One of the hardest things to do as an official shoe nerd is choosing a shoe to take on a trip. Last week, I was in Amsterdam at the International Running Expo, and I had to pick one pair to travel with. One pair to rule them all that I could wear at the expo, at the airport, around town, and also run in. This is always a challenge, plus you have to factor in that I am extremely hip, so the shoes need to match my outfits. A very tall order.
For this trip, I wanted to take a new model out to really put it through its paces without giving myself an easy out to switch shoes. I picked the new Brooks Ghost Trail.
Yes, when you close your eyes and picture Amsterdam, “trail” might not come to mind. Nor is there a lot of trail running happening at Dulles International Airport. The most important thing I wanted was versatility. Knowing it rains 72% of the time there and that I planned on walking a ton, I wanted something that was meant to get wet — something with the traction to keep me upright while walking with luggage, running around town, and still comfy enough to wear all day at an expo. Looking at my options, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a brand-new model across the pond and see if this could truly be considered a vacation shoe.
I guess I should pause and say that yes, this shoe is called a Ghost Trail, but to me it should really be called something like The Daily Ghost or the Ghost Travel. It’s not “trail-y” enough for someone who truly runs big trail stuff. It does not have a Vibram outsole. Or a rock plate. Or a stone guard. Or a gaiter trap. Or some of the other enhancements we see on true trail shoes. You won’t see this model at UTMB or even the JFK 50 miler. Where you will see this shoe is during crappy weather, or on rail trails, or snowy road runs. This is where I think this shoe can shine — but first you need to take the word “trail” out of the name and reset your expectations for what this shoe actually is. If you picture it more as an all-around shoe with cushioning, some water resistance, and the casual style you get from a road shoe, you get a better idea of where this model fits.
For me, it ended up being the perfect option. Once I sized down (you must size down), I felt ready to tackle anything Amsterdam threw at me. During my trip I wore them while speaking on a panel at the conference, running an 8-miler through misty Netherlands, walking city streets, and going out to dinner with Mrs. Run Moore.
While the Ghost Trail might not win any end-of-year awards for Best in Class in the trail division, it is certainly a viable option for a $150 shoe that can do everything.
