Brooks Launch 5

Name: Brooks Launch 5
Brand: Brooks
Rating: 4.5 (37 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.6 oz · 10mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Brooks Launch 6 replaced it

How it ranks

The Brooks Launch 5 ranks among the stronger 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 37 runner reviews and 11 other rated shoes in the Launch product line.

Good

Overall

Good 85

Value

Exceptional 99

Comfort

Excellent 95

Appearance

Good 85

Cushioning

Decent 78

Durability

Decent 78

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

99 Very high

Very high 99

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

“These shoes will not last particularly long. The upper started separating from the sole within five weeks of wear”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for middle distance came from the Brooks Ghost 9

“Outstanding durability. I only retired my Launch 3's at 700 miles”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“The midsole is firm enough for faster paced runs, yet still bouncy enough to go long (10-plus miles)”

5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for sprints came from the Saucony Kinvara 9

“The Brooks Launch is the ideal balance between cushioning and responsiveness”

5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for sprints came from the Saucony Kinvara 9

“Within a couple days of molding to my feet, they were sublime”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for middle distance came from the Brooks Ghost 9

“With these on I feel like I'm being propelled forward a bit. Definitely springy and fun to run in”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 9

“The sock-like inner is the main, noticeable feature of a shoe that was designed with comfort as a priority”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

“It is responsive, durable enough to train in daily, and under $100”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35

“Incredibly durable for a lightweight trainer”

5/5 Full review 75 mpw came from the Brooks Ravenna 9

“The new upper is about the most comfortable running shoe I've ever worn”

3/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

“They wore out after only about 250–300 miles for me”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw came from the On Cloud

“A light and responsive shoe that fits well but doesn't feel flimsy”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

“There's a lack of cushioning so on longer runs I'll have a bit of soreness in my foot”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 9

“Lasted me for about 800 miles before the heel cup wire got out of place”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 11

“Each run I had a strange and uncomfortable feeling in my legs”

1/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8

“I ran into an issue of having a sore Achilles due to changes in the shoe”

3/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

“Not very cushioned, but it's not supposed to be”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon came from the HOKA Cavu

“The laces are annoyingly long, especially for narrow feet”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for middle distance came from the Brooks Ghost 9

“Decent (but not too much) cushioning, and reasonably lightweight and responsive”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Skechers GOrun Ride 6

“The cushioning seems thinner in the forefoot and the drop 1 or 2 mm more forward”

5/5 Full review 75 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

“Shooting pain in my quad during a workout the day after wearing the Launch”

1/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8

“Tends to break down pretty quick”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Ride 10

“Brooks widened the toe box of the shoe”

5/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 21

“Feels exactly like you expect a running shoe to feel”

5/5 Full review 75 mpw came from the Brooks Ravenna 9

“I would prefer a little more cushion in the shoe”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35

“Slightly higher heel drop than I'd prefer”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11

Prefer this shoe over another

45% 28/62

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Eight reviewers use it for tempo work and racing, calling it light and responsive.
Comfort averages 4.7 out of 5 across thirty-seven reviews, and five reviewers praise the sock-like upper.
Four reviewers use it for everything from intervals to runs over twenty miles.

Cons

Durability averages 4.1 out of 5, the lowest of its six dimensions, and four reviewers see it break down by about 300 miles.
Four reviewers find it short on cushioning, and one gets foot soreness on longer runs as a result.
Two reviewers say the ride changed from the Launch 4, one of them returning the shoe with a sore Achilles.

Launch 5 rates 85. 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 This shoe

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

2015 · 25 reviews

69 Below average

97 Confidence
Launch 1

2009 · 55 reviews

95 Excellent

99 Confidence

Runner Ratings

37 ratings

5/5 24

4/5 11

3/5 1

2/5 0

1/5 1

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 Q4
MSRP: $100
Drop: 10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

The launch is a good line and the newest model doesn't disapppint

4/5

Overall

A good shoe for training day to day on asphalt, gravel, or dirt. The cushioning is significant but it feels nice and your legs feel pretty great the next day. The launch has always been a solid choice and the newest model does not disappoint.

fanta monster · Jul 11, 2018

75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Supernova

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

Great fast shoe

5/5

Overall

I use the Launch for speed work and races below 10k. With these on I feel like I'm being propelled forward a bit. Definitely springy and fun to run in. There's a lack of cushioning so on longer runs I'll have a bit of soreness in my foot, nothing too bad.

dantallarico · Feb 11, 2018

50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 9

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

Lovin' the Launch

5/5

Overall

Love to train in the Brooks Launch. Excellent shoe for the right price!

Anonymous runner · Feb 9, 2018

25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Nikr Free RN Distance

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

Too much drop vs last version

3/5

Overall

I've run in a few pairs of Launch 4s over the past couple years and liked the cushion and lightweight feel. I tried the Launch 5 for a few weeks and initially liked the shoe a lot. The new upper is about the most comfortable running shoe I've ever worn and they felt light and fast. I ran into an issue of having a sore Achilles due to changes in the shoe and had to send it back.

Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

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

Comfortably Neutral

5/5

Overall

For folks who require a neutral shoe and don't over-pronate or supinate, there's no better shoe than the Launch series. The sock-like inner is the main, noticeable feature of a shoe that was designed with comfort as a priority.

Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018

35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4