The Brooks Ghost Max 2 is the roomy-toe-box cushion pick — a max-stack neutral shoe offered in Wide (2E) and Extra Wide (4E) that pairs plush DNA LOFT v3 foam with a smooth GlideRoll rocker. RunRepeat scored it 84/100; Believe in the Run was more measured at 10/15, noting a firmer-but-more-responsive ride. It is a comfortable, dependable daily walker and one of the few shoes reviewers say takes orthotics well. The knocks are weight and softness-over-stability, and the standard toe box is tapered, so size into the wide build.
Full review
Real-World Walking Performance
The Ghost Max 2 is Brooks's maximalist comfort shoe, and it makes a strong everyday walker. Its 39 mm heel stack delivers plush, protective cushioning for long miles and all-day walking, and the GlideRoll rocker geometry smooths the heel-to-toe transition so each step rolls forward naturally — a real benefit for a comfortable walking gait. RunRepeat noted that the 'impressive 39.0 mm heel stack height earns the Max moniker,' and for walkers that height translates directly into reduced impact underfoot.
It is more wearable day-to-day than the dedicated leather walkers on this list. Where the New Balance 928v3 and Brooks Addiction Walker 2 are firm, heavy work shoes, the Ghost Max 2 is a lighter, softer, more modern-feeling neutral shoe that happens to be very good at walking. Brooks markets it as a daily running and walking shoe, and for steady-paced miles it is a comfortable, dependable choice.
Fit predictability helps here too: RunRepeat found the Ghost Max 2 runs true to size across more than 200 votes, so you can order your normal length and focus on choosing the right width. Combined with the 6 mm drop and the GlideRoll rocker, the true-to-size fit and smooth roll make it an easy shoe to slip into for daily walks without fuss or a long adjustment period — the kind of low-drama comfort that makes a shoe a default choice rather than an occasional one.
Cushioning and Ride
The midsole is full-length DNA LOFT v3, a nitrogen-infused supercritical EVA that Brooks tuned to be softer and bouncier than the foam in the original Ghost Max. Believe in the Run found the new midsole 'feels a bit firmer, but feels more responsive and gives a bit more back on each step,' a characterization that captures the shoe's balance: plush, but with a little life rather than a dead, sink-in feel. The upper is plush and padded too — Believe in the Run likened the on-foot comfort to a 'La-Z-Boy.'
The reviews diverge on overall execution. RunRepeat's 84/100 is solid, but Believe in the Run's 10/15 is more measured, reflecting that the softer foam costs the shoe some stability and that the update is fairly incremental. Solereview similarly noted the softer midsole makes it less supportive and stable than the firmer original, and not suited to faster running. For a walker, the softness is mostly a positive — just know it is a cushion-first shoe, not a stability shoe.
Fit and Wide-Width Sizing
Brooks offers the Ghost Max 2 in Medium (1D), Wide (2E), and Extra Wide (4E), and men's size 11 is a standard configuration in the wide builds. That width range, combined with the tall, soft stack, makes it a popular pick for bunions, swelling, and wide feet generally — wide-fit buyers single out the multiple-width availability as a reason to choose it.
There is an important nuance: RunRepeat measured the standard (D) toe box at a fairly tapered 71.0 mm and cautioned that some buyers may find Brooks's usual tapered shape limiting in the medium width. The fix is exactly what this page is about — size into the 2E or 4E build, which opens up the forefoot and is what makes the Ghost Max 2 genuinely wide-foot friendly. RunRepeat found it fits true to size, so order your normal length in the wider width.
Orthotics and Versatility
One of the Ghost Max 2's quieter strengths is orthotic compatibility. Doctors of Running groups the Brooks Ghost Max line with the Saucony Echelon as the shoes specifically suited to take custom orthotics, thanks to the room the design leaves for an aftermarket insert. If you wear orthotics but want something plusher and more modern than a traditional motion-control walker, the Ghost Max 2 in a wide build is a natural option.
It is also the most casually wearable shoe here. The clean, cushioned silhouette looks fine off the clock, the weight is reasonable for a max-stack shoe at about 10.8 oz, and the neutral build suits walkers who do not need corrective support. That versatility — plush cushioning, wide sizing, orthotic room, everyday looks — is the case for it.
How It Fits the Lineup
The Ghost Max 2 occupies a useful middle ground in this group. It is plusher and more modern-feeling than the firm leather walkers — the New Balance 928v3 and Brooks Addiction Walker 2 — but more structured-looking and more orthotic-friendly than a pure cushion shoe. Doctors of Running groups it with the Saucony Echelon 10 as the two shoes designed to take custom inserts, which gives it a real niche: a soft, rockered daily walker that still welcomes an orthotic.
