Brooks Ghost 17 Introduction

The Ghost was named after a Brooks shoe developer. As the tale goes, during the early 2000’s when Brooks was developing what would become their flagship neutral trainer, one of their wear-test coordinators was nicknamed “The Ghost” because he worked odd hours and rarely appeared during regular office time.

The team jokingly started referring to the unnamed prototype as “The Ghost’s shoe,” and eventually, the name stuck.

The Ghost has never been about flash. It’s always been a shoe that delivers a ride so consistent that it fades into the background. If you ask ChatGPT what the Toyota Corolla of running shoes is, it will tell you that it’s the Brooks Ghost because of its reliability, durability and comfort.

While the regular Ghost doesn’t have as much cushioning or as prominent a forefoot rocker as the Ghost Max, it still remains Brooks’ top selling shoe (along with the Adrenaline GTS). Both the Ghost 17 and the Ghost Max 2 are now priced $150. Brooks is clearly trying to make the Ghost Max model more enticing by pricing them the same.

I thought last year’s Ghost 16 was the best version to date. The new DNA Loft v3 midsole breathed new life into the shoe. It felt more energetic and more dynamic than any previous Ghost. The only thing I didn’t like about it was its tight toe box; I had to go up a half size.

The Ghost 17 has 2 mm more stack in the forefoot than its predecessor. This gives it a 10 mm drop for the first time in the series history- it’s always been 12 mm. Its price has risen by $10, making it the same as the HOKA Clifton 10, another immensely popular mid-range daily trainer.

Brooks Ghost 17 First Impressions

When I tried the Ghost 17 on in the store, my regular size felt too narrow in the toe box. A half size bigger felt more spacious and a lot more comfortable- it wasn’t too long.

My first run was an easy 8K. The first thing I noticed was how much softer and more cushioned the forefoot felt. It was definitely the softest Ghost version I’ve tried. The extra 2 mm in the forefoot made toe offs a lot more pleasant.

The upper felt luxurious and really comfortable, a signature feature of the Ghost. I was glad I went up a half size because the fit was perfect. I was impressed with all the updates after that first run.

Brooks Ghost 17 Upper

The Ghost 17 has a new double jacquard air mesh yet it still feels as luxurious and as premium as the previous Ghost uppers. The tongue and collar are both generously padded and have a smooth inner lining.

It has a new elf heel tab that flares away from your foot, similar to the one on the upcoming Endorphin Speed 5. This design seems to be making a comeback. Foot lockdown is fantastic and there’s no reflectivity.

The toe box is very narrow and it feels cramped like the previous version. Brooks should do what HOKA did with the Clifton 10 and widen the last. I recommend getting the wide version or going up a half size, especially if you have wide or high volume feet.

Brooks Ghost 17 Sole Unit

The Ghost is the running shoe that perfectly exemplifies the Brooks brand: it has the luxurious upper, the firm (but cushioned) midsole and the inherently stable ride. If you’ve never tried Brooks, the Ghost is the first shoe you should try.

The Ghost 17 has an EVA midsole but unlike other popular daily trainers such as the Pegasus and Hoka Clifton (the 2 most popular running shoes on Strava), its ride doesn’t feel flat and outdated. This is because of the nitrogen that’s injected into the Ghost’s DNA Loft v3 midsole.

The nitrogen bubbles inside the midsole result in a noticeable pop during toe offs. They also make the ride softer because the foam compresses easier when loaded. While the energy return of the Ghost 17 is decent, it’s still far below new-generation trainers, like the Lightstrike Pro midsole of the Adidas EVO SL or the FF Blast Max midsole of the ASICS Novablast 5.

The Ghost 17 is best for easy and recovery runs. It has a really stable ride which feels supportive when I’m doing slow runs, 6 minutes per km (9:40 per mile) or slower. I find it a really comfortable, smooth-riding trainer to do my junk miles in. At 10.1 oz (286 g) it’s far too heavy to do uptempo runs so it doesn’t have many arrows in its quiver.

The defining feature of the Ghost used to be its massive 12 mm drop, one of the highest on the market. This feature targeted beginner runners who are usually heel strikers.

Higher drops reduce strain on the Achilles and calves. The new 10 mm drop makes it more suitable for midfoot and forefoot strikers because there’s an extra 2 mm of foam in the forefoot. This change makes the Ghost feel more modern and more balanced.

The Ghost 17 has durable, thick RoadTack rubber on its outsole. This rubber is harder than your average outsole rubber so durability is good. The downside is that grip on damp surfaces is not very good.

Brooks Ghost 17 Conclusions

The 17 is without a doubt the best Ghost version to date. The softer cushioning makes the ride more enjoyable and the extra stack height in the forefoot makes it feel more modern. It doesn’t alienate forefoot and midfoot strikers like its predecessors.

It still has a really supportive, stable ride and it has the luxurious Brooks upper that made it such a popular shoe to begin with. It doesn’t have any flashy features but you can rely on it for hassle-free running.

Compared to other popular, mid-range daily trainers, the Ghost 17 has lower midsole stack heights than trainers like the Nike Pegasus 41 and the HOKA Clifton 10 yet its cushioning feels deeper and more lively. It also feels more well-built and more premium.

If I could change anything, I would make it lighter because it has gained a substantial 0.5 oz (17 g) of weight. This could be done by reducing the thickness of the outsole rubber and adding deeper grooves underneath the shoe. A weight of under 9 oz (255 g) for a US 9 would make it a lot more versatile and more efficient.

$150 is too much to pay for the Ghost 17, especially considering it only has an EVA midsole. The Adidas EVO SL is the same price but it has a racing foam midsole.

The Nike Vomero 18 is also $150- it has a much thicker midsole with deeper cushioning and it has a layer of racing foam that makes it feel more energetic than the Ghost.