I love this shoe. For background, I was a very active young woman - I ran 5 kilometers per day and kept a swimsuit, sunscreen, bug spray, active wear, and my favorite running shoes in my trunk in case of an impromptu trip to the beach or I stumbled upon a new spot perfect for a run or hike. Investing in a good pair of shoes to take care of my running feet was always priority for me. I suddenly fell ill with a number of autoimmune illnesses at once, and I then had to prioritize a good pair of shoes to be the pair that would cause the least amount of distress in my need to walk to the car every day and would make me suffer the least amount of pain at work. I stayed as active as possible whenever I could, and a bit more than a decade later, my rheumatologist granted me his blessing to begin running again. It's been so amazing to be back at it, even at an additional 150 lbs of weight (which means I need a REALLY good shoe to support all of me). I've found a number of shoes along the way since then, and The Ghost Max 2 is the best shoe I have ever had the pleasure of wearing.
I had previously tried it's predecessor, thinking there's no way I could find a better option.
Enter the Ghost Max 2. I live with significant pain daily and just putting my foot in the shoe gave some relief. The fit is true to size and the stability in the sole was just as I'd hoped - solid. The stability is not only perfect, but it allows for movement in any direction - something I've found to be a challenging find in the past. The materials are so responsive and resilient that I am able to switch directions on a dime, and though I bought these for running, I use them for my squats, lunges, and more or just for chasing my teen and toddler through all manner of wild and wacky yard games they come up with. I have worn them just about everywhere for over two weeks and have yet to see any noticeable wear. I love the aesthetic of this shoe and feel comfortable wearing it anywhere. It looks sporty enough to get excited for the run and yet relaxed and casual enough to not look wildly out of place at my friend's outdoor birthday party. Not to mention, my stamina to be on my feet is immensely extended by these supportive kicks and the breathable fabric keeps my feet from getting too warm, making these all that more comfortable. They also clean up pretty well if you get a wet cloth to them quickly. These shoes are a tremendous support in my journey, bringing me closer every single day to my once very active lifestyle - and for that, they are priceless to me.
I honestly can't think of a way this shoe can be improved, but I've said those words before and Brooks found a way to do so with the Ghost Max 2.

I love the high cushion these ghost max’s have. When I first tried them on it took a little while to get used to the height of them. I did notice that with the shoes it almost felt like I was getting an assist in walking or running. Running made it so much more fun for me to have these shoes on because the lift off was great. I noticed that my knees had no shock to them, and it’s due to the high cushion of these shoes. Overall, they really are great shoes to have if you want to run outside or walk in them around town. The only downside to these shoes is that I felt they were slightly snug and a little narrow. I felt that my big toe was hurting after running around for a while and I think it’s because it’s a little small. So I would recommend sizing a half size up if you like to run comfortably, because these are a little tight on the front of the feet. I have noticed that I have more stamina running while wearing these shoes compared to other ghost max shoes I own. I do feel like this is a good shoot to have in your rotation the cushion makes it worth it if you have knee pain or hip pain while running these totally help absorb all the power so you don’t have pain in your feet your knees or hips. The design is good on these shoes, I like that they aren’t super eccentric like other brooks shoes I own. These are more tame on the color scale. Which makes it so much easier to wear with different colored clothing. Overall, the only reason why I’m giving these shoes four stars is because they are a little tight and I wouldn’t say they are true to size. So definitely size up half a size so you can run comfortably in them. But overall, they really are great running shoes, extremely comfortable and the cushion is awesome.

I was so bummed that these shoes run about a 1/2 size small, because holy moly they’re probably the most comfortable shoe I have ever walked around in. The cushion provides a lot of support and spans from the heel all the way to the toe which is not usually the case. The width of the shoe is perfect and provides adequate space for the toes without feeling overly large or sloppy. The laces are good quality, stretchy and don’t easily come untied. The tongue of the shoe is also very cushiony and provides comfort between the laces and foot. The ankle is padded and comes up high enough that it doesn’t leave blisters or rubbing. The large cushion on the bottom of the shoe has helped my hip and knee pain tremendously when walking or running and eliminates the hard pounding on paved paths which contribute to body pain. The color scheme is neutral with a light pop of purple which I find pairs nicely with many outfits. The fabric is easy to wipe clean and also hides imperfections from dirt from being outside.
The base/support of the shoe is unlike any other. Comfort level is 11/10! Sometimes when you wear shoes for a long period of time you’re ready to take them off immediately. That is not the case with these shoes. I can wear them all day running errands or training. I can’t think of a single change I would make, I just wish they tan more true to size.

The Ghost Max 2 definitely give you maximum comfort! The minute you put on the shoe you feel a bounce in your step, and feel energized. The shoe is sturdy but not rigid. You have a wide range of motion while wearing them.

In my experience with Brooks’ shoes, I always go up a half size. I would recommend doing that in the Ghost Max 2 as well.

The design of the shoe is made for someone looking for a comfortable walking or all day shoe. It would also be a great shoe for a short distance run. Unfortunately, I would not recommend it for speed running workouts, or long distance running. The design of the shoe makes it a little heavier than one would want for those workouts.

The fabric of the shoe was breathable, flexible, and high quality. Brooks’ always uses the best products and they continued that trend on the Ghost Max 2.

My favorite feature of the Ghost Max 2 was how comfortable it was. My feet felt great after wearing them all day, and after short distance runs. The only thing I would change is trying to make them lighter so runners could have both comfort and a light weight shoe.

Overall, The Ghost Max 2 is a high quality shoe that functions the way it is supposed too. Brooks’ has once again created something great!