Brooks Launch 2

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

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.9 oz · 27/17mm stack · 10mm drop

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

How it ranks

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

Below average

Overall

Below average 69

Value

Excellent 95

Comfort

Decent 77

Appearance

Decent 73

Durability

Decent 71

Cushioning

Decent 71

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 is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

97 Very high

Very high 97

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings

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

“They are not supportive enough for long runs (anything much over an hour).”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon

“Lighter and just as versatile for both speed sessions and long runs.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 7

“My pair of Launch 2s made it to 500 miles.”

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

“The Launch has enough durability for the lightness of the shoe.”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 16

“The upper is really nice, they fit like a glove.”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon

“The Launch has more room in the toe box.”

4/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31

“Lightweight trainer, but sturdy enough to train for a marathon or a half.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw came from the Brooks Pure Flow 3

“It's a little mushy and lacks responsiveness.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 4

“The Launch is more durable and cheaper.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw came from the Nike Lunar Tempo

“The forefoot is more cushioned in the Launch 2 than in the Pegasus.”

4/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31

“Good for someone not looking to break the bank and who doesn't need a ton of cushioning.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw came from the Nike Lunar Tempo

“Fit is snug but not tight.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw came from the Nike Lunar Tempo

“They are too heavy for racing.”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a marathon

“Outside edges have started showing extreme wear.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a marathon

“The laces are really long so I have to cut them.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half 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 Oct 22.

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 69. This shoe has very high confidence. 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

95 2009 69 2015 91 2017 78 2017 85 2017 88 2018 81 2019 84 2020 76 2022 97 2023 87 2024 87 2026

Release year

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

Launch 12

2026 · 1 review

87 Good

77 Confidence
Launch 11

2024 · 1 review

87 Good

76 Confidence
Launch 10

2023 · 12 reviews

97 Exceptional

86 Confidence
Launch 9

2022 · 20 reviews

76 Decent

89 Confidence
Launch 8

2020 · 3 reviews

84 Good

84 Confidence
Launch 7

2019 · 3 reviews

81 Good

85 Confidence
Launch 6

2018 · 29 reviews

88 Good

97 Confidence
Launch 5

2017 · 37 reviews

85 Good

99 Confidence
Launch 4

2017 · 24 reviews

78 Decent

96 Confidence
Launch 3

2017 · 11 reviews

91 Very good

94 Confidence
Launch 2 This shoe

2015 · 25 reviews

69 Below average

97 Confidence
Launch 1

2009 · 55 reviews

95 Excellent

99 Confidence

Runner 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: 8.9 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 9.8 oz · Women's 7.9 oz
Release: 2015
MSRP: $110
Stack: 27/17mm
Drop: 10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

2/5

Overall

I had 384 miles on the shoe. I have been a hobby runner since 1977 with 85-87000 miles on my legs. Running along on a steady 7 miler, I thought I had gotten a bur from a cactus in my shoe. I stopped, took the shoe off, shook it out...nothing. Put the shoe back on, started running, same sharp pain in heel... Stopped again, took off the shoe, shook it out.....nothing. Went home, got my old man glasses on, looked at my heel, a puncture wound.. Took guts of right shoe from the Launch out..ran my fingers inside, sharp pain, cut my finger!!! A NAIL!!!! A NAIL??????? I thought shoes weren't made with nails anymore????? I thought that was back in the day of the cobbler....... Threw the shoes away..... Be aware!!

Robert E . Lee · Jul 26, 2015

30 mpw 912 miles in this shoe came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31

Comfort: 2/5
Durability: 1/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 2/5

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · May 13, 2015

35 mpw came from the Saucony Virrata 2

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

5/5

Overall

I've been running in the Launch since it was introduced and I've never met a more versatile shoe. It is light enough to use in longer races, yet sturdy enough for day to day use. It also is one of the few shoes that works really well with or without orthotics. The fit is great for me, it is durable enough and the price is reasonable.

Anonymous runner · May 11, 2015

30 mpw training for a half marathon

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

5/5

Overall

JBM · May 10, 2015

80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Precision 13

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

4/5

Overall

I've switched over to the Brooks Launch 2 with some reservations due to the fact that I loved the original Launch. I knew they added a few ounces to this version and changed quite a bit of the look. Mainly what I noticed is that there is a bunch more cushioning (which normally I would not like). I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't feel like there was much change in weight (or felt that way with the added padding) and was happy with the outer material switch over. I had trouble with almost every version of the Launch 1 right where my little toe contacted the mesh. I've worn right through the material to the point that on one occasion, when I slipped off the edge of a road lip, my toe popped completely out. Luckily, this happened right when it was time to retire them anyway. They have completely fixed this issue with a totally new material. The only complaint I have with the Launch 2 is that the material on the contact surface wears a lot quicker than I was expecting. I'm not sure why this would have changed unless they went to a cheaper material. I would say that I have been running in them since mid February and probably have 550 miles in them. The heal on one shoe has all but worn down through the black and exposed white. Other than this, I still love them.

RunningRocko · May 9, 2015

70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 1