← Back home
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)

Better than about 95% of shoes

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
?

This score rates better than 95% of 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 score out of 100. Shading shows the expected rating range.
?

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 score 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 ranking

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.

Estimate

Exceptional (96/100)

Rank

Ranks above 95% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Value

Exceptional (99/100)

Value ranking

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.

Estimate

Exceptional (99/100)

Rank

Ranks above >99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Comfort

Exceptional (98/100)

Comfort ranking

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.

Estimate

Exceptional (98/100)

Rank

Ranks above 99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Appearance

Above average (89/100)

Appearance ranking

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.

Estimate

Above average (89/100)

Rank

Ranks above 85% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Cushioning

Above average (87/100)

Cushioning ranking

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.

Estimate

Above average (87/100)

Rank

Ranks above 83% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Durability

Good (76/100)

Durability ranking

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.

Estimate

Good (76/100)

Rank

Ranks above 58% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score 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

Better than 95% of 2,526 running shoes ranked.

Exceptional (96/100)

Daily Trainers

Better than 95% of 1,834 daily trainers ranked.

95%

Launch Family

Better than 75% of 10 launch family ranked.

75%

Brooks

Better than 83% of 220 Brooks shoes ranked.

83%

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.

Brooks Launch 5
Brooks Launch 11
HOKA Clifton 9
Launch 5
Launch 11
Clifton 9
Current shoe
Best appearance / Best value
Newest / Lowest price
Lightest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.2 oz M
—
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
—
—
40/35mm
Drop
1mm
—
5mm
Release
2017 Q4
2024 Q4 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$100
—
$165
Best price
—
$119.99 Lowest price
$164.99
Ratings
Overall
Excellent (95%)
Above average (67%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Exceptional (99%)
Good (76%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Very good (83%)
Bottom tier (19%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Average (58%)
Good (71%)
Good (80%) Best durability
Appearance
Very good (85%) Best appearance
Below average (30%)
Very good (81%)
Value
Exceptional (>99%) Best value
Exceptional (98%)
Good (74%)
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

HOKA Mach 6

Mach 6

Daily trainer

$114.97

98th percentile

+3 percentile points vs this shoe
PUMA Velocity NITRO 2

Velocity NITRO 2

Daily trainer

$119.99

97th percentile

+2 percentile points vs this shoe
Altra Escalante 4

Escalante 4

Daily trainer

$129.95

97th percentile

+2 percentile points vs this shoe

More from Brooks

Brooks Ariel GTS 24

Ariel GTS 24

Daily trainer

$99.88

67th percentile
Brooks Ghost 17

Ghost 17

Daily trainer

$98.97

81st percentile
Brooks Revel 8

Revel 8

Daily trainer

$71.97

8th percentile

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