Brooks Ghost 17 GTX Review for Pickleball: Great Comfort, Weak Lateral Stability

I bought the black Brooks Ghost 17 GTX in EU 44 on June 4, 2026 for €150.72 with my own money. Since then I have used them frequently as an everyday wet-weather shoe for walking, scooter/moped riding and general outdoor use, plus roughly 30 hours of indoor pickleball.

My short verdict is very split depending on the job: for everyday comfort, rain and walking, I really like them. For serious pickleball matches, I do not. The cushioning is soft and comfortable enough for long days, the heel feels secure, wet-road grip has been excellent in my use, and the GORE-TEX upper has kept my feet dry in normal rain. But on a pickleball court the same soft, high-feeling platform that makes them comfortable also makes me feel less connected to the floor during hard lateral movement.

Compared with my K-Swiss Express Light 3 HB Clay court shoes, the Brooks feels dramatically less stable side to side. I am happy using the Ghost 17 GTX for drills, warm-up and casual hitting, but I would not choose it for serious competitive games.

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How I used the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX

• Exact model: Brooks Ghost 17 GTX men’s, Black/Black/Ebony
• Purchased: June 4, 2026
• Price paid: €150.72
• Compensation: none; I paid full price myself
• Size: EU 44
• My normal size: roughly EU 43.5–44
• Primary use: everyday walking, outdoor commuting/scooter riding and wet-weather use
• Pickleball use: about 30 hours, mostly during the first couple of months
• Pickleball session length: typically 2–4 hours
• Running: I did not use these as a dedicated running shoe
• Surfaces: mainly asphalt/sidewalk outdoors plus indoor pickleball courts

This matters because Brooks sells the Ghost 17 GTX as a road-running/walking shoe for wet conditions, not as a court shoe. My pickleball verdict is specifically about what happened when I used a soft waterproof running shoe for a sport with repeated lateral stopping and direction changes.

Fit: the length is right, but the forefoot feels too narrow for me

EU 44 is the right length for me. I normally wear somewhere around EU 43.5–44, and I would not size up or down based on length alone.

The issue is width. I have somewhat wide feet, and the forefoot/toe-box area feels a little too tight. It has not caused blisters or major pain, but I can feel the pressure, especially during longer use.

The heel fit is much better. I have not experienced heel slip, and the rear of the shoe feels secure during normal walking and pickleball movement.

Comfort is excellent — that is the biggest reason I like them

The Ghost 17 GTX was comfortable for me from the first day. I did not need a break-in period.

The cushioning feels very soft through both the heel and forefoot. Even after a long day, I still find them comfortable, and that is one reason they became a frequent everyday shoe for me.

The ride also feels responsive in forward movement. It gives me the sensation that the shoe rolls me forward rather than feeling flat or dead. Despite the official GTX version being heavier on paper than many lightweight shoes, I personally do not experience it as a heavy shoe on foot.

I did have some heel irritation at one point, so I would not call the fit completely issue-free. But overall I have had no recurring blisters, hotspots or major discomfort.

For walking and forward movement, stability feels very good

When I am walking, moving forward or doing light straight-line running, the Ghost 17 GTX feels stable and predictable to me.

This is where the word “stability” needs context. A running shoe can feel stable in forward movement and still be a poor match for aggressive court movement. That is exactly what happened for me here.

For serious pickleball, lateral stability is the deal-breaker

When I first used the Brooks for pickleball, I liked them. They are comfortable, easy to move forward and backward in, and perfectly usable for drills, warm-up and lower-intensity practice.

The problem appears when I start playing real matches and need hard lateral pushes, emergency stops and repeated direction changes.

The shoe feels too soft and too high off the floor for that job. My best description is that it feels like I am standing on top of a cloud. That is pleasant for comfort, but it reduces the low, planted court feeling I want when I move aggressively side to side.

Compared with my K-Swiss Express Light 3 HB Clay, the difference is obvious. The K-Swiss feels much more laterally secure and gives me more confidence in balance and stopping. The Brooks does not.

That is why I would not recommend the Ghost 17 GTX as a serious pickleball match shoe, even though I am happy to use it for casual drills or situations where I care more about comfort than maximum court stability.

If you are deciding between running shoes and court shoes specifically for pickleball, my pickleball shoes vs running shoes guide explains the broader difference.

Rain protection is very good, but not absolute

The biggest practical reason I bought the GTX version was weather protection, and it has been useful.

