Brooks Ghost 17 Introduction
The Ghost was named after a Brooks shoe developer. As the story goes, in the course of the early 2000’s when Brooks was creating what would develop into their flagship impartial coach, one in all their wear-test coordinators was nicknamed “The Ghost” as a result of he labored odd hours and infrequently appeared throughout common workplace time.
The workforce jokingly began referring to the unnamed prototype as “The Ghost’s shoe,” and finally, the title caught.
The Ghost has by no means been about flash. It’s at all times been a shoe that delivers a experience so constant that it fades into the background. In the event you ask ChatGPT what the Toyota Corolla of trainers is, it should let you know that it’s the Brooks Ghost due to its reliability, sturdiness and luxury.
Whereas the common Ghost doesn’t have as a lot cushioning or as distinguished a forefoot rocker because the Ghost Max, it nonetheless stays Brooks’ high promoting shoe (together with the Adrenaline GTS). Each the Ghost 17 and the Ghost Max 2 are actually priced $150. Brooks is clearly making an attempt to make the Ghost Max mannequin extra engaging by pricing them the identical.
I assumed final 12 months’s Ghost 16 was the very best model to this point. The brand new DNA Loft v3 midsole breathed new life into the shoe. It felt extra energetic and extra dynamic than any earlier Ghost. The one factor I didn’t like about it was its tight toe field; I needed to go up a half dimension.
The Ghost 17 has 2 mm extra stack within the forefoot than its predecessor. This offers it a ten mm drop for the primary time within the collection history- it’s at all times been 12 mm. Its worth has risen by $10, making it the identical because the HOKA Clifton 10, one other immensely widespread mid-range every day coach.
Brooks Ghost 17 First Impressions
After I tried the Ghost 17 on within the retailer, my common dimension felt too slim within the toe field. A half dimension larger felt extra spacious and much more comfortable- it wasn’t too lengthy.
My first run was a simple 8K. The very first thing I observed was how a lot softer and extra cushioned the forefoot felt. It was positively the softest Ghost model I’ve tried. The additional 2 mm within the forefoot made toe offs much more nice.
The higher felt luxurious and actually snug, a signature characteristic of the Ghost. I used to be glad I went up a half dimension as a result of the match was good. I used to be impressed with all of the updates after that first run.
Brooks Ghost 17 Higher
The Ghost 17 has a brand new double jacquard air mesh but it nonetheless feels as luxurious and as premium because the earlier Ghost uppers. The tongue and collar are each generously padded and have a {smooth} interior lining.
It has a brand new elf heel tab that flares away out of your foot, much like the one on the upcoming Endorphin Pace 5. This design appears to be making a comeback. Foot lockdown is improbable and there’s no reflectivity.
The toe field may be very slim and it feels cramped just like the earlier model. Brooks ought to do what HOKA did with the Clifton 10 and widen the final. I like to recommend getting the extensive model or going up a half dimension, particularly when you have extensive or excessive quantity ft.
Brooks Ghost 17 Sole Unit
The Ghost is the working shoe that completely exemplifies the Brooks model: it has the luxurious higher, the agency (however cushioned) midsole and the inherently steady experience. In the event you’ve by no means tried Brooks, the Ghost is the primary shoe you must attempt.
The Ghost 17 has an EVA midsole however in contrast to different widespread every day trainers such because the Pegasus and Hoka Clifton (the two hottest trainers on Strava), its experience doesn’t really feel flat and outdated. That is due to the nitrogen that’s injected into the Ghost’s DNA Loft v3 midsole.
The nitrogen bubbles contained in the midsole end in a noticeable pop throughout toe offs. Additionally they make the experience softer as a result of the froth compresses simpler when loaded. Whereas the power return of the Ghost 17 is first rate, it’s nonetheless far beneath new-generation trainers, just like the Lightstrike Professional midsole of the Adidas EVO SL or the FF Blast Max midsole of the ASICS Novablast 5.
The Ghost 17 is finest for straightforward and restoration runs. It has a extremely steady experience which feels supportive after I’m doing sluggish runs, 6 minutes per km (9:40 per mile) or slower. I discover it a extremely snug, smooth-riding coach to do my junk miles in. At 10.1 oz (286 g) it’s far too heavy to do uptempo runs so it doesn’t have many arrows in its quiver.
The defining characteristic of the Ghost was its large 12 mm drop, one of many highest available on the market. This characteristic focused newbie runners who’re often heel strikers.
Greater drops cut back pressure on the Achilles and calves. The brand new 10 mm drop makes it extra appropriate for midfoot and forefoot strikers as a result of there’s an additional 2 mm of froth within the forefoot. This alteration makes the Ghost really feel extra trendy and extra balanced.
The Ghost 17 has sturdy, thick RoadTack rubber on its outsole. This rubber is more durable than your common outsole rubber so sturdiness is nice. The draw back is that grip on damp surfaces just isn’t superb.
Brooks Ghost 17 Conclusions
The 17 is certainly the very best Ghost model to this point. The softer cushioning makes the experience extra pleasing and the additional stack peak within the forefoot makes it really feel extra trendy. It doesn’t alienate forefoot and midfoot strikers like its predecessors.
It nonetheless has a extremely supportive, steady experience and it has the luxurious Brooks higher that made it such a well-liked shoe to start with. It doesn’t have any flashy options however you’ll be able to depend on it for hassle-free working.
In comparison with different widespread, mid-range every day trainers, the Ghost 17 has decrease midsole stack heights than trainers just like the Nike Pegasus 41 and the HOKA Clifton 10 but its cushioning feels deeper and extra energetic. It additionally feels extra well-built and extra premium.
If I might change something, I’d make it lighter as a result of it has gained a considerable 0.5 oz (17 g) of weight. This could possibly be accomplished by lowering the thickness of the outsole rubber and including deeper grooves beneath the shoe. A weight of below 9 oz (255 g) for a US 9 would make it much more versatile and extra environment friendly.
$150 is an excessive amount of to pay for the Ghost 17, particularly contemplating it solely has an EVA midsole. The Adidas EVO SL is similar worth nevertheless it has a racing foam midsole.
The Nike Vomero 18 can be $150- it has a a lot thicker midsole with deeper cushioning and it has a layer of racing foam that makes it really feel extra energetic than the Ghost.