Brooks Ghost vs New Balance 880
Comparing the current Ghost 18 and 880 v15. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Drop is the real difference: 6 mm on the 880 v15 against 10 mm on the Ghost 18. Coming off the Ghost 18, the 880 v15 loads your calves and Achilles harder for the first couple of weeks. Both sit in the same role (daily trainer). The 880 v15 lists $10 lower.
- Brooks Ghost 18Men's at AmazonWomen's
- New Balance 880 v15Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Ghost 18 | 880 v15 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 10.2 oz | 10.1 oz |
| Widths | B, D, 2E, 4E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Engineered mesh with a plush collar | Single-layer engineered mesh with a gusseted padded tongue |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 36 mm | 40.5 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 26 mm | 34.5 mm |
| Drop | 10 mm | 6 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-infused foam | Full-length Fresh Foam X on a rockered max-stack platform |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $150 | $140 |
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 880 has done it 2 times in 6 versions, most recently with the 880 v15 in 2025. 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 AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 28, 2026.
Buy the 880 v15
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Brooks Ghost lineage and the New Balance 880 lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Brooks Ghost or the New Balance 880 lighter?
- Neither, meaningfully. The Ghost 18 and the 880 v15 both weigh about 10.2 oz in a men's US 9.
- Can I switch from the Brooks Ghost to the New Balance 880?
- Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 4 mm (10 mm on the Ghost 18, 6 mm on the 880 v15), 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 New Balance 880?
- The 880 v15, on stack height: 40.5 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 880 v15 runs in D, 2E.
- Which costs more, the Brooks Ghost or the New Balance 880?
- The Ghost 18, by $10 at list ($150 against $140). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated August 7, 2026.