It’s no secret that we typically love Brooks running shoes here at Runner’s World. Save 31% on Shokz OpenRun Headphones on Amazon Now Shoe Awards Editor, Deals and Trends Tons of Baleaf Gear Is on Sale for Prime Day.
Fortunately for us—and Brooks fans—the brand dropped the latest iteration of one of our favorites on May 1: the Ghost 17. And, unsurprisingly, we’re fans of a shoe that iterates on what our testers have already dubbed the best overall running shoe, the These Labor Day Running Shoe Deals Are Going Fast.
The Ghost line is a staple of modern running shoe comfort. The brand does a nice job of carefully crafting a shoe that’s supportive for long runs and features all-encompassing comfort. Our test editors lauded the Ghost 16 for its versatile approach; the shoe provided adept shock support and surprisingly lightweight maneuverability.
But what we would have liked in the 16 was more cushioning in the forefoot. The 17s, by and large, get just that, with Brooks adding a substantial 3mm of DNA Loft v3 foam.
“Like walking on clouds,” said tester Leslie Billowitch, who runs with a forefoot strike.
Increasing the foam made for a gentler ride, and our testers found the breathable mesh upper kept their feet feeling fresh for miles.
“There was a nice, smooth transition from the landing phase to push-off,” said another of our testers. “This shoe had the utmost comfort.”
The Brooks Ghost 17 is now available to purchase directly on the Brooks Running site for $150. Stay tuned for a comprehensive review of the shoe, as soon as we have a little more time to test what early impressions suggest could be Brooks’s best everyday trainer to date.
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Tim Kohut is the Deals and Trends Editor for Popular Mechanics, Men’s Health, Best Products, and Runner's World. He has extensive product review and gear coverage expertise, particularly in tech, home, auto, and health. Tim was previously the Deputy Commerce Editor of The Drive and a Commerce Editor at BGR. He’s also overseen gear coverage and strategy at Popular Science, Bob Vila, Outdoor Life, and Field and Stream. He has a strong affinity for cats, Batman, and early 90’s Nicolas Cage films, in that order.