Pro barber Daniel Ross stands 12 hours a day and owns 11 pairs of the same Brooks Ghost Max shoes to stay comfortable

Barber and shop owner Daniel Ross has spent more than 20 years behind the chair, often pulling 12-hour day on his feet, so he knows when a shoe can keep up. His go-to? The Brooks Ghost Max, a cushioned sneakers line he has 11 pairs of. 

“I’m on my feet [all day],” says Daniel Ross, the founder and owner of Bello by Daniel elizabeth@ifthesewallscouldtalk.comRoss and Bello By Marco. And after more than 20 years behind the barber chair, often working 12-hour days, all that standing adds up fast. Luckily, Ross found a cushioned sneaker line that can keep up, and he even owns 11 pairs. But what he gets out of his work makes those long day worth it.

“You walk into a barbershop or a salon, you’re not feeling great, and instantly after the haircut is done, you feel better,” Ross says. “There aren’t many careers and trades that you can do that so quickly.”

“I have 11 pairs now because those are the only shoes that I can wear as a barber where they’re stylish, they look good, they’re comfortable, and I can stand all day,” Ross says. 

Those 11 pairs span the Ghost Max 1, 2, and 3, with 3 being the latest version Ross owns. Ross’s decision to go all in on the Ghost Max started with a recommendation from one of his clients, professional runner Brian Reynolds. 

“When I had him in the chair, I was telling him, ‘Hey, I stand on my feet twelve hours a day, five days a week,” he says. “What is the best shoe for me?’”

“He goes, ‘I think the Ghost Max are the best shoe for you.’”

And he isn’t the only one at the shop wearing them. “They’re the only shoes that I would recommend,” Ross says. “I have my entire staff wearing them.”

Why the Ghost Max works for 12-hour days

“I like something that has [a] good cushion,” Ross says. “It’s that perfect balance of good cushion but also looking sleek and professional.”

The cushioning may be what won Ross over for work, but the Ghost Max rarely stays at the barbershop. 

“I work out a lot, so I wear them to the gym,” he says. “They’re great for the gym. They’re amazing for running.”

While the shoe is “a little bulky” due to all that cushioning, it’s worth the comfort for Ross. “You’re looking at an inch to an inch and a half of foam on the bottom, but they’re very breathable,” he says. 

Ross also appreciates how they feel on his own flat feet. “For someone who has flat feet, they have a nice arch in them,” he says. 

How he styles them on and off the clock

“Anywhere that I can wear them, I try to,” he says. “Obviously, I don’t really wear them when I’m dressing up because they’re more of an athletic shoe.” With the mesh top and thick bottom, they’re not making it to any black tie events, but they’re still incredibly versatile.

At work, Ross dresses professionally, usually pairing the sneakers with a collared shirt and chinos or Lululemon pants. 

“They look good in the gym,” he says. “They look good in the workforce. They pair great with dress pants, jeans, shorts, and really any athletic attire.”

That versatility comes from the design as Ross points out that the “brand does have more low-profiles” compared to others around the ankles that he feels “looks good with pretty much anything.”

The range of colorways is another selling point for Ross. “They come in various colors for men and women,” he says. “I have blues, I have some neutrals, and I have some fun, cool ones.”

When a limited-edition colorway drops, you better believe Ross is scooping them up. “They have a lot of amazing limited-edition pairs,” he says. “Any limited edition, I get it every time because those colorways are the coolest ones.”

The one pair he’d choose for life

11 pairs in, Ross doesn’t hesitate when asked which shoe he’d choose for life. 

“If I could have just one pair of shoes for the rest of my life, I’d probably just wear them,” he says. “They’re great for standing, they’re stylish, they come in a ton of colors, and they’re constantly evolving.”