ShoeGeometry

Brooks Ghost 18 vs Hoka Mach 7

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneBrooks Ghost 18: heel 36 mm, forefoot 26 mm (drop 10 mm); toe rocker 33 % of length, radius 41 % of length; heel bevel 6 % of length, 14 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Brooks Ghost 18: toe rocker 33 % of lengthHoka Mach 7: heel 37 mm, forefoot 32 mm (drop 5 mm); toe rocker 38 % of length, radius 45 % of length; heel bevel 10 % of length, 17 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Hoka Mach 7: toe rocker 38 % of length
  • Brooks Ghost 1836/26 mm · toe rocker 33 % · heel bevel 6 %
  • Hoka Mach 737/32 mm · toe rocker 38 % · heel bevel 10 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offHoka Mach 732.5 vs 38 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same36 vs 37 mm heel stack
More under the forefootHoka Mach 726 vs 32 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropHoka Mach 710 vs 5 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootHoka Mach 722 vs 33 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelAbout the same77 vs 82 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same115.7 vs 115.5 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricBrooks Ghost 18
Daily trainer · Road
Hoka Mach 7
Daily trainer · Road
Heel-to-toe drop10 mmStated5 mmDerived
Heel stack36 mmStated37 mmStated
Forefoot stack26 mmStated32 mmStated
Weight289 gStated241 gStated
Toe rocker33 %est.38 %est.
Rocker radius41 %est.45 %est.
Rocker rise angle28 degest.28 degest.
Rocker angle at toe60 degest.54 degest.
Toe tip over ground37 mm*est.48 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset79.1 %est.73.8 %est.
Toe spring (relative)17.4 %est.20.1 %est.
Heel bevel length6.1 %*est.9.7 %est.
Heel bevel height14 mm*est.17 mmest.
Midsole width (forefoot)115.7 mmMeasured115.5 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)95.9 mmMeasured93.3 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width96 mmMeasured92.5 mmMeasured
Toebox width70.6 mmMeasured72.9 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness22Derived33Derived
Midsole firmness77Derived82Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamDNA Loft v3supercritical EVA
List price$150$145

Key differences

  • Brooks Ghost 18's heel-to-toe drop is 10 mm, 5 mm higher than Hoka Mach 7's 5 mm.
  • Brooks Ghost 18's heel stack is 36 mm, 1 mm thinner than Hoka Mach 7's 37 mm.
  • Brooks Ghost 18's forefoot stack is 26 mm, 6 mm thinner than Hoka Mach 7's 32 mm.
  • Brooks Ghost 18's weight is 289 g, 48 g heavier than Hoka Mach 7's 241 g.
  • Brooks Ghost 18's toe rocker is 33 % of length, 5 % of length shorter than Hoka Mach 7's 38 % of length.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Brooks Ghost 18

Hoka Mach 7

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Brooks Ghost 18 details · Hoka Mach 7 details · Add more shoes