Brooks Ghost Amp Review: The New Daily Trainer, Plus 5 Alternatives Worth Comparing

Introduction

The Brooks Ghost Amp is one of the more interesting launches of the season. Brooks has taken the name value of its best-selling daily trainer, the Ghost, and combined it with the AMP branding from the foam it used in the now-discontinued Levitate, a forward-looking but heavy and chunky trainer that routinely weighed in over 11 oz.

The result is something different from either parent. This is a nimble, neutral daily trainer with a balanced midsole that prefers quiet, understated excellence. Available from July 15 at $150, it feels like a fair price for what you get. In this guide, we break down what the Ghost Amp actually offers, then compare it against five shoes you are likely weighing it against: the Ghost 18, Ghost 17, Hyperion 3, New Balance Rebel v5, and New Balance Nova Blast 6.

Specs and Build

On paper, the Ghost Amp is a 36 mm stack height shoe with a 6 mm drop, giving 30 mm of stack in the forefoot. The midsole contains one component only: the all-new DNA Hype foam, a PEBA-EVA blend. That blend matters, because it puts the shoe in the same nominal material family as the recent New Balance Rebel v4 and v5, and the upper’s forefoot design even echoes those shoes.

The outsole’s geometric pattern calls back to the old Levitate, but the rubber application is very thin, the thinnest we have seen from Brooks since the Ghost Max 1. The upper uses a soft, breathable warp knit, a thin padded tongue, and a puffy, fold-over heel cup with stiff internal structure for shape. There is more heel padding than some will want, but it helps a wide range of heel shapes fit comfortably.

Fit is true to your usual running shoe size. Weight comes in at 9.0 oz (256 g) for a US men’s size 9, a respectable figure for the class that the shoe carries well.

What the Ghost Amp Is Like to Run In

This is not the soft, spongy Ghost alternative many runners hoped for. The midsole is neither squishy nor firm, with a pleasant sense of pop at easy paces, though the DNA Hype name promises more dynamism than the ride delivers.

Where it counts, though, the shoe delivers. It is very smooth at fast paces, even very fast paces, and it is more nimble than expected. It can handle tempo-level work happily all the way up to VO2 max sessions, with the caveat that by the end of hard workouts you may wish for a little extra carbon pop, a common trade-off in non-plated lightweight daily trainers. As a daily trainer it does everything you ask in a pleasant way, and it retains something extra for when you want to pick up the pace. Think of it as a sleeper car of daily trainers: marketed with bravado, but underneath it is a balanced, understated performer.

How It Compares to the Brooks Ghost 18 and Ghost 17

The namesake Ghost remains a tall-stack shoe with a very thick outsole and a stable, dense heel. It is ideal for heel strikers and bigger or taller runners because the midsole resists collapse, and it doubles as one of the more comfortable shoes for standing and walking. The two shoes overlap as daily trainers, but the Ghost 18 is the better pick if one shoe must cover a wide range of tasks beyond running, while the Ghost Amp is a more specialized running shoe that can also handle speedy work.

Both the Ghost 18 and the Ghost Amp retail for $150, so you are not saving money by choosing the Ghost. However, the Ghost 17 is essentially the same shoe as the Ghost 18 and has been around long enough to be found on sale for $110, which is a meaningful saving if you want the classic Ghost formula.

Closest Brooks Rival: Hyperion 3

The Hyperion line used to be a pure tempo shoe: firmer, more poppy, and more aggressive. Version 3 tones that down considerably with an updated DNA Flash midsole, making it a much softer and more comfortable experience. Its areas of excellence are almost identical to the Ghost Amp’s: both are great daily trainers that can also pick up the pace.

The differences come down to feel and fit. The Hyperion 3’s foam is a touch softer and squishier, and the ride feels even more stable and predictable on landing, especially for heel strikers. It also uses an 8 mm drop versus the Ghost Amp’s 6 mm. Our advice: if you are an avid Ghost fan wanting a lighter, peppier alternative, go Hyperion 3. If you have not been a Ghost fan in recent years, the Ghost Amp could be your entry point back into Brooks.

On price, the Hyperion 3 retails for $140 but, having been out longer, can be found on sale for $110, which may make the decision easier.

Outside the Brand: Rebel v5

The New Balance Rebel v5 shares visual and material similarities with the Ghost Amp, but the word “blend” does a lot of heavy lifting in the comparison. The Rebel’s PEBA-EVA blend feels far more dynamic: it squishes deeply and springs back pleasantly, creating a more exciting ride. It works at easy paces, slow recovery paces, and fast paces alike, giving it an even wider useful pace range than the Ghost Amp.

The Rebel also keeps the heel collar and heel cup minimal, which makes for a preferred fit, and its toe box is wider and taller for a more generous feel. The Ghost Amp’s edge is at very fast paces: because the squishy Rebel needed a wider platform for stability, it is slightly less nimble when used as a speed work shoe. The Rebel fights back on weight, coming in at 7.8 oz, over an ounce lighter.

Pricing sits at $145 for the Rebel v5, slightly less than the Ghost Amp, with periodic sales depending on inventory.

Outside the Brand: Nova Blast 6

The Nova Blast 6 is an 8 mm drop shoe with a taller stack and notable stability in the heel, making it very comfortable for heel strikers. For forefoot strikers, an FF Turbo, an aliphatic TPU puck in the forefoot, adds pop when picking up the pace. The puffy heel treatment here is the likely inspiration for the Ghost Amp’s heel design.

Both shoes do daily training pleasantly, and both handle speed well, but in different ways. The Ghost Amp is the more nimble shoe at genuinely fast paces, while the Nova Blast 6 is better at long run efforts. Extending the car analogy: the Ghost Amp is a coupe, the Nova Blast 6 is a grand touring sedan. The Nova Blast 6 is also lighter than the Ghost Amp, an odd quirk of how the weights work out. It costs a bit more to get into, retailing at $155.

Buying Advice

Choose the Ghost Amp if you want a single, understated daily trainer that handles easy miles and fast work with equal composure, and you are happy with a firmer-than-expected, balanced ride rather than max cushioning. Pick the Ghost 18 or Ghost 17 if walking comfort and an ultra-stable heel matter as much as running. Go Hyperion 3 if you want a slightly softer, more stable ride at an 8 mm drop, especially on sale. Choose the Rebel v5 if you prioritize a lighter, bouncier, more generous fit across the widest pace range. Choose the Nova Blast 6 if long runs are your priority and you want forefoot pop from the FF Turbo puck.

Conclusion

The Brooks Ghost Amp is an excellent shoe that should impress even runners who have not been Brooks fans in the past. It is not the dynamic, super-squishy experience some hoped for, but it is smooth, nimble, and quietly capable across an impressive range of paces, all at a fair $150. Match it against the alternatives above based on whether you value versatility, softness, lightness, or long-run comfort, and you will land on the right shoe.