Can I go straight from the Brooks Ghost 16 to the Ghost 18 and skip the Ghost 17?

Yes, but going Ghost 16 to Ghost 18 means taking one change in a single step: the Ghost 17 is where the ride moved. The drop also goes 12 mm to 10 mm across the jump, so give it a week of easy running.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

0.4 oz on in total, 9.8 oz to 10.2 oz in a men's US 9. The Ghost 17 took it to 10.2 oz first.

Is the Ghost 17 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 10.2 oz against 9.8 oz for the Ghost 16 and 10.2 oz for the Ghost 18, on a 36 mm heel and a $150 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Ghost 17 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Did the Ghost get taller between the Ghost 16 and the Ghost 18?

Heel stack went 35.5 mm to 36 mm, by way of 36 mm on the Ghost 17. Drop moved 12 mm to 10 mm, which is the change your calves and Achilles notice.

Where does the Ghost 18 sit in the Ghost lineup now?

It is the current model, two versions on from the Ghost 16 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.

Brooks Ghost 16 vs Ghost 18

Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 2 years separate the Brooks Ghost 16 from the Ghost 18. Net change: 0.4 oz heavier, a drop change from 12 mm to 10 mm, a new midsole, $10 more at list. The Ghost 17 is where the character changed, and that is the update Ghost 16 owners notice first.

Brooks Ghost 16Men's at Amazon Women's
Brooks Ghost 18Men's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Ghost 16 · 2024

Ghost 18 · 2026

The two updates in between

Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.

Step 1Ghost 16 to Ghost 172025Changed character
Ghost 16 vs 17 What replaced the Brooks Ghost 16?
Step 2Ghost 17 to Ghost 182026Faithful successor
Ghost 17 vs 18 What replaced the Brooks Ghost 17?

Ghost 16 vs Ghost 18: every spec, side by side

The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.

Spec	Ghost 16	Ghost 18
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	9.8 oz	10.2 oz
Widths	B, D, 2E, 4E	B, D, 2E, 4E
Upper	Engineered air mesh, more breathable than the 15	Engineered mesh with a plush collar
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	35.5 mm	36 mm
Forefoot stack	23.5 mm	26 mm
Drop	12 mm	10 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	Nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 foam	DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-infused foam
VALUE
List price at launch	$140	$150

Or buy the Ghost 17 instead?

The Ghost 17 is worth a look only if you want the ride it introduced, because that is the update that changed the shoe. Buying it to soften the jump does not work: you would be adapting to the same change either way, just at an older spec.

Buy the Ghost 17

Stocked at Amazon

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

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Brooks Ghost 16 to the Ghost 18 and skip the Ghost 17?: Yes, but going Ghost 16 to Ghost 18 means taking one change in a single step: the Ghost 17 is where the ride moved. The drop also goes 12 mm to 10 mm across the jump, so give it a week of easy running.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 0.4 oz on in total, 9.8 oz to 10.2 oz in a men's US 9. The Ghost 17 took it to 10.2 oz first.
Is the Ghost 17 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 10.2 oz against 9.8 oz for the Ghost 16 and 10.2 oz for the Ghost 18, on a 36 mm heel and a $150 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Ghost 17 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Did the Ghost get taller between the Ghost 16 and the Ghost 18?: Heel stack went 35.5 mm to 36 mm, by way of 36 mm on the Ghost 17. Drop moved 12 mm to 10 mm, which is the change your calves and Achilles notice.
Where does the Ghost 18 sit in the Ghost lineup now?: It is the current model, two versions on from the Ghost 16 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.