Is the Brooks Ghost or the Mizuno Wave Rider lighter?

The Wave Rider 30, by 0.8 oz in a men's US 9 (9.4 oz against 10.2 oz).

Can I switch from the Brooks Ghost to the Mizuno Wave Rider?

Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 2 mm (10 mm on the Ghost 18, 8 mm on the Wave Rider 30), which changes where your foot loads at landing. Give it two weeks of easy running before a hard session.

Which is more cushioned, the Brooks Ghost or the Mizuno Wave Rider?

The Wave Rider 30, on stack height: 42.5 mm under the heel against 36 mm. Stack is not the whole story, though; the foams differ too.

Which comes in more widths?

The Ghost 18. The Ghost 18 runs in B, D, 2E, 4E for men's sizes; the Wave Rider 30 runs in D, 2E.

Which costs more, the Brooks Ghost or the Mizuno Wave Rider?

Neither. Both launched at $150 list. Street prices move independently, and whichever is further into its release cycle usually discounts first.

Brooks Ghost vs Mizuno Wave Rider

Comparing the current Ghost 18 and Wave Rider 30. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Drop is the real difference: 8 mm on the Wave Rider 30 against 10 mm on the Ghost 18. Coming off the Ghost 18, the Wave Rider 30 loads your calves and Achilles harder for the first couple of weeks. Both sit in the same role (daily trainer). Both list at $150.

Brooks Ghost 18Men's at Amazon Women's
Mizuno Wave Rider 30Stock unverifiedMen's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Ghost 18 · 2026

Wave Rider 30 · 2026

Every spec, side by side

Spec	Ghost 18	Wave Rider 30
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	10.2 oz	9.4 oz
Widths	B, D, 2E, 4E	D, 2E
Upper	Engineered mesh with a plush collar	Engineered knit with an updated heel counter
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	36 mm	42.5 mm
Forefoot stack	26 mm	34.5 mm
Drop	10 mm	8 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-infused foam	Dual-layer nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT, softer over firmer
Plate	None	Full-length plant-based PEBAX RNEW Wave plate
VALUE
List price at launch	$150	$150

Which line changes its ride more often?

The Ghost has done it once in 6 versions, most recently with the Ghost 17 in 2025, and the Wave Rider has done it 3 times in 7 versions, most recently with the Wave Rider 30 in 2026. If you want a shoe you can rebuy without reading a review first, the Ghost has the steadier record.

Buy the Ghost 18

Stocked at Amazon

Men's: Check price at Amazon Women's: Check price at Amazon

Availability last checked Jul 28, 2026.

Buy the Wave Rider 30

Stock unverified

Men's: See what's available Women's: See what's available

Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026.

Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Brooks Ghost lineage and the Mizuno Wave Rider lineage track every version and what changed in each update.

Questions runners ask

Is the Brooks Ghost or the Mizuno Wave Rider lighter?: The Wave Rider 30, by 0.8 oz in a men's US 9 (9.4 oz against 10.2 oz).
Can I switch from the Brooks Ghost to the Mizuno Wave Rider?: Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 2 mm (10 mm on the Ghost 18, 8 mm on the Wave Rider 30), which changes where your foot loads at landing. Give it two weeks of easy running before a hard session.
Which is more cushioned, the Brooks Ghost or the Mizuno Wave Rider?: The Wave Rider 30, on stack height: 42.5 mm under the heel against 36 mm. Stack is not the whole story, though; the foams differ too.
Which comes in more widths?: The Ghost 18. The Ghost 18 runs in B, D, 2E, 4E for men's sizes; the Wave Rider 30 runs in D, 2E.
Which costs more, the Brooks Ghost or the Mizuno Wave Rider?: Neither. Both launched at $150 list. Street prices move independently, and whichever is further into its release cycle usually discounts first.

Updated August 7, 2026.