# Hoka vs Brooks: Which Should You Buy in 2026? > Hoka or Brooks? Most people should get the Brooks Ghost. Weight, drop, cushion, fit and owner complaints compared with the Hoka Clifton. Guide: https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/hoka-vs-brooks/ · Updated 2026-10-14 · By TwelveTabs · Search it live: https://twelvetabs.com/?q=hoka%20vs%20brooks&guide=hoka-vs-brooks 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 soft, proven everyday shoe for walking and running:** Brooks Men's Ghost 17 Neutral Running Shoe. Brooks' everyday neutral trainer: DNA Loft v3 cushioning, a double jacquard air mesh upper, flex grooves in the midsole, a rubber outsole and a listed weight and drop. - **A plush, rocker-shaped shoe for soft landings and long days on your feet:** HOKA Men's Clifton 11 Running Shoe. Hoka's long-running daily trainer: a compression-molded EVA midsole with a MetaRocker shape, an engineered mesh upper, a double-lace lock and a rubber outsole. Most people should get the **[Brooks Ghost 17](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/hoka-vs-brooks/#pick-1)**. It costs less, lists its weight and drop, and has years of owner history behind it. Get the **[Hoka Clifton 11](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/hoka-vs-brooks/#pick-2)** if you want the thickest, softest, rocker-shaped ride. We compared the men's versions, because that is where both brands sell the most pairs on Amazon. The women's versions use the same designs in smaller sizes. ## The short version - **Want an everyday shoe for walking and running?** The Ghost 17. It is soft, neutral and well reviewed. - **Want the most cushion and a rocker that rolls you forward?** The Clifton 11. - **Need a narrow or extra-wide fit?** The Ghost. Brooks sells it in narrow, regular, wide and extra-wide widths. - **Want a shoe with proven wear?** The Ghost 17. The Clifton 11 listing has very few reviews so far. - **Need to know the weight before you buy?** The Ghost 17 lists 10.1 oz. The Clifton 11 listing gives none. ## How to choose between them Runner's World describes the two brands' approaches. Hoka leans into high stacks of soft foam and a curved MetaRocker shape. Brooks, in its stability shoes, uses GuardRail foam rails at the arch and heel. The Ghost is Brooks' neutral shoe, so it has no rails. - **Cushion.** The Clifton uses compression-molded EVA foam with a rocker shape. The Ghost uses DNA Loft v3, a foam Brooks says is infused with nitrogen. Amazon lists the Ghost's cushion level as "more" and its feel as soft and protective. - **Fit.** Runner's World says Hoka runs true to size but can feel narrow around the arch, and Brooks tends to run tight, so it suggests a half size up. Amazon's listing says the Ghost 17 fits true to size, so check the size chart and recent reviews for your size. - **Support.** Brooks calls the Ghost neutral. Hoka's Clifton has no stability rails either. - **Specs.** The Ghost 17 lists a 10 mm drop and 10.1 oz. The Clifton 11 lists neither. - **Seller.** Both Amazon listings we read are sold by third-party sellers, not by Brooks or Hoka. The Ghost 17 ships from Amazon. ## Our picks in detail ### 1. Brooks Ghost 17: best for most people **Why it made the list** - Soft, protective cushioning that owners praise for long walks and runs. - Weight, drop and cushion level are on the listing. - Narrow, regular, wide and extra-wide widths. - Certified as a diabetic shoe and granted the APMA Seal of Acceptance, per the listing. - A double jacquard air mesh upper and a rubber outsole with recycled silica. **Drawbacks** - Durability is mixed. Amazon's summary says some owners find it holds up and others say the material broke down quickly. - It is very soft. One owner felt a little unstable at first and had to learn to walk in it. - Brooks has released a newer Ghost 18, which Amazon lists separately. One owner who tried it went back to the Ghost 17. **Skip it if** you want a plush rocker shape, or you want the newest model. ### 2. Hoka Clifton 11: best for a plush rocker ride **Why it made the list** - A thick compression-molded EVA midsole with a MetaRocker shape. - A double-lace lock to help keep the tongue in place. - Reflective details and an abrasion-resistant rubber outsole. - Owners call it comfortable, well cushioned and supportive, and one says it helps their heel pain from plantar fasciitis. **Drawbacks** - The listing has very few reviews, so owner feedback is thin. - No weight or drop on the listing. - One owner says it makes a squishy sound with each step. - The seller had few units left when we looked. **Skip it if** you want a firmer ride, a proven track record, or a lower price. ## What owners complain about - **On Brooks:** a very soft feel that takes getting used to, a fit that some owners find tight, and material that wears out quickly for some. - **On Hoka:** very little yet, since the listing has few reviews. The one comment we saw was a squishy noise on each step. - **On both:** durability opinions are not unanimous. Do not expect either to last for years of daily wear. ## What we left out, and why We read two listings and 16 reviews, plus the Ghost 18 and the other Clifton 11 listings on the search page. - **The Brooks Ghost 18.** Amazon lists it separately and at a higher price. We compared the Ghost 17, which has far more owner history. - **Hoka Clifton 10.** It has many more reviews, but we compared the current Clifton. - **Women's versions.** The same designs in smaller sizes. We read only the men's pages. - **Brooks Adrenaline and other stability shoes.** They use GuardRail rails, which the Ghost does not. A different question. - **Trail and waterproof versions.** A different question from daily wear. ## Questions people ask ### Is Hoka or Brooks better for walking? Both make good walking shoes. Most people prefer the Brooks Ghost for its soft, neutral feel and proven reviews, and the Hoka Clifton for its thicker, rocker-shaped cushion. ### Do Brooks run big or small? Runner's World says Brooks tends to run tight and suggests going up a half size. Amazon's listing says the Ghost 17 fits true to size, so read recent reviews for your size. ### Do Hoka shoes run narrow? Runner's World says Hoka runs true to size but can feel snug at the arch. The Clifton 11 is sold in Wide and X-Wide in some sizes. ### How did TwelveTabs choose between them? We read the Amazon listings for one Hoka and one Brooks shoe, the spec lists, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see, plus Runner's World's comparison. We put the facts side by side and checked each against its listing. For more options, see our [best Brooks running shoes](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-brooks-running-shoes/) and [best Hoka running shoes](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-hoka-running-shoes/). ## How we researched On October 14, 2026 we read the Amazon listing pages for the men's Brooks Ghost 17 and the men's Hoka Clifton 11. We read each page's bullets and specs, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see, plus the newer Ghost 18 and the other Clifton 11 listings on the search page. We also read Runner's World's Hoka vs Brooks comparison and checked Google's top results for this question. AI wrote this guide from that research. The Clifton 11 listing had few ratings and no visible critical reviews, so its drawbacks come from the listing and a few mild comments. Neither listing showed a lower-star review we could read, so complaints are milder than a bigger sample would show. The Clifton 11 listing gave no weight or drop. Both shoes are sold by third-party sellers, and prices differ by size and color. We covered the men's versions only. Runner's World reviewed older models, so we use it for the brands' general approach. ### Sources - [Runner's World: Hoka vs. Brooks](https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/a60525386/hoka-vs-brooks/)