Brooks Men's Launch Gts 9 Sneaker

Product Information

Shannon (GTS): The ride is ultimately what made me a fan of this shoe. As I said before, this is one quiet, smoothly riding shoe. Brooks managed to let us have our cake and eat it too with their addition of more cushioning yet keeping things lightweight. This is going to be a versatile, go-to-for-anything type of shoe just as I used my previous Launch. If you’re a fan of the previous Launch GTS, never fear as the update is one that you will enjoy equally, if not more, than its predecessor.

The tongue is lightly padded which I found offered enough protection from the laces. The laces slot through a tab on the tongue to prevent it from slipping either side. The heel fit of the Launch 10 is like most other Brooks running shoes. The heel tab curves away from the Achilles and the internal plastic heel cup has a good enough hold of my heel to prevent any slipping or lifting. The tongue is like that used in the Launch 9. It is thin, with light padding. I find that this is adequate protection from the laces. Sam: The Launch is a traditional 10mm drop daily run trainer that has been a long time favorite on the lighter, less cushioned, more agile end of the category. With the 8 we saw Brooks add a second Launch version with GuideRails GTS (Go-To-Support) thus replacing the Ravenna as the light stability trainer in the line up. Overal,l I found the Launch 9 somewhat more cushioned and forgiving than the 8 but still in character as a responsive firmer ride. I noted excellent cushion feel at the ball of th foot with a thinner more agile less cushioned feel at the very front of toe off. Heel cushion is “solid”. No bouncy bouncy but protective and more than adequate as we have 36mm at the heel. The upper is thin and well fitted to your foot but it has enough stretch to keep it comfortable. The eyelets of the shoes are reinforced with the same material from the heel counter which adds a premium feel and guaranteed durability. It’s particularly helpful when removing your laces, which you’ll want to do, since…

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Shannon (GTS): The upper on this model is relatively similar to that of the previous version. I loved it in that there are no uncomfortable seams or overlays. It wrapped the foot well and securely, but didn’t inhibit any motion of the foot. I did notice on this version, I did not have to utilize the second eyelet when lacing up to secure the heel, rather, the heel stayed snugly and securely put.

The Launch 8 and Launch GTS 8 are significantly more flexible than their predecessors. Brooks has omitted the internal bootie with a new air mesh upper. Some testers liked the increased flexibility. “My feet would tend to throb in the 7s after wearing them for too long,” said a tester who also competes in long-distance triathlons. “I did not experience this feeling at all in the 8s. I [do a lot of] long distance [training] so I need a shoe that is comfortable, well cushioned, and flexible. The Launch 8 is just that.”

Neutral

Fierce: These have a very similar ride and heel to forefoot drop. They perhaps feel a little bit more stable because they have a broader base. Here is a link to our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-fierce-2-review/

Adding to the environmental benefit is the Green Rubber silica used in the outsole rather than a petroleum base. Sam: Contrasting “stability” approaches with the GT having a firmer heel and contrasting softer, bouncier, thinner forefoot. Weight cannot be ignored here as the GT is about 1.5 oz heavier. Topo Fli-Lyte 4: A much broader more rounded toe box with a firmer more responsive ride. 3mm from heel to forefoot. The ride of these will make them a shoe for faster running only for most runners. Although they do have enough underfoot to warm up and down in the shoes. Here is a link to our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-fli-lyte-4-review/ Renee: The Rebel v2 was my favorite road shoe of 2021. The midsole is magic. The Launch 8 is a more traditional, firmer ride, for daily miles. For speed and tempo work, the Rebel v2 is better. The Launch 8 has better protection underfoot, but I’ve used the Rebel v2 from short speed work to 20 milers on gravel. Sizing is comparable.The upper is a very light one piece polyester. The heel cup is nicely padded. Not to the same extent as a Brooks Ghost or Brooks Adrenaline but more than adequate to be comfortable. Although the added padding around the heel of the Ghost and Adrenaline add to the feeling of comfort. Like you are slipping into a soft sofa. When out on the run I don’t think this level of padding improves the comfort. The slightly less padded heel cup of the Brooks Launch is more to my liking. The heel cup is plastic so that is offers some support but not so stiff that it will cause any discomfort. It is flexible enough to pull around your heel when you lace the shoes up to give a snug feel. Add to this durability which you’re not going to get in some brand’s newer foams and this could be a great, reliable shoe for you to go for. At the time of testing, I am also running in the Lululemon Blissfeel which has a more substantial width under the heel. Runners who prefer more of a base for longer runs will want to look to Blissfeel (woman-only shoe) or the ASICS GT-2000 10, in addition to Brooks’ more substantial support shoes Glycerin GTS and Beast/Ariel (men’s/women’s). The standout in the scoring categories is definitely Value. It’s a shoe that can handle all of your road mileage aside from speed day. Ride, Fit, and Style are solid across the board. (I’m not dinging the Ride based on the GTS stiffness - as I feel like this is the feature that some would be looking for, and others could choose the non-GTS version)