Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs Ghost Max 4

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Ghost Max 3
Brooks Ghost Max 4

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Aug 06, 2026 05:35 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Sep 03, 2026 03:43 PM

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Brooks Ghost Max 3 Picture

Track

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Ghost Max 4

The Brooks Ghost Max 4 is a meaningful upgrade over the Brooks Ghost Max 3. It's more versatile and stable, while its lower weight makes it less cumbersome across daily training. Its higher drop also makes it better suited to running, rather than mainly walking like the Ghost Max 3. Neither shoe is particularly bouncy, though the Ghost Max 4 has a bit more life underfoot. That said, the Ghost Max 3 offers slightly more impact protection, but most runners are unlikely to notice the difference.

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Variants

  • Ghost Max 3 (Apricot/Apricot/Super Pink - (Women - US 7))
  • Ghost Max 3 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))
  • Ghost Max 4 (Arctic Wolf/Navy/Coconut - (Men - US 9))
  • Ghost Max 4 (Arctic Wolf/Rose/Coconut - (Women - US 7))
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Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

5.5
6.5

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
4.4

Plate 
 

None
None

Weight  

4.3
5.0

Heel Firmness 
 

5.6
8.4

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.3
5.0

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

302.7 g (10.68 oz)
284.6 g (10.04 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.5 mm
39.2 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.9 mm
30.7 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.6 mm
8.5 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
6.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 4 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
98 mm (3.9")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
88 mm (3.5")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

114 mm (4.5")
114 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.37
2.50

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.57
3.71

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 4 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

282 mm (11.1")
281 mm (11.1")

Internal Heel Width 
 

70 mm (2.8")
74 mm (2.9")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

90 mm (3.5")
96 mm (3.8")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.2

Forefoot Width Photo  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

1.4 mm (0.054")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-2.8 mm (-0.110")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

7.2

Forefoot Height Photo  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-3.4 mm (-0.134")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

9.2

Arch Fit Photo  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

4.8 mm (0.188")

Length Fit 
 

10

Toe Clearance Photo  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

8.2

Heel Rocker Photo  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

29 mm (1.1")

Heel Apex Position 
 

17.5%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

29.6°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

7.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

55 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position 
 

62.3%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

26.3°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

DNA LOFT V3

Primary Foam Type 
 

EVA

Secondary Foam Name 
 

N/A

Secondary Foam Type 
 

No Secondary Foam

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Flat

Width 
 

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

2.4 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

15.0%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

2.6
2.7

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

69.0%
69.1%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

2.3
4.4

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

68.5%
71.1%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.2
7.3

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.06 J
3.39 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

8.99 J
8.94 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.88 J
15.20 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.6
7.4

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.54 J
4.66 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.15 J
7.89 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.21 J
11.44 J

Heel Firmness 
 

5.6
8.4

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Firmness

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

55.4 N/mm
46.4 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

107.0 N/mm
58.2 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

226.9 N/mm
81.8 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.7
8.7

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Firmness

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

101.0 N/mm
61.5 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

204.9 N/mm
80.3 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

375.8 N/mm
112 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.5

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

7.13 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

6.94 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.82 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

6.74 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

5.3

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

48 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

5.5

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

58.7%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

7.6

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture  

Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

16.0 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

281 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

5.5

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

11.9 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

18.9 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

23.2 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

5.6

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 4 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

13.0 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

16.2 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

18.4 mm

Brooks Ghost Max 3

Brooks Ghost Max 4

Comments

  1. Comparison

Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs Brooks Ghost Max 4: Main Discussion

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