Road Daily Trainer

Brooks Ghost 18

A good, well-executed update with a lovely new upper and a better ride than past Ghosts, but Fordy questions its place in the post-Evo-SL world and personally prefers the Ghost Max; he feels the basic daily trainer is being left behind and should be priced as a budget option. — FORDY RUNS

from $149.95 at Zappos See all prices →

Physical blueprint

Where this shoe sits

Weight 283 g

Heel stack 36.0 mm

Drop 10.0 mm

Cushioning Medium

Best for

Daily TrainingRecovery & Easy

Suits Heel, Midfoot strikers

Pronation Neutral

Surface Road

Specifications

Weight (M9)

283g (10.0 oz)

Stack (Heel)

36.0 mm

Stack (Forefoot)

26.0 mm

Drop

10.0 mm

Midsole

DNA LOFT v3 (nitrogen-infused EVA)

Outsole

RoadTack rubber

Upper

Triple jacquard engineered air mesh

Lacing

Traditional

Fit Profile

Length

True To Size

Forefoot Width

Standard

Midfoot Width

Average

Heel Width

Average

Lockdown

Good

Toe Box

Average

Sizing

True To Size

Ride Characteristics

Cushioning

Medium

Stability

Neutral

Durability

Outsole

Excellent

Expert reviews · 5 reviewers · grouped per channel

Ben Parkes Youtube ↗

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.

Best for: Easy, steady, and tempo runs for runners of all abilities who want a stable, dependable, comfortable daily shoe; particularly good for wider-footed runners given the four width options

source

+1 earlier review from Ben Parkes

Best for: A reliable, versatile, stable daily trainer for wide-footed runners.

source

Doctors of Running Youtube →

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.

source

+1 earlier review from Doctors of Running

Compared to the Ghost Amp, the reviewer found the inline Ghost 18 notably stiffer and so stable it initially irritated his foot, taking about 20 miles to break in, and says he now prefers the newer Amp.

source

FORDY RUNS Youtube ↗

Best for: A neutral, versatile daily trainer for the masses

source

Kofuzi Youtube →

Best for: Heel strikers and runners who want a single shoe that covers running plus everyday standing/walking comfort.

source

+2 earlier reviews from Kofuzi

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.

source

A predictable, reliable but barely-changed update that is great for walkers and heel strikers; Kofuzi feels he is not the intended audience and finds it about one tariff too expensive at $150, recommending the discounted Ghost 17 instead.

Best for: Walkers, heel strikers, and anyone on their feet all day

source

The Run Testers Youtube ↗

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.

Best for: Grinding out daily training miles for neutral runners wanting comfortable, stable, durable shoe

31 miles tested · source

+2 earlier reviews from The Run Testers

A solid, dependable daily trainer that feels nearly identical to the Ghost 17 and does the job at easy paces, but lacks excitement and versatility compared to modern competition at the same price. The reviewer would recommend hunting down the Ghost 17 on sale or choosing the ASICS Novablast 6 instead.

Best for: Runners who want a dependable, durable, stable easy-day trainer and are loyal to the Ghost line

31 miles tested · source

On a first ~20K run Nick found the Ghost 18 a very familiar, solid, durable but unexciting daily trainer that feels much like the Ghost 17 — you're probably better off buying the cheaper older model, and it doesn't stand out against lighter, livelier, more cushioned rivals at the price.

Best for: A durable, reliable easy-paced daily trainer workhorse for fans of the classic Ghost ride

12 miles tested · source

Frequently asked questions

How does the Brooks Ghost 18 fit?

Reviewers note: Fits true to size with fine lacing and lockdown and a good heel; new triple jacquard mesh upper, improved sock liner and tongue

Per FORDY RUNS.

How much does the Brooks Ghost 18 weigh and what is its drop?

The Brooks Ghost 18 weighs about 283g (men's 9), has a 36.0mm heel stack and a 10.0mm heel-toe drop.

What shoes is the Brooks Ghost 18 compared to?

Reviewers compare the Brooks Ghost 18 to Brooks Ghost Max, Adidas Adizero Evo SL, Nike Pegasus 42, Brooks Ghost Amp.

Per FORDY RUNS, Doctors of Running, Kofuzi, The Run Testers, Ben Parkes.

How many experts have reviewed the Brooks Ghost 18?

Next Pair aggregates 11 expert reviews of the Brooks Ghost 18, including FORDY RUNS, Doctors of Running, Kofuzi.

Per FORDY RUNS, Doctors of Running, Kofuzi.

Where it sits among similar shoes

Compared to other road daily trainer in the same lane.

Weight · lower = lighter Men's size 9

Brooks Ghost 18

283g

Adidas Supernova Solution 2

266g

Saucony Omni 23 ST 23

286g

Nike Vomero 18

298g

Heel stack · higher = more cushioning mm

Brooks Ghost 18

36.0mm

Adidas Supernova Solution 2

36.0mm

Saucony Omni 23 ST 23

40.0mm

Nike Vomero 18

44.0mm

Drop · higher = more heel-leaning mm

Brooks Ghost 18

10.0mm

Adidas Supernova Solution 2

10.0mm

Saucony Omni 23 ST 23

8.0mm

Nike Vomero 18

10.0mm

Continue reading

Foam guide

How Supercritical foams foam works

Read the explainer

Similar shoes

Adidas Supernova Solution 2

266g · 10.0mm drop

Saucony Omni 23 ST 23

286g · 8.0mm drop

Nike Vomero 18

298g · 10.0mm drop

PUMA ForeverRun Nitro 2

292g · 10.0mm drop

Methodology. Specs come from manufacturer data and authoritative third-party catalogs. Reviewer verdicts are summarized from named, linked sources — never copied verbatim. We weight clinical and lab-tested sources more heavily than community commentary, but the specific weights stay internal. Never sponsored, never paid placement.

Last updated 2026-08-13