Against its closest rival here, the HOKA Bondi 9, the Ghost Max 2 is a touch lower and slightly less protective underfoot, and its review scores trail — RunRepeat's 84/100 and Believe in the Run's measured 10/15 sit below the Bondi's marks. Solereview also noted it gave up some stability versus the firmer original Ghost Max. In exchange you get Brooks's signature plush, padded upper and a clean look that wears well off the clock.
On durability, the blown-rubber outsole is grippy and comfortable but is a softer compound than the carbon rubber on a shoe like the Echelon 10, so expect respectable rather than exceptional tread life. For a walker who values cushioning, a roomy wide toe box, and casual versatility over maximum longevity or stability, that is a sensible trade — and it is the reason the Ghost Max 2 rounds out the list as a solid, wide-friendly cushion option rather than a category leader.
Where It Falls Short
The Ghost Max 2 is a heavy shoe — about 0.8 oz heavier than the original Ghost Max — and the soft foam that makes it comfortable also makes it the least stable shoe to walk fast or move quickly in. Solereview flagged it as less supportive than the firmer first-generation model and not suited to faster running. If you overpronate or want a planted, structured feel, the New Balance 928v3, Brooks Addiction Walker 2, or even the stable-neutral Saucony Echelon 10 are better fits.
It is also an incremental update. Believe in the Run noted it reuses familiar foam tech and overlaps Brooks's own lineup, and its review scores — particularly that measured 10/15 — sit below the top picks here. It is a good shoe, not a standout, which is why it rounds out the list rather than leading it.
Who It's Best For
Choose the Ghost Max 2 if you want plush, rockered cushioning with a roomy wide toe box and modern, casual looks — especially if you have bunions or swelling, or you use orthotics and want something softer than a traditional motion-control walker. Order the Wide (2E) or Extra Wide (4E) in size 11 to get past the tapered standard toe box.
Pass if you need structured support or a stable platform for fast movement, or if you simply want the highest-rated option — the HOKA Bondi 9 delivers more cushioning pedigree, and the Skechers GOwalk Arch Fit offers similar plushness for much less. But as a comfortable, wide-friendly daily cushion shoe that also welcomes an orthotic, the Ghost Max 2 earns its place — order the Wide (2E) or Extra Wide (4E) in your true size 11 to get past the tapered standard last.
Strengths
- +Max-cushion 39 mm heel stack of nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 foam for plush, protective comfort
- +Offered in Medium (1D), Wide (2E), and Extra Wide (4E) — a strong pick for bunions, swelling, and wide feet
- +GlideRoll rocker geometry smooths heel-to-toe transitions for a comfortable walking gait
- +Softer and more responsive than the original Ghost Max, with a plush, padded upper
- +One of the two shoe lines reviewers single out as built to take custom orthotics
Watch-outs
- −Heavy — about 0.8 oz more than the original Ghost Max
- −Softer foam makes it less stable and supportive than firmer walkers, and unsuited to faster running
- −Standard (D) width has a tapered toe box; you need the 2E or 4E to open it up
- −A modest update that reuses familiar foam tech and overlaps other Brooks models
How it compares
A plush, rockered everyday cushion shoe with a roomy wide toe box, but softer and less stable than the New Balance 928v3 or Brooks Addiction Walker 2. Reviewers pair it with the Saucony Echelon 10 as the two shoes designed for orthotics. It is lighter and more wearable casually than the dedicated walkers, but its review scores trail the HOKA Bondi 9.
Who this is for
At a glance: Wide-footed walkers who want plush, rockered cushioning and a roomy toe box for bunions or swelling, and who may use orthotics.
Why you’d buy the Brooks Ghost Max 2
- Max-cushion 39 mm heel stack of nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 foam for plush, protective comfort.
- Offered in Medium (1D), Wide (2E), and Extra Wide (4E) — a strong pick for bunions, swelling, and wide feet.
- GlideRoll rocker geometry smooths heel-to-toe transitions for a comfortable walking gait.
Why you’d skip it
- Heavy — about 0.8 oz more than the original Ghost Max.
- Softer foam makes it less stable and supportive than firmer walkers, and unsuited to faster running.
- Standard (D) width has a tapered toe box; you need the 2E or 4E to open it up.
Rating sources
“Its impressive 39.0 mm heel stack height earns the 'Max' moniker, delivering a welcome boost for those long runs marathoners crave.”
“The new nitrogen-infused midsole feels a bit firmer, but feels more responsive and gives a bit more back on each step.”
Our 3.8 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
