Brooks Ghost 16 Women's Road Shoe - 12mm Drop

Brooks Ghost 16 Women's Road Running Shoe is a neutral road trainer with a soft landing, a 12mm heel-to-toe drop, and a listed women's weight of 8.5 oz. The model launched in May 2024 and uses nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 cushioning for a smoother daily-training ride.

What The Ghost 16 Delivers

The shoe's 12mm midsole drop and 8.5oz weight place it in the traditional daily-trainer lane rather than the low-drop or race-focused category. Brooks lists soft cushioning, smooth transitions, and an engineered upper among the defining features.

The midsole uses DNA LOFT v3 foam, while the RoadTack outsole rubber includes recycled silica. A segmented crash pad helps spread the landing across the shoe, and the engineered air-mesh upper combines stretch with structure and ventilation.

Ghost 16 Versus Ghost 15

Brooks introduced the Ghost 16 at a $140 price, the same launch price as the Ghost 15. The new version adds DNA LOFT v3 foam, and Brooks says it weighs 0.6 oz less than its predecessor.

Independent testing gives the comparison more context. A women's size 8 sample measured 8.3 oz for the Ghost 16 versus 8.5 oz for the Ghost 15, while the design retained the predecessor's 12mm drop. The change is evolutionary in geometry but more noticeable in the foam compound and outsole material.

Price And Fit Context

US listings place the standard women's Ghost 16 at $139.99 from Academy Sports + Outdoors as of September 23, 2026. Brooks' own US sale listing shows $99.95 for a Ghost 16 colorway on September 22, 2026.

The women's shoe is offered in four widths, including narrow, standard, wide, and extra-wide options. The neutral support design suits runners seeking a conventional road shoe for daily mileage, walking, or treadmill use, while the 12mm drop may feel less natural to runners who prefer a flatter platform.

Verdict For Daily Miles

The Brooks Ghost 16 is a conventional neutral road trainer with a high 12mm drop, moderate listed weight, and a softer foam platform than the Ghost 15. Its strongest fit is daily road training for runners who want familiar geometry with a lighter, more responsive midsole; runners seeking a plated racer, trail outsole, or low-drop feel should look elsewhere.