Brooks Launch 4
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2018
40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Brooks Launch 4
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.6 oz · 10mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Brooks Launch 3 replaced it
How it ranks
The Brooks Launch 4 ranks above most daily trainers in our data. Value and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Cushioning scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 24 runner reviews and 11 other rated shoes in the Launch product line.
Decent
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.
Confidence
96 Very high
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
“This is the greatest out of the box feel I've ever experienced. It feels like I've already put 100 miles on the shoe when I first lace up a new pair.”
“My only problem is the upper mesh rips in every version I've owned right where the toe box meets the mesh.”
“The only downsides to the shoes are that they wear quickly. I busted out the sides of them after 400ish miles.”
“I have owned them for a little over a year now and put 20-30 miles a week on them and they're just now starting to be kick around shoes.”
“They're light weight and very responsive. They're supportive enough for long runs, yet light enough for reps on the track as well.”
“They don't do well in wet conditions. Prepare to have wet feet if it is raining.”
“I have comfortably run up to 16 miles in this shoe with no blisters or chafing of any kind.”
“With its low-profile heel-toe ratio and being relatively lightweight it makes for a solid daily trainer even for the most skeptical of minimalist runners.”
“It also works well with and without orthotics, which is a hard thing to find.”
“Only down side is these shoes only last me about 250-300 miles.”
“As a longtime runner who has struggled to find shoes with a flexible/wide toe box, I have gone through 3 pairs of the Launch 4.”
“Cushioning is perfect, the shoe looks amazing, and makes you feel fast.”
“This particular version lasted 180 miles before the outer sole was completely worn down.”
“It is well cushioned and extremely comfortable, yet light enough for some tempo runs.”
“The upper is very comfortable, feeling like a sock.”
“I have put 500 miles on them and they are just now starting to rip on the sides.”
“I get decent mileage out of mine (~200 miles before feeling too flat).”
“Each pair lasts me around 400-500 miles.”
“You can typically find this shoe for sale for about $75 online.”
Prefer this shoe over another
42% 13/31
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 runs, long runs, tempos and track reps.
- It weighs 9.2 oz, and reviewers report it comfortable straight out of the box.
- It lists at $100, below the $150 median for daily trainers for sale, and six reviewers single out the price.
Cons
- Three reviewers report the upper mesh splitting where it meets the toe box.
- Reported lifespan runs from 180 to 500 miles across nine reviewers who give a figure.
- One of twenty-four reviewers so far says it handles wet conditions poorly.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
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.
Release year
-
2026 · 1 review
87 Good
77 Confidence
-
2024 · 1 review
87 Good
76 Confidence
-
2023 · 12 reviews
97 Exceptional
86 Confidence
-
2022 · 20 reviews
76 Decent
89 Confidence
-
2020 · 3 reviews
84 Good
84 Confidence
-
2019 · 3 reviews
81 Good
85 Confidence
-
2018 · 29 reviews
88 Good
97 Confidence
-
2017 · 37 reviews
85 Good
99 Confidence
-
Launch 4 This shoe
2017 · 24 reviews
78 Decent
96 Confidence
-
2017 · 11 reviews
91 Very good
94 Confidence
-
2015 · 25 reviews
69 Below average
97 Confidence
-
2009 · 55 reviews
95 Excellent
99 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.6 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 9.2 oz · Women's 7.9 oz
- Release
- 2017 Q3
- MSRP
- $100
- Drop
- 10mm
Runner reviews
Fair play
5/5
Overall
Hobby1jogger · Feb 18, 2018
60 mpw training for a marathon came from the adidas Ultra Boost 2018 - 4.0
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Brooks Koi Shoe
3/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 13, 2018
58 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018
20 mpw
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Affordable and practical Launch
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Brooks
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Brooks Launch 4 In Context
More on the Brooks Launch
- Brooks Launch 12
- Brooks Launch 11
- Brooks Launch 10
- Brooks Launch 9
- Brooks Launch 8
- Brooks Launch 7
- Brooks Launch 3 next version
- Brooks Launch 2 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Brooks Launch 3 6 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34 2 runners
- Nike Air Pegasus+ 28 1 runner