Brooks vs ASICS: Which Running Shoe Should You Buy in 2026?

By TwelveTabs · Updated

Illustration: two plain running shoes, one navy and one cream, side by side on a quiet running track, drawn as a soft 3D render. Not a real product.

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Our top picks

Most people should get the Brooks Ghost 18. It is a balanced, supportive daily trainer, costs $5.10 less and comes in more widths. Get the ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28 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 method

How this pick was made

Brooks Men's Ghost 18 Neutral Running and Walking Shoe, Navy Blazer/Red Earth/Blue is the top pick. This is the work behind that choice.

  1. 2Amazon search results read, across 1 search
  2. 2finalist pages read in full
  3. 16shopper reviews read
  4. 1expert source cross-checked: Running Shoes Guru

Run on October 17, 2026. AI read the listings and what shoppers say, then wrote this guide. Full method and limits

Our picks in detail

Brooks Men's Ghost 18 Neutral Running and Walking Shoe, Navy Blazer/Red Earth/Blue

Best overall

Brooks Men's Ghost 18 Neutral Running and Walking Shoe, Navy Blazer/Red Earth/Blue

Best for: Most people: a balanced, supportive daily trainer for running and walking

  • $139.85
  • Pros Cushioning is balanced between soft and firm, per Amazon's own chart
  • Cons A third-party seller, QnmtTrading, sells it, not Amazon or Brooks
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 17, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Cushioning is balanced between soft and firm, per Amazon's own chart
  • Sizes 7 to 15 in narrow, medium, wide and extra wide
  • A certified PDAC A5500 diabetic shoe with the APMA Seal of Acceptance
  • Amazon's summary says owners praise the comfort, toe space, support and cushioning
  • The listing is dated 2025 and replaces the Ghost 17

Cons

  • A third-party seller, QnmtTrading, sells it, not Amazon or Brooks
  • It weighs 10.3 oz, 1.2 oz more than the ASICS
  • Some owners find it too expensive, and one found the heel and sole feel tall
  • A thin tongue flap that folds, and an upper that felt warm to one owner
  • One non-US reviewer received a pair that looked already worn
ASICS Men's Gel-Cumulus 28 Running Shoes, Gravel/Arctic Blue

Best Runners who want a lighter, softer neutral trainer with a lower drop

ASICS Men's Gel-Cumulus 28 Running Shoes, Gravel/Arctic Blue

  • $144.95
  • Pros Lighter at 9.1 oz, about 1.2 oz under the Brooks
  • Cons $5.10 more than the Brooks, and a third-party seller, Charm City Run, sells it
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 17, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Lighter at 9.1 oz, about 1.2 oz under the Brooks
  • A lower 8 mm drop and soft FF BLAST MAX cushioning
  • PureGEL, which ASICS says is about 65 percent softer than standard GEL
  • Amazon's summary says owners find it comfortable and good for walking
  • Medium, wide and extra wide widths

Cons

  • $5.10 more than the Brooks, and a third-party seller, Charm City Run, sells it
  • One owner with extra-wide feet got pain in the small toe, and another found the price jumped
  • Amazon's summary says stability and durability get mixed feedback, with foam peeling for one
  • Far fewer owner reviews than the Brooks listing
  • The page shows a lower price on its own chart than in the buy box

Compare the picks

Prices and ratings as of October 17, 2026. They change often, so check today's price on Amazon.

Our picks, side by side
PictureProductOutcome
1Brooks Men's Ghost 18 Neutral Running and Walking Shoe, Navy Blazer/Red Earth/BlueBrooks Men's Ghost 18 Neutral Running and Walking Shoe, Navy Blazer/Red Earth/BlueWeight: 10.3 oz · Drop: 10 mm · Cushioning: Balanced, soft and dynamic · Seller: QnmtTrading (third party)Price $139.85Not listedRating Not listedNot listedWinner. Best for: Most people: a balanced, supportive daily trainer for running and walking
2ASICS Men's Gel-Cumulus 28 Running Shoes, Gravel/Arctic BlueASICS Men's Gel-Cumulus 28 Running Shoes, Gravel/Arctic BlueWeight: 9.1 oz · Drop: 8 mm · Cushioning: Soft FF BLAST MAX with PureGEL · Seller: Charm City Run (third party)Price $144.95Not listedRating Not listedNot listedBest for: Runners who want a lighter, softer neutral trainer with a lower drop

The short version

  • Want the balanced, supportive ride? The Brooks Ghost 18.
  • Want the lighter shoe? The ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28 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.

What owners complain about

  • On the Brooks Ghost 18: 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: 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.

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.

Prices, ratings and review counts come from Amazon and were read on October 17, 2026.

Sources

Why trust TwelveTabs

  • What this guide rests on: 2 Amazon search results, 16 shopper reviews and 1 expert source.
  • No brand paid for a place on this list.
  • Dated, not timeless: the research was read and this page updated on October 17, 2026.
  • The limits of the research are written down, in how we researched.

How TwelveTabs researches its guides

Frequently asked questions

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 and best Brooks running shoes guides.

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