Brooks Ghost vs Nike Pegasus
Comparing the current Ghost 18 and Pegasus 42. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
These two land within 0.1 oz and 1 mm of each other on paper, so the spec sheet will not decide it. Fit and foam feel will. Both sit in the same role (daily trainer). The Pegasus 42 lists $5 lower.
- Brooks Ghost 18Men's at AmazonWomen's
- Nike Pegasus 42Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Jul 28, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Ghost 18 | Pegasus 42 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 10.2 oz | 10.1 oz |
| Widths | B, D, 2E, 4E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Engineered mesh with a plush collar | Redesigned engineered mesh on a more anatomical last with a roomier toebox |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 36 mm | 37 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 26 mm | 27 mm |
| Drop | 10 mm | 10 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-infused foam | ReactX foam with a full-length curved Air Zoom unit |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $150 | $145 |
Which line changes its ride more often?
Both lines rework the ride about as often: the Ghost has done it once in 6 versions, most recently with the Ghost 17 in 2025, and the Pegasus has done it once in 6 versions, most recently with the Pegasus 41 in 2024. Neither is the safer long-term rebuy on this record.
Buy the Ghost 18
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 28, 2026.
Buy the Pegasus 42
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 28, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Brooks Ghost lineage and the Nike Pegasus lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Brooks Ghost or the Nike Pegasus lighter?
- Neither, meaningfully. The Ghost 18 and the Pegasus 42 both weigh about 10.2 oz in a men's US 9.
- Can I switch from the Brooks Ghost to the Nike Pegasus?
- The drop matches at 10 mm, which is the spec that usually forces an adjustment, so most runners move across without one. Check the width and toebox instead.
- Which is more cushioned, the Brooks Ghost or the Nike Pegasus?
- They are close: 36 mm of heel stack on the Ghost 18 against 37 mm on the Pegasus 42. Foam matters more than the millimeters here (DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-infused foam against ReactX foam with a full-length curved Air Zoom unit).
- Which comes in more widths?
- The Ghost 18. The Ghost 18 runs in B, D, 2E, 4E for men's sizes; the Pegasus 42 runs in D, 2E.
- Which costs more, the Brooks Ghost or the Nike Pegasus?
- The Ghost 18, by $5 at list ($150 against $145). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated July 28, 2026.