Brooks Ghost 17 Review: A Blast from the Past

PROS	CONS
+ Increased cushioning + Decreased drop + Price	– Tight-fitting upper

I haven’t run in the Brooks Ghost in well over a decade. Way back when, the supernaturally named shoe was the first pair of running shoes I fell in love with, in the form of the ancient Ghost 4. Nearly a decade and a half later, the Ghost magically appeared on my feet again. Find out if it was a welcome sight, or a haunting presence, in this Brooks Ghost 17 review.

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Introduction

Perhaps the most prescribed shoe by lazy running store employees for beginner runners, the Brooks Ghost is omnipresent. If you didn’t think apparitions existed before, you sure as hell became a believer when you started seeing the Ghost on the feet of everyone and their mother…and their mother’s mother. Because, apparently, the only prerequisite for donning a pair of the Ghost is having feet.

The shoe has been a cash cow for Brooks over the years, and in 2023, it expanded the product line by increasing the stack dramatically and adding “Max” to the end of the name. The original Ghost Max was a pleasant surprise and the first major innovation to the Ghost in some time. But, with just three editions out, the Ghost Max has a long way to go to catch the O.G. (original ghost).

True to its name, the Ghost 17 leaves no trace as it’s carbon neutral, despite Brooks’ recent eyebrow-raising announcement to increase carbon emissions.

Brooks Ghost 17 Review

STACK HEIGHT	WEIGHT	PRICE
36.5/26.5 mm (10 mm drop)	M9: 10.1 oz/286 g W8: 9 oz/255 g	$150

Midsole

The nitrogen-infused EVA foam, DNA LOFT v3, remains from the Ghost 16. It’s the same midsole foam found in the Ghost Max line and Glycerin 21. The Glycerin 22 upgraded this year to the superior DNA Tuned, another nitrogen-infused foam created with dual-sized cell technology—larger cells in the heel and midfoot for soft landings and smaller cells in the forefoot for responsive toe-offs. DNA Tuned provides a softer feel and better energy return than DNA LOFT v3. But that doesn’t mean LOFT v3 is garbage; it’s a solid foam to provide enough pep in your step.

Brooks added 2 mm of foam to the heel and 4 mm to the forefoot, for a stack height of 36.5 mm/26.5 mm—not far off from being considered “max cushioned.” This increase in stack positions the Ghost 17 further away from its typical moderately cushioned classification. It’s a bit of a surprising move, as the beefier Glycerin 22 is now only 1.5 mm taller in the heel and forefoot, at 38/28 mm. For reference, the true max cushioned Ghost Max 3 has a stack height of 39/33 mm.

I’d imagine it’s only a matter of time before the Ghost duo of shoes upgrade to DNA Tuned.

Ride

Glad to see Brooks finally trimmed the Ghost’s 12 mm heel-to-toe drop to 10 mm. That gargantuan drop didn’t work well with my flawless mechanics and was a non-starter for many non-heel strikers. Brooks’ Adrenaline also has a 12 mm drop but that’s a stability pair, so it doesn’t count as a real running shoe. Outside Brooks, you rarely see 12 mm out in the wild, and with good reason: it’s too dramatic of a height difference. You might as well slip on a pair of high heels and go run. Decreasing the drop makes it more accessible for more runners.

The Ghost 17 has a very efficient, lightweight ride that feels a bit less responsive than the Ghost Max without the Glideroll Rocker. It’s noticeably firmer (and less responsive) than the Glycerin 22, but I wouldn’t consider the Ghost a “firm” shoe. I’m pleasantly surprised at how agile it feels running in this shoe; I feel very nimble and light and there’s great stability with sidewalls on both sides. There’s nothing inherently special about the Ghost 17, it just suits me well as a heel-striker. Doesn’t hurt that I’ve always loved a 10 mm drop.

The pair works best as a daily trainer, as intended. You’ll find it may not be cushioned or soft enough for recovery day and you might opt for a more “fun” shoe for long runs of multiple hours.

Naturally, you feel more of the road in the forefoot with a lower stack than the Ghost Max (39/33 mm), Glycerin (38/28 mm), and Glycerin Max (46/40 mm). That’s fine; contrary to popular belief, not every shoe has to be maximally cushioned. It’s safe to say the max cushion trend has gotten out of control. Hell, even HBO is back to HBO MAX after failing with HBO GO, HBO NOW, and MAX.

Upper

The new air mesh upper is very light and breathable and there’s what Brooks calls a redesigned “kickback” collar in the heel. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, because I’ve never said it before in any shoe review: this shoe runs a tad on the small side. Every size 15 shoe I’ve tried has run true to size for me. My feet usually have plenty of room to move around, but not here. My heel brushes right up against the “kickback” collar and the top of the upper is closer to my feet than usual. It hasn’t caused any chafing issues and is not a deal-breaker by any means.

But if you’re between sizes, you may want to size up with this one. I can’t as a size 15’er because Brooks doesn’t make shoes in a larger size. Subtle humble brag, right?

Outsole

If there’s one thing the Ghost outsole is known for, it’s extreme durability, thanks to a crap ton of rubber. You could drop the same anvil Wile E. Coyote always misses the Road Runner with, and it still wouldn’t do damage to the bottom of this shoe. Now, if there’s another thing the Ghost outsole is known for, it’s a shit-ton of flex grooves. Brooks claims the flex grooves work with the midsole to promote smooth heel-to-toe transition, but I’m skeptical. Flex grooves are the most useless part of the most useless component of a running shoe.

Weight

Despite gaining around 0.3 ounces from the 16^th version, the Ghost actually feels lighter than its 10.1 oz weight for a men’s size 9 (9 oz for women’s size 8). Yet, I’d still like to see it somewhere in the 9.5 oz range, as it’s not a max cushioned shoe. This shoe should serve as a lighter alternative to the other 10+ oz Brooks shoes like the Glycerin/Max and Ghost Max. That would help better differentiate the Ghost in Brooks’ lineup.

Aesthetics

This is one of the better-looking shoes I’ve run in recently, which is not a subjective statement at all. The midsole features a nice accent of color among the many lined grooves. My White/Pink Clay/Gecko colorway pairs a unique mix of colors with a white base. If white shoes aren’t your thing, don’t worry: as is typical for the Ghost, there are plenty of colorways—11 more, to be exact. And if you can’t find one that matches your style, then, hi, it’s you—you’re the problem, it’s you.

Price

It’s hard to argue with $150 for the Ghost, as the max cushioned Ghost Max 3 is just $10 more, at $160. I prefer the Ghost over the Ghost Max; it’s lighter, more responsive, less expensive, and looks more sleek.

Would it be better if priced at $140? Sure, but it’d be even better if it was $130. You see, it starts to become a slippery slope where you’re never satisfied with the price, and you want it cheaper and cheaper. That’s simply not fair to running brands that sell running gear at extremely reasonable and totally fair prices.

Conclusion

Providing a surprisingly efficient and enjoyable ride, the 17^th edition of the Ghost is the “friendliest” version of the popular shoe yet, thanks to increased DNA LOFT v3 foam and decreased heel-to-toe drop. If you haven’t tried the Ghost in a while, there’s never been a better time to get reacquainted.

The Ghost 17 is available on Brooks’ website…or pretty much anywhere.

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Brooks graciously provided this shoe to me for wear testing. I was not compensated for this Brooks Ghost 17 review and Brooks didn’t get an opportunity to see this review before I published.