Brooks Ghost Max 4 vs New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 — Spec Comparison
Both are max-cushion shoes, but they are not cushioned in the same place. On the published figures the More v6 is taller at both ends — and the gap is far bigger under the forefoot (5 mm) than under the heel (3 mm). The Ghost Max 4 is the lighter shoe by 23 g and the one Brooks builds around a rocker.
On this page
Neither shoe has been under our caliper, so neither is scored and neither carries the seal. Every figure below is the brand’s or an independent retailer’s, labelled with its source.
This is a spec comparison. We have not measured either shoe, worn either shoe, or scored either shoe. Nothing here is an Orthotic Volume Rating, a toe-box measurement or a durability finding — those come off the bench. This page will be replaced when both shoes have been tested.
The numbers, side by side
| Specification | Brooks Ghost Max 4 | NB Fresh Foam X More v6 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (men’s sample) | 289 g | 312 g | Running Warehouse / Believe in the Run |
| Heel stack | 39 mm | 42 mm | Running Warehouse (Brooks); New Balance |
| Forefoot stack | 33 mm | 38 mm | Running Warehouse (Brooks); New Balance |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 6 mm | 4 mm | Manufacturer |
| MSRP | $165 | $159.99 | Manufacturer |
| Internal toe-box width | Not measured | Not measured | — |
| Orthotic Volume Rating | Not measured | Not measured | — |
| Torsional rigidity | Not measured | Not measured | — |
Stack heights are measured differently by different sources, and brands do not all measure at the same point. Treat the 3 mm heel difference as smaller than the 5 mm forefoot difference in reliability terms.
What a foot and ankle surgeon takes from this
The number most people fixate on — heel stack — is the one that separates these two shoes least. Three millimetres under the heel is inside the range a compressed insole or a worn outsole will erase within a few hundred miles. The forefoot is the real difference: 38 mm versus 33 mm. If your complaint sits under the ball of the foot rather than in the heel, that is the figure to read.
The drop follows from the stacks. A 6 mm drop (Ghost Max 4) leaves marginally more heel lift than a 4 mm drop (More v6). More heel lift generally means slightly less demand on the Achilles and calf and slightly more load carried forward; less heel lift reverses that. Two millimetres is a small difference — smaller than the change a single orthotic or a heel lift makes — so it should not be the deciding factor for most people, and it is not a treatment recommendation.
Brooks builds the Ghost Max 4 around a rocker geometry. Rocker shape is the variable that matters most for a stiff or painful big toe joint, because it lets the shoe roll where the joint will not bend. We have not measured where the rocker apex sits on this shoe, and apex position is what decides whether a rocker actually offloads the first MTP joint or simply feels bouncy. Until it is on the bench, treat the rocker as a reason to try the shoe, not as evidence it will work for forefoot pain.
Neither stack height tells you anything about internal volume. A taller midsole is under your foot, not around it — the space available for a custom or over-the-counter orthotic is a separate measurement, and we have not taken it on either shoe.
Which one is worth trying first
Lean Ghost Max 4 if…
- Your pain is at or near the big toe joint and you want the rocker.
- You want the lighter of the two — 23 g is noticeable over a long day.
- You prefer a little more heel lift (6 mm) because your calf or Achilles is easily irritated.
Lean Fresh Foam X More v6 if…
- The ball of your foot is the problem — 5 mm more forefoot stack is the largest single difference here.
- You want the maximum underfoot material and do not mind the extra weight.
- You are comfortable in a lower drop and have no history of Achilles trouble.
What we cannot tell you until we test them
- Internal toe-box width and depth. Neither brand publishes it; both shoes are sold in wide, which is not the same as a wide last.
- Orthotic Volume Rating. Whether either shoe accepts a custom device without lifting your heel out.
- Torsional rigidity and heel-counter stiffness. The two figures that decide how a shoe behaves for an unstable foot.
- Rocker apex position on the Ghost Max 4. The difference between a rocker that offloads and one that is decorative.
- Durability and real comfort. Both need logged miles before we will say a word about either.
Where to buy
Paid link. We earn a commission at no extra cost to you; commissions never influence a score, a ranking or the seal. Price and availability change, so check the listing.
Brooks Ghost Max 4
Women’s:
New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6
Women’s:
Read the full analysis of each
Recently reviewed
Individual shoe pages state their evidence tier, published measurements and who should skip them.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Spec AnalysisLight plated neutral trainer. Saucony publishes both stack heights and they match its 8 mm drop — not yet tested.
HOKA Mach 6
Spec AnalysisLower, firmer neutral HOKA. HOKA publishes a 5 mm drop and neither stack height — not yet tested.
ASICS Novablast 5
Spec AnalysisBouncy high-stack neutral. ASICS publishes an 8 mm drop and neither stack height — not yet tested.
Our funding and evidence policy
We earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. Our policy is to assess published evidence and fit needs rather than rank products by commission rate. Current reviews are specification analyses; see our method for their limits.