In normal rain, my feet have stayed dry and I have been happy with the GORE-TEX upper. That makes these much more useful to me than a standard breathable running shoe when I am walking or riding around outside in Copenhagen-style wet weather.

In very heavy rain, however, I have experienced moisture coming through eventually. Water can also enter through the ankle opening, which no waterproof upper can prevent if rain runs down into the shoe.

So my experience is: excellent for normal rain, not a magic boot for sustained heavy downpours.

Wet and dry grip have both been strong for me

Traction on asphalt and sidewalks has been one of the better parts of the shoe. I have not experienced slipping on wet pavement, and grip in dry conditions has also been very good.

That matches the intended wet-weather role better than it helps the pickleball case. A shoe can grip well on pavement and still lack the lateral geometry and court-specific support I want for side-to-side sport.

Breathability is acceptable for a GTX shoe

I expected the waterproof version to feel much hotter than a normal sneaker. In practice it has been fine.

I do think it is a little less breathable than an ordinary non-waterproof sneaker, but not dramatically so. The bigger heat issue for me is actually the black color. When I have played pickleball with direct sun on the shoes, they absorb heat and can feel warmer than I would like.

Durability has been good so far

After frequent everyday use since early June plus roughly 30 hours of pickleball, I am happy with how the shoe is holding up.

I have not had problems with the GORE-TEX layer, stitching, glue, upper or insole. The upper still looks structurally sound in my pair.

The outsole also shows normal use without one obvious failure zone. I have not noticed a specific heel or forefoot area disappearing unusually fast.

Cleaning has been easy

I have not needed a special care routine. I normally just use cleaning wipes, and the black upper is practical for everyday dirt.

The downside of black is heat rather than appearance: it hides dirt well, but it also gets hotter in direct sun.

Brooks Ghost 17 GTX vs K-Swiss Express Light 3 HB Clay for pickleball

What matters to me	Brooks Ghost 17 GTX	K-Swiss Express Light 3 HB Clay
All-day comfort	Much softer / better	Firmer
Forefoot fit on my foot	Too tight for my wider foot	Better for me
Forward walking feel	Excellent	Fine
Lateral pickleball stability	Weak point	Much better
Low-to-court feeling	Too cloud-like/high for matches	More planted
Wet-weather everyday use	Clear winner	Not what I bought it for
Serious pickleball matches	No	Yes, much better choice
Casual drills	Fine	Also good

This comparison is the core of my verdict. The Brooks is not a bad shoe. It is simply optimized for a different movement problem.

What Brooks officially lists for the Ghost 17 GTX

Brooks positions the men’s Ghost 17 GTX as a rain-ready road-running and walking shoe. For this exact generation, Brooks lists a 10 mm midsole drop, 11.3 oz / 320.3 g manufacturer weight, balanced support and a waterproof GORE-TEX layer. Brooks also describes GORE-TEX Invisible Fit bonded directly to the upper, plus soft nitrogen-infused cushioning and flex grooves intended to promote smooth heel-to-toe transitions.

Those are manufacturer specifications, not measurements I made myself. My own first-hand evidence is about fit, comfort, rain use, traction, wear and how the shoe behaves for pickleball.

See Brooks’ Ghost 17 GTX specifications →

Ghost 18 GTX now exists — so should you still buy the 17?

Brooks has now introduced the Ghost 18 GTX as the current successor. That matters because the Ghost 17 GTX may increasingly show up at discounted prices while the newer model takes over.

I have not tested the Ghost 18 GTX, so I will not pretend the newer shoe fixes my width or pickleball-stability complaints. If I were shopping today, I would consider the 18 because I liked the general Ghost GTX concept, but I would still want to try the forefoot fit before buying.

If the Ghost 17 GTX is available at a meaningful discount, I still think it can make sense as a comfortable wet-weather walking/everyday shoe. I would not buy either generation specifically as my serious pickleball shoe.

See the current Brooks Ghost 18 GTX →

Was €150.72 worth it?

For me personally, €150.72 was a little too much.

If the forefoot fit had been better on my wider feet, I would feel more positive about the price because the comfort, rain protection, grip and durability are all strong. But because the width bothers me and the shoe is not suitable for serious pickleball, my own current ceiling would be around €100.

I would not buy the Ghost 17 GTX again at €150.72. I would be more likely to try the Ghost 18 GTX or another waterproof shoe with a wider forefoot.

