Brooks Ghost 17   Review

The Brooks Ghost 17 and Brooks Ghost Max 3 share the same DNA, but they serve slightly different purposes within that comfort-focused lineup. The Ghost 17 is the classic daily workhorse, offering a comfortable, consistent ground feel and a stable platform that works well for a mix of running and walking, though it feels a bit on the heavier side. The Ghost Max 3 takes that formula and pushes it toward max cushioning, sitting higher with more protection underfoot and a more pronounced rolling feel. It's even heavier, but it delivers a more cushioned ride, making it the better pure running option overall. The trade-off is that it doesn't feel quite as stable or grounded as the Ghost 17.

The Brooks Ghost 18 follows so closely in the footsteps of the Brooks Ghost 17 that most runners will notice little difference between them. The Ghost 18 gains a bit of cushioning and responsiveness, while the Ghost 17 remains marginally more stable, but both are equally adept as workhorses intended to soak up daily miles. If the Ghost 17 is available at a good price, there's little reason to spend more on the Ghost 18.

The Brooks Revel 8 is a sort of budget version of the Brooks Ghost 17. It has a few millimeters less stack height than the Ghost, and its midsole is made of a foam compound that was used in older versions of the Ghost. As such, the Ghost has much better cushioning than the Revel, but the latter is actually more stable, due to the lower stack height.

The Brooks Ghost 17 and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 share more similarities than differences: they both have a rather firm DNA Loft midsole, and thus similar levels of cushioning and energy return (or lack thereof). Both are built on a broad, stable platform, but the Adrenaline GTS goes further with dedicated support features, including a medial post, to correct overpronation. The Adrenaline also has a more pronounced heel-to-toe drop, so while both shoes are more suited to heel-strikers, the GTS 25 gives you practically no choice but to land on the backfoot. 

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, like a reinforced heel counter and raised sidewalls . 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 Glycerin 23 and Brooks Ghost 17 are two of the Seattle-based brand's most popular daily trainers, and both cater primarily to heel strikers. The Ghost is the firmer shoe, offering less cushioning but better stability. The Glycerin is softer and more plush, but the extra cushioning makes the shoe heavier. Runners who want a more traditional ride, with some ground feel, will likely prefer the Ghost 17. For runners who prioritize comfort, the Glycerin 23 is the better choice.

The Brooks Ghost 17 and Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 are two of the brand's flagship daily trainers, with the former more suited to runners with a neutral stride, and the latter designed to provide stability to runners with pronation issues. The Adrenaline does so through raised sidewalls that keep your foot from rolling side to side. It's a bit firmer and less cushy than the Ghost, and it has a more pronounced heel-to-toe drop. The Ghost, while not a dedicated stability shoe, still has a very solid platform that provides good lateral stability, so runners who don't have pronation issues can run in it with confidence.

The Brooks Ghost 17 and the Brooks Hyperion 3 share a similar profile with their stack height, but they have a few key differences as daily trainers. The Ghost 17 is the brand's legacy daily trainer, with a heavier build, a midsole that feels a bit dull, and a ride that tends to bottom out more noticeably during longer miles. It's better suited for a mix of walking and running. The Hyperion 3 is slightly lighter, a bit bouncier, and offers marginally better protection and cushioning despite not being dramatically softer, which generally makes it the stronger choice for most daily mileage. However, the Ghost 17 still holds a small edge in overall stability, making it the safer pick for runners who prioritize a controlled platform.

The ASICS NOVABLAST 5 and Brooks Ghost 17 are both daily trainers, but they have very different ideas of what that means. The ASICS is the livelier, more modern option, with more stack, more bounce, and better cushioning for everything from daily miles to light uptempo efforts. The Brooks is the trusted stalwart: stable, familiar, and built more around consistency than excitement. It's less cushioned and less responsive than the ASICS shoe, but its steadier platform makes sense for runners who want a classic daily trainer that works as well for walking as it does for easy runs.

The Brooks Launch 12 and Brooks Ghost 17 are two popular Brooks trainers that work well for easier running and a mix of running and walking. The Ghost 17 is the more classic daily trainer, continuing a long-standing formula with a very stable ride created by its wide platform, raised sidewalls, and a reinforced heel counter, though all of that also makes it feel heavier. The Launch 12 sits a bit lower and uses an 8 mm drop (instead of the Ghost 17's 10 mm), and its dual-layer midsole gives it a slightly bouncier and more absorbent feel underfoot despite the lower stack. In fit, both feel true to size and accommodating overall, but the Ghost 17 feels narrower through the arch, while the Launch 12 has a shallower toe box.

The Brooks Ghost 17 and HOKA Bondi 9 are both daily trainers, though they have very different philosophies about what that means. The Brooks is the classic, lower-stack daily shoe that provides a comfortable, stable companion with a traditional ground feel to soak up daily mileage. The HOKA, however, is the taller, more plush option, with exceptional cushioning over easy, long, and recovery runs, and is the more protective (though slightly less stable) shoe, providing more bounce and responsiveness in comparison.

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. 

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 Brooks Anthem 7 and Brooks Ghost 17 are both Brooks daily trainers, but they target different runners. The Ghost is the classic daily trainer, offering runners more protection underfoot, with a heel-striker-centric geometry that makes it a reliable companion for those landing rearfoot first. The Anthem 7 is the entry-level shoe, using an old blueprint that is significantly less cushioned. Both shoes can handle daily training, though the Ghost is the more purpose-built shoe. That said, it costs more at retail too, but for those who don't want a low-stack underfoot, the performance upgrades are absolutely worth it.

The Brooks Ghost 17 and Topo Phantom 4 are two daily workhorses that prioritise a smooth, predictable ride, but they cater to different runners. With its 10mm heel drop and dense midsole, the Brooks is a classic choice for heel strikers and is also a better choice for heavier runners, as its cushioning holds up better as force increases. The Topo has a much less pronounced heel drop, and its cushioning performs better at lower forces, so it will be better suited to lighter runners and mid- to forefoot strikers.

The Brooks Ghost 17 and Altra Experience Flow 2 are still two very different shoes from two very different brands, but are an interesting study in contrasts and convergence. The Experience Flow is Altra's first shoe to abandon the brand's zero-drop design, introducing a modest 4mm heel-to-toe offset that makes it slightly more accommodating for heel strikers. At the other end of the spectrum, Brooks' daily trainers have long had one of the highest heel drops of any brand. However, as other legacy brands reduce heel drops, Brooks has slowly followed suit, decreasing the heel drop from 12 mm in the Brooks Ghost 16 to 10 mm in the Ghost 17. The Ghost is still a much more comfortable shoe for heel strikers, and the Experience Flow 2 is better for forefoot strikers, but neither is at the extreme end.