My Wide, Flat Feet Are Anti-Hoka—So I Turned to the Brooks Ghost Max 3 for Cross-Training Support

By Samira Vishwas On Jun 7, 2026

It’s currently on sale, too.

Credit: Amazon. EatingWell design.

Not long after enlisting in the Army, I realized that most shoes were not made for my feet. My “dogs,” as my parents would call them, merge a horrendous trifecta of a narrow heel, low arch and wide ball—and very few brands accommodate. While Nikes would fall apart from long-distance running and Hokas would slip off my heels in the store, Brooks shoes always fit my feet like a glove and withstood intensive wear and tear. So, I wasn’t surprised when the Brooks Ghost Max 3 cross-training shoes became my most recent goldilocks fit. Here’s how they’ve held up over the past few months.

Brooks Ghost Max 3

~~$160~~ $120 at Amazon

With my wide (2E in this shoe) and flat feet, I never settle for unsupportive shoes. The first thing I noticed about this shoe was its cushioning at the ball of the feet: It’s stacked tall and feels perfectly balanced between plushy and resistant. Although it’s a neutral-support shoe, I also find that the cushioning of the lateral side of the foot is incredibly comfortable. Whether I’m walking and talking to customers during my 7-hour weekend shifts at the winery or trudging up the incline on an Orange Theory (OT) treadmill, my feet never ache in these shoes.

My feet happen to sweat easily, too, so breathability is a non-negotiable. The Ghost Max 3 offers layers of mesh nylon all around the cloth of the shoe, so each step feels washed over with cool air. The ventilation helps cool down my feet and keeps them from becoming too sweaty and slipping out of my shoes. With my narrow heels, that nonslip security is priceless. Most shoes require me to tie a heel lock, a lacing technique that keeps my foot secure in the shoe. It can be a pain, since many shoes come with relatively short laces. Luckily, these Brooks shoes have a rubber-reinforced eyestay for the top three eyelets, meaning I can lace further back and keep my heel in place without using convoluted methods.

In my experience so far, this shoe is more suited to walking and running than cross-training and strength training because the ball-focused cushioning and slightly lifted heel support propelling yourself forward. During my first time wearing the Ghost Max 3’s to OT, I noticed the height of the shoe made it difficult to balance during dynamic weightlifting movements, and certain exercises had my ankle on the verge of rolling. However, I started to gain much more stability as I broke in the shoes over time. Now, I can deadlift on one leg or hop-skip side to side without worry.

All things considered, this shoe gets me through the most difficult OT classes and the longest shifts of carrying wine—sometimes both in the same day. For everyday walking or intense workouts, purchase a pair of Brooks Ghost Max 3 shoes at $40 off for relentless support.