Brooks Launch 4 Review

I have reviewed six shoes from Brooks in the past year or so.  The Glycerin 13 (which received Runner’s World’s Best Update Award for 2015), the PureFlow 5, the Neuro and the Launch 3 (one of my all-time favorites), the Ghost 9, and the all new trail shoe Caldera.   They all are great shoes that I use on a rotating basis in my training.   

Brooks is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.  Brooks’ motto is to “Run Happy” but they also try to “Live Green.”  Brooks has four categories for their shoes.

-          Cushion Me – Soft and protective shoes

-          Energize Me – Responsive and springy shoes

-          Connect Me – Light weight and flexible shoes

-          Propel Me – Fast, low-profile shoes   

Shoes in Brooks’ Energize series are responsive and springy to add a little extra lift to your stride.  Let’s get the basic specs out of the way.  The Brooks Launch 4 has a 10mm heel drop, is a neutral shoe, and weighs in at 9.0 ounces (0.8 ounces lighter than the Launch 3).  This shoe is ideal for people with medium to high arches and is a great shoe for all road running, from easy runs to races and everything in between. 

Brooks used their BioMoGo DNA midsole cushioning that dramatically adapts to each step and stride.  You get a fast heel-to-toe transition with the Segmented Crash Pad and Midfoot Transition Zone.  Brooks added more blown rubber in the forefoot area for an extra-springy toe-off.  The upper material uses Brooks’ new 3D print which adds structure to the shoe without adding too much weight and the air mesh that they used in the shoe ensures a decent amount of ventilation.  That will help to keep your feet a little cooler and drier.  The bottom of the shoe has blown rubber covering the whole shoe for added durability.

Now that I have talked about the different materials (which may not be the easiest to understand), let’s look at the difference between this and the Launch 3, which is one my favorite shoes of all time.  The Launch 4 added some additional blown rubber in the forefoot and redesigned the outsole to make the shoe extra spring.  They also dropped 0.8 ounces from the overall weight of the shoe and redesigned the U-Groove in the heel cup to accommodate more stride patterns.  The upper material was also redesigned to improve the overall fit and feel of the shoe as well as slightly changing the shape of the forefoot. Below are pictures of the Launch 4 (left - in red) and Launch 3 (right - in blue).

 

It is really hard to compare this to the Launch 3 because of how much I like it.  I feel that the Launch 4 is a great shoe, but the differences are not a game changer by any means.  It feels great and performs well too.  I would highly recommend the Launch 4 for sure.   

Pros:

Awesome lacing system

Fit true to size

Great price $100-110

Looks awesome (several color options)

Light weight at 9.0 ounces

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Brooks keeps putting out great shoes.  The Launch 4 is part of the best series in the running industry and is loaded with awesome features.  The price point of $100-110 on the Brooks website is hard to beat as well.  You can also find them at your local retailer (click here for locations).  Go to your local running store and give it a test run.  Get yours today and let me know what you think. 

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.