You should not expect the softest midsole on the market, simply because it is so versatile and built for different kinds of runs. So, if this is what you are looking for, there are other alternatives available. The rest of the rubber is the same firmness all the way to the front, moderately firm and also not a soft blown rubber up front yet I do think compared to the prior rubber it may contribute to the slightly softer ride I feel. This is not a super flexible light trainer as say the Kinvara 13 or Puma Liberate are. There is a moderate long flex with the front of the shoe with the toe off very stable. My sample pair was a half size up from my normal US 8.5 and fits very well but it is long so in a future pair I would go true to size. There is plenty of toe box room, well held with just two small overlays near lace up. The toe bumper below the denser front orange weave is quite firm more vertical than the weave would indicate over the toes and clearly has a plastic stiffener of some kind. Brooks has developed four main cushioning foams for its shoes. Each one is optimized for different traits, like soft cushioning or low weight, which play a large role in defining the distinct feeling of Brooks’ “Cushion,” “Speed,” and “Energize” experiences.

I am, personally, a big fan of this running shoe, both the neutral and the stable edition. It is justified to say that both shoes deserve a place in any runner’s rotation of running shoes, or if you only want to own one pair of running shoes. Like the Ghost, it has a high drop, which may feel a bit clunky to runners used to lower-drop shoes. Even so, the plush heel cushioning softens impacts, and the thinner forefoot has good flexibility for snappy toe-offs. The air mesh upper breathes well and features lots of padding around the collar for comfy fit, and the high-coverage rubber outsole is grippy and tough enough to withstand high-mileage training routines. In this special mini-podcast episode, our team breaks down the differences between the Launch 8 and Launch GTS. We also talk budget shoes and our favorites so far in 2021. and Post. It’s advisable to use a service that insures the parcel in the event that it goes missing in transit. Standard Delivery: In the event that you are not in when our courier attempts to deliver your parcel they will try to leave it in a safe place, if this is not possible they will leave a card so you can rearrange deliveryLike other shoes with the GTS moniker, this version of the Adrenaline 23 features GuideRails on either side of the footbed. These extra layers of foam cradle your foot and promote proper joint alignment as you run, without interfering too much with your stride. Shannon (GTS): Normally I run in the neutral version of the Launch, but I found the Launch GTS arrived in its stead. Not to worry though as that’s the beauty of Brooks’ Guide Rail system: they can still accommodate a neutral runner and without overcorrecting, unlike the medial posts of yore. In theory, this shoe should feel like its neutral counterpart, just with the added stability of the Guide Rails wrapping the heel.

If that sounds helpful, look for Brooks models with a “GTS” in the name, which stands for “Go-to Support.” Brooks makes GTS versions of many of its shoes, including the Glycerin and Launch. Like the GTS 8—only with an added 2 mm. of padding—the GTS 9 has a midsole made of Brooks’ eco-friendly BioMoGo DNA foam, a firm and springy foam that also breaks down 50x faster than EVA to contribute less waste (don’t worry, we’re talking after years in a landfill, not during the life of the shoe).Stability: B- (Decent in heel and forefoot. Midfoot slightly unstable despite guiderails, which add subtle guidance.) Adding to the environmental benefit is the Green Rubber silica used in the outsole rather than the typical petroleum base of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA). This is the first shoe from Brooks where I have been comfortable not sizing up for forefoot width. I started out with the bigger size even though I do not prefer extra length. Launch GTS turns out to be slightly longer than past Brooks shoes. Adding to the environmental benefit is the Green Rubber silica used in the outsole rather than a petroleum base. JEREMY: The BioMoGo midsole just didn’t work. Even after a break-in period this shoe still felt stiff and had a slapping feeling to my stride rather than a bounce or roll through the stride. I took these shoes out for a number of runs including recovery runs, longer runs, and even an interval workout. To their credit, this shoe can get up to speed and is lightweight enough to run fast, but it didn’t feel great. The feeling in my feet and lower legs from the firm midsole just was not up to the standard other recently released Brooks shoes have given, with some pain developing in the lower legs towards the end of long efforts.

At the same time, both shoes have an Air mesh upper (like we know it from many other Brooks shoes). A really comfortably padded upper, which allows enough room for your toes, provides a great fit, and overall feels light on your feet. Sam: A new one on me, the upper is what Brooks calls a Creel Warp mesh. Both these terms are from textile (and upper) production with the creel the frame that holds the bobbins of threads and the warp where the threads are put together.. if I read things correctly. Seems like a marketing term... Anyway what we have with the Launch is an engineered type mesh upper that actually looks and feels like a knit but with less stretch and with differing densities of mesh.

Brooks Launch GTS 10 Verdict

I was a little worried they would be too much on my easy and long run days, but overall it was pretty comfortable. DPT/Footwear Science: B- (GuideRails do a decent job of providing subtle guidance, but minus points for very narrow midfoot) New Balance Fuelcell Prism - Very mild stability offers runners a versatile option for a large range of distances The most evident change in the Launch 8 is a softer midsole. Not much has really changed, other than an “updated BioMoGo formula,” but it felt softer to me. The shoe is still snappy, but not harsh like the seven. Brooks improved the upper to an airy mesh that breathes well. They also added extra blown rubber to the forefoot, and the enhanced underfoot feel is fantastic. Lastly, I’d like to give the Brooks engineers and designers a hand for an appropriate lace length. The Brooks Launch 8 is the sort of running shoe you need to have if you are only going to buy one pair of running shoes – regardless of whether you are a neutral or pronating runner. It is a lightweight everyday running shoe, where weight, comfort, responsiveness, and durability come together beautifully.