Brooks Ghost Max vs Saucony Ride 17: Which Daily Trainer Wins?

Introduction

The Brooks Ghost Max and the Saucony Ride 17 are two of the most popular neutral daily trainers around, and both have just gone through substantial updates. The Ghost Max is the deeply cushioned take on the classic Ghost, while the Ride 17 received a complete midsole overhaul built around a full PWRRUN Plus foam setup.

After putting decent mileage into both pairs, the comparison turned out far closer than expected. This breakdown walks through price, upper fit, midsole feel, and outsole grip to help you decide which shoe fits your running.

Price and Positioning

The Ride 17 retails for £135 in the UK, while the Ghost Max sits a little higher at £140. There is genuinely very little between them, but the Saucony is the slightly more affordable option of the two, which gives it an early edge for budget-conscious buyers.

Both shoes occupy the same lane: neutral daily trainers built for the bulk of your weekly mileage, so the price difference is unlikely to be the deciding factor on its own.

Upper Fit and Performance

This is a close call. Both uppers worked well for a medium-width foot shape, delivering good lockdown around the midfoot, solid hold in the heel, and all-day comfort with no rubbing, chafing, or blisters in either shoe.

If anything separates them, the Saucony upper feels a touch more stripped back, slightly lighter, and a little more breathable thanks to large perforations wrapping around the midfoot. That said, it is splitting hairs: both uppers earn a point, and neither is likely to disappoint.

Midsole and Ride Feel

Here is where the shoes genuinely differ. The Ghost Max offers more cushioning underfoot with a 39mm heel and 33mm forefoot stack, compared with the Ride 17’s 35/27mm setup. The Brooks uses DNA Loft v2 foam, which feels a touch firmer, while the Saucony’s PWRRUN Plus foam is bouncier and delivers noticeably more energy return on harder surfaces.

On heel offset, the Ghost Max runs a 6mm drop, a welcome move for a brand that often leans on 10mm or 12mm offsets, while the Ride 17 uses an 8mm drop. Neither caused any issues, and the difference is marginal in practice.

The midsole point goes to the Ride 17. The PWRRUN Plus setup simply feels more lively and more versatile, making it a shoe you could comfortably use for a couple of quicker sessions each week, such as tempo runs or intervals.

Outsole Grip and Durability

Both outsoles have performed really well, and notably every run in this comparison took place on wet, greasy, slippery roads and pavements rather than dry conditions. Both rubber compounds delivered solid grip throughout.

Looking closely at the rubber, there may be marginally more wear on the Brooks shoe, but there is effectively nothing in it. Both earn a point here for grip and durability on wet UK roads.

Which Shoe Should You Buy?

The Saucony Ride 17 takes the overall win. It feels lighter, its midsole is more responsive and more exciting to run in, and it offers a bit more versatility across paces.

The Brooks Ghost Max is more of a one-trick pony, but it does that trick well. The firmer DNA Loft v2 foam still feels comfortable on longer, slower efforts, and the wide platform lets you sink into the midsole for a planted, stable ride. It makes a solid daily trainer, particularly for slightly heavier runners who value that grounded feel.

Conclusion

If you want a livelier, more versatile daily trainer that can handle quicker sessions, the Ride 17 is the pick. If your priorities are maximum cushioning, stability, and comfort on easy miles, the Ghost Max earns its place. Both are well-executed updates, and you would be happy logging miles in either.