Which Brooks Running Shoes Are Right for You? 11 Picks Podiatrists Trust

Brooks sneakers seem to pop up everywhere, with signature models like the Ghost on the feet of runners, walkers, grocery shoppers, nurses, travelers, and more. But it isn’t just the brand’s fun colorways that make them so popular—they’re also legit good-for-your-feet sneakers, loved by podiatrists and pedorthists. “From a doctor’s perspective, Brooks is kind of our go-to shoe,” Nicole Freels, FACPM, a certified pedorthist at Lexington Podiatry in Kentucky, tells SELF.

The only problem: How to choose from Brooks’s extensive lineup. To help you make your pick, we asked experts for their faves—plus advice on how (and when) to wear them—and logged some miles on a handful of pairs ourselves.

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: Ghost 16
2. Best for Walking: Addiction GTS 15
3. Best Everyday Shoe: Ghost Max SE
4. Best Daily Trainer: Glycerin 22
5. Best for Overpronation: Adrenaline GTS 24
6. Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Ariel GTS 24
7. Best for Long Distances: Glycerin Max
8. Best for Trail Running: Caldera 8
9. Best for Speed Workouts: Hyperion Max 2
10. Best for Road-to-Trail: Divide 5
11. Best for Racing: Hyperion Elite 4 PB

What to consider when shopping for Brooks shoes

Frequently asked questions about Brooks shoes

Odds are, there’s a Brooks pair that’s right for you—and your feet. Find our top picks (and some shopping advice from the pros) below.

Best Overall: Ghost 16

Pros

• Fits a variety of foot shapes
• Awarded the APMA seal of acceptance
• Moderate, comfortable cushioning

Cons

• May not be enough padding for those who like a plush feel

The Ghost has long been a Brooks bestseller—and for good reason. While no one shoe is perfect for everyone, this one does have a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants way of working for multiple foot shapes, John Dewey, PT, ATC, a certified athletic trainer, licensed physical therapist, and the owner of three Fleet Feet specialty running stores in North Carolina, tells SELF. (The fact that it also comes in narrow, wide, and extra wide widths helps too.)

The Ghost has a just-right heel stack, Bermel says: “It’s enough cushioning to provide support and impact absorption, but it’s not too much cushioning where you can’t feel the ground.” The result is a do-it-all shoe that works for everything from easy runs to cross-training to walking, she adds.

Having logged dozens of miles running in the Ghost 16 myself, I can attest that it lives up to its name—I can almost forget it’s there, in a good way. But it could be a downside for those who like a plush midsole. “If you’re looking for a little extra oomph or you want that bouncy feeling, the Ghost is probably not the shoe for you,” Bermel says. “It doesn’t have all the extra bells and whistles, but it’s functional, it gets the job done, and it’s comfortable.”

Original photo by SELF writer Lauren Wingenroth

Best for Walking: Addiction GTS 15

Pros

• Stable
• Durable
• Awarded APMA seal of acceptance

Cons

• Zero heel-to-toe drop may not work for everyone

The Addiction GTS 15 has everything that Dr. Thomas looks for in a walking shoe: solid stability and great durability. He often prescribes the Addiction for patients looking for pain relief, thanks to the shoe’s GuideRail technology (a.k.a. GTS) that’s designed to prevent overpronation or oversupination. In other words, it keeps your feet aligned correctly so your ankles can’t roll inwards or outwards as you walk. We also like that the shoe’s extra-roomy toe box is designed to accommodate orthotics or insoles, if you need some more support.

Best Everyday Shoe: Ghost Max SE

Pros

• Similar to the Ghost 16, but with more cushioning and a lower heel-to-toe drop
• Great shock absorption
• Stylish suede upper

Cons

• High stack may be too unstable for some
• Only comes in one width

When Dr. Freels has a long work day, the Ghost Max “is the only shoe I’ll wear,” she says. “I really am a huge fan—I don’t hesitate recommending it to anybody, honestly.” She says the shoe’s high stack of cushioning is great for shock absorption, especially for those who stand on hard surfaces all day, like health care professionals. It’s also her go-to for treadmill running.

Bermel adds that she loves how cool the suede upper looks—she’s also a fan of the sleek leather version, which is a great candidate for everyday wear.

Best Daily Trainer: Glycerin 22

Pros

• Plush yet responsive cushioning
• Great energy return
• Smooth, comfortable ride

Cons

• On the heavy side

In the not-so-distant past, runners looking for one do-it-all trainer had to choose between a softer, more cushioned shoe (easy on the body, but sometimes clunky and slow) and a snappy, more responsive one that can pick up the pace (at the cost of feeling too thin underfoot). But the new Glycerin 22 has the best of both: a nitrogen-infused midsole with squishier padding in the heel, where most runners land, and a firmer forefoot for easier push-offs.

When I tested the Glycerin 22s nearly every day, I wore them during easy runs and workouts on the road and the treadmill. My pair held up: Although the shoes don’t feel as space-age as they sound, I found that whether I was going slowly or picking up the pace, they struck the right balance of soft and springy. (You can read my full review here.)

Dr. Freels is also impressed by the pair’s tech and says that the sneaker’s combo of cushiness and energy return “is going to put your body in a better position long-term during the gait cycle.”

Best for Overpronation: Adrenaline GTS 24

Pros

• Guardrails provide stability for mild-to-moderate overpronation
• Breathable mesh upper
• Moderate, soft cushioning

Cons

• May not be enough padding for running longer distances
• Some Brooks reviewers say it runs small

The Adrenaline is Brooks’s signature stability, or GTS, shoe, and one of the most popular options for overpronators. It’s made with the brand’s GuideRail technology, a.k.a. plastic reinforcements, on each side of the shoe that you can think of like bumpers at a bowling alley, says Bermel. “They aren’t meant to change the way that you move,” she says. “It’s more to offer support to runners who overpronate, so that their shoes don’t wear out unevenly, because that can cause issues down the road.”

