ShoeGeometry

Brooks Ghost Max 4 vs On Cloudsurfer Max

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneBrooks Ghost Max 4: heel 39 mm, forefoot 33 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 38 % of length, radius 53 % of length; heel bevel 10 % of length, 19 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Brooks Ghost Max 4: toe rocker 38 % of lengthOn Cloudsurfer Max: heel 37 mm, forefoot 31 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 37 % of length, radius 45 % of length; heel bevel 7 % of length (height not measured), ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).On Cloudsurfer Max: toe rocker 37 % of length
  • Brooks Ghost Max 439/33 mm · toe rocker 38 % · heel bevel 10 %
  • On Cloudsurfer Max37/31 mm · toe rocker 37 % · heel bevel 7 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offAbout the same37.7 vs 37.1 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelBrooks Ghost Max 439 vs 37 mm heel stack
More under the forefootBrooks Ghost Max 433 vs 31 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same6 vs 6 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootBrooks Ghost Max 464 vs 54 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelOn Cloudsurfer Max74 vs 90 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same117.6 vs 115.5 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricBrooks Ghost Max 4
Max cushion · Road
On Cloudsurfer Max
Max cushion · Road
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmStated6 mmStated
Heel stack39 mmStated37 mmStated
Forefoot stack33 mmStated31 mmStated
Weight289 gStated292 gStated
Toe rocker38 %est.37 %est.
Rocker radius53 %est.45 %est.
Rocker rise angle26 degest.28 degest.
Rocker angle at toe58 degest.58 degest.
Toe tip over ground43 mm*est.45 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset72.9 %est.74.7 %est.
Toe spring (relative)19.6 %est.20 %est.
Heel bevel length9.6 %est.7.1 %est.
Heel bevel height19 mm*est.—
Midsole width (forefoot)117.6 mmMeasured115.5 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)96.2 mmMeasured95 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width93.4 mmMeasured96.1 mmMeasured
Toebox width71.3 mmMeasured71.4 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness64Derived54Derived
Midsole firmness74Derived90Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamDNA Loft v3Helion (EVA-based) with CloudTec Phase
List price$165$180

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for Brooks Ghost Max 4, 6 mm for On Cloudsurfer Max.
  • Brooks Ghost Max 4's heel stack is 39 mm, 2 mm thicker than On Cloudsurfer Max's 37 mm.
  • Brooks Ghost Max 4's forefoot stack is 33 mm, 2 mm thicker than On Cloudsurfer Max's 31 mm.
  • Weight is about the same: 289 g for Brooks Ghost Max 4, 292 g for On Cloudsurfer Max.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 38 % of length for Brooks Ghost Max 4, 37 % of length for On Cloudsurfer Max.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Brooks Ghost Max 4

On Cloudsurfer Max

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Brooks Ghost Max 4 details · On Cloudsurfer Max details · Add more shoes