Brooks Ghost 14 Vs New Balance 880v11: Which One Is Best For You? [2021]

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Brooks Ghost and New Balance 880 are neutral running shoe which will provide you with soft and comfortable cushioning.

Today we are comparing Brooks Ghost 14 and New Balance 880v11 in this post. At the time of writing this post, these two are the current versions of the shoes.

Below we have compared Brooks Ghost Vs New Balance 880 in-depth and have provided you all the details that we have found, be it similarities or differences.

Let’s dive and find out what we have in store for you…

This is our winner

The main differences between Brooks Ghost Vs New Balance 880

• The heel-to-toe drop of Brooks Ghost is 12mm and the heel-to-toe drop of New Balance 880 has a drop of 10mm.
• Brooks Ghost is a bit heavier than New Balance 880. For women, Brooks Ghost weighs around 9oz or 255.1g whereas New Balance 880 weighs around 8.7oz or 247g. For the men’s version, Brooks Ghost weighs around 9.9oz or 2880.6g whereas New Balance weighs around 10.5oz or 298g.
• The arch support for Brooks Ghost is medium to high and the arch support for New Balance 880 is medium.
• For the men’s version of the shoe, New Balance 880 has six more sizes available than Brooks Ghost.
• The latest generation of Brooks Ghost is 14 whereas the current generation of New Balance 880 is 11.

New Balance 880 Vs Brooks Ghost – An Overview

Brooks Ghost and New Balance 880 are neutral running shoes. They are cushy, comfortable, and will provide you with excellent ride quality.

You can use them as daily trainers or you can take them out on longer runs. They are resilient and will last you for around 300 to 500 miles.

In the following sections, we are providing you with an in-depth comparison of Brooks Ghost and New Balance 880.

Here is what we found out…

Brooks Ghost 14 Vs New Balance 880v11 – Features at a glance

New Balance 880 Vs. Brooks Ghost – A head to head comparison

In the above sections, you will find some key differences and a brief overview between Brooks Ghost and New Balance 880.

In the following sections, you will find an in-depth comparison of these two running shoes.

Outsole

The outsole of New Balance 880 is exactly the same as its previous version. It has blown rubber in the mid part of the sole and harder rubber at the tip of the shoe and the lateral side of the heel.

This makes this running shoe durable even for the heel strikers.

This outsole is a full ground contact outsole and will provide you with excellent grip and stability while running.

 This outsole is so much the same as the previous version that the same number of flex grooves are retained along with the same depth of the material.

One minor change that you may notice is they have added a bit of color to the mid-portion of the outsole of New Balance 880v11.

The outsole of Brooks Ghost is also a full-length outsole made from blown rubber.

It is a highly durable rubber that will provide you with excellent grip and stability.

This outsole is separated into a couple of parts. The lateral side of the heel has a piece of rubber that is tougher and will be perfect for heel-strikers.

The groove area under the first metatarsal is fused to provide additional support to the underpronating runners.

Also, a section of this rubber outsole extends from the forefoot to back through the arch area. This adds additional support to the midfoot strikers.

Overall this is a great little outsole that will improve the durability of this running shoe.

Midsole

The midsole of New Balance 880 is made from Fresh Foam. This is a soft foam that will provide you with excellent cushioning and shock absorption. This version of Fresh Foam or Fresh Foam X is softer and will provide you premium underfoot feel.

The visible surface of the midsole has a honeycomb pattern and adds to the style of this shoe.

It also has a molded footbed that provides you with additional comfort and cushioning.

The midsole of Brooks Ghost is made from DNA LOFT which is one of the softest midsole materials from Brooks. It will provide you with exceptional cushioning and a premium underfoot feels.

Unlike the previous version, it has the same density foam at the medial and the lateral side. Since Brooks has taken away the underpronation support from the midsole, they fine-tuned the outsole to retain a similar feel like the previous version.

It also has Omega Flex grooves that provide you with optimal flexibility without compromising the cushioning.

Upper

The upper of New Balance 880 is made from Double Jacquard Engineered Mesh. This has improved the breathability of this shoe from the previous version.

Also, it has strategic stretch and that will provide you with a secure and comfortable fit. 

Apart from the engineered mesh, it has molded external heel counter. This reduces the movement of the foot and improves the comfort level.

The upper of Brooks Ghost is made from 3D Fit Print mesh which is a lightweight mesh that provides you with excellent breathability and fit.

It will flex with your foot and will provide you with a non-restrictive movement.

One big change that Brooks has introduced in this version of Ghost is the flat laces. They will lock down your foot when tied up and will not come undone while running.

Weight

In terms of weight, Brooks Ghost is slightly heavier than New Balance 880 for the women’s version. Whereas for the men’s version, New Balance 880 weighs a bit heavier than Brooks Ghost.

Brooks Ghost weighs around 9oz /255.1g for women and 9.9oz/280g for men.

New Balance 880 weighs around 8.7oz/247g for women and 10.5oz/298g for men.

Price

The price of the latest version of Brooks Ghost and New Balance 1080 is the same at the time of writing this post.

This is incredible as it gives you more flexibility to choose. If there was a price gap of let’s say $30, you may have thought twice before picking the pricer one.

Now you can go ahead and choose the one in which you are most comfortable.

In the above sections, you will find almost all the similarities and differences between Brooks Ghost and New Balance 880.

There are a few alternatives that may be worth your time. We have mentioned a couple of them below. Do take a look.

Similar Shoes

Running Shoes Similar To Brooks Ghost 14

Brooks Ghost 14 is a well-cushioned running shoe that will provide you with a comfortable ride. It also has a premium in-shoe feel and will provide you with a luxurious feel.

A running shoe that may match this experience is New Balance 1080. It has a soft cushioning and a really comfortable in-shoe environment. It is one of the running shoes similar to Brooks Ghost.

New Balance 1080v11 Running Shoes

• Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
• Bootie upper construction hugs your foot for a snug, supportive fit
• Synthetic/mesh upper

$150.00

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Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Running Shoes Similar To New Balance 880

New Balance 880 is a neutral running shoe with excellent cushioning. It is resilient, shock-absorbent, and will provide you with a good running experience.

A running shoe that may provide you with a similar running experience is Mizuno Wave Rider. It is responsive and provides you with excellent ride quality.

1,200 Reviews

Mizuno Wave Rider 25 Running Shoes

• MIZUNO ENERZY (FOAM): Offering versatility in its application, while still maintaining softness and resilience. It will help enhance performance capabilities.
• MIZUNO WAVE: The MIZUNO WAVE plate disperses energy from impact to a broader area providing a stable platform and a superior cushioning.
• X10 Outsole: Durable carbon rubber that allows for longer wear.

Find on Amazon!

Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Conclusion

In the above sections, you will find almost all the similarities and differences between Brooks Ghost Vs New Balance 880. However, we liked one a bit more than the other.

Brooks Ghost 14 is a very stable shoe with excellent ventilation and shock absorption. In its new design, it has retained the overall feel of its previous version. Also, this shoe can be comfortably worn by moderate underpronators.

New Balance 880, has made the Fresh Foam softer in this model, however, it did not make any changes to the outsole. This made the flexibility of this shoe more. Also, for now, for the underpronators, there is not much support and they may not find it as supportive as its previous version.

This is why we chose Brooks Ghost over New Balance 880.

However, if you naturally gravitate to New Balance 880, let us know what you like about the shoe in the comment section below…

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