Brooks Ghost 17 GTX review

We found in the lab that the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX is a good choice for:

• Runners who love the Ghost 17 and want a similar shoe for rainy days or winter training in consistently wet weather.
• Heel strikers looking for a stable and durable Gore-Tex road running shoe for daily mileage.
• Anyone who wants a dependable trainer that also works well for casual wear, city walks, or commuting.

We think the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX may feel too expensive for some runners. If that's your case, consider the Nike Winflo 11 GTX, which offers a similar winter-ready design with Gore-Tex but at a considerably lower price.

We also found in the lab that the DNA Loft v3 midsole delivers a somewhat dull-feeling ride with modest energy return. From our perspective, runners seeking a lively-and-fun experience will feel underwhelmed. In that case, we believe the Adidas Adizero EVO SL ATR could be your next shoe.

With 131 SA in the heel and 98 SA in the forefoot, we believe the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX provides solid cushioning for daily runs and regular use, although it may feel slightly limited for demanding long runs. However, this type of shoe is not usually designed for performance-focused sessions or intense workouts anyway.

Energy return is not the main feature of this shoe, so we recommend keeping expectations fairly low. With 51.3% in the heel and 55.9% in the forefoot, the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX clearly falls below our lab average. It works fine for daily runs, but pushing the pace does not feel very good.

We really think that this shoe should offer a better foam given its price—even if performance is not a priority for the Ghost series. It's time for DNA Loft v4.

Running shoes keep getting taller, and this model is a good example. It features 36.0 mm of stack height in the heel, which sits around the average today but would have been considered truly maximalist just a few years ago.

If you're used to modern daily trainers, or even have a max-stack shoe like the Brooks Glycerin Max in your rotation, this height will not feel especially tall.

We recorded 25.0 mm of stack height in the forefoot, which sits close to the average. We think it suits this type of versatile shoe well, as for many people it will serve more as a casual daily option than a dedicated running tool.

As expected from the Brooks Ghost family, we found a high heel-to-toe drop. The brand states 10.0 mm and we measured 11.0 mm, a 1.0 mm difference that is basically impossible to notice underfoot.

Given this measurement, those who prefer a low-drop shoe may struggle with this geometry.

The DNA Loft v3 foam in the Ghost 17 GTX delivers a softness level that does not stand out in any direction compared to other shoes. It is not firm as a brick, but it is also far from plush.

In our view, this is likely a sensible choice for Brooks’ best-selling shoe, as it maintains a feel similar to previous models while adding a slightly softer touch underfoot to better match modern expectations.

Speaking of modern standards, we found that Brooks took a conservative approach here, using a regular forefoot rocker without much curvature. For a shoe that does not have a max-stack build and will likely be used for much more than running by many future owners, this choice works well.

The upper of the Ghost 17 GTX differs from the regular version, so we crafted a new gel mold to take our usual three measurements and evaluate the fit.

With 97.6 mm in the first measurement, it is clear to us that this winterized version offers a bit more room inside, something we also noticed during our test runs.

We took a second measurement in the toebox and recorded 74.4 mm. This is again a higher reading than the regular version, offering a bit more room for toe splay and added comfort.

Where the upper remains similar to the regular edition is in terms of toebox height.

We measured 24.3 mm, which is not especially roomy, but we think it should not be a problem for most runners. It is 0.5 mm less in this GTX version, likely due to the thickness of the Gore-Tex membrane.

Some Gore-Tex variants do not change the outsole, but Brooks redesigned it for the Ghost 17 GTX to improve performance in wet conditions, which is common for waterproof running shoes. And indeed, it increases from 0.55 in the regular version to a stronger 0.67 in our test over wet concrete. That’s a welcome upgrade.

As we already mentioned, Brooks changed the outsole to better adapt to wet environments. The Ghost 17 GTX features substantially more rubber coverage, with new patterns that improve water drainage and help prevent aquaplaning.

The changes in the outsole and the thicker upper of the Ghost 17 GTX clearly affect its flexibility. In our 30-degree bend test, we found that the shoe lost 52% of its flexibility, now reaching 16.6N and delivering a stiffer ride.

Weight also crept up, as happens with nearly every Gore-Tex running shoe. However, in our measurements we found an increase of just 7% over the regular version, so the change is not dramatic.

