Running shoes · owner-verdict comparison

Adidas Ultraboost 5 vs Brooks Ghost 18: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Brooks Ghost 18: 49% of 92 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 34 for the Adidas Ultraboost 5.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Adidas Ultraboost 5

35%of 34 owners recommend
35% recommend · 21% neutral · 44% don't
Full owner report →

Brooks Ghost 18

49%of 92 owners recommend
49% recommend · 22% neutral · 29% don't
Owners praise
  • Fits noticeably better than the Ghost 17
  • Wider, roomier toebox
  • Comfortable for all-day wear and long shifts
Owners complain about
  • Heel collar digs into and irritates the ankle
  • Ankle pain isn't fixed by sizing up to wide/2E
  • Runs firm, clunky, or low to the ground
Full owner report →

What Adidas Ultraboost 5 owners say

Say what you want about the design, these are insanely comfortable shoes. IMO look better in person.
ridukosennin on Reddit
I have Allbirds and UB 3.0s and I can say definitively my UBs are far more comfortable for me. It’s a treat to wear them haha
SunriseMoon on Reddit
Anyone have the issue of the footbed moving around in their Ultraboost 19s? It makes mine nearly unwearable. (It slides back constantly. No matter how tight or loose they are.)
Easy-Lucky-Free on Reddit

What Brooks Ghost 18 owners say

Kudos to Brooks for offering various different widths.
@UnclPhilly on YouTube
As a Amazon van driver that runs alot, I give praise to the ghost 18
@jamesehlers6994 on YouTube
I like Brooks, but why are Brooks shoes still so heavy in 2026?
@RTB1910 on YouTube