Brooks Launch 9 review

The Brooks Launch 9 is an excellent perfect pick for runners in need of a: 

• fun and lightweight running shoe that can go fast or slow 
• road shoe built for any distance and can double for casual wear

If you're looking for a dedicated, tried-and-true speed trainer that's ready to set and beat PRS, we think that it's better to go for the Brooks Hyperion Tempo or the Brooks Levitate 5.

And if you want something cheaper, the Brooks Revel 5 is our suggestion. 

In the brand's specifications, it says that the Launch 9 has a drop of 10mm.

Based on our caliper measurements, this is almost true! With the heel stack of 32.4 mm and the forefoot stack of 23 mm, we got a drop of 9.4 mm.

In our durometer measurement, the Brooks Launch 9 scored 22 HA which indicates that it has an average level of midsole softness - neither too plush nor firm.

We also felt a touch of pop that added fun to the shoe's ride. Meanwhile, for longer efforts, the cushioning felt quite forgiving, more so than its predecessor.

This shoe has a rockered shape that allows for fast and easy heel-to-toe transitions. It made the ride feel so seamless! 

The brand's new Creel wrap upper made us feel very secure and locked in. For our medium-width feet, the shoe appeared to be well-fitted and the knit-like fabric had enough stretch to feel accommodating.

However, using a caliper, we measured the widest part of the forefoot at only 94.7 mm. While this is still in the medium range of toebox widths, wide-footers should definitely go for the wide version of the shoe.

Despite its higher stack height for a speed trainer, the Brooks Launch 9 never felt tippy, even during sharp turns and when running on gravel.

Torsional stiffness appears to be the source of stability in this Brooks trainer. It took some serious effort to twist the shoe in our manual test. Thus, we rated its rigidity as 4 out of 5. Nearly the stiffest in our catalog!

The shoe's heel counter is more on the pliable side, scoring only 2 out of 5 on the heel squeeze-and-push test.

It may not be a stiff one but it held our ankle quite securely as far as speed-oriented shoes go.

When checking the flexibility of Brooks Launch 9, what surprised us is how big of a difference it is when comparing the flexibility at room temperature (22.7N) and after the shoe has spent 20mins in the freezer (37.8N).

Launch 9 has a 66.5% difference in those 2 measurements, while the average difference for all the shoes in our lab is 32.9%. You've been warned: store your shoes at room temperature. 

It's not just lighter than its predecessor; it's also lighter than most running shoes on the market! Based on our measurements, the Brooks Launch 9 is over an ounce lighter than average.

The Brooks Launch 9 proved to be a fairly breathable shoe. With very little in-shoe padding, the Launch 9 allows for some decent airflow.

Holding half of the shoe against the light, we could see that a large part of the upper is pretty transparent, keeping the interiors well-ventilated.

It is amazing that Brooks managed to pull off a full-length rubber outsole while keeping the Launch 9 so light!

The grip made us feel very surefooted even on the slightly wet pavement.

While it's great that the Launch 9 has some, we think that it wouldn't hurt to make them larger. Some at the back would be nice as well!

What definitely screams SPEED is the tongue: it is very thin.

In the lab, we measured its thickness: an astonishing 1mm. Compare it to the average of 6 mm and you really get a race-ready tongue!

This time around, the Brooks Launch 9 sees these updates: 

• More cushioned ride, thanks to the additional 2mm stack
• Lighter weight because of the new Creel wrap upper
• Sustainability-driven design with the shoe's Green Rubber outsole

All these changes entail a price increase of $10. From $100, the Brooks Launch 9 now retails for $110. But despite this, we still think that the shoe offers excellent value for money.

To champion a more eco-friendly approach, the Launch 9 has a green rubber outsole that's made using sand instead of petroleum. This lessens its environmental impact.