Check the current Brooks Ghost 17 GTX price on Amazon →

Who should buy the Ghost 17 GTX?

I think it makes sense for:

• someone wanting one comfortable waterproof shoe for walking, commuting and everyday outdoor use;
• players who only do occasional casual pickleball or drills and value cushioning more than court performance;
• people who want strong wet-pavement grip and a soft ride;
• neutral runners/walkers who already know the Ghost fit works for their foot.

I would skip it if:

• pickleball is the main reason you are buying the shoe;
• you play competitive matches with lots of hard lateral movement;
• you have a wide forefoot and cannot try the fit first;
• you want a low, planted court feel;
• you are paying full premium price when a newer Ghost GTX generation is available.

Why I rate the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX 3.8/5 for my use

My overall rating is 3.8/5. This is an editorial score based on my actual use of this exact EU 44 pair, not a laboratory score.

Criterion	Weight	Score	Evidence from my use
Comfort & cushioning	25%	4.8/5	Very soft, comfortable from day one and still good after long days.
Grip	15%	4.7/5	Very good on wet and dry asphalt; I have not experienced slipping on wet pavement.
Fit	15%	3.5/5	EU 44 length is right and heel lockdown is good, but the forefoot is too tight for my wider feet.
Lateral stability for pickleball	25%	2.2/5	Fine for drills, but the soft/high platform feels much less secure than my K-Swiss court shoes in real matches.
Weather protection & versatility	10%	4.4/5	Excellent in normal rain and useful for everyday outdoor wear, though very heavy rain can eventually get in.
Durability	5%	4.6/5	Upper, outsole, stitching, interior and GORE-TEX construction have held up well so far.
Value	5%	3.2/5	€150.72 felt expensive for me given the forefoot fit and limited serious-pickleball suitability.
Weighted rating		3.8/5	3.81 before rounding.

My final verdict

I like the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX much more as an everyday waterproof shoe than as a pickleball shoe.

For walking, commuting and normal rain, it has delivered most of what I wanted: excellent cushioning, good forward responsiveness, secure heel fit, strong wet grip and good durability. The forefoot width is my biggest everyday complaint.

For pickleball, the verdict changes. The shoe is comfortable enough that I enjoyed using it for drills and casual sessions, but when matches became more intense I felt too high and soft above the floor. After switching to a real court shoe, the improvement in lateral stability was obvious.

If you want one pair for everyday wet-weather life that can occasionally handle casual pickleball, the Ghost 17 GTX can work. If pickleball performance is the priority, I would buy a proper court shoe instead.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Brooks Ghost 17 GTX good for pickleball?

Only for casual use in my experience. I found it comfortable for drills and lower-intensity play, but the soft/high cushioning gave me much worse lateral stability than my K-Swiss court shoes during real matches.

Is the Ghost 17 GTX waterproof?

It kept my feet dry in normal rain and has worked very well as a wet-weather everyday shoe. In very heavy rain I have had moisture get through eventually, and water can also enter through the ankle opening.

How does EU 44 fit me?

The length is right for me because I normally wear roughly EU 43.5–44. The heel feels secure, but the forefoot/toe box is a little too narrow for my wider feet.

Does the Ghost 17 GTX grip well in rain?

Yes in my experience. I have had very good grip on wet asphalt and sidewalks and have not experienced slipping there.

Ghost 17 GTX or a court shoe for pickleball?

I would choose a proper court shoe. My K-Swiss Express Light 3 HB Clay feels dramatically more secure laterally and more planted for hard side-to-side movement.

Would I buy the Ghost 17 GTX again?

Not at the €150.72 I paid. I like the overall concept, but the forefoot is too tight for my foot and I would now consider the newer Ghost 18 GTX or another waterproof model with a wider fit.

Review methodology and sources

This review is based primarily on my own purchase and frequent real-world use since June 2026, including everyday walking/commuting, rain exposure and an estimated 30 hours of pickleball. I did not use the shoe as a dedicated running trainer, so I do not make claims about long-distance running performance.

Manufacturer specifications such as the 10 mm drop, listed 320.3 g weight, GORE-TEX Invisible Fit construction and intended road-running/walking use come from Brooks’ official Ghost 17 GTX product page. The existence and current specifications of the successor Ghost 18 GTX come from Brooks’ current product page. Those manufacturer facts are kept separate from my first-hand fit, comfort, traction, durability and pickleball observations.