Brooks Womens Ghost 17 Running Shoe Wide

I bought a pair of ghost 16 and a pair of ghost 17 at the same time, same store and I am very disappointed in both pairs. The ghost 16 hurts my great toes. The ghost 17 is falling apart.

This is the absolute worst shoe I have ever worn for walking because I literally can’t run in them. I purchased them at a local running shoe store. I was fitted in them. I brought up some concerns that were waived off. The shoe is too big on my foot. I have worn every Ghost since the 13’s and these are just awful. They feel too hard, too big and my heel slips out of the shoe no matter how tight I tie them. My foot is sliding around in the shoe. I’ve never had this happen to me before. I can’t return the shoes because I had them too long. It really makes me sad because my legs and knees really hurt after trying to make this shoe work for me.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Brooks Ghost 17 has quickly become my “everything” shoe. From marathon training miles to recovery walks, the DNA Loft v3 midsole delivers a soft, responsive ride that keeps my legs feeling fresh. The fit is secure yet comfortable, with a snug heel and breathable mesh upper that stays cool even on long summer runs. I appreciate how smooth the transitions feel—no break-in period, just instant comfort. Whether I’m logging double-digit miles, walking to grab coffee, or even dancing around the kitchen, these shoes keep up. They’re light, versatile, and supportive—exactly what I need for my back-of-the-pack adventures.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have never had an issue with a Ghost in the past, but I have to return these. After one day, I had massive welts on the tops of my feet by my toes. There is some issue with the seam between the tongue and the shoe that was causing me incredible pain; it is too voluminous or doesn't have enough give. I have high arches and usually lace my shoes looser, but I've never experienced this in a sneaker. After my lunch walk caused tons of pain, I re-laced the shoes, skipping the first 3 holes entirely. But the pain did not abate and on my walk back to my car, I had shooting pains up my toes, and numbness by the time I got home.

The ghost 17 are not as comfortable as other Brooks. They don’t have cushion so it feels like you are walking without shoes on concrete. Usually I am size 6.5 but I ordered size 7 and they fit me just perfect but they are on the narrow side. I thought I ordered the black ones but I guess I accidentally ordered the new color spellbound/skyway and I don’t like the color. Also the material looks very cheap. I used them to go for walks and I usually walk 6 miles without an issue. I used them yesterday and I only walk four miles because my feet started hurting. The ghost 17 are definitely not for me.

I have purchased women’s Ghost 14,15,16s and 17s and have always raved about these shoes to anyone who commented on how much they loved mine; however, I agree with previous review on how they changed the 17s and they are stiffer. The new DNA loft design injected with nitrogen is comfortable at first only and your legs hurt as the hours pass during the day. Something not experienced in previous editions. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it “. Please bring the old Ghost design back so I don’t have to look for new shoes. I’m in the medical field and have been a faithful Brooks customer for years.

I echo many of the other comments on how disappointing this shoe is. I wear a narrow and there is such a limited amount of choices in shoes for me. The 15 and even the 16 were good for my narrow foot, but the 17 is horrible, I can barely wear them for more than 7 hours (work in an ED and on my feet all day). The others were great, but my heel slips and the toe box on the narrow is wide. Even my legs hurt after trying to wear these. I use to wear Adrenaline, but that has also changed. There are already so few choices for those who wear narrow shoes. I originally bought 2 pair of these as narrow go fast, but ended up sending the second pair back.

Brooks did a great job with these, going back to the slightly narrower toe box that the 15’s had. I found the 16’s toe box to be too paddle-like, and it made my custom made inserts shift when I walked or ran, also causing a weird squeaking nose that I hated. The new 17’s are all-around very similar to the 15’s with two notable differences: a cushier sole and a raised tab at the heel. I’m unclear what the purpose of the heel tab is—maybe to pull them on easier?—but regardless, this is a much comfier, better-fitting shoe than the 16! If you have wide feet, I’d suggest ordering a wide, but for my narrow-to-average-width foot, they are perfect! Love the black and purple color way, it’s even better in person! Bravo Brooks.