- Brooks released the Ghost Amp, a new daily trainer combining Glycerin and Hyperion Max DNA, featuring PEBA foam technology for the first time at an accessible $150 price point.
- The Ghost Amp's DNA Hype foam and SpringRamp technology deliver responsive cushioning and spring without an exaggerated rocker, making it accessible for runners, walkers, and casual wearers alike.
- The shoe’s warp knit spacer upper and roomy toebox eliminated fit issues we experienced in the Ghost 18, offering a comfortable fit.
Another Ghost? Brooks released a new take on its popular daily trainer: the Ghost Amp. Brands, including Brooks, have tagged on catch words to their popular franchises, like “pro,” “max,” and “plus,” promising a ride that’s more cushioned or faster than the original.
The Ghost Amp follows the release of the Ghost 18, a shoe that left our testers divided. Our women testers, in particular, found the new knit upper fit tighter in the forefoot, saying they felt friction in bunion prone areas. The Ghost Amp is still undergoing testing by the rest of our team, but I’ve run in the shoe for a couple of weeks and it feels like a rendition of the Ghost both men and women will love. The fit, for one thing, didn’t leave my the joint under my big toe tender. But the real draw here is the midsole. For the first time, a Ghost contains PEBA. And it’s at a best value price of $150.
Brooks Ghost Amp
Pros
- New DNA Hype PEBA-EVA nitrogen-infused foam
- SpringRamp piece in forefoot propels you
- Soft, accommodating upper
| Best for | Daily runs, Uptempo workouts, Feeling fast |
| Type | Neutral, road |
| Drop | 6 mm |
| Stack Height | 36 mm |
| Weight | 9 oz (M), 8 oz (W) |
Call It a Hybrid
Back in San Antonio, Texas, where The Running Event was held last December, the Brooks team introduced the Ghost Amp to me as a Glycerin-Hyperion Max hybrid. The Glycerin 23, once the brand’s most cushioned shoe, has become a go-to daily trainer for its plush DNA Tuned foam that provides everyday comfort as well as cushioned support on long runs. The Hyperion Max—on its fourth iteration—is a super trainer that could be a marathon racing shoe stand-in, thanks to its more flexible nylon plate and highly responsive PEBA DNA Gold midsole.
So what do you get when these shoes have a kid? Turns out cushy Glycerin plus swift Hyperion creates an ultra-cozy shoe (I meant what I said about the Ghost Amp having a better fit over the Ghost 18) with lots of spring.
On a 97-degree midday run that I thought would feel flat and sluggish, the Ghost Amp made me feel like I was gliding despite the thick curtains of humidity.
But Don’t Call It a Super Trainer
The source of this rebound is the new DNA Hype foam, a nitrogen-infused combo of EVA and, yes, PEBA. The forefoot features Brooks’s new SpringRamp tech, a high-density component that adds pop and momentum during push-off.
There’s also no rocker. With the exception of a slight curve by the toe, the Ghost Amp doesn’t have the exaggerated curve meant to promote fast turnover. I didn’t notice the absence of a rocker on my runs in the Ghost Amp. In some ways, this omission makes the shoe more accessible. It won’t make you wobble. It’s a complaint I get from non-runners and run/walkers who can’t find a running shoe that doesn’t make them feel off-kilter. The Ghost Amp is the walkers’ and runners’ shoe that doesn’t make your feet roll or tower, the stack height is a modest 36 mm.
Accommodating Fit
I think of Brooks’s footwear as the new dad shoe, which isn’t an out-of-touch knock. If anything, it underscores how comfy the trainers are and how they fit at the gym, a local 5K, or neighborhood cookout. The Ghost Amp has that comfort that makes it a shoe you can wear on runs and out and about, dad, mom, cat-dad, whoever. The warp knit spacer upper doesn’t cause any hot spots or pressure points. A broad midfoot area and roomy toebox also allows your feet to rest instead of being squeezed. Simply stated, it’s that Brooks fit we know and love.
The Ghost Amp feels like a long-awaited rendition of the Ghost: lightweight, plush, and a bounce that amps up your run.
Shop Men’s at brooksrunning.com | Shop Women’s at brooksrunning.com
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
