Brooks Launch 2

Name: Brooks Launch 2
Brand: Brooks
Rating: 4.3 (25 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.8 oz · 10mm drop · 27/17mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Brooks Launch 4 replaced it

How it ranks

The Brooks Launch 2 ranks below most daily trainers in our data. Value and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 25 runner reviews and 11 other rated shoes in the Launch product line.

Decent

70/100

Overall

Decent 70

Value

Exceptional 97

Comfort

Decent 79

Cushioning

Decent 76

Durability

Decent 72

Appearance

Decent 73

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

93/100

High 93

What runners say

“The heel on one shoe has all but worn down through the black and exposed white.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1

“It is light but still supportive and soft, and lets me feel like I am running naturally.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1

“There is a bunch more cushioning (which normally I would not like). I was pleasantly surprised.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1

“The collar/top edge feels very stiff, reducing ankle mobility for lateral bending.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1

“It feels heavy and stiff and a bit narrower than the first version.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1

“It is light enough to use in longer races, yet sturdy enough for day to day use.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon

“They're lighter, more comfortable, and surprisingly more durable than the Ghost.”

5/5 Full review 75 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 7

“The material on the contact surface wears a lot quicker than I was expecting.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1

“The Launch 2 is a nice lightweight shoe that is very responsive and firm yet adequately cushioned.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30

“Launch 2 is merely an OK trainer. Has lost the virtues that the original Launch had.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1

Prefer this shoe over another

50% 14/28

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers use it for easy miles, faster workouts and marathon training, several calling it the most versatile shoe they own.
Value draws 4.4 out of 5, and reviewers repeatedly name the price as a reason to buy.
Comfort draws 4.4 out of 5, the highest mark of any dimension, with reviewers describing an upper that fits like a glove.

Cons

Durability draws 4.0 out of 5, the lowest mark of any dimension, and several reviewers report the outsole wearing at the heel and outside edges.
Several fans of the original Launch call this version heavier, stiffer and narrower, and one says it lost what the first one had.
The Launch 1 and the Launch 10 both score 99 against its 71.

Launch 2 rates 70. This shoe has high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Brooks Launch

Each dot is one version of the Launch, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

98 2009 70 2015 98 2017 86 2017 93 2017 96 2018 85 2019 86 2020 71 2022 99 2023 90 2024 85 2026

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Launch 12

2026 · 1 review

85 Good

58 Confidence
Launch 11

2024 · 1 review

90 Very good

75 Confidence
Launch 10

2023 · 12 reviews

99 Exceptional

95 Confidence
Launch 9

2022 · 20 reviews

71 Decent

86 Confidence
Launch 8

2020 · 3 reviews

86 Good

70 Confidence
Launch 7

2019 · 3 reviews

85 Good

77 Confidence
Launch 6

2018 · 29 reviews

96 Excellent

95 Confidence
Launch 5

2017 · 37 reviews

93 Excellent

96 Confidence
Launch 4

2017 · 24 reviews

86 Good

92 Confidence
Launch 3

2017 · 11 reviews

98 Exceptional

94 Confidence
Launch 2 This shoe

2015 · 25 reviews

70 Decent

93 Confidence
Launch 1

2009 · 55 reviews

98 Exceptional

99 Confidence

Reader Ratings

25 ratings

5/5 10

4/5 14

3/5 0

2/5 1

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 9.8 oz
Release: 2015
MSRP: $110
Stack Height: 27mm heel - 17mm toe
Drop Height: 10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Reader review

4/5

Overall

So far it's been good. I find that it's a little mushy and lacks responsiveness but on the whole, the shoe is light, comfortable, and nimble. Durability in the upper and outsole seems good but I've only been running in them for about a month and a half so we'll have to see how long they last.

darrylbank · Dec 2, 2015

60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 4

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

Reader review

4/5

Overall

I replaced the Nike Lunar Tempo with the Launch 2. On the plus side, the Launch is more durable and $10 cheaper. Fit is similar in that it's snug but not tight. So far have worn the Launch for runs as long as 9 miles and from the feel of them fully expect they could handle any distance. Obviously less important/not really important at all, but I don't like the looks of the Launch that much. Overall, I would recommend the Launch 2 for someone not looking to break the bank on a pair of trainers and who doesn't need a ton of cushioning in their daily trainers.

teddy_farley · Nov 30, 2015

70 mpw came from the Nike Lunar Tempo

Comfort: 3/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Possibly the best all-around running shoe I've ever worn. I didn't expect to like the Launch 2 so much, because I bought a pair of Launch 1's a few years ago and sold them after a single run because they didn't work for me at all. I gave them another try because the Launch 2 seemed to fit the shape of my foot better, and they turned out to be great. I've worn many pairs of Brooks Ghosts, but don't think I'll go back after wearing the Launch 2. They're lighter, more comfortable, and surprisingly more durable than the Ghost. I've replaced my Ghosts after 350-400 miles because they felt flat, but my pair of Launch 2s made it to 500 miles.

Anonymous runner · Nov 30, 2015

75 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 7

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Reader review

4/5

Overall

I typically run in a stability shoe like the Ravenna for longer runs and bought the Launch as a light shoe to wear for some faster running. While they are ok for that, I find the Ravenna better for me and I now run in the Launch for shorter recovery/easy runs. They have nice cushioning and are super comfortable. They are not supportive enough for me for long runs (anything much over an hour). The upper is really nice, they fit like a glove. They are too heavy for racing though. But I am enjoying them, just not for what I originally intended.

sarabishop · Nov 17, 2015

35 mpw training for a marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Great shoe, worn it steady for over a year. Switch between the Launch and Nike Pegasus for most recovery/longer days, faster workouts I wear the Kinvara and very fast days I use flats or spikes. The Launch has enough durability for the lightness of the shoe.

Anonymous runner · Sep 2, 2015

80 mpw came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 16