Brooks

Launch 5

Launch 5
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Exceptional (96/100)

Shoe details

Weight
9.2 oz
Release
2017 Q4
MSRP
$100
Drop Height
10mm

Ratings & Reviews

Exceptional (96/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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Scores better than 95% of all shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Exceptional (96/100)

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (96/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 95% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Value

Exceptional (99/100)

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (99/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than >99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Exceptional (98/100)

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (98/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Very good (89/100)

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (89/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 87% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Very good (88/100)

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (88/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 84% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Durability

Good (76/100)

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (76/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 59% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

45%

28/62

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 95% of 2,617 running shoes.

Exceptional

Daily Trainers

Scores better than 95% of 1,872 daily trainers.

95%

Launch Family

Scores better than 75% of 10 launch family.

75%

Brooks

Scores better than 84% of 224 Brooks shoes.

84%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Most reviewers like this shoe more than their last shoe.
  • Reviewers rate this shoe better than the Launch 4.
  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated above average overall.
  • Rated among the top 5% of shoes on comfort.

Cons

  • Rated below average on durability.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Best value
Newest / Lowest price
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.2 oz M
Stack
Drop
1mm
7mm
Release
2017 Q4
2024 Q4 Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$100
$200
Best price
$119.99 Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Excellent (95%)
Good (80%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Exceptional (99%)
Very good (86%)
Exceptional (99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Very good (84%)
Average (50%)
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Average (59%)
Good (71%)
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Very good (87%)
Below average (35%)
Exceptional (98%) Best appearance
Value
Exceptional (>99%) Best value
Exceptional (99%)
Very good (86%)
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

Higher-rated shoes similar to this one

More from Brooks

Reader Ratings

37 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 37 written reviews

For the money

jcristy · Jan 28, 2020

4/5

Overall

I believe I got these for 40$. I typically am I happy to get 250-300 miles out of a shoe. I have owned 3 Brooks Launch 5,6,7. Out of the three I only had one that had a defect, insert kept sliding. In my 5 and my 6 I got over 400 miles in them. Great shoe for the money
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Brooks Launch 5 Review

Anonymous runner · Jul 18, 2019

5/5

Overall

Between the 4th and 5th iteration of the Launch, Brooks widened the toe box of the shoe and HELLO CINDERELLA SHOE! I cannot get enough of this shoe. It is truly a shoe that can do anything - long runs, speed work, recovery runs. I don't know what Brooks did to the 6th edition to change it, but it doesn't fit my foot like the 5th one did....so I bought up every pair of Launch 5s in my size that I could :)
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Launch Me

Anonymous runner · Jul 13, 2019

5/5

Overall

I have been training in Brooks Launch for years. They are a great price and are very comfortable especially on longer runs when you need them to be. It seems boring to always wear the same shoe so I spend an hour trying on all the other possibilities but then still end up with the Launch because they just work.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

A perfectly balanced Launch

Anonymous runner · Jul 10, 2019

5/5

Overall

The Brooks Launch is the ideal balance between cushioning and responsiveness. The midsole is firm enough for faster paced runs, yet still bouncy enough to go long (10-plus miles). I prefer my shoes to be light in weight and the Launch delivers there, too. Could be one of the best shoes I have run in over the past 49 years.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Brooks Launch 5 - Do Everything

Anonymous runner · Jul 8, 2019

4/5

Overall

I will run any distance, any type of workout in this shoe.
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
2/5
Value
5/5