Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs HOKA Bondi 9

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Brooks Ghost Max 3
HOKA Bondi 9

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Jan 22, 2026 07:56 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Apr 08, 2026 06:30 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Picture

Track

HOKA Bondi 9 Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Brooks Ghost Max 3

HOKA Bondi 9

The Brooks Ghost Max 3 and HOKA Bondi 9 are two shoes that deliver very different experiences on foot. The HOKA is all about plush cushioning, and its supercritical EVA midsole soaks up even the heaviest of impacts. The HOKA does an okay job of returning the energy you put into it, so you'll get a bit of bounce in your step. The Brooks, on the other hand, is a firmer, less cushy shoe. The stiffer midsole, combined with a slightly lower stack height, makes the Brooks shoe a bit more stable than the HOKA. It also gives the shoe very little bounce. If you're planning to do more running than walking, the HOKA is the better shoe. If you want a walking shoe that you can occasionally run with, the Brooks is a solid choice.

0 

Variants

  • Ghost Max 3 (Apricot/Apricot/Super Pink - (Women - US 7))
  • Ghost Max 3 (Black/Black/Ebony - (Men - US 9))
  • Bondi 9 (Asphalt Grey/Gravel - (Men - US 9))
  • Bondi 9 (Aster Flower/Starlight Glow - (Women - US 7))
Read more

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

5.5
6.8

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
6.8

Heel Energy Return 
 

2.6
6.4

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.3
4.5

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
HOKA Bondi 9 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
HOKA Bondi 9 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

302.7 g (10.68 oz)
297.8 g (10.50 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
HOKA Bondi 9 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

39.5 mm
41.5 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.9 mm
34.5 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.6 mm
7.0 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
5.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
HOKA Bondi 9 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
99 mm (3.9")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
87 mm (3.4")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

114 mm (4.5")
120 mm (4.7")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.37
2.39

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.57
3.48

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Brooks Ghost Max 3 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
HOKA Bondi 9 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

282 mm (11.1")
277 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
64 mm (2.5")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

70 mm (2.8")
94 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

7.6

Forefoot Width Photo  

HOKA Bondi 9 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

-1.1 mm (-0.041")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-8.3 mm (-0.325")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

8.3

Forefoot Height Photo  

HOKA Bondi 9 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-2.2 mm (-0.087")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

8.6

Arch Fit Photo  

HOKA Bondi 9 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-2.5 mm (-0.098")

Length Fit 
 

10

Toe Clearance Photo  

HOKA Bondi 9 Toe Clearance Photo

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
HOKA Bondi 9 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

2.6
6.4

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
HOKA Bondi 9 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

69.0%
74.3%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.3
6.8

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
HOKA Bondi 9 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

68.5%
75.4%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.2
8.8

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
HOKA Bondi 9 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
HOKA Bondi 9 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.06 J
3.81 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

8.99 J
11.03 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.88 J
19.35 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.6
8.9

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
HOKA Bondi 9 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
HOKA Bondi 9 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.54 J
5.77 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.15 J
10.02 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.21 J
14.47 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.6
4.3

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
HOKA Bondi 9 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

55.4 N/mm
45.2 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

107.0 N/mm
88.7 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

226.9 N/mm
192.9 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.7
7.2

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Brooks Ghost Max 3 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
HOKA Bondi 9 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

101.0 N/mm
83.5 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

204.9 N/mm
177.4 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

375.8 N/mm
379.1 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

8.3

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
HOKA Bondi 9 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

9.31 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

9.03 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

8.86 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

8.72 J

Brooks Ghost Max 3

HOKA Bondi 9

Comments

  1. Comparison

Brooks Ghost Max 3 vs HOKA Bondi 9: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Members have direct access to buying advice on our member forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones