Brooks Ghost 18 review: A reliable legend that's getting left behind

As a general rule, whenever a brand goes big on the changes made to the upper of a new running shoe, you can be pretty sure it’s going to be very similar to the previous model.

The Brooks Ghost 18’s key updates are an enhanced upper with a new tongue and air mesh fabric, and it does indeed feel a lot like the Ghost 17 on the run.

It’s a shoe that prides itself on reliability and durability, so sticking to the familiar feel of past models isn’t a bad thing, but for me, the ride feels a little outdated compared to livelier, lighter daily trainers like the Asics Novablast 6, and if you are a committed Ghost fan, the Ghost 17 offers better value in sales.

Brooks Ghost 18 review: Price and availability

The Brooks Ghost 18 launched in June 2026 and costs $150 in the U.S. and £135 in the U.K., the same price as its predecessor, though the Ghost 17 is now widely available for $109 in sales.

It’s a good value shoe, but that price puts it up against some of the best running shoes on the market, including the Novablast 6, Puma Deviate Pure Nitro and Saucony Endorphin Azura.

Brooks Ghost 18 review: Design and fit

The Brooks Ghost 18 is currently available in 11 colors and two widths. It fits me well in my normal running shoe size, the same size I’ve used on all the past models of the Ghost I’ve tested.

It’s a relatively low-stack and high-drop shoe by modern standards, standing 36mm tall at the heel and 26mm at the forefoot for a 10mm drop. Most cushioned daily trainers now have 40mm of foam at the heel, at least, and a 6-8mm drop.

At 10.7oz in my US men’s size 10, it’s a fairly heavy shoe, too, though that’s partly down to the fact it has a thicker rubber outsole than most shoes, which will help with durability.

Upper

The Ghost 18 has a new two-color air mesh upper with a flat knit tongue that has pillowy chunks of padding.

It’s a comfortable upper designed to improve the fit compared with the Ghost 17, lessening the risk of heel slippage, though I had no trouble with the upper on the Ghost 17 myself.

Midsole

The midsole of the Ghost 18 is made from Brooks’ DNA Loft v3 foam, which is a nitrogen-infused EVA material.

It’s a well-balanced foam that provides comfort without being too soft or unstable, but it’s not very responsive at faster paces, and the DNA Tuned foam used in Brooks’ Glycerin shoes is an upgrade for comfort and energy return.

Outsole

The Ghost 18 has an extensive outsole with a thick layer of RoadTack rubber covering most of the bottom of the shoe.

It’s a great outsole for grip and durability, though the thickness of the rubber does dull the feel of the midsole foam and adds weight to the shoe.

Brooks Ghost 18 review: Running performance

I tested the Ghost 18 with a variety of training runs, including a 90-minute run covering around 12.5 miles, plus some shorter easy, steady runs.

Having run in the past few models of the Ghost, the Ghost 18 delivered a very familiar feeling on the run. It’s cushioned at the heel, with a snappy ride owing to the fact it’s not very rockered, and it’s naturally stable thanks to the firm-ish midsole foam.

I found the shoe performed best at easy paces, though it’s not as bouncy and cushioned as some daily trainers like the Nike Vomero Plus.

When I pushed to faster paces, the Ghost 18 felt heavy and a bit clunky. It doesn’t really support fast running all that well, and I’d pair it with a faster shoe in a rotation. It’s not as versatile as many livelier daily trainers available around the same price.

The Ghost 18 is a very good walking shoe, though, and comfortable to have on your feet all day, which isn’t always the case with softer, more rockered running shoes, and it works well for gym workouts, too.

Should you buy the Brooks Ghost 18?

The Ghost 18 delivers the usual positive attributes you expect from the line, being comfortable, durable and stable, but doesn’t really improve on the Ghost 17, which I would get instead if you are keen to stick with the Ghost line.

If you’re willing to shop around, then I’d get the Asics Novablast 6 ahead of the Ghost 18. It’s more cushioned, lighter and I found it more fun to run in at any pace.

For those who don’t want a max-cushioned shoe, the Puma Deviate Pure Nitro and Hoka Mach 7 are versatile, lightweight options that I love using for a variety of runs.

It seems that Brooks does know that a lighter, more exciting Ghost is needed to compete with these shoes, and the new Brooks Ghost Amp could be that shoe, but I’d have liked to see the updated foam introduced on the Amp brought to the mainline Ghost 18, which is not a standout option in 2026.