Levitate is a new shoe for me; my favorite Brooks shoes are the Ghosts, specifically the 14 and 15 so the firmness of the midsole is different for me. This is not as cushioned as the Ghost line, I find it to be quite firm. I tried these specifically because of the StealthFit; with the last changing on the Ghost 16, they are too wide for my foot (narrow with a high arch) so this knit upper seemed like it might work; and guess what? It does. While the toebox is still a little more voluminous that I would prefer the instep and heel of the shoe feels much better due to the fabric. My guess is that if you have a wider foot this fit is going to be too restrictive. A word about sizing, I wear a size 12 in the Ghosts (14 and 15) and they fit perfectly (the 16 no longer fits me in the standard width) so I ordered a 11.5 in these and they fit pretty well. What do I like? The knit upper and the really cool pattern, and laces combination of the limited edition version. What don't I like? As I mentioned, I find the toebox to be a bit generous, the midsole is not as cushioned as I would like, and they do have a tendency to squeak depending on the socks I wear with them. Overall, these are good shoes, they're not my favorites but they are a solid choice fos someone who wants a firmer shoe and the snug fit of the StealthFit system. Brooks, if you're listening, this StealthFit fabric on a Ghost would be great!
Read More
