Brooks Launch 4

Name: Brooks Launch 4
Brand: Brooks
Rating: 4.6 (24 reviews)

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

Overall

Decent 78

Value

Exceptional 99

Comfort

Good 85

Appearance

Decent 79

Durability

Decent 74

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

96 Very high

Very high 96

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.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw came from the Brooks Launch 3

“My only problem is the upper mesh rips in every version I've owned right where the toe box meets the mesh.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw came from the Brooks Launch 3

“The only downsides to the shoes are that they wear quickly. I busted out the sides of them after 400ish miles.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“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.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 18

“They're light weight and very responsive. They're supportive enough for long runs, yet light enough for reps on the track as well.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“They don't do well in wet conditions. Prepare to have wet feet if it is raining.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“I have comfortably run up to 16 miles in this shoe with no blisters or chafing of any kind.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante V2

“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.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30

“It also works well with and without orthotics, which is a hard thing to find.”

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

“Only down side is these shoes only last me about 250-300 miles.”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw came from the Brooks Purecadence 5

“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.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“Cushioning is perfect, the shoe looks amazing, and makes you feel fast.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw came from the Brooks Launch 3

“This particular version lasted 180 miles before the outer sole was completely worn down.”

3/5 Full review 58 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“It is well cushioned and extremely comfortable, yet light enough for some tempo runs.”

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

“The upper is very comfortable, feeling like a sock.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 28

“I have put 500 miles on them and they are just now starting to rip on the sides.”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“I get decent mileage out of mine (~200 miles before feeling too flat).”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 28

“Each pair lasts me around 400-500 miles.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“You can typically find this shoe for sale for about $75 online.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

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.

Launch 4 rates 78. 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 This shoe

2017 · 24 reviews

78 Decent

96 Confidence
Launch 3

2017 · 11 reviews

91 Very good

94 Confidence
Launch 2

2015 · 25 reviews

69 Below average

97 Confidence
Launch 1

2009 · 55 reviews

95 Excellent

99 Confidence

Runner Ratings

24 ratings

5/5 15

4/5 8

3/5 1

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

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

Write a review

Brooks Launch 4 Go-To Trainer

5/5

Overall

I've been wearing the Launch since it came out and for me (smaller build female) it's a perfect all-around training shoe. It is well cushioned and extremely comfortable, yet light enough for some tempo runs. It also works well with and without orthotics, which is a hard thing to find. I've been wearing this shoe since it came out in '09 and it has lost some of its nimbleness and suitability for faster runs, but it still works well for all but the most performance-oriented runs.

Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018

30 mpw training for a half marathon

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

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Kayano 24

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

Great light-weight, neutral, cheap shoe

5/5

Overall

The upper is very comfortable, feeling like a sock. It's very light-weight and is built for neutral foot. I get decent mileage out of mine (~200 miles before feeling too flat) and for the price (usually less than $100) it works great as training shoe. I used these in college after the Nike Pegasus started going downhill, while I was training mostly as a middle distance runner. I still use them now training for half marathons.

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 28

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

Brooks Launch 4

4/5

Overall

I've been a life-long Brooks guy. In my college days the Ghost was my absolute favorite shoe. But ever since Brooks re-launched the Launch, I haven't worn anything else. I am extremely pleased that Brooks has only ever made very subtle changes to the Launch year to year. I can't state this enough, 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. Cushioning is perfect, the shoe looks amazing, and makes you feel fast. My only problem is the upper mesh rips in every version I've owned right where the toe box meets the mesh. I recommend this shoe to anyone who asks. The price point is perfect, and the performance this shoe gives will suite beginners to the pros.

bearxc2 · Feb 6, 2018

45 mpw came from the Brooks Launch 3