The Brooks Ghost 17 is a classic daily trainer that continues the Ghost franchise's ethos of solid, no-nonsense shoes that are built to endure the grind of everyday miles. Although not marketed as a stability shoe, the Ghost 17 has features like a reinforced heel counter and raised sidewalls that combine with the shoe's wide platform to create a very stable ride. The Ghost 17 has undergone some changes that make it a rather different shoe than previous iterations of the Ghost. Most notably, the heel-to-toe drop is now 10 mm, after years of being 12 mm on older versions. Although this is still a shoe designed for heel strikers, the reduction from 12 to 10 means that the Ghost has ceded its long-held position as the daily trainer with the highest heel drop on the market. The upper has also been redesigned, and longtime Ghost fans may find that the heel now feels less secure than in the past, leading to slipping and rubbing.
Our Verdict
The Brooks Ghost 17 isn't a marathon racing shoe. The minimal energy return and mediocre cushioning mean this shoe will be neither a quick nor comfortable companion for an effort as taxing as a marathon.
Very limited bounce from midsole.
The Brooks Ghost 17 is a middling option for running a shorter race. The exceptionally firm forefoot allows for confident toe-offs, but the midsole doesn't give much back in terms of energy return, and the overall design of the shoe isn't focused on aggressive speed.
Exceptionally firm forefoot.
Very limited bounce from midsole.
Heavier than previous Ghost shoes.
The Brooks Ghost 17 has abysmal energy return. The lack of bounce may appeal to runners who want to feel they're the sole drivers of the run, but the unresponsive ride will feel dull and uninspiring to runners who expect their shoe to be a partner in the run and not an accessory.
Very limited bounce from midsole.
The Brooks Ghost 17 has a very uneven cushioning profile, with decent impact absorption in the heel, but poor cushioning in the forefoot. This shoe is more tailored for heel strikers, but it's not particularly soft or absorbent anywhere in the midsole.
Cushioning is overall unimpressive.
The Brooks Ghost 17 has very good stability from top to bottom. At its base, the Ghost 17 has a wide platform that facilitates steady landings. The midsole is solid, and the remarkably firm forefoot keeps the shoe stable during the toe-off phase.
Exceptionally firm forefoot.
Wide, stable platform.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Oct 28, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.9, which adds a Forefoot Long Run Cushioning test to our performance section. Read more in our changelog.
-
Updated Oct 20, 2025:
We've adjusted this review's writing to align with the new test bench, including updates to all usage scores, and test boxes for Cushioning, Firmness, and Energy Return.
- Updated Oct 20, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.8.2, which updates our methodology for the impact force range used in our compression tests to improve their accuracy. This also affects all usage and performance usage boxes using those compression tests as score components.
- Updated Sep 25, 2025: Review published.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought and tested the Brooks Ghost 17 in men's US size 9, as noted on the label for our pair. The pair we purchased is the Oyster Mushroom/Orange/Ebony colorway. The shoe is also available in numerous other colorways, depending on your region. The Ghost 17 is available in a variety of widths, ranging from 2A (Women's Narrow) to 1B (Women's Medium; Men's Narrow), as well as 1D (Women's Wide; Men's Medium), 2E (Men's Wide; Women's Extra Wide), and 4E (Men's Extra Wide).
The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect other size and gender variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Brooks Ghost 17 is a classic daily trainer that is as much a running shoe as a walking shoe. It sits at the table of legacy trainers alongside the Saucony Ride 18, the ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 27, and the Nike Pegasus 41: classic running shoes with roots that predate the current, maximum cushioning era. This class of shoes lags behind the current market precisely because they're not the product lines where their respective brands introduce their newest innovations, and these series have endured so long because they have resisted (and outlasted) so many fads and trends. The Ghost 17 is intended to be a daily workhorse that provides a comfortable and consistent ground feel, and it does that well.
Within Brooks' ecosystem, the Ghost line of shoes is one of several flagship daily trainer series. The Brooks Glycerin 22 is a more cushioned daily trainer that feels softer and bouncier than the Ghost, but weighs slightly more. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 is a dedicated stability trainer that more aggressively tries to correct over-pronation with a medial post. The Brooks Hyperion 3 is a lighter trainer that has a more rockered geometry and is more suitable for uptempo training. With the exception of the Adrenaline GTS, each of these series also has a "Max" version that is bigger and more cushioned. For its part, the Brooks Ghost Max 2 is a slightly taller, more evenly cushioned trainer that is heavier but more protective over long distances.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes, as well as the best long-distance running shoes and the best shoes for running a marathon.
The Brooks Ghost 17 and Brooks Glycerin 22 are two of the Seattle-based brand's most popular daily trainers. They serve very similar purposes, but the Glycerin 22 is more cushioned and bouncier, while the Ghost 17 is firmer and has more dedicated stability features. Neither shoe is built for speed, but the Glycerin 22's midsole has more bounce, while the Ghost 17 gives a more grounded feel.
The HOKA Clifton 10 and the Brooks Ghost 17 are two everyday trainers that garner broad appeal, each taking a different route. The Clifton 10 is built on HOKA's trademark plush cushioning and high-stack platform. This does come at the expense of stability, and the Ghost 17 is a safer bet for any runners who feel unsteady in their stride. The heel in the Clifton 10 runs much narrower, so the fit of the Ghost 17 will likely be more comfortable for runners with wider feet.
The Brooks Ghost 17 and the Saucony Ride 18 are each the latest iteration in a series of classic, everyday trainers that are undergoing a significant evolution process. In this respect, the Ride 18 seems to be further along in that evolutionary process, as Saucony has found ways to shave weight from the shoe while still maintaining a reasonable amount of cushioning. The Ghost 17, meanwhile, has put on weight and is not only less bouncy than its Saucony rival, but even less bouncy than its forebear, the Brooks Ghost 16.
The Nike Pegasus 41 and the Brooks Ghost 17 are two classic daily trainers built for runners who just expect their shoes to get them through the run without getting in the way. Neither is very heavily cushioned (although the Ghost 17 absorbs impact better) nor particularly springy(here the Pegasus 41 has an edge in energy return). The two shoes are nearly identical in terms of weight and stack height, but Nike's sizing runs shorter and narrower.
We've recently started buying and testing running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes for team members to be able to log in miles. This real-world testing is done at various paces and conditions, and with different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The Brooks Ghost 17 has gained some weight since the Brooks Ghost 16, coming in 10 g heavier than its predecessor.
Despite having a similar midsole to its predecessor, the Brooks Ghost 17 returns less energy than the Brooks Ghost 16. This downgrade is most noticeable in the heel.
The forefoot of the Brooks Ghost 17 is similarly lagging behind the Brooks Ghost 16 in energy return.
The Brooks Ghost 17 is designed for heel strikers, and the cushioning in the back of the shoe is significantly better at absorbing impact than the front.
The forefoot of the Brooks Ghost 17 is unforgiving and won't provide much protection for forefoot strikers.
The Brooks Ghost 17's heel is decently firm at lower force levels, but is less stiff under heavier impact than other classic daily trainers, like the Nike Pegasus 41.
The Brooks Ghost 17's forefoot is incredibly firm, which helps create a stable platform for toe-offs, but it can feel harsh over long distances.