Brooks Ghost 17 Review: Consistency is Key

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

The thing I love most about Brooks Running is their dedication to consistency. Few running shoes have earned a reputation like the Brooks Ghost. Year after year, it’s updated to improve comfort and performance while still maintaining its familiar, reliable ride that keeps runners coming back. But with the latest update, does the Ghost 17 (available May 1) still live up to its legacy? Let’s dive in.

At the crux of the Brooks Ghost franchise is DNA Loft v3 foam–a compound that’s injected with nitrogen, which then turns from a liquid to a gas. The Ghost 17 delivers two extra millimeters of stack height (the difference in height between your feet and the ground) in the heel and four extra millimeters in the forefoot, which does two things: adds some extra cushion to your stride and brings the heel-to-toe offset (the difference in height between your heel and forefoot) down from 12 millimeters to 10.

Current industry trends are seeing stack heights get taller and taller while heel-to-toe drops get lower, so I’m not surprised to see this change in the Ghost 17. It’s minor enough to avoid altering the overall feel of the model, save for slightly smoother heel-to-toe transitions and added comfort underfoot.

“One thing I loved about the ride of the Ghost 17 is that it felt consistent from the first few steps out the door until I made my way home,” says Heather, who also tested the Ghost 16 last year. “I knew what I was going to get with every step and there’s definitely something to be said for that kind of consistency. Plus, the decreased heel-to-toe drop made all the difference in the world! The 12-millimeter drop of the Ghost 16 made me feel like I was running in high heels.”

The Ghost 17 is a very neutral shoe. It doesn’t have any remarkable or outstanding features, which is why it works so well for a wide variety of runners. I typically prefer bouncy shoes with a high stack height, so the Ghost has never been a favorite of mine. I wore these on a 4-mile easy run and, true to Ghost form, they felt fine. I wasn’t really thinking about my feet except for in the beginning when I wished I had some additional softness. The good thing, though, is that they’re firm enough to pick up the pace if the mood strikes. But they aren’t going to give you any performance benefit, as they don’t have a lot of responsiveness.

“When I got these shoes in the mail the real feel in Chicago was -5 degrees, so I took these for a run on the treadmill at the gym,” Max says. “I was expecting a softer underfoot feeling, but they were right in the middle between ‘soft’ and ‘firm’. The energy return was pretty basic too, but the firmness does provide a bit of pep when upping the pace, which I did for a mile.”

The outsole of the Ghost 17 offers plenty of durability, as it has fewer areas of exposed midsole (which is done to save weight) than other comparable shoes. Plus, flex grooves in the forefoot ensure smooth transitions during toe-offs.

Max, who has narrow, low-volume feet (feet that don’t take up a lot of room within the shoe), says the upper fit him true-to-size in both length and width. Heather, who has high-volume feet (feet that do take up a lot of room within the shoe), notes she would have loved a bit more width in the forefoot and depth in the midfoot.

The Ghost 17 is available in narrow, medium, wide and extra wide sizing, so if you enjoy the underfoot feel you’re likely going to find your perfect fit.

Not sure about the width or volume of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

The main updates to the Brooks Ghost 17 are the additional stack height, decreased heel-to-toe drop and small upper tweaks. What does that mean for your run?

Heather mentioned the decreased heel-to-toe drop made a big difference, and I have to agree. The slightly lower drop makes the transitions from heel to toe feel much smoother and gentler. And I’ll never turn down some extra cushioning!

Brooks excels at updating their core models with just enough upgrades to keep them modern and fresh without changing the feel of the shoe. I think Ghost loyalists will be happy with the Ghost 17.

We took a look at some similar models to see how the Ghost 17 stacks up. Here’s what we found.

The Brooks Ghost 17, ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 and On Cloudsurfer 2 all offer what I like to call a “Goldilocks” ride. They’re not too soft, nor too firm. They’re not too cushioned nor too minimal. They’re all right in that sweet spot in the middle of the spectrum.

Brooks uses their nitrogen-injected DNA Loft v3 foam to deliver that balanced sensation, while ASICS uses their signature FF BLAST PLUS™ foam. On uses CloudTec Phase cushioning–a series of oblong-shaped pods embedded in the midsole that act as dominos–when one collapses, it falls into the next, creating a subtle rocker sensation.

Both the Ghost and Cumulus are simple, dependable staples within their brands’ lineup that deliver a consistent experience from year to year. While the Cloudsurfer is a relatively new model, I think it will remain consistent for years to come.

If you’ve read this far, you know that the Ghost 17 isn’t the most exciting shoe on the market.

“It’s hard for me, as a shoe reviewer, to get surprised or excited when a Brooks Ghost lands at my door,” says Brandon. “All I can do is sigh that nothing has changed. Brooks has been innovating with their race day and Max line shoes [Brooks Glycerin Max, Ghost Max and Hyperion Max], but they’ve kept the Ghost the same. But the Ghost 17 isn’t meant to catch you by surprise, it’s supposed to welcome you with open arms.”

That’s exactly why I’d recommend this shoe to the following runners:

• Beginner runners. They probably don’t yet know what they like and dislike in a running shoe. Starting with a neutral, basic shoe like the Ghost allows them to start with an industry standard. From there, they can branch out and explore their own tastes and preferences.

• Runners who know exactly what they want in their shoe–no frills, no bounce, just ol’ reliable. This runner does not enjoy the high-stack, max-cushion trainers of the modern era and yearns for the basic staples that feel like home.

If you’re looking for a more dynamic, groundbreaking shoe to log your miles in, I recommend checking out the Brooks Glycerin Max or Hyperion Max.