Brooks Ghost 18 vs HOKA Clifton 11

Ride profile: medium cushion , neutral stability .

• Lost round one to the Skechers Aero Burst 2-1; reception was mixed, with one panelist reporting early ankle pain and another ultimately voting for the Ghost after break-in for its durability and structure.

  Ride:One panelist experienced significant lateral ankle pain during the first several runs that resolved after break-in; another found it firm but durable and a solid firmer/higher-drop option.

  Fit:Sizing described as running smaller than before; one panelist needed to go up a half size.

  In their words: "significant amount of lateral ankle pain"

  — Doctors of Running , source

• Kofuzi describes the Ghost 18 as denser and heel-strike-oriented with a thicker outsole than the Ghost Max 4, and suggests loyal Ghost fans stick with it to save money.

  — Kofuzi , source

• Nick slightly prefers the Ghost 18 over the Pegasus 42 for its marginally more poppy and lively foam, though the two are very similar in feel, price, and use case.

  Ride:Snappy ride with cushy heel protection and slightly more pop off the toes than the Nike; DNA Loft v3 feels a bit lighter underfoot than ReactX; not a rockered shoe

  Fit:True to size with good room around toes and hold around heel and midfoot; upper is slightly more breathable than the Pegasus but both run warm

  In their words: "a bit more pop off the toes" · "feels a bit lighter under foot" · "snappy ride"

  — The Run Testers , 31 mi tested , source

• The Ghost 18 is a safe, reliable daily trainer with a comfortable, balanced ride and excellent versatility across runner types, though its traditional lower-stack feel and slightly heavier weight may not appeal to those seeking more modern max-stack cushioning.

  Ride:Foam is balanced — not too soft, not too firm. Smooth transition through the stride with minimal rocker. Firmer out of the box, softening after 20-30km. Lower stack gives good ground contact feel and predictable stability.

  Fit:True to size with four width options available; tongue and heel nicely padded with good lockdown

  In their words: "bang in the middle there" · "very predictable and dependable ride" · "no fear of turning an ankle"

  — Ben Parkes , source

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• A comfortable, reliable, smooth-riding daily trainer that's fine on its own merits but clearly the less lively and less modern-feeling of the two Cliftons this year.

  Ride:A smooth, firmer compression-molded EVA ride that leans on the rocker to drive transitions; comfortable and protective but absorbs energy rather than returning it, feeling less lively than the Clifton Pro, especially when legs are fresh.

  Fit:True to size with a snugger fit across the top of the toe box than the Clifton Pro; good midfoot lockdown and heel hold. Testers who sized up half a size found the extra length worked well.

  In their words: "cushions the body really nicely" · "sucks that energy in" · "not too soft and sinky"

  — The Run Testers , 31 mi tested , source

• FORDY RUNS says the Clifton 11 is basically the same shoe as v10 with marginal upper and comfort tweaks — stable and versatile, but not worth the premium over the much cheaper v10, and the Brooks Ghost Max 4 edges it out on running capability.

  Ride:Same 42/34mm stack and 8mm drop as v10 on the same compression-molded EVA; feels marginally lighter and more premium thanks to a new mesh upper and sock liner, but ride performance is essentially unchanged from v10.

  Fit:True to size in UK 10; wide-fitting like previous Clifton versions, with good stability.

  In their words: "left me a little bit on the fence" · "old and a bit boring" · "no reason to go out and buy"

  — FORDY RUNS , source

• An unchanged, dependable, Goldilocks-balanced daily trainer that works well for daily runs, walking, and all-day standing, but the reviewer finds it's grown a bit boring and slightly overpriced at $155 for a shoe nearly identical to the Clifton 10.

  Ride:Soft but not too soft, stable but not too stiff — an inoffensive, dependable ride identical to the Clifton 10.

  Fit:Not a generous fit — stick with your usual Hoka size, don't expect extra room.

  In their words: "a running industry Goldilocks" · "the shoe has gotten a bit boring" · "very inoffensive"

  — Kofuzi , source

• Won all five rounds of the Doctors of Running flagship-trainer bracket to take the title; the panel's consensus pick as the most improved, smoothest-transitioning Clifton in years despite durability concerns.

  Ride:Smooth transition praised repeatedly, attributed partly to a redesigned rear-foot frame/crash pad; foam has some spring but is tuned for easy days, not workouts.

  Fit:Upper and sock liner upgrades were called out specifically; foot doesn't slide around despite a slightly more spacious fit than the 10.

  In their words: "the Clifton's back, baby" · "such a strong transition"

  — Doctors of Running , 100 mi tested , source