Lee Firestone, DPM, a podiatrist at Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic and an avid runner, can personally vouch for the Adrenalines. “I’m a pronator,” he tells SELF. “I think they’re well-made shoes, and the GuideRails really do help with stability for people who have pronation, like me.”

Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Ariel GTS 24

Pros

• Extremely stable
• Also great for correcting overpronation
• Awarded the APMA seal of acceptance

Cons

• Heavy

When a patient has plantar fasciitis, the odds are good that Dr. Thomas will recommend the Ariel GTS 24. “Overwhelmingly, the Ariel is one of the most common shoes I prescribe for plantar fasciitis,” he says. “It’s just so darn stable in the rear foot.”

That stability is key for those with plantar fasciitis, he explains, because any movement from your foot wiggling around in your shoe during your gait cycle can irritate your plantar fascia even more. “Something like the Ariel that has the two pieces of plastic on either side and a wider base is going to stop that toggling back and forth,” Dr. Thomas says.

Best for Long Distances: Glycerin Max

Pros

• Lots of soft, bouncy cushioning
• Softer foam in the heel and more responsive foam in the forefoot
• Rocker shape for smooth transitions

Cons

• Max cushioning will be too much for some runners
• Heavy

“I know for me, and for a lot of runners, they like to have some extra cushioning underfoot when they’re going to be on their feet for a long time,” Bermel says. The Glycerin Max has all that cushioning and then some—a whole 45 millimeters, to be exact.

When SELF’s director of food and fitness, Christa Sgobba, CPT, tested a pair, she found that they helped save her legs from the pounding of long marathon training runs. “On those days, I’ve been particularly grateful to reach for the Glycerin Max—they really provide that extra dose of TLC to help you get through that day’s plan,” she wrote in her review.

Bermel agrees: “I like it for long runs because it’s got cushion and bounce, but it’s not too soft, so I feel like I can still run at a decent pace,” she says. That said, she acknowledges that the amount of cushioning can feel clunky. “It’s not a shoe where you could have a sense of ground feedback, which some runners really like,” she says.

Original photo by SELF writer Lauren Wingenroth

Best for Trail Running: Caldera 8

Pros

• Wide base for stability
• Quick-drying upper
• Durable, grippy outsole

Cons

• Some runners may want less cushioning on uneven trails
• Only available in one width

What works on the roads doesn’t always work on the trails. A solid trail shoe should have deep lugs on the outsole (like treads on a tire) for grip, a wider base for extra stability on ever-changing terrain, and a protective upper that won’t snag on roots and rocks. The Caldera 8’s got it all—and it’s supercomfortable, Dr. Thomas says.

“On a trail, a lot of times your gait is not uniform because you’re avoiding things like ruts,” he says. “Having a wider midfoot and a wider heel is a game changer because it can introduce a lot more stability—that’s why I like the Caldera.”

Norris adds that the Caldera is a favorite of many of her trail athletes. “It’s very cushioned and supportive—you have enough protection, but you also have good response, so you don’t feel like you’re being weighed down by your shoe,” she says. “It’s pretty nimble and responsive for a trail shoe.”

Best for Speed Workouts: Hyperion Max 2

Pros

• Rocker and plate make for speedy transitions
• Breathable, comfortable upper
• Propulsive, protective foam

Cons

• Only available in one width

I don’t necessarily recommend slipping a brand new running shoe on out of the box and going for an 11-mile run. However, that’s what I did when the Hyperion Max 2 landed on my doorstep—and I have no regrets. I was already planning on doing a long run with a few sections of marathon-pace efforts, and I had a feeling that this shoe would make me feel fast in the beginning and get me through the final stretch when my legs would be tired.

I was right on both counts. The shoe’s SpeedVault plate (which is similar to the carbon plates in many marathon racing shoes) pushed me forward, and the highly cushioned heel helped make those later miles easier.

Original photo by SELF writer Lauren Wingenroth

Best for Road-to-Trail: Divide 5

Pros

• Versatile enough for a variety of terrain
• Budget-friendly
• Wide, stable base

Cons

• Feels a bit firm on the roads
• Only for light-to-moderate trails

With a hybrid shoe like the Divide 5, you’ll be prepared for almost anything—including taking your run off the roads. It’s durable and protective enough for light trails, but not so heavy that it feels clunky on the pavement (which true trail shoes often do).

Dr. Thomas likes its wide, stable base, but emphasizes that it’s probably not the best choice for more technical trails or for logging more than a few road miles at a time, since the lugs will wear out quickly on asphalt.

Best for Racing: Hyperion Elite 4 PB

Pros

• Propulsive carbon fiber plate
• Easier to wear than other, more aggressive racing shoes
• Responsive foam midsole
• Comfortable, breathable upper

Cons

• Not intended for beginners or slower paces

If you’re training to hit a PR—whether you’re running a 5K or a marathon—the Hyperion Elite 4 PB is your best Brooks bet. (The PB in the name actually refers to the PEBA foam in the midsole, but we can pretend it means “personal best”.) This is the shoe that Brooks’s elite athletes (like Des Linden!) sport during their races, and Norris says it’s pretty approachable for recreational runners too.

“Some carbon-plated shoes are very aggressive—they have intense rockers and they can sometimes be a little too much for your middle-of-the-pack or back-of-the-pack runners,” she says. “The geometry of the Hyperion Elite makes it more accessible for runners running 8-, 9-, or 10-minute miles.”

Related:

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• 12 Best Insoles for Flat Feet, According to Podiatrists
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