# Brooks vs ASICS: Which Running Shoe Should You Buy in 2026? > Brooks or ASICS? Most people should get the Brooks Ghost 18. Weight, drop, cushioning and owner complaints next to the lighter ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28, men's. Guide: https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/brooks-vs-asics/ · Updated 2026-10-17 · By TwelveTabs · Search it live: https://twelvetabs.com/?q=brooks%20vs%20asics&guide=brooks-vs-asics As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are independently researched, written by TwelveTabs AI and never sponsored. Prices and ratings change often: see the guide for today's. ## The top picks - **Most people: a balanced, supportive daily trainer for running and walking:** Brooks Men's Ghost 18 Neutral Running and Walking Shoe, Navy Blazer/Red Earth/Blue. Brooks' neutral daily trainer: nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 foam, an Ortholite X-60 sockliner, an engineered air mesh upper with a flat knit tongue, a RoadTack rubber outsole and 3M reflective details, in widths from narrow to extra wide. - **Runners who want a lighter, softer neutral trainer with a lower drop:** ASICS Men's Gel-Cumulus 28 Running Shoes, Gravel/Arctic Blue. ASICS' neutral daily trainer: FF BLAST MAX midsole foam, softer PureGEL cushioning, an engineered mesh upper, a FLUIDRIDE outsole, an OrthoLite X-30 sockliner and reflective details, in medium, wide and extra wide. Most people should get the **[Brooks Ghost 18](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/brooks-vs-asics/#pick-1)**. It is a balanced, supportive daily trainer, costs $5.10 less and comes in more widths. Get the **[ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/brooks-vs-asics/#pick-2)** if you want a lighter, softer shoe with a lower drop. We compared the latest men's neutral daily trainer from each brand on Amazon. Both are sold by third-party sellers, not by Amazon or the brands, and the page says so. Neither listing shows a stack height. ## The short version - **Want the balanced, supportive ride?** The [Brooks Ghost 18](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/brooks-vs-asics/#pick-1). - **Want the lighter shoe?** The [ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/brooks-vs-asics/#pick-2) weighs 9.1 oz against 10.3 oz. - **Want a lower drop?** The ASICS has 8 mm. The Brooks has 10 mm. - **Want the lower price?** The Brooks is $139.85 and the ASICS $144.95. - **Wide feet?** Both list wide and extra wide. The Brooks also lists narrow. ## How to choose between them Running Shoes Guru compared the earlier Ghost 17 and Cumulus 26. It says the Cumulus has a medium-soft ride that suits long, relaxed runs and has a gel unit in the heel, while the Ghost has a firmer midsole that handles tempo runs, is more stable and suits heel strikers with its 10 mm drop. It also says the Cumulus's heel tab can rub the ankle. Read it as a guide to the two designs. - **Price.** The Brooks is $139.85 and the ASICS $144.95 today. - **Seller.** QnmtTrading sells the Brooks. Charm City Run sells the ASICS. - **Weight.** 10.3 oz against 9.1 oz. - **Drop.** 10 mm against 8 mm. - **Cushioning.** DNA LOFT v3 foam against FF BLAST MAX with PureGEL. - **Widths.** Narrow to extra wide on the Brooks. Medium to extra wide on the ASICS. ## Our picks in detail ### 1. Brooks Ghost 18: best for most people **Why it made the list** - Balanced cushioning, per Amazon's chart. - A 10 mm drop and a supportive, stable feel. - A certified diabetic shoe with the APMA Seal of Acceptance. - Widths from narrow to extra wide. - Amazon's summary says owners praise the comfort and toe space. **Drawbacks** - A third-party seller. - 10.3 oz is heavier. - Some owners find the heel tall and the tongue flap thin. - Price complaints from a few owners. **Skip it if** you want the lightest shoe, or you prefer a lower drop. ### 2. ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28: best for a lighter, softer ride **Why it made the list** - 9.1 oz, about 1.2 oz lighter. - FF BLAST MAX foam with softer PureGEL. - An 8 mm drop. - Amazon's summary says owners find it comfortable. - Medium, wide and extra wide widths. **Drawbacks** - $5.10 more, from a third-party seller. - A toe-pain complaint from one extra-wide wearer. - Mixed feedback on stability and durability. - Fewer reviews to go on. **Skip it if** you have a narrow foot, or you want the model with more owner feedback. ## What owners complain about - **On the [Brooks Ghost 18](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/brooks-vs-asics/#pick-1):** a tall-feeling heel and sole, a thin tongue flap that folds, a warm upper, a high price for some, and one pair that arrived worn. - **On the [ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/brooks-vs-asics/#pick-2):** pain in the small toe even in extra wide, a price that rose from earlier models, mixed stability and some peeling foam. - **On both:** a price that some owners find high. ## What we left out, and why We read two listings and 16 reviews. - **Ghost 17 and Gel-Cumulus 27.** Older models on sale at $109.95 and $89.95. We did not open them. - **Ghost Max, Ghost Trail and ASICS Novablast.** Different shoes. We did not open them. - **Women's models.** We read only men's shoes. - **Other colors.** A second Ghost 18 color, from another third-party seller, cost $142.65. ## Questions people ask ### Is Brooks or ASICS better for beginners? For most beginners, the Brooks. It is balanced and supportive, and it comes in more widths. The ASICS suits those who want a lighter, softer shoe. ### Are these shoes good for walking? Both listings say so. The Brooks lists running and walking, and Amazon's summary says owners find the ASICS suitable for walking. ### Does drop matter? It changes how the shoe feels. Running Shoes Guru says the 10 mm drop of the Ghost suits heel strikers, and the Cumulus has 8 mm. ### How did TwelveTabs choose between them? We read the Amazon listings for one Brooks and one ASICS men's shoe, their charts, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see, plus Running Shoes Guru's comparison. We put the facts side by side and checked each against its listing. For other Brooks matchups, see our [Hoka vs Brooks](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/hoka-vs-brooks/) and [best Brooks running shoes](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-brooks-running-shoes/) guides. ## How we researched On October 17, 2026 we read the Amazon listing pages for the men's Brooks Ghost 18 and the men's ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28, in size 12. We read each page's bullets and specs, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see. We also read Running Shoes Guru's Cumulus vs Ghost comparison and checked Google's top results for this question. AI wrote this guide from that research. Both buy boxes were third-party sellers, so Amazon.com and the brands are not the sellers. Both read-throughs were men's shoes in size 12, and the pages gave no stack height. The ASICS listing had far fewer reviews, and only one critical US review showed on it. The Ghost page's own chart showed an odd higher price, which this guide ignores. Running Shoes Guru compared the earlier Ghost 17 and Cumulus 26, so we use it for how the two shoes differ and not for these exact models. Women's models were not read. ### Sources - [Running Shoes Guru: ASICS Cumulus vs Brooks Ghost](https://www.runningshoesguru.com/comparison/asics-cumulus-vs-brooks-ghost/)