Running Shoe Reviews
Nike Vomero Plus
Brooks Ghost 18 Review
May 7, 2026
Snapshot
The Brooks Ghost 18 brought the classic look and the well-balanced feel of a core daily trainer to our rotation. With a revised upper that emphasizes blissful cushioning, we found ourselves grinding happily through days and days worth of familiar, confident mileage. Though we'll give a few words of caution for friends with flat or wide feet.
- Nice, balanced cushioning (not too soft, not too firm)
- Works well for easy runs, walking, or everyday wear
- Comfortable, unrestrictive lace lockdown
- A hot spot developed underfoot for a more flat-footed reviewer
- Feels a bit basic compared to the current daily running shoe landscape
- Heel collar may feel overcushioned
What's New
- Updated triple-jacquard mesh upper
- New, plusher tongue
- Revisited sockliner for easier slip-ons
Best Use
Daily TrainersDaily Trainers
Surface
Roads & PavementRoads & Pavement
Stability
Neutral
Stable
All Men's Road Shoes
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Daily TrainersDaily Trainers
As the broad base of the running shoe pyramid, daily trainers are the definition of a go-to running shoe. They prioritize dependable comfort, support, durability, and routine versatility. They're a staple in every runner's closet. If you're newer to running shoes, you can confidently start your journey here.
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Performance TrainersPerformance Trainers
Performance trainers (or "super trainers") blend elements of daily trainers and super shoes, often giving you the benefits of advanced foams and plates while being adapted for daily training. They make fast runs faster and long runs easier. Their high versatility also makes them great choices as accessible racing shoes.
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Race Super ShoesRace Super Shoes
The pinnacle of the pyramid, super shoes are the fastest running shoes you can buy. They're designed to race your absolute best and are the apex of running-shoe technology and innovation. Often built with carbon-fiber plates and cutting-edge superfoams for the highest energy return, they're made for ultimate racing speed.
Men's Running Shoes by Surface
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Roads & PavementRoads & Pavement
Road running shoes feature smooth outsoles that are designed for running on paved surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and bike paths.
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Smooth Trails & FireroadsSmooth Trails & Fireroads
Designed to handle most trail runs, these shoes prioritize comfort and a smooth ride. These shoes are great for anything from smooth singletrack, park trails, and fireroads making them ideal for those who run from their doorstep on streets before hitting the trail.
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Rocky & Technical TrailsRocky & Technical Trails
These shoes are best used for hard, rugged trails such as shale, granite or sandstone where grip on smooth surfaces and underfoot protection are important.
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Soft & Muddy TrailsSoft & Muddy Trails
Designed for use in muddy, soggy conditions, these shoes feature very aggressive outsoles that dig deep into soft ground for exceptional traction.
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Snowy & Icy TrailsSnowy & Icy Trails
These shoes feature technical outsoles designed to grip snowy and icy trails making them ideal for winter trail running.
Cushioning Level
Cushioning level, or stack height, refers to how much shoe is between your foot and the ground. For this category, we reference the amount of cushioning below the forefoot as the heel height will be equal to or greater than the forefoot height.
Learn more about stack heights and how we measure them.-
Minimal
14-18mm. The shoe has a thin midsole that allows for a natural running experience. Racing shoes and minimalist shoes are common here. These shoes offer a feeling of being connected to the road or trail.
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Low
19-23mm. The shoe has a slightly cushioned feel and may feature added cushioning technologies. Performance training shoes and some trail shoes are common here. These offer protection during footstrike but prioritize a lightweight, grounded experience.
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Medium
24-28mm. These shoes have a stack height that fall near the middle of the spectrum.The shoes in this category are verstaile and great for all types of runs and distances.
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High
29-34mm. The shoe has a thick midsole and ample cushioning. These shoes are highly protective and absorb more impact than the body.
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Maximal
35mm plus. The shoe has an extremely thick midsole and extra cushioning. The focus is on protection and soft foam underfoot with hardly any ground feel.
Stability Level
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Neutral Running Shoes
Neutral shoes support the foot through a normal range of arch collapse and generally do not have built-in technology to correct movement.
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Stability Running Shoes
Stability shoes are a great option for those who overpronate or need added support. These shoes help to limit the inward rolling motion of the ankle while running or walking and assist in guiding the foot straight through the gait cycle.
Shoe Specs
- Weight10.0 oz | 283 g Men's
9.2 oz | 261 g Women's - Heel Stack36 mm
- Forefoot Stack26 mm
- Heel Toe Offset10 mm
- SizingTrue to Size
The Brooks Ghost 18 is for you if...
- You're looking for a classic daily trainer
- You value reliability and dependability over fancy bells and whistles
- You want a shoe that will feel consistent every day on every run
What is the Brooks Ghost 18 made for?
Since its inception, the Ghost line has been old reliable for Brooks.
We've seen Brooks use other models to experiment with different cushioning materials, more radical geometries, and atypical upper constructions. The consistency of the Ghost gives the rest of Brooks's lineup the ability to attempt these experiments.
While we have seen Brooks gradually turning dials on the Ghost over the years, the core experience remains intact. It's still that daily trainer you never have to worry about. It's the staple in your closet that you can slip on every day without a second thought.
The Brooks Ghost 18 continues this tradition, with refinements to the upper and the fit, but an intentional dedication to what's been working with the model, overall, for decades.
Our Breakdown
Performance
The Brooks Ghost 18 is meant to be a "do anything" shoe, and it hits that mark well. We found it to be an easy recommendation for beginner runners, looking for something they can trust through their first season of mileage, workouts, and recovery runs. But we'd also recommend this shoe to veterans with a shoe rotation built out, who are seeking a familiar option to serve as their "ground floor." Regardless of experience levels, the Ghost is a time-proven stable for a reason, and the Ghost 18 keeps that good thing going.
