Brooks Launch 10 review

We are of the opinion that this Brooks daily trainer is a great choice for:

• Those seeking a value-oriented running shoe that can handle almost any pace and distance
• Beginners who want a versatile road running shoe without breaking the bank
• Runners looking for a lightweight workhorse to add to their collection.

We're not going to lie—this Brooks shoe is so good that it's hard to find a runner who shouldn't get them. But there are two potential situations where you may want to explore other alternatives.

If you like low-drop or even mid-drop shoes, this one is going to be too steep for you with its 10-mm heel-to-toe drop. You might want to check the Hoka Mach 5 instead.

Also, if you live in a cold climate and you're not on a budget, there are better choices in the market. A versatile and light shoe with premium foam like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a wiser choice in this scenario.

You might be thinking—if it's that light, it probably has a low stack height. But that's not the case at all!

We measured the stack height in the heel at 33.8 mm, and that's more than enough cushion even for heel strikers.

In the forefoot, we discovered a measurement that's right in the middle of the road: 23.8 mm. This makes the shoe suitable for both forefoot and midfoot strikers.

However, if you're plan to do long runs and you're a forefoot striker, you might consider a more cushioned option with a lower drop, like the ASICS Novablast 3.

Brooks has made quite a name for itself in the running shoe world for crafting high drop shoes, and they've done it again. Oh, and this time, the American brand said the heel-to-toe drop would be 10 mm and we found exactly that same drop. Now, that's something you don't see every day!

When we shift our attention to the midsole, we discover that the DNA foam is moderately soft, registering at 19.8 HA in our durometer.

Even though this isn't the top-tier foam in Brooks' lineup, it does an impressive job of delivering a nice balance between softness and energy return.

After letting the Launch 10 spend 20 long and boring minutes in our freezer, we checked the midsole again and found that it wasn't as plush as before. The measurement now came in at 26.5 HA, showing a noticeable change in its softness.

It's a disappointing 33.8%, but honestly, it's not the worst we've seen.

This is exactly what we'd expect from an EVA-based foam that just isn't made to deliver a top-notch performance but to keep manufacturing costs at bay.

Aiming for a boost in comfort, the insole of the Launch 10 is a little thicker than what you'll find in most shoes. It measures 5.8 mm, giving that extra cushiony feel.

The upper of the shoe feels accommodating and is roomier than average, but it doesn't give the impression of being an exceptionally wide shoe. We measured it at 100.5 mm at its widest part.

Around the big-toe area, the fit becomes a bit more snug, as we've measured that part at 77.9 mm, yet it's nothing you should worry about.

Even though the basic Launch 10 doesn't carry the famous "GTS" label that signals stability in Brooks shoes, it still does a great job. We've found that it never feels unstable, making it a solid choice for neutral runners who crave stability without an intrusive approach.

When we gently twisted the shoe for the torsional rigidity test, we settled on a score of 3 out of 5.

This result perfectly aligns with our feelings about the shoe's decent stability. Even though it's not specifically designed for this feature and doesn't carry the Brooks GuideRails, the shoe shows no signs of wobbling at all.

This is neither the hyper-stiff heel counter typically found in stability shoes nor the flexible one seen in most daily trainers. Instead, it finds a comfortable middle ground.

To create a lightweight shoe, it's essential not to make the design overly wide. Brooks understood this principle well, and that's why we measured a forefoot width of 113.8 mm, a figure that is right in line with the average. 

In the heel, Brooks took a really aggressive approach, narrowing it down to 83.2 mm.

While this design likely won't be a problem for most runners, heel strikers who have overpronation might find this shoe a little bit unstable and may want to try a wider shoe like the Brooks Glycerin GTS 20.

A daily trainer must embody the essence of comfort, and a significant part of that comfort comes from the shoe's longitudinal flexibility. Fortunately, we only needed to apply a mere 18.2N of force to move it to our measurement point. 

However, things changed after we exposed the shoe to freezing temperatures for 20 minutes. We then needed to exert 30.7N of force to move it to the same point. This is almost double the force required before, showing a significant change in the shoe's flexibility.

Indeed, there's a 68.6% increase in rigidity, and it's pretty disappointing, though we can't say we're surprised. EVA foams like this one tend to perform poorly in cold weather, becoming excessively rigid.

Weighing in at a feather-light 8.10 oz (230g) for a US size 9, this is one of the lightest daily trainers on the market. 

To give you a better idea of how light that really is, consider this: the popular Nike Pegasus 40 is 20% heavier. That's quite a difference when you're on the move!

The breathability in the Brooks Launch 10 isn't the worst or the best we've ever measured. It just sits in the middle, and we've rated it accordingly at 3/5 in our remarkable test using a smoke-pumping machine.

The result was surprising because the shoe appeared to have breathability holes integrated into the upper, or so we thought. Our light test revealed them, although it's evident they're not as effective as those in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23.

But nothing shows the truth like our microscope, where we can examine the upper really closely.

Here we observed that Brooks opted for an engineered mesh that, when seen up close, is thicker than it seemed. There's not much room for heat and humidity to escape.

A similar performance of the Brooks Launch 10 extends from breathability to durability. We put this shoe through our challenging Dremel test, where we apply the same force for the same time to every shoe.

While a rating of 2/5 may initially seem like a low result, it's actually a good score in this demanding test. Impressively, the affordable Launch 10 outperforms most shoes on the market!

However, it's in the heel where the Launch 10 truly shines. When we switched on the Dremel again, the heel remained undaunted, displaying an impressive resilience.

The comparison with the Saucony Guide 16 became almost comical, highlighting the superior strength and robust nature of the Launch 10's heel.

Moving to the outsole, we discovered an average compound with a hardness of 81.4 HC.

This clearly shows us that Brooks opted for a classic approach here, trying to achieve a balanced mix of durability and grip.

But is it durable? We used the Dremel for its final appearance in this review and discovered that it performed quite well.

After 20 seconds, the tool was only able to make a 0.64-mm indentation in the outsole. This result surpasses the performance of the average shoe, showcasing its impressive durability.

Brooks keeps playing it safe with the outsole, and we can't blame them! We measured the thickness at a solid 3.4 mm, which is pretty average and seems enough to last the entire lifespan of the midsole.

It appears to be a recurring trend in recent running shoes—no reflective elements are included. The Launch 10 follows suit, unfortunately. 

We continue to analyze the tongue, focusing now on its thickness. Measuring at 5.6 mm, it's quite average, seemingly striving to strike a balance between comfort and weight reduction. For this shoe, we believe it's the right approach.

The shoe features a semi-gusseted tongue, an excellent addition that significantly enhances the lockdown.

This design prevents any unwanted tongue movement while running. Finding such an impressive feature in a $110 shoe is amazing!

Brooks has a consistent habit of leaving out heel tabs on their shoes, and this time is no different.

At least, the insole is removable, so you can fit your favorite one or your own orthotics.