← Back home
Brooks

Launch 8

Shoe image placeholder
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Above average (81/100)

Shoe details

Release
2020 Q4
MSRP
$100

Ratings & Reviews

Above average (81/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 3 runner ratings.
?

This score rates better than 66% 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.

Review a shoe.

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

Above average (81/100)

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

Above average (81/100)

Rank

Ranks above 66% 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.

Durability

Above average (88/100)

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

Above average (88/100)

Rank

Ranks above 81% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Comfort

Above average (87/100)

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

Above average (87/100)

Rank

Ranks above 78% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Appearance

Good (72/100)

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

Good (72/100)

Rank

Ranks above 37% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Cushioning

Good (67/100)

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

Good (67/100)

Rank

Ranks above 24% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

100%

1/1

Would buy again

Reviewers who said they would buy this shoe again.

25%

1/4

Prefer this shoe over another.

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

All Running Shoes

Better than 66% of 2,526 running shoes ranked.

Above average (81/100)

Daily Trainers

Better than 66% of 1,834 daily trainers ranked.

66%

Launch Family

Worse than 75% of 10 launch family ranked.

25%

Brooks

Worse than 55% of 220 Brooks shoes ranked.

45%

Pros & Cons

Cons

  • Reviewers rate this shoe worse than the Launch 7.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Shoe image placeholder
Brooks Launch 11
HOKA Clifton 9
Launch 8
Launch 11
Clifton 9
Current shoe
Best durability / 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
—
—
8.5 oz M
Stack
—
—
40/35mm
Drop
—
—
5mm
Release
2020 Q4
2024 Q4 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$100
—
$165
Best price
—
$119.99 Lowest price
$164.99
Ratings
Overall
Above average (66%)
Above average (67%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Good (78%)
Good (76%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Below average (24%)
Bottom tier (19%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Very good (81%) Best durability
Good (71%)
Good (80%)
Appearance
Below average (37%)
Below average (30%)
Very good (81%) Best appearance
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

Brooks Revel Max

Revel Max

Daily trainer

$119.99

93rd percentile

+27 percentile points vs this shoe
Saucony Triumph 23

Triumph 23

Daily trainer

$134.96

91st percentile

+25 percentile points vs this shoe
HOKA Mach 7

Mach 7

Daily trainer

$144.95

89th percentile

+23 percentile points vs this shoe
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3

FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3

Daily trainer

$139.88

83rd percentile

+17 percentile points vs this shoe
Brooks Ghost 17

Ghost 17

Daily trainer

$98.97

81st percentile

+15 percentile points vs this shoe
Saucony Kinvara 16

Kinvara 16

Daily trainer

$129.95

80th percentile

+14 percentile points vs this shoe

More from Brooks

Brooks Ariel GTS 24

Ariel GTS 24

Daily trainer

$99.88

67th percentile

+1 percentile points vs this shoe
Brooks Ghost 17

Ghost 17

Daily trainer

$98.97

81st percentile

+15 percentile points vs this shoe
Brooks Revel 8

Revel 8

Daily trainer

$71.97

8th percentile

Reader Ratings

3 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–2 of 2 written reviews

Best Trainer Brooks Has Had and I Wish They Brought It Back

Dev · Jun 9, 2026

5/5

Overall

This is a great value shoe and versatile across workouts and other runs. Later iterations have been okay, but this one holds a special place in my ranking list. Not only is it great for easy runs, long runs, and any other everyday runs on the roads or trails, but holds up just fine in a large majority of track, grass, and road workouts that I've done. Also, the price was fantastic for the product and I got plenty of miles out of several pairs of these. Maybe one day Brooks will release a version that matches up to these again in the not too distant future, but until then, I will keep looking on Ebay to snag any leftover as often as I can.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Great all around shoe for the price

Matt · Jul 6, 2023

4/5

Overall

I've ran in ~15 pairs of these over the last several years and they get me through 70 mile weeks and up to ~700-800 miles per pair without injury. What more can I ask for in a shoe?

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