The issue is that the Ghost 17 is already a heavy daily trainer. In this version it climbs to 10.9 oz or 309g, which again stands out as one area we wish had been better.

If you're a RunRepeat regular, you probably already know that the marketing claims from Gore-Tex about combining breathability and waterproof protection do not really hold up. At least not by what most runners would consider true breathability.

Here in the lab, we have not tested a single Gore-Tex running shoe that offers even low ventilation. In every case—like the Ghost 17 GTX—airflow was almost zero, which earns a 1/5 in our scale.

Under the microscope, the upper may look like it has visible openings. However, this happens because Brooks reused a regular mesh layer for the exterior. Beneath that outer layer sits the Gore-Tex membrane, which blocks airflow almost completely despite the mesh appearance.

When we flipped the upper to inspect the inside, the white Gore-Tex membrane became clearly visible. Water protection is excellent, but airflow is basically nonexistent.

Good stability remains one of the key characteristics of the Ghost. During our testing, the shoe felt predictable regardless of footstrike pattern, offering a dependable platform throughout our runs. 

In this GTX version, the Gore-Tex upper adds extra structure and stiffness, which slightly increases the sense of support compared to the regular model.

As we noted earlier, the Ghost 17 GTX is slightly less flexible than its regular sibling. As a result, we awarded it a 4/5 in our torsional rigidity test.

The heel counter is extremely stiff, and we clearly gave it a 5/5 score here, so keep this in mind if you do not like a stone-like heel feel. It has plenty of padding to offset it, but it is noticeable that it does not flex at all.

The Ghost 17 GTX features the same midsole design as the regular version, so there are no major changes here. With 116.7 mm of width, it offers a solid footprint that provides good stability without making the shoe feel bulky or uncomfortable, and it also works well for walking.

The midsole width registered 95.0 mm on our digital caliper. It is another key reason why the Ghost 17 GTX delivers the stable feel we mentioned earlier, as those extra millimeters add more support for heel strikers.

We were satisfied after recording a 3/5 in our toebox durability test. While some Gore-Tex shoes improve durability compared to the regular version, here Brooks used the same outer material and placed the membrane inside, so getting the same score made sense.

In our second durability test, the thick heel padding held up very well and received a 4/5 score from us. Again, same result as the Ghost 17 and it reassures us that premature wear in this area is unlikely to become a problem for any runner.

The RoadTack rubber performed admirably in our outsole durability test and left us very pleased, as we measured only 0.5 mm of rubber worn away from the shoe. It outperforms the regular Ghost 17 and also surpasses most other running shoes.

Brooks played it safe with a thick layer of rubber that measured 3.6 mm on our vernier caliper. That may even be a bit excessive given the shoe’s already high weight and excellent durability. However, we also recognize that for a winter-oriented shoe, adding extra protection from the ground makes sense.

The insole in the Ghost 17 GTX is slightly thinner than the one we found in the regular version, possibly to compensate for the thicker upper and maintain space inside the shoe.

The insole is removable, so you can take it out without any issue and slide in a third-party option.

The DNA Loft v3 foam is made from EVA, so unfortunately we were not expecting outstanding performance in cold temperatures. After testing it in the lab, we recorded a 24% change in softness, which sits around the average.

This was a bit of a letdown, as we believe a shoe designed for bad weather and winter runs should include strong, 360-degree reflective elements. However, that is not the case here.

We found small modifications in the tongue of the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX, keeping the same lace loop in the top half but now adding a trail-inspired elastic band to hold the laces in place during runs.

The rest of the tongue stays unchanged, offering a very plush step-in feel with 8.8 mm of padding, and during our testing we found it especially comfortable for daily use.

The tongue comes partially gusseted, not fully. Since this shoe is designed to block water, we would have preferred a full gusset here, similar to what most trail shoes offer.

Some brands add a finger-loop tab when releasing a variant to create more differentiation, but Brooks kept the Ghost 17 GTX with the same heel design, which does not include a pull tab.

Brooks decided to add a $20 premium to the price of the Ghost 17 for the GTX version, and it feels a bit steep. In our view, a $10 increase would be the sweet spot, as otherwise the MSRP starts getting uncomfortably close to $200.