Shoes similar to the Brooks Ghost
Ranked by ride similarity. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
The closest current match to the Brooks Ghost is the Nike Pegasus 42. The Pegasus covers the same daily-trainer role with a firmer ride, and since the Ghost 17 the two lines share a 10 mm drop. It is the obvious cross-shop in the other direction.
- Nike Pegasus 42Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
The Brooks Ghost is a soft but stable everyday cruiser with a 10 mm drop. Everything below is measured against the current Ghost 18 (10.2 oz, 10 mm drop, 36 mm heel). No shoe matches it exactly, so each pick lists what carries over and what does not.
- 10.1 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Pegasus covers the same daily-trainer role with a firmer ride, and since the Ghost 17 the two lines share a 10 mm drop. It is the obvious cross-shop in the other direction.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: the same weight, 1 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $5 less at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40.5 mm heel
- $140 list
The 880 is the like-for-like rival: the other wide-fitting shoe-store workhorse with the same walker and orthotic base. Through 2023 they were near-interchangeable; since the 880 v15 went max-stack and 6 mm, the Ghost is the more traditional of the pair.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: the same weight, 4.5 mm more heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $10 less at list.
- 9.4 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42.5 mm heel
- $150 list
The Wave Rider is the enthusiast's alternative: the same daily-trainer job with a firmer, snappier ride from Mizuno's Wave plate, and a base that stayed loyal through a 12-to-8 mm drop modernization the Ghost never attempted.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 0.8 oz lighter, 6.5 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop.
- 9.7 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Asics answer to the Ghost, and the direct cross-shop at this price. The Gel-Cumulus 28 is half an ounce lighter on an 8 mm drop against the Ghost 18 10 mm, and lists $5 under it. The Ghost is the smoother of the two; the Cumulus carries a firmer forefoot.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 0.5 oz lighter, 2 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $5 less at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Ride is the Ghost cross-shop from the Saucony side: an 8 mm drop instead of 10, a bit lighter and springier since its 2024 foam change, and $5 to $10 cheaper at list for most of its history.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 1.3 oz lighter, 2 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $5 less at list.
- 10.6 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $175 list
The Glycerin is the premium tier above the Ghost: more foam, plusher upper, about $25 more. Ghost runners who want their easy days softer step up here without changing brands.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 0.4 oz heavier, 2 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $25 more at list.
- 9.2 oz
- 9 mm drop
- 32 mm heel
- $160 list
Fleet Feet's Cloudsurfer review reaches straight for the Ghost, and the two line up: neutral dailies at a similar drop, mid-stack rather than maximal. The Cloudsurfer is an ounce lighter and 4 mm lower at the heel, for $10 more and in one width where the Ghost offers four.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 1 oz lighter, 4 mm less heel stack, 1 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
- 9.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 43.5 mm heel
- $165 list
The Nimbus is the step-up option: taller, softer, and more expensive. Ghost runners who want more cushion for long easy days cross-shop it.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 0.3 oz lighter, 7.5 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $15 more at list.
- 10.6 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Adrenaline is the Ghost with GuideRails support bumpers added. Ghost runners who start dealing with knee or hip niggles usually try it first because the fit and foam feel familiar.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 0.4 oz heavier, 1 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $5 less at list.
- 9.2 oz
- 0 mm drop
- 28 mm heel
- $160 list
What Ghost buyers move to when the complaint is toe room rather than cushioning. The Torin is the mainstream road shoe of a brand that shapes every last like a foot, and at 28 mm it is not a minimalist shoe. The 10 mm of drop you give up is the entire adjustment, and it is not a small one; Altra buyers who rush it tend to find their calves first.
Against your Brooks Ghost 18: 1 oz lighter, 8 mm less heel stack, 10 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
Chasing a specific older version?
If it is a particular Ghost you miss, start from that version's page: what replaced it, and where old stock still exists.
Questions runners ask
- What is the most similar shoe to the Brooks Ghost?
- The Nike Pegasus 42. The Pegasus covers the same daily-trainer role with a firmer ride, and since the Ghost 17 the two lines share a 10 mm drop. It is the obvious cross-shop in the other direction.
- Do any of these match the Brooks Ghost's 10 mm drop?
- Yes. The Nike Pegasus 42 and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 match it exactly. The others sit lower, which changes how the landing loads your calves and Achilles.
- Why switch away from the Brooks Ghost at all?
- The usual reasons: a version you loved got discontinued, an update changed the ride, or the fit moved away from your foot. The list above is ranked by how closely each shoe matches the current Ghost 18, with the differences called out honestly.