Brooks
Ghost Trail Running Shoe - Women's
$149.95
Free shipping
Free shipping on orders over $60
In-store pickup · Check our 4 Memphis-area stores
30-day returns, even if you've run in them
The Grivet Take
The Ghost Trail is Brooks's door-to-trail crossover, the trail-leaning twin of the road Ghost line. 28/22 stack with a 6mm drop, DNA LOFT v2 cushioning, and a TrailTack rubber outsole that handles smooth-to-mixed terrain. Best for runners who do mostly easy trail miles, smooth doubletrack, and pavement-to-trail commutes. Skip it for technical mountain terrain; the Cascadia 19 or Saucony Peregrine 16 are better picks for serious trail use.
Fit & Feel snapshot
Fit
LengthHow the shoe fits compared with true-to-size expectations.
True to size
Toe box widthHow much side-to-side room the shoe has across the front of the foot.3 of 5
NarrowWide
Toe box volumeHow much vertical room the shoe has above the toes.3 of 5
LowHigh
MidfootHow snug or roomy the shoe feels through the arch and laces.3 of 5
SnugRoomy
Heel holdHow securely the back of the shoe holds the heel.4 of 5
LooseLocked
Ride
CushionHow much material sits underfoot. This is about amount of cushioning, not how soft it feels.3 of 5
MinimalMaximal
SoftnessHow soft or firm the cushioning feels underfoot.3 of 5
FirmPlush
RockerHow much the shoe's shape rolls you forward through the step.3 of 5
FlatAggressive
ResponsivenessHow much pop or energy return the shoe feels like it gives back.3 of 5
DeadBouncy
Support
Support TypeSupport Type describes how much built-in guidance the shoe has. Neutral shoes do not add support structure. Stability shoes use geometry, rails, firmer foam, or frame designs to create a more guided feel. Motion control shoes are the maximum-support category and are rare in modern running.
Neutral
Stability
Motion Control
No added support structure
PlatformPlatform describes the width and shape of the shoe's base underfoot. A wider platform can feel steadier even when the shoe is neutral. This is separate from Support Type.
Standard platform
How it fits
Fits true to size with a standard Brooks last. Toe box runs standard width, midfoot is normal volume, heel hold is good. Available in Standard (B) only for women's. The upper is designed for moderate trail use rather than aggressive scrambling.
How it feels
Cushion is moderate; DNA LOFT v2 reads balanced and protective rather than plush. The 6mm drop and standard rocker work well at easy pace on smooth-to-mixed terrain. TrailTack rubber grips reliably on dirt, gravel, and wet rock; lug depth is moderate, not aggressive. Best for daily trail miles rather than technical scrambles.
Quick specs
- Category
- Daily trainer
- Surface
- Pavement · Road plus light trail · Smooth trail · Mixed terrain
- Heel stackHow much shoe sits between your foot and the ground.
- 28.0 mm
- Forefoot stack
- 22.0 mm
- DropThe difference between heel height and forefoot height, measured in millimeters.
- 6.0 mm
- Weight (women's 8)
- 8.4 oz · 238 g
- CushionHow much material sits underfoot. This is about amount of cushioning, not how soft it feels.
- 3 / 5
- Support TypeSupport Type describes how much built-in guidance the shoe has. Neutral shoes do not add support structure. Stability shoes use geometry, rails, firmer foam, or frame designs to create a more guided feel. Motion control shoes are the maximum-support category and are rare in modern running.
- Neutral
- PlatformPlatform describes the width and shape of the shoe's base underfoot. A wider platform can feel steadier even when the shoe is neutral. This is separate from Support Type.
- Standard platform
- Midsole
- DNA LOFT v2
- Outsole
- TrailTack rubber
- PlateA stiff layer, usually carbon, nylon, or TPU, built into some shoes to add structure, snap, or propulsion.
- No
- WidthsThe width options this shoe is made in. Actual availability depends on current inventory.
- B
Tech, translated
DNA LOFT v2 is Brooks's older nitrogen-infused foam, used in the Ghost Trail for daily trail-trainer cushioning. Less responsive than the v3 in newer Brooks shoes but tuned for trail durability.
TrailTack rubber is Brooks's trail-specific outsole rubber. Sticky enough for wet rocks and durable across mixed surfaces; lug depth in the Ghost Trail is moderate, prioritizing road-to-trail versatility over aggressive technical grip.
Compare it toSimilar shoes or common alternatives, with the key fit and ride differences called out.
Brooks Cascadia 19
Choose the Ghost Trail 1 if you want a lighter, lower-stack road-to-trail crossover at 28/22. Choose the Cascadia 19 if you want Brooks's daily trail workhorse with a ballistic rock shield, a 33mm stack, and a wider platform for technical terrain.
Compare Brooks Cascadia 19 →
Hoka Challenger 8
Choose the Ghost Trail 1 if you want a Brooks-fit door-to-trail shoe with DNA LOFT v2 cushion and a 6mm drop. Choose the Challenger 8 if you want Hoka's pronounced rocker geometry and a 5mm drop on the same crossover brief.
Compare Hoka Challenger 8 →
Saucony Peregrine 16
Choose the Ghost Trail 1 if you want a road-leaning crossover with TrailTack rubber for smooth-to-mixed terrain. Choose the Peregrine 16 if you want an all-mountain trail trainer with Vibram Megagrip, 4mm chevron lugs, and a 4mm drop for technical and wet conditions.
Compare Saucony Peregrine 16 →
On Cloudsurfer Trail 1
Choose the Ghost Trail 1 if you want a familiar Brooks-fit road-to-trail with DNA LOFT v2 and TrailTack rubber. Choose the Cloudsurfer Trail 1 if you want On's CloudTec Phase forward roll with Helion superfoam and Missiongrip rubber for smooth doubletrack.
Compare On Cloudsurfer Trail 1 →
Buyer's guide
Read our trail running shoes guide
Lugs, rock plates, stack height, and fit for everything from gravel to technical singletrack.
Read the guide