Brooks Ghost 18 vs Ghost Amp

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Ghost 18
Brooks Ghost Amp

Tested using Methodology v0.13

Updated Aug 07, 2026 06:51 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.14

Updated Jul 23, 2026 01:49 PM

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Amazon
Brooks Ghost 18 Picture

Track

Brooks Ghost Amp Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Brooks Ghost 18

Brooks Ghost Amp

The Brooks Ghost Amp is the more versatile younger sibling of the Brooks Ghost 18, and it's the better shoe for most runners. It's more cushioned, more energetic, and more fun underfoot across everything from easy runs to longer efforts. Though the Ghost 18 is slightly more stable overall, most runners won't notice the difference, and its heavier build and duller midsole mean it can't match the Amp's livelier ride or broader performance range.

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Variants

  • Ghost 18 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))
  • Ghost 18 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Women - US 7))
  • Ghost Amp (Arctic Wolf/Dove/Pink - (Women - US 7))
  • Ghost Amp (Black/Grey/Purple Hebe - (Men - US 9))
Read more

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

5.4
6.6

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

25.8 mm
29.4 mm

Weight  

5.1
6.2

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

4.8
6.9

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

5.1
6.1

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

5.1
6.2

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

283.3 g (9.99 oz)
254.5 g (8.98 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.6 mm
36.1 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

25.8 mm
29.4 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.8 mm
6.7 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
6.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost 18 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Amp 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

92 mm (3.6")
92 mm (3.6")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

77 mm (3.0")
77 mm (3.0")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

115 mm (4.5")
112 mm (4.4")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.51
2.55

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

4.46
3.81

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost 18 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Amp 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

282 mm (11.1")
281 mm (11.1")

Internal Heel Width 
 

68 mm (2.7")
68 mm (2.7")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

95 mm (3.7")
91 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.3
9.5

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

3.5 mm (0.139")
2.2 mm (0.088")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

0.2 mm (0.007")
3.2 mm (0.124")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

6.8
7.5

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-3.8 mm (-0.150")
-3.1 mm (-0.120")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

9.0
8.9

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-1.9 mm (-0.074")
-1.9 mm (-0.076")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.5
6.6

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

17 mm (0.7")
18 mm (0.7")

Heel Apex Position 
 

14.0%
13.8%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

22.5°
24.2°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

6.1
7.3

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

43 mm (1.7")
50 mm (2.0")

Toe Apex Position 
 

69.2%
65.5%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

25.5°
26.6°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Primary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Secondary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

DNA LOFT V3
DNA HYPE

Primary Foam Type 
 

EVA
PEBA + EVA

Secondary Foam Name 
 

N/A
N/A

Secondary Foam Type 
 

N/A
N/A

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

Brooks Ghost Amp Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Flat

Width 
 

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

1.9 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

12.0%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Semi-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

3.0
5.8

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

69.5%
73.0%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

4.8
6.9

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

71.6%
75.9%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.7
8.0

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.36 J
3.92 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.48 J
9.78 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

16.47 J
15.76 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

5.6
6.8

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

3.52 J
4.63 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

5.96 J
7.26 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

8.82 J
10.00 J

Heel Firmness 
 

8.3
7.2

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

47.3 N/mm
38.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

56.9 N/mm
50.7 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

78.6 N/mm
73.5 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.5
8.2

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

77.0 N/mm
54.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

101.8 N/mm
75.8 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

141 N/mm
109 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

5.1
6.1

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

5.71 J
6.77 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

5.54 J
6.58 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

5.48 J
6.45 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

5.42 J
6.34 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

5.9
4.8

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

60 N
40 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

5.7
6.2

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

59.2%
60.9%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

6.1
6.1

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost 18 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Amp Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

6.9 N/mm
9.8 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

264 N
221 N

Brooks Ghost 18

Brooks Ghost Amp

Comments

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