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Choose a Brooks Ghost by shape, drop and intended use

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-17.

We research products from makers' specs and health sources; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Regular Ghost and Ghost Max are different shoes

This is a model family buying guide. Our running shoes guide covers the broader choice of road, trail and support categories. Here the question is which current Ghost shape to try after you have narrowed the choice to Brooks.

The current US Ghost collection includes Ghost 18, Ghost Max 4, Ghost Amp, Ghost Trail and GTX versions. Older Ghost 17 and Max 3 offers can still appear in searches. Match the actual generation on the order rather than applying the current model’s specifications to an older pair.

The shortlist below compares regular Ghost 18 and Max 4. Ghost Trail is the separately described lugged option; Amp and GTX have their own design and upper differences. A shared family name does not make every version interchangeable for the same route.

Choose Ghost 18 for the regular road trainer

Brooks identifies men’s Ghost 18 as model 110493 and lists road running, daily runs and walking among its uses. Its product page gives a 10 mm midsole drop and describes lightweight mesh with an updated tongue. These are model features, not a promise about how the shoe will feel on your foot.

Compare it first if you want to stay with the regular Ghost category. Bring your previous pair as a reference for shape and wear, but select the new pair on its own fit. Do not assume a familiar name means the same toe space, upper pressure or heel hold as your older version.

Skip the regular Ghost if its actual upper presses on your foot or you prefer the Max’s rocker when trying both. Choosing a different model is more useful than buying an uncomfortable pair simply because it has the generation number you intended to order.

Choose Max 4 for its rocker and roomier design

The men’s Ghost Max 4 is model 110496. Brooks lists a 6 mm drop, a rocker, a broad base and an accommodating fit with room for orthotics. Its current description distinguishes the extra cushioning from the regular Ghost. Compare those construction choices directly; more foam alone does not establish a better shoe for you.

If you use prescribed orthotics, bring them to a fitting and follow your clinician’s instructions. A maker’s description of extra room cannot establish that every device fits or that the heel remains secure after an insert change. Do not alter prescribed equipment based on this comparison.

The Max is worth trying when the regular upper or interior shape is the limiting factor. Skip it when the rocker movement or the actual fit is unwelcome. This page has no measurements showing that either model is faster, more durable or protective against injury.

Check width separately from length

Brooks’ collection lists narrow, medium, wide and extra wide options for Ghost 18, and medium, wide and extra wide for Max 4. That describes the model range, not stock in every color and size. Read the chosen listing’s width field before assuming a photo or size number identifies the pair.

AAOS recommends trying both shoes in the socks used for the activity, with room for the toes and a firm heel grip. Its athletic shoe guidance describes at least 1/2 inch between the longest toe and the shoe tip. Use a fitting assessment rather than converting that into a universal instruction to buy a half size larger.

Prepare a short fitting checklist: toe length, forefoot pressure, pressure across the top and heel movement. If adding length leaves a loose heel while the forefoot still feels crowded, compare another width or shape. Keep the intended socks and any prescribed insert consistent while comparing pairs.

Match the version and surface before ordering

The full selected model codes are 110493-020 for the checked Ghost 18 and 110496-020 for the checked Max 4. Both are men’s black color variants; the linked searches are model specific so you can choose your own size. They are examples of the documented models, not recommendations to copy the sample size.

Ghost Trail has a different terrain role within the collection, while GTX identifies a different upper configuration. Do not use the regular model’s mesh description or the Max’s drop to describe those variants. If your route requires another version, read its own page and fit it separately.

For a different family comparison, see HOKA Bondi models. Compare the shoe that fits your actual use rather than moving between brands only because both use cushioning language. This guide does not establish equivalence between their foams or sizing.

The women’s Ghost 18 is model 120482. Its maker page also lists a 10 mm drop, but it has its own size and width selections. The checked Coconut/Coffee/Fuchsia example is 120482-107. Choose the intended size range and fit the actual pair rather than converting the men’s sample size.

Treat the offer and return policy as part of the choice

The checked Amazon examples had New, in stock offers on October 17, 2026. They were third party shoe sellers; this guide does not identify them as Brooks authorized sellers. Check seller identity, condition, exact generation, width and return terms before selecting a size.

Brooks’ own product pages advertise a direct purchase trial and return arrangement. That wording does not automatically apply to a marketplace purchase. Confirm the policy for the actual order, including whether indoor fitting or worn returns are permitted.

Keep the model label and order details. Compare the delivered box and shoe with the ordered generation and width before using them outdoors. Our recommendation rests on documented construction and a fit comparison, with no firsthand wear, pace or comfort result claimed.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Is Ghost Max 4 the same shoe as Ghost 18?

No. The current maker pages give different model numbers, drops and construction descriptions. Compare the regular trainer with the Max’s rocker and accommodating interior.

Are Ghost 17 and Max 3 the current versions?

The opened US collection and dedicated model pages now list Ghost 18 and Max 4. Older versions may remain on sale; do not apply the newer specifications to them.

Should I automatically size up?

No universal size change follows from this comparison. Try both shoes in the intended socks and compare length, width, upper pressure and heel hold.

Does every color come in wide?

The range includes multiple widths, but availability depends on the specific size and color. Check the actual width selection.

Does more cushioning establish a health benefit?

This guide makes no health or outcome claim. Choose by the actual model, fit and intended use; seek personal advice when a medical condition affects footwear.

Sources

• Ghost 18 men’s model 110493 (brooksrunning.com), Brooks Running
• Ghost 18 women’s model 120482 (brooksrunning.com), Brooks Running
• Ghost Max 4 men’s model 110496 (brooksrunning.com), Brooks Running
• Current Ghost model and width range (brooksrunning.com), Brooks Running
• Athletic shoe fitting guidance (orthoinfo.aaos.org), AAOS OrthoInfo

Sources checked 2026-10-17.