, most brands are no longer making bad shoes. But it's no longer the go to when you reach for the most comfortable mid range option. They just rested on their laurels while every other company made their shoes more comfortable as they were behind. That's the cycle. At the moment Brooks is behind. I have yet to have a customer take a Glycerin over a Nimbus or 1080 this year and pre pandemic I alone used to sell close to $8000 worth of shoes a week with a staff of around 20 people. Only three guys were ahead of me maybe but still. I didn't care about my sales.