Brooks Ghost Amp Review: Worth the HYPE?

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

When Monica Geller and Chandler Bing first got together on the NBC sitcom Friends, I didn’t see it coming. Monica was organized, dependable and responsible, always making sure her apartment was spotlessly clean and organized down to the last painstaking detail. Chandler, on the other hand, was the token funny friend, always cracking jokes with a whimsical flair. The two were an unlikely pair, reminiscent of the Brooks Ghost and the Brooks Hyperion Max, who apparently had a baby and named it Brooks Ghost Amp.

The Brooks Ghost Amp marries the classic fit and feel of the brands’ flagship model, the Ghost, with an energetic pop comparable to the Hyperion Max supertrainer. Is this new model worth the hype its new DNA HYPE is named after? Read on to find out.

I first saw the Brooks Ghost Amp during a sales meeting in Carrboro, in which our Director of Purchasing referred to it as “no nonsense.” I beg to differ. This shoe could actually get into a lot of nonsense.

It’s the kind of shoe I’d pull on for some fun, run-club miles where the route is only part of the adventure. Maybe there’s some nonsense before the run, maybe there’s some nonsense after it. Either way, the Ghost Amp fits right in. It’s not going to make me the fastest runner in the group, but it’ll be there to put some pep in my step when I’m catching those who went out too fast.

With a completely new midsole foam called DNA HYPE, you get the best of both worlds — the cushioned comfort of an EVA foam and the responsiveness of a PEBA foam.

“I didn't know what to expect from this new model, but I was impressed,” says Sean, who’s currently base-building for his Houston Marathon training block. “The midsole offers a great balance of cushion and responsiveness. Having done most of my recent runs in the plush Nike Vomero 18, the Ghost Amp was a nice change. They felt soft without being overly squishy, making it easy to pick up the pace during steady efforts and strides. They performed well during threshold efforts, too.”

Kate agreed, saying, “I’m coming back after an illness and the Ghost Amp helped me throw in a few faster miles that felt really smooth. I wore them for The Big Run 5K in Asheville, which was a fun run rather than a race, but I got a little carried away and picked up the pace more than I intended to [She sheepishly admitted that she came in first place]. Was it the shoes or the atmosphere? Probably both! They were really comfortable at a tempo pace.”

While the Ghost Amp doesn’t use a plate, which is typically seen in performance-oriented footwear to increase propulsion and accelerate toe-offs, Brooks uses their SpringRamp technology to mimic the effect. This is a denser durometer of foam placed right under the forefoot, giving you a firmer platform to push off from when taking off into your next stride.

I wouldn’t compare the Ghost Amp to Brooks’ plated shoes, like the Hyperion Max or Hyperion Elite, in terms of responsiveness. But the Ghost Amp definitely feels peppier than the Ghost, the Glycerin, or any of their other core models.

“It’s comfortable enough for everyday runs and peppy enough for speed work,” notes Kate.

Brooks uses a strategically zoned rubber outsole on high-abrasion areas like the heel and forefoot. This helps the shoe remain durable while also shaving weight, a win-win.

It’s all fun and games until someone gets fit. Isn’t that the saying?

All jokes aside, while Sean found his perfect fit in the Ghost Amp, Kate and I did not.

“The Ghost Amp fits true-to-size overall, but my toes wouldn’t mind a little more space up front,” Kate says. “It feels like a performance fit to me — it’s made to sit snugly on your foot without excess space. I haven’t had any problems with blisters or smushed toenails so far, but if you have wide or high-volume feet, the Ghost Amp might feel snug.”

The upper looks and feels similar to the performance fit Kate mentioned, with a thin warp-knit upper and bold color blocking. But a healthy dose of padding in the heel collar and tongue reminded me that this is a shoe designed for comfort, too.

I had the opposite problem as Kate, and found the forefoot to be much too roomy. I’ve been realizing lately that I need to go a half-size down in most of my running shoes, not just the Ghost Amp, so I can’t really hold it against Brooks. But I noticed the material folding over a little bit in front every time I’d take a step, which made the otherwise pleasant ride somewhat unenjoyable.

For the wide or high-volume footed runners Kate mentioned, the Ghost Amp is available in wide sizing (D for women, 2E for men). Not sure about the width or volume of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height. You can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there!

Since the Ghost Amp shares the same structural last as its sibling, the Ghost 19, that familiar Brooks fit remains intact throughout the upper — it’s like seeing an old friend with a brand-new attitude.

“The Ghost Amp has what I consider a “spunkier” feel than the traditional Ghost. It has a lower heel-to-toe drop and the cushion feels a lot more energetic,” says Kate.

The DNA HYPE foam feels significantly springier than the DNA Loft v3 used in the Ghost 19, thanks to the infusion of PEBA foam.

“Compared to the regular Ghost, you can do a lot more with the Ghost AMP,” says Sean. “You can pick up the pace in them and still feel that pop in your step compared to the Ghost 19.”

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the Ghost Amp stacks up. Here’s what we found:

The Brooks Ghost Amp, HOKA Clifton PRO and ASICS Novablast 6 all deliver a soft yet springy sensation that feels just as good during easy runs as it does during uptempo paces. As a result, these three shoes are incredibly versatile (and fun to run in!)

The Ghost Amp delivers this feeling through a blend of EVA and PEBA foams, specifically with their SpringRamp technology under the forefoot. Similarly, the Novablast 6 uses an ATPU-based “trampoline pod” under the forefoot to make toe-offs feel extra bouncy.

While HOKA is more tight-lipped about the specific materials used in their running shoes, the Clifton PRO uses a rocker shape to deliver similarly springy toe-offs.

Thanks to new DNA HYPE foam, a 6-millimeter heel-to-toe drop and zero carbon plate, the Brooks Ghost Amp is perfect for runners seeking an energetic ride that maintains a solid sense of ground feedback.

“Shoes are so highly cushioned these days, that it’s tough to say what is minimal, medium, or ‘max’ cushion anymore,” says Kate. “ The Ghost Amp has a low-to-the-ground and compact step-in feel. It’s comfortable for everyday training, and the cushion has a peppy feel when you pick up the pace. It’s a stellar choice for someone who likes a well-cushioned shoe that feels energetic and semi-firm.”

If you’re looking for one shoe at a competitive price point to handle all of your runs, or if you enjoyed the fit of the Ghost 19 but found the foam a bit flat, the Ghost Amp may just be your new training BFF.