The DNA Loft midsole foam feels well-balanced. It was soft enough for long daily mileage, but firm enough that we could pick up the pace when we needed to. It has a medium stack of cushion with a solid base that's ready to eat up countless miles. The Ghost 18 will keep you stable through hills, sharp turns, U-Turns, and anything else you may encounter.
Overall, there may be more cushioned shoes out there. There may be faster shoes out there. But while those other shoes might excel in certain areas, they usually fall short in others. We recommend the Ghost 18 because it's a consistent, full package that takes everything in stride.
"If you are a beginner/intermediate runner or walker and want one shoe to do it all, this is a great shoe."
Comfort
The upper of the Brooks Ghost 18 is slightly cushioned, breathable, and feels familiar on foot. It felt speedy and streamlined enough for quick runs, and just plush enough to support hour-long efforts. While it doesn't skimp out on cushioning, the Ghost 18 let us feel more grounded than other Daily Trainers, which tend to swell towards Max Cushioned territory. As is the overall trend with this shoe, it gets that balance just right.
"The cushioning feels like a good balance between soft and firm... comfortable enough for everyday use without feeling too plush or too stiff."
The biggest updates to this model come in the upper's composition and Brooks's approach to the shoe's tongue. We were happy to find that the upper material is more breathable without sacrificing softness. The stretchy portion of the tongue serves its purpose without feeling too distracting (although we'd love a heel tab to help the new tongue with slip-ons).
It's worth noting that the shoe may not agree with more flat-footed runners. For Breahna, the arch area created a noticeable hotspot, which detracted from her overall enjoyment of the shoe.
Fit
We found the Brooks Ghost 18 to fit true to size in length and width. Initially, the heel collar felt snug for a couple of our testers, but we were unanimously happy with how the shoe settled in as we ran. We were able to secure good lockdowns, and the upper did a consistent job of wrapping our entire foot effectively.
For Kaitlyn, the shoe ran a bit too narrow for her higher-volume foot. She began to feel discomfort around her pinky toes near the end of her longer efforts, so it's worth noting that the toe box's taper might not be a perfect fit for everybody. But for standard, or narrow-footed runners, we don't anticipate many issues.
Comparison
Brooks Ghost 18 vs Saucony Ride 19
"The Ghost 18 feels a bit more standard in the best way possible. If you want a little more bounce or performance, grab the Ride. If you want a reliable, do-it-all shoe, go for the Ghost." -Ava
"Compared to the Ride 19, the Ghost 18 feels noticeably less plush underfoot. The Ride 19 feels softer with a more noticeable rocker, and I think it feels smoother and a bit more efficient for runs, thanks to the added energy return." -Breahna
Spec Comparison
| Model | Brooks Ghost 18 | Saucony Ride 19 |
| Weight | Men's: 10.0 oz | 283 g Women's 9.2 oz | 260 g | Men's: 9.0 oz | 255 g Women's 7.7 oz | 218 oz |
| Heel Stack | 36 mm | 38 mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 26 mm | 30 mm |
| Heel Toe Offset | 10 mm | 8 mm |
| Price | $149.95 | $144.95 |
| Best For | Durability and Balance | Bounce and Cushion |
| Shoe Type | Standard Daily Trainer | Standard Daily Trainer |
Individual Thoughts
Ava
I loved the Ghost 17 and I love the Ghost 18. This is a classic “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” situation. They got a lot right in the version 17 so there are just a few tweaks in the 18, but they are improvements. The biggest improvements for me are the breathability of the upper and comfort in the tongue.
If you want one shoe to do-it-all and want a really reliable standard daily trainer, this is always the shoe I will direct you to. It’s classic in the best way possible. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 10 is that the laces and tongue very minorly irritated the top of my arch and there are shoes in the category that have a bit more responsive foam. Otherwise, this is a great shoe to lean on, especially if you want a medium stack height.
| Ava 's Breakdown | |
| Performance | 9 |
| Comfort | 9 |
| Fit | 9 |
| Overall | 9 |
Breahna
Overall, the Brooks Ghost 18 is a solid, reliable shoe, but it just didn’t stand out to me. It does what it’s supposed to do as a daily trainer and works well for both running and walking, but it’s not something I found myself excited to reach for.
The ride is balanced and stable, which I liked, but the arch hotspot was a downside for me, especially with flat feet. It’s a good option if you want something simple and dependable, but there are other shoes I’d personally choose over this one.
| Breahna's Breakdown | |
| Performance | 7.5 |
| Comfort | 7.5 |
| Fit | 7 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Kaitlyn
The Brooks Ghost 18 is a reliable daily trainer that continues to deliver consistent performance without flashy technology, making it a dependable option for regular training. For high-volume feet, the shoe accommodates well in terms of volume, though the toebox feels slightly narrow, which may cause fit issues for slightly wider feet.
The DNA Loft foam strikes a good balance between soft and firm, and the shoe feels stable across varied terrain, including hills and turns. Lockdown and lace security were excellent with no instep discomfort, though the heel collar felt slightly tight at first before breaking in.
On longer runs, the shoe held up comfortably for the most part, but a consistent pressure point on both pinky toes emerged around the 45-minute to one-hour mark, regardless of sock choice, which is worth noting for those with wider forefeet.
| Kaitlyn's Breakdown | |
| Performance | 10 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Fit | 8 |
| Overall | 8 |
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