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, this one features a reinforced heel counter and raised sidewalls that, combined with the wide platform, create a very stable ride. This shoe has undergone some changes, making it quite different from previous iterations of the Ghost. Most notably, the heel-to-toe drop is now 10 mm, down from 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 shoes to be partners in the run, not accessories.
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 toe-off.
Exceptionally firm forefoot.
Wide, stable platform.
The Brooks Ghost 17 fits true to size overall, delivering an easy, predictable fit that works well for most people right out of the box. The length is especially good, with just the right amount of space. Up front, the forefoot is comfortably accommodating in both width and height, avoiding pressure across the toes for most foot shapes. The only notable caveat is the arch area, which feels a bit more snug, but this won't be a dealbreaker for most runners.
True-to-size length with ideal toe room.
Comfortable toebox suits most foot shapes.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 12, 2026:
We've updated the Popular Comparisons section to include a link to our recently published article on the best Brooks running shoes.
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Updated Feb 16, 2026:
We've updated the Popular Comparisons section to include the recently reviewed New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15.
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Updated Feb 16, 2026:
We updated the review to include text for the full set of new fit tests and the corresponding usage box, which were recently added to our test bench.
- Updated Feb 16, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.10, adding a new set of fit tests to the Design section and an overall fit performance usage. Check out the details in our changelog.
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 sizes 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 era of maximum cushioning. While some classic series have moved closer to the mainstream (like the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15), the stalwarts lag behind current market trends precisely because they're not the product lines where their respective brands introduce their newest innovations. 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, consistent ground feel, and it does so 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 25 is a dedicated stability trainer that more aggressively attempts to correct over-pronation with a medial post, but otherwise, its midsole is similar to that of the Ghost. The Brooks Hyperion 3 is a lighter trainer with a more rockered geometry, making it better suited to 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 from Brooks.
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 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 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 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.
We buy and test 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 so team members can log in miles. This real-world testing is conducted at various paces and conditions